Chapter 14 - ULRIC’S GOOD MONTHS
The child advocate interviewed relatives.
That produced facts I did not enjoy.
Ulric had been good to Esmond during parts of Tavian’s illness.
He took him fishing.
Made pancakes.
Attended a preschool performance when Tavian was hospitalized.
Built a cardboard castle.
Stayed overnight during one difficult chemo week.
Esmond loved him.
That mattered.
Then anger.
Ulric yelled when tired.
Punched the cabinet.
Once grabbed Tavian’s shoulder during an argument? Adult conflict, no child harm.
Called crying “baby behavior.”
Then Tavian confronted him.
Ulric apologized.
For nearly three months, no reported incident.
That explained Tavian’s later journal:
Maybe I was too hard on U.
Ulric had improved for a while.
Then Tavian declined rapidly.
Ulric slept less.
Handled hospice calls.
Managed medications.
Grief and resentment fused.
After death, he took over.
Not because a court told him he deserved Esmond.
Because he believed he had already earned the role.
Then I came home.
Filed guardianship.
Ulric felt replaced by someone who had missed the worst months.
That was not imaginary.
I had missed them.
Work.
Distance.
Denial.
I hated hospitals.
Tavian once texted:
You’re good with Esmond. Be better at being here for me.
I still had it.
Ulric’s lawyer found it in discovery because I had produced relevant sibling communications.
He used it.
Fairly.
May you like
At the permanent guardianship hearing, I would have to explain why the man Tavian chose was also the brother Tavian had accused of staying away.
No simple heroes.
