Chapter 22 - Rafferty Tells Callum the Whole Sentence
Callum kept returning to:
Dad said okay.
Even after explanation.
Because Grandpa’s claim had damaged a specific trust.
At eight, Dr. Bell suggested Rafferty tell the exact conversation.
No editing.
Rafferty did.
“Grandpa said Baxter was getting nervous when you screamed.”
Callum looked ashamed.
Rafferty stopped.
“Being scared was not wrong.”
Then:
“I told Grandpa, ‘If Callum gets worked up again, separate him from Baxter until I get there.’”
Callum listened.
“I meant put Baxter inside or take you to another room. I did not say cage.”
“Why didn’t you say me?”
“What?”
“Take me to another room.”
Rafferty paused.
“Because I was talking about you instead of with you.”
There.
Callum nodded.
“That’s rude.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“I should have talked to you and Mom about a plan.”
“Mom knew?”
“No.”
Callum looked at me.
I said:
“I knew we were keeping distance from Baxter. I didn’t know Dad gave Grandpa that instruction.”
Rafferty said:
“That was another mistake.”
Why?
Because parenting decisions had become father-to-father handoffs.
Man managing man.
Mother and child excluded.
Ambrose thrived in that structure.
Afterward any dog-related plan involved Callum.
“How far do you want to be?”
“Do you want Baxter put away?”
“Do you want to leave?”
Choice.
Not limitless.
May you like
But real.
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