Chapter 3 - I Became a Single Father and Started Needing Richard
Eli’s mother, Megan Torres, and I divorced when Eli was seven.
Not because anyone was dangerous.
We were too young when we married.
Too tired.
Too different about:
money,
work,
where to live.
Megan eventually remarried and moved to Cincinnati with her husband.
We maintained shared legal custody.
Because Eli’s school and my work were in Columbus, he lived primarily with:
me
during the school year and spent:
alternating weekends,
holidays,
summer blocks
with Megan.
She stayed involved.
Called.
Attended school events when she could.
But the day-to-day logistics were:
mine.
I worked as a maintenance supervisor for a distribution center.
Good job.
Union site.
Rotating shifts.
Sometimes:
6 a.m.
Sometimes:
2 p.m.
Sometimes emergency overnight coverage.
After-school care for a twelve-year-old sounds simple until you have:
a three-hour gap,
a bus route,
a parent working forty minutes away.
Richard lived:
seven minutes
from Eli’s school.
He was retired.
He offered.
“Send him here.”
At first, only:
Thursdays.
Then two afternoons.
Then school holidays.
I paid for:
groceries,
activities.
Richard refused childcare money.
“He’s my grandson.”
Again:
family.
Free help creates complicated debts even when nobody names them.
I began depending on:
him.
May you like
That dependence would affect what I was willing to question.
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