Chapter 24 - Evelyn asks Maddie for forgiveness
Evelyn did not see Maddie unsupervised for almost two years.
Not because a court declared her physically dangerous.
Because Grant and I both agreed her fixation on bloodline had harmed our daughter.
Eventually Maddie asked:
“Why Grandma Evelyn doesn’t come?”
We told her there had been adult problems.
At seven, after the fuller conception conversation, she understood more.
“Grandma made doctor use Lucas?”
“She asked him to make sure you were Bennett blood.”
“Why?”
“Because she thought blood was too important.”
Maddie frowned.
“Was I not important before?”
My heart broke again.
“You were important before you existed.”
That evening Grant called Evelyn.
I heard only his side.
“You will not tell her you did it because you loved her.”
Pause.
“No. You did not know her.”
Pause.
“You can say you thought you were helping me.”
There.
Months later, supervised meeting.
Evelyn sat across from Maddie.
No pearls.
No gala.
Simple sweater.
“I did something wrong before you were born.”
Maddie said:
“With Lucas.”
“Yes.”
“You wanted Bennett blood.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Evelyn looked at Grant.
He did not rescue her.
“Because I believed being related by blood made a family more real.”
Maddie asked:
“Do you still?”
Evelyn cried.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I nearly made your father forget that he was already your father.”
There.
Grant looked away.
Maddie thought.
Then:
“I’m Bennett because my name.”
Evelyn smiled through tears.
“And because you are you.”
Better.
Not perfect.
May you like
Enough for that day.
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