Chapter 13
Lorraine asked to see Maisie.
I said no.
She cried.
I still said no.
Three weeks later she asked again.
No.
Two months.
No.
Then Maisie asked:
“Grandma where?”
There it was.
Children do not follow consequence schedules.
I sat beside her.
“Grandma made a bad choice.”
Maisie touched the faint scar near her brow.
“Gavin push.”
“Yes.”
“Grandma put glasses.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She wanted people not to see.”
Maisie thought.
“Because ugly?”
My chest tightened.
“No.”
I touched her cheek.
“Because Grandma was scared people would know the truth.”
“Eye ugly?”
“No.”
“Scar?”
“No.”
She frowned.
“Glasses cool.”
I laughed.
Fair.
Then she asked:
“Grandma sorry?”
“Yes.”
“Can see?”
I did not answer immediately.
“What do you want?”
“Maybe.”
Good.
Not yes.
Not no.
Maybe.
We arranged a meeting in the garden.
Lorraine arrived without jewelry.
Not because jewelry caused anything.
Maybe because she wanted to look smaller.
Maisie wore no sunglasses.
Important.
My mother stopped several feet away.
“I’m sorry.”
Maisie looked at me.
Then Lorraine.
“For hide eye?”
“Yes.”
“For tell Daddy accident?”
“Yes.”
“For Gavin?”
Lorraine’s voice broke.
“For not stopping him sooner.”
Better answer.
Maisie thought.
Then pointed to a chair.
“You sit there.”
Lorraine obeyed.
No hug.
No demands.
They colored for eleven minutes.
Then Maisie became bored and left.
Lorraine cried after.
I did not tell her everything would be fine.
Maybe it would.
May you like
Maybe trust would remain narrower forever.
Consequences are not cruelty just because forgiveness has a slower clock.
