Chapter 14 - Lucas was not a replacement willingly
Lucas began therapy after the hospital incident.
Audrey told me only what he permitted her to share.
He hated the phrase:
Replacement dependent.
He found it accidentally after overhearing adults.
He asked his mother:
“Was I pretending to be Oliver?”
“No.”
“Did Grandma?”
Audrey answered:
“On paperwork, she used Oliver’s old account for things that were yours.”
Lucas became sick with shame.
He tried to return:
A laptop.
Golf clubs.
A watch Lenora gave him.
Audrey stopped him.
“You did not steal these.”
Some were personal gifts.
Some had been reimbursed improperly.
Children do not repay corporate accounting fraud by surrendering birthday presents.
Then he asked to see Etta.
I asked her.
She said:
“Yes, but no Grandma.”
They met at Audrey’s house.
Lucas brought Etta:
A puzzle.
Not expensive.
He stood near the door.
“I’m sorry.”
Etta said:
“You didn’t pull me.”
“I know.”
“Then why sorry?”
“Because Grandma said it was for me.”
Etta looked confused.
Then:
“I knew you said no.”
Lucas started crying.
Etta gave him a tissue.
No hug.
No speeches.
May you like
They played a game.
For the first time in months, the adults left the word boy out of the room.
