Chapter 23 - Raymond asks to see Sofia
After eighteen months, my father requested therapeutic contact.
My immediate answer:
No.
Dr. Grant asked:
“Did Sofia answer?”
I hated that question from therapists.
We asked.
“Grandpa Raymond wants to see you with Dr. Grant there. Do you want that?”
Sofia, now six and a half, said:
“No.”
Done.
Six months later:
“No.”
Another six:
“Can he say sorry on video?”
Possible.
We created a recorded statement.
Raymond sat in a plain room.
No suit jacket.
Still looked like Raymond.
He said:
“Sofia, I told Grandma to put you in the storage room.”
There.
“I told you your father could not always save you because I wanted you to believe my rules were stronger than his.”
There.
“That was wrong.”
There.
“I called what I did tests. You were a child, not someone I had the right to test.”
There.
“You did not cause my punishment.”
There.
“I am sorry.”
No:
I loved you.
No request.
No excuse about tradition.
Good.
Sofia watched.
Then:
“Again.”
We replayed.
She asked:
“Grandpa jail?”
“He served his sentence.”
“Now home?”
“He lives in his apartment.”
“Can he lock people?”
“No.”
“Can he tell Grandma?”
“He can tell Grandma things. Grandma chooses.”
Important.
Sofia thought.
“Can see him lunch.”
That surprised me.
Therapeutic restaurant meeting.
Public.
Forty minutes.
I attended.
Raymond arrived early.
He stood when she approached.
Then stopped himself from saying:
Come give Grandpa a hug.
He said:
“Hello, Sofia.”
“Hi.”
She sat.
He asked:
“How is school?”
“Fine.”
Awkward.
Beautiful.
No forced reconciliation.
At the end he asked:
“May I hug you?”
Sofia said:
“No.”
Raymond’s eyes filled.
“Okay.”
That was the test that mattered.
May you like
He finally passed by accepting no.
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