Chapter 18 - EVERETT BECOMES DAD AGAIN
Everett’s relationship with Quincy recovered slowly.
No grand gesture.
No expensive vacations.
No:
Dad fought for you.
Absolutely not.
He apologized.
At six:
“I should have protected you from Grandma.”
At eight:
“I let grown-up plans affect you.”
At ten:
“I tried to make your feelings useful to my custody case instead of protecting your right to have your own feelings.”
That one mattered.
Quincy asked:
“Did you want me to lie?”
“No.”
“Did you want me to choose you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I was afraid your mom would stop me from moving you.”
“She would.”
Everett almost smiled.
“Probably.”
“Then you should’ve asked.”
“Yes.”
Children inherit the simplest truths adults spend years avoiding.
Everett never moved to Denver.
Sloane eventually married someone else.
No dramatic reunion.
No villainous mistress.
Life went on.
At eleven Quincy started spending alternate weekends with Everett by agreement.
No court fight.
At thirteen he asked for one extra weekday because Everett lived closer to soccer.
I said yes.
May you like
Parenting schedules became logistics instead of war.
That was success.
