Chapter 24 - Victoria Sees Noah Again
Two years after the engagement ended, Victoria requested a mediated apology to Noah.
She had no parental right to him.
My decision.
I asked his therapist.
Then Noah, now five.
“Victoria wants to say sorry.”
“Mommy Vicky?”
He still used old name sometimes.
“Yes.”
“Chair?”
“Probably.”
“Fifi come?”
Sophie wanted to.
Daniel agreed.
Meeting at therapist’s office.
Victoria entered.
No ivory gown.
No ring.
Normal clothes.
She sat.
Noah stayed beside me.
Sophie beside Daniel.
Victoria said:
“Noah, I took your chair at the party.”
He nodded.
“I gave it to Sophie even though she did not want me to.”
Sophie looked down.
“I put too many plates in your hands.”
Noah said:
“Heavy.”
“Yes.”
“I grabbed your shoulder.”
“Yes.”
“I did those things because I was angry about grown-up problems.”
Noah watched.
“That was not your fault.”
He held my hand.
Then:
“Why?”
Victoria looked at me.
Then back.
“I wanted your dad to prove something to me.”
Noah frowned.
“Chair prove?”
“No.”
Good.
“The chair could not prove what I wanted.”
Noah asked:
“You send lake?”
Victoria’s face collapsed.
She breathed.
“I made a plan where you might live there more.”
“Daddy?”
“I should have asked Daddy before making any plan.”
Noah looked at me.
“Daddy say no.”
“Yes,” Victoria whispered.
Then Sophie said:
“Mom planned me Dad house.”
Victoria looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Why both?”
This was the real moment.
Victoria answered:
“Because I thought being a wife would be easier if I wasn’t taking care of children every day.”
There.
No sugar.
Sophie cried.
Daniel moved closer but did not interrupt.
Victoria continued:
“I love you. And I was also tired and selfish about what I wanted my life to look like.”
Sophie asked:
“You didn’t want me?”
“I wanted you. I didn’t want all the work and conflict that came with parenting. I should have gotten help with that instead of making you feel sent away.”
There.
Noah had lost interest partly.
He pointed at a toy.
“Can play?”
Therapist smiled.
“Yes.”
Adult confession ended when child was done.
Correct.
No forced hug.
No forgiveness scene.
Victoria left after forty minutes.
Noah played.
Sophie stayed longer.
May you like
Healing followed the child’s clock.
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