Chapter 21 - Graham meets Elodie
My father entered the house he used to own carrying no gift.
That surprised me.
Kerensa held Elodie.
He stopped several feet away.
“May I?”
Kerensa looked at me.
Then at him.
“Sit first.”
He did.
She handed him the baby.
His face changed.
He looked at Elodie as though the previous year had disappeared.
That frightened me.
Not because love was bad.
Because people often mistake love for permission.
He whispered:
“She looks like Hadrian.”
Kerensa said:
“She looks like herself.”
Good.
Then he looked around.
“You changed the study.”
Nursery.
“Yes,” Kerensa said.
He nodded.
No criticism.
Progress.
Then:
“I’m sorry about the garage.”
Kerensa asked:
“For what part?”
He swallowed.
“For telling you to leave. For saying the baby should stay. For standing there when Lenora kicked your suitcase.”
Better.
Not perfect.
But specific.
Kerensa answered:
“Thank you.”
No forgiveness speech.
No invitation to dinner.
May you like
After twenty minutes, visit ended.
Boundaries survived emotion.
