Chapter 17 - LILY AND HER FATHER
Lily was six when supervised visits expanded.
Richard completed required programs.
Therapists assessed him.
He had not harmed Lily physically.
He had harmed her by making violence part of home.
Both mattered.
The court allowed longer supervised outings.
Zoo.
Library.
Park.
No Vance estate.
No Olivia present.
Lily once returned angry.
“What happened?”
“Daddy said cake sorry.”
“What does that mean?”
“He bought me cupcake.”
I closed my eyes.
“He was trying to apologize?”
“I don’t want cake sorry.”
Valid.
Her therapist helped Richard understand apologies do not require symbolic reenactment.
He stopped.
At seven, Lily asked:
“Did Daddy marry you for money?”
I nearly choked.
Children hear adults.
“Who told you that?”
“Girl at school.”
We addressed school.
Then I answered.
“Your dad married me for more than one reason. Some were loving. Some were not honest.”
“Did he love you?”
“Yes.”
“Do you love him?”
“Not the way I used to.”
“Can love stop?”
“Sometimes.”
She thought.
“Do you love me forever?”
“Yes.”
“That different?”
“Yes.”
Good enough.
I never taught her that Richard was secretly incapable of love.
That would have been easier.
And false.
May you like
People can love and still choose domination.
That is why boundaries matter more than romantic certainty.
