Chapter 18 - Perry’s Question
“Did Daddy want me?”
He asked at seven.
Not:
Did Daddy love me?
Want.
Because custody plan made him feel relocated like furniture.
I answered carefully.
“Yes.”
“Then Grandma house?”
“Daddy thought Grandma’s house would make schedules easier while we separated.”
“Why not his house?”
“He was planning to stay near work.”
“Why not your house?”
“He thought my work travel would make weekdays harder.”
Perry frowned.
“But babysitter.”
Exactly.
“We could have made other plans.”
“Why didn’t?”
“Because adults made decisions before talking to everyone.”
He looked at me.
“Me too?”
“You should not have been responsible for deciding custody. But you should have been told age-appropriate truth before adults started moving your things.”
He nodded.
Then:
“Did Daddy choose work?”
There.
I did not want a simple wound.
“He made choices that prioritized his work schedule too much.”
“Over me?”
“Sometimes.”
His eyes filled.
Then:
“Does he now?”
“No.”
That was supported by behavior.
Reid had declined managing-director role temporarily.
Not forever.
He remained partner.
Later reconsidered after family stabilized.
No career martyrdom.
Then Perry said:
“I still love Dad.”
“You can.”
He looked surprised.
“Even mad?”
May you like
“Yes.”
Children need permission for mixed attachment too.
