Chapter 22 - June’s First Birthday
Margaret was invited.
That decision took weeks.
Conditions:
Public-ish setting? At our house, with guests.
No surprise gifts.
No pet-themed jokes.
No posting photos without permission.
No holding June unless June comfortable and one parent agrees.
Margaret accepted.
She arrived with a gift.
I stared at box.
She noticed.
“Open.”
Inside:
Wooden stacking toy.
No velvet.
No joke.
I laughed slightly.
“Thank you.”
June was one.
Did not care.
She preferred wrapping paper.
Margaret sat on floor.
Did not grab.
Waited.
Eventually June toddled? At one maybe maybe walking. Let's say crawled over.
Touched Margaret’s bracelet.
Margaret looked at me.
“Okay?”
“Yes.”
She let June touch.
Tiny.
Important.
At end, Margaret asked:
“Can I hold her?”
June was tired.
I said:
“Not now.”
Margaret nodded.
No pout.
No:
I’m grandmother.
Just:
“Okay.”
May you like
That single okay carried more change than party apology.
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