Chapter 16 - THE MUDDY HANDBAGS
My property-damage case resolved.
Sabine did not want criminal prosecution.
The state still reviewed.
No bodily injury.
Intentional property damage.
Restitution and diversion offered.
I accepted.
Documented loss:
$3,420.
Cleaning.
One replacement bag.
One damaged wallet.
I paid.
Conflict-management program.
No conviction after completion.
I hated writing the check.
Then remembered Ione’s face when mud splashed.
Worth paying.
Not because Sabine deserved compensation morally.
Because I damaged her property.
Separate.
Then my voicemail.
Court ordered all communication with Mother through a parenting/family app even though she was not a parent? Could use court-supervised messaging portal for visitation case. Fine.
No direct calls.
That helped.
Then counseling exercise:
Write what I should have done on driveway.
Answer:
Pick up Ione.
Bring her inside.
Call police if blocked.
Preserve papers.
Do not touch Sabine’s belongings.
Boring.
Correct.
Then Ione found my workbook.
“Daddy school?”
“Kind of.”
“Because purses?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“Mud was funny.”
“No.”
“A little.”
“Not the point.”
She giggled.
Then:
“Grandma school?”
I paused.
“She has counseling too.”
Court had recommended individual therapy before broader contact.
“Because paper?”
“Yes.”
“Lots grown-up school.”
“Apparently.”
Good.
Then Mother completed first sessions.
No reports to me beyond attendance.
Privacy.
Good.
She did not need to perform therapy for my inspection.
The court only needed compliance and evaluator observations.
Then Sabine paid back half the restitution for Ione’s sold belongings.
Mother paid the rest.
No argument.
Cousin relationship continued.
One hour at park every other week.
May you like
No adults discussing case.
Healthy.
