Chapter 23 - Penny Chooses
At sixteen, Penny asked to spend Christmas Eve with Julian.
I froze.
“Entire evening?”
“Dinner.”
“Where?”
“His apartment.”
“Who else?”
“Elaine. Two cousins. No Vanessa. Dad already sent list.”
She anticipated interrogation.
I smiled.
“Do you want me nearby?”
“No.”
Ouch.
Healthy.
I agreed after confirming safety plan.
She had her own phone.
Car service.
Could leave anytime.
No alcohol issues known.
Julian had years of compliance.
Therapist supported.
At eight thirty she came home.
“How?”
“Good.”
“Anything…”
“Mom.”
“Okay.”
She sat.
“Dad apologized to everyone.”
“What?”
“At dinner.”
“For what?”
“He said Christmases used to be about making Blackwood family look perfect and he helped that. He said nobody had to perform.”
I smiled.
“That sounds expensive therapy.”
Penny laughed.
Then:
“Do you hate that I love him?”
I stared.
“No.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Why?”
“Because his relationship with you is yours.”
“What if he hurts me again?”
“Then we deal with what happens.”
“You wouldn’t say I told you so?”
“Never.”
She leaned against me.
“Good.”
Then:
“I’m changing my name when I’m eighteen.”
My stomach tightened.
“To Hart?”
“Penny Hart Blackwood.”
I laughed.
“Copycat.”
“Family branding.”
“Your grandfather would approve.”
Which grandfather? Hart father deceased before her birth maybe. Fine.
She continued:
“I don’t want to erase Dad.”
“Good.”
“I don’t want his name to be only thing either.”
“Good.”
She looked at me.
“You say good a lot.”
“Excellent observation.”
We filed when she turned eighteen.
No drama.
Julian attended hearing? Name change may be administrative, she adult, no permission needed. He said:
“It suits you.”
That mattered.
Damian sent champagne for adults and sparkling cider for Penny.
She said:
“I am adult.”
“Legally,” he said.
May you like
She threw napkin.
Family.
