Chapter 26 - LEO BECOMES A FATHER
Leo was thirty-four when his daughter was born.
Her name was June.
His wife, Claire Morgan—not related to our trustee Claire—delivered after a long labor and unexpected C-section.
The first time I entered their hospital room, I stopped outside.
Knocked.
Leo opened the door.
“You know you can come in.”
“I know.”
“But?”
“Still knocking.”
He smiled.
“Good.”
Elena entered after me.
Claire looked exhausted.
Beautiful.
Terrified.
Normal.
June slept in the bassinet.
Elena did not lift her.
She asked:
“Do you want me to hold her?”
Claire nodded.
“Yes.”
Elena picked up her granddaughter.
Slowly.
No entitlement.
No:
Give me my baby.
No:
My granddaughter.
Just:
Do you want me to?
I watched Elena’s face.
Thirty-four years disappeared for a second.
Then Claire said:
“I’m starving.”
Leo stood.
“What do you want?”
“Anything.”
Elena laughed.
“Dangerous answer.”
I went downstairs.
Returned with soup, sandwich, fruit, yogurt, crackers, water.
Too much.
Claire stared.
“Arthur.”
“What?”
“She said anything, not everything.”
“I panicked.”
Everyone laughed.
Claire ate half the sandwich.
Nobody commented on how much.
She fed June formula that night because nursing hurt.
Elena said nothing until Claire asked:
“Did you breastfeed Leo?”
“Some.”
“Did formula make you feel guilty?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“People.”
Claire nodded.
“That tracks.”
Then Elena said:
“Feed your baby in the way that keeps both of you healthy.”
That was all.
No inherited rule.
No correction.
No ownership.
Later, while Leo changed June’s diaper, he looked at me.
“Grandpa Arthur.”
“Do not.”
“You’re old.”
“Cruel.”
He smiled.
Then grew serious.
“I get it now.”
“What?”
“How helpless Mom must have felt.”
I looked toward Elena.
“Yeah.”
“You still feel guilty?”
“Yes.”
“Useful guilt?”
“Sometimes.”
“Sometimes not?”
“Sometimes it just wants punishment.”
Leo nodded.
“What do you do?”
“Choose what I do next.”
He smiled.
May you like
“Therapy really ruined the dramatic version of you.”
“Completely.”
