Chapter 14 - Ethan Finally Asked Whether Grant Wanted Them Dead
The question came six months later.
Ethan had avoided saying the word.
Everyone had.
One evening he was sitting with Silvio in the family room when he finally asked:
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Did Uncle Grant want Mia and me to die?”
Silvio did not answer immediately.
Seven was too young for the full case file.
But old enough to know when adults were lying.
So he said:
“I believe Grant knew you could be badly hurt or die if he left you there, and he chose not to open the door.”
Ethan stared down at his hands.
“So yes.”
Silvio hated the word.
But nodded.
“Yes.”
Ethan swallowed.
“Why?”
“Because he thought hurting me badly enough would help him hide something he did.”
“That’s stupid.”
Silvio almost laughed.
“It was.”
“Did Aunt Lucinda want that too?”
“I don’t know exactly what she wanted. I know she helped create the danger and didn’t stop it.”
Ethan considered the distinction.
Then asked:
“Do I have to forgive her because she’s family?”
“No.”
“Ever?”
“No.”
Ethan leaned back against the sofa.
“Good.”
Silvio put one arm around him.
There was no triumphant forgiveness lesson.
Sometimes children need permission not to reconcile.
May you like
That can be healing too.
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