Chapter 11 - MOTHER’S DEFENSE
Mother’s defense was not:
I didn’t do it.
She could not say that anymore.
Instead:
“I formalized what Theron had already asked me to do for years.”
I stared at her sworn statement.
Then:
“I believed the signature reflected his standing delegation of care.”
Naomi almost laughed.
“Belief does not create signature authority.”
Still.
Mother continued:
“Theron repeatedly left Ione in my care, including overnight, without formal documents. I acted because his upcoming move would destabilize her.”
Then:
“I accept that inserting his signature was wrong.”
Not enough.
But an admission.
Then:
“I do not accept that seeking guardianship was wrong.”
There.
She still wanted it.
Then the nights.
We reconstructed two years.
Overnights with Mother:
Forty-three the first year after Elin died.
Sixty-one the next.
This year so far:
Twenty-eight.
Significant.
I had not realized.
Some were planned sleepovers.
Some work travel.
Some Ione asking to stay.
But on paper:
A lot.
Then school pickups:
Mother thirty-seven times.
Me sixty-eight.
After-school program others.
No abandonment.
Still.
Then pediatric visits:
Mother attended three.
Me eight.
Again.
She had a caregiving role.
Then Mother’s lawyer asked:
“If Theron was so concerned about boundaries, why did he hand Melisande keys, school permission and medical authorization?”
I had no clever answer.
Because I trusted her.
Because I needed her.
Because I was tired.
All true.
Then my new job.
Mother argued:
Eighty-two miles would disrupt Ione’s school and family.
Yes.
Moving does that.
But parents move.
Question:
Best interest.
Not grandmother preference.
Then Ione’s guardian ad litem interviewed me.
“Would you consider remaining in current town?”
“If Cedar Vale job allowed remote commute? Maybe.”
“Why?”
“Ione has friends.”
“Mother?”
I hesitated.
“She is part of why staying feels complicated.”
“Do not make relocation a punishment.”
Good.
I needed to hear that.
If Cedar Vale was best, move.
If staying was best, stay.
Mother’s conduct should not determine geography.
Then I checked commuting.
Eighty-two miles each way.
Too far daily.
Hybrid? Operations role required local presence.
Could delay move until summer.
Yes.
I decided:
Finish school year here.
Move after.
Give Ione time.
Not because court.
Because child.
May you like
Then Mother called the plan “proof of instability.”
Anything could be proof if someone wanted it badly enough.
