Chapter 17 - What I Told My Daughter
I could have told her everything.
I didn't.
She was three.
She didn't need adult betrayal.
She needed safety.
“Daddy and Mommy decided we're better living in different houses.”
“Did Daddy do something bad?”
I paused.
“Daddy and Mommy made some choices that hurt each other.”
“Did you stop loving him?”
My throat tightened.
“Love changes sometimes.”
She considered that.
Then asked, “Does Daddy love me?”
“Yes.”
That answer was easy.
Whatever Gavin had done to me, I would not use our daughter as a weapon.
Years would pass before she understood more.
Truth could wait until truth was useful rather than harmful.
She climbed into my lap.
“Nathan loves me too.”
“He does.”
“Can people have lots of love?”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
Apparently that answer satisfied her.
She asked for pancakes.
Children have a gift for bringing philosophy to an abrupt conclusion.
That night I told Nathan what happened.
“You handled it beautifully.”
“I was terrified.”
“Both things can be true.”
Our wedding was scheduled for spring.
Small.
Backyard.
Family.
No giant production.
But one week before the ceremony, Gavin called.
His father had suffered a medical emergency.
Lorraine needed help.
And despite everything that had happened, she called me.
Not Gavin.
May you like
Me.
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