Chapter 17 - HIS MOTHER AND THE STEPFATHER
They separated for almost two years.
Then reconciled.
That surprised my family.
They wanted him gone permanently.
Not our decision.
The mother required conditions before resuming cohabitation.
No disciplinary authority over my son without explicit parenting agreement.
No isolation punishment.
No interference with parent-child contact.
Therapy.
Family counseling.
The stepfather accepted.
Could I prevent him from ever living near my son again?
Not automatically once court restrictions changed.
The family court evaluated.
Dr. Hayes advised gradual reintroduction.
I hated it.
Still followed process.
The first meeting occurred in a therapist’s office.
My son was eleven.
He looked at the stepfather.
“You locked me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted you to stop asking for your dad.”
“Why?”
“Because I was jealous.”
There.
Better than adult jargon.
Then:
“Still?”
“No.”
My son nodded.
No hug.
May you like
No forgiveness.
Meeting ended.
