Chapter 14
A year after the hospital incident, Evelyn requested supervised contact with Caleb.
Not through Dominic.
Through the family therapist.
That mattered.
She had spent months resisting counseling.
Then attending angrily.
Then participating.
The therapist believed she was beginning to understand the difference between wanting family close and making family dependent.
Laura remained skeptical.
Dominic did too.
They agreed to one short meeting.
Neutral office.
Thirty minutes.
No gifts.
No money.
No discussion of inheritance.
No comments about blood.
No pressure on Caleb to hug her.
Evelyn arrived early.
Caleb arrived holding Dominic’s hand.
When he saw her, he stopped.
Evelyn did not move toward him.
That was her first successful decision.
“Hi, Caleb.”
“Hi.”
A long silence.
Evelyn’s eyes filled.
“I’m sorry I took your food.”
Caleb looked at Dominic.
Dominic said nothing.
“You said Tyler was real.”
Evelyn inhaled.
“Yes.”
“Am I real?”
The room went silent.
Evelyn began crying.
“Yes.”
Caleb frowned.
“Then why you said no?”
No adult rescue existed for that question.
Evelyn looked at him.
“Because Grandma was trying to make grown-ups do what Grandma wanted.”
Caleb considered this.
“That’s bad.”
“Yes.”
“You knew?”
Evelyn swallowed.
“I should have.”
Not perfect.
But better than explanation.
She did not ask forgiveness.
She did not ask for a hug.
When the thirty minutes ended, Caleb walked out with Dominic.
In the hallway he asked:
“Grandma still Grandma?”
Dominic answered carefully.
“She is.”
“Do I have to see her?”
“No.”
“Can I?”
“Yes.”
May you like
Caleb nodded.
He had more freedom in three short questions than Dominic and Rebecca had been given in much of their childhood.
