Chapter 10 - Roderick’s Failure
Roderick’s failure was quieter.
That made it harder for him to admit.
He did not know about trash.
He did not believe Niles was not his son.
He never intended to use DNA to threaten Coralie.
Still:
He participated in secret testing.
He let his mother obtain biological information from his child without telling me.
He did it because confrontation with Eugenia felt exhausting.
He wanted a result that would make her stop.
Instead, he gave her a document she weaponized.
In couples therapy, I said:
“You chose peace with your mother over trust with me.”
Roderick answered:
“I thought I was choosing one stupid test.”
“Without my consent.”
“Yes.”
“Using Niles.”
“Yes.”
“What did you think happened if it somehow came back wrong?”
He looked at me.
“I didn’t let myself think.”
There.
The real problem.
Avoidance is often deferred thinking.
He assumed certainty.
I am Niles’s father.
Therefore test cannot hurt.
But tests create records.
Records create interpretations.
And Eugenia already had motive.
Roderick apologized to Niles in age-appropriate language.
“I let Grandma use your toothbrush for a DNA test without asking Mom or you.”
Niles frowned.
“My dinosaur toothbrush?”
“Yes.”
“That gross.”
Correct priority.
Roderick continued:
“I should have asked.”
“What DNA?”
“Stuff in your body that helps show who you’re biologically related to.”
“Like Dad?”
“Yes.”
“Was I?”
“Yes.”
Niles relaxed.
Then:
“New toothbrush.”
We bought one.
No dinosaur this time.
May you like
Space.
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