Chapter 21 - WHY MOTHER COULD NOT LET US MOVE
Mother’s deposition finally stripped away legal language.
Her lawyer asked:
“What did Cedar Vale represent to you?”
She stared at the table.
Then:
“Losing my granddaughter.”
“Why?”
“Theron says eighty-two miles like it’s nothing. It means no school pickups. No Tuesday dinner. No waking up when storms keep him away.”
“But his new job reduces storms and travel.”
“Yes.”
“Would that benefit Ione?”
Mother paused.
“Yes.”
There.
Then:
“Why oppose?”
“Because it removes me.”
Not Ione.
Me.
Then she corrected:
“Not completely.”
But enough.
Then:
“Did you believe Theron was abandoning Ione?”
She looked at me across the room.
“No.”
That was the first time she said it under oath.
My throat tightened.
“Then why use that word?”
“Because his work had made me feel like the parent who was actually there.”
“Feeling like a parent and being legal parent are different.”
“I know.”
“Did you know then?”
She cried.
“Yes.”
There.
Then:
“Why forge?”
“Because if I asked him directly, he would say no.”
Nothing more complicated.
“Did you believe a judge might keep Ione with you after a temporary order?”
“Yes.”
“Was that the goal?”
“Yes.”
“Permanent guardianship?”
“I told myself temporary.”
Then:
“But?”
Mother looked down.
“I hoped he would settle into Cedar Vale and decide she was better off staying.”
There.
Full motive.
Then:
“Did you plan to let Sabine remain in Theron’s house?”
“For a few months.”
“Did Theron agree?”
“No.”
“Why think you could?”
“I thought he would sell.”
There.
Mother built future decisions for everyone.
Then:
“What do you regret?”
She was quiet.
“The signature.”
Only that?
Then:
“Telling Ione he abandoned her.”
Good.
Then:
“Selling the bed.”
Then:
“Thinking that because I had been needed, I was entitled to remain necessary.”
There.
That sentence stayed.
Maybe therapy helped.
Maybe deposition pressure.
Either way.
Then:
“Do you still seek guardianship?”
Mother hesitated.
“Yes.”
I almost laughed.
Then she explained:
“I want the court to recognize Ione needs me.”
That was not what guardianship was for.
Recognition.
May you like
She was asking law to validate importance.
The final hearing would force distinction between being important and being entitled.
