Chapter 25 - THE TWO SONS
Two years after my return from London, Leo was seven.
Liam seven.
They knew they were brothers.
They saw each other about once a month.
Sometimes more.
Brooke and I communicated only through a co-parenting-style sibling app maintained by therapists at first.
Not because we co-parented each other’s children.
Because neither boy deserved adults using him as messenger.
Then Victoria asked for therapeutic visit with Leo.
She had completed probation.
Programs.
No violations.
Leo said no.
That was the answer.
Six months later:
Maybe.
Then he agreed to twenty minutes.
Victoria entered with no pearls.
Why did I notice?
Because she used to dress for authority.
This time cardigan.
Slacks.
No cake.
No gifts.
Leo sat beside therapist.
Victoria said:
“I called you a dog.”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
“I made you eat low because I wanted you to act the way I thought children should act.”
Leo:
“Dogs good.”
Victoria blinked.
Leo continued:
“But I’m not dog.”
“No.”
“Why Liam table?”
She cried.
“Because I understood Liam more easily, and I treated easy like better.”
Leo thought.
“Liam not better.”
“No.”
“Leo not better.”
“No.”
“Different.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Daddy says autism.”
“Yes.”
“Grandma says bad breeding.”
Victoria closed eyes.
“I said that.”
“Wrong.”
“Yes.”
No defense.
Then Leo asked:
“Can Liam come?”
The therapist had prepared possibility.
Liam was in nearby room with Brooke.
He entered.
The boys sat together.
Victoria looked at both grandsons.
No ranking.
No “Sterling boy.”
She asked:
“Would either of you like a snack?”
Leo looked at Liam.
Liam shrugged.
“Cookies?”
Victoria smiled.
“Cookies.”
Then stopped herself.
Looked at therapist.
“Can I get them?”
Ordinary.
Permission.
Not control.
They ate at the table.
Both.
Leo left half cookie.
Victoria said nothing.
May you like
That was perhaps her real sentence.
Learning to remain silent when old instincts screamed.
