Chapter 7 - James Thought Keeping Helen Away Would Be Enough
My father’s strategy was:
distance.
He discouraged Mom from attending some appointments.
Made excuses when she refused invitations.
Told me:
“She’s tired.”
“Tough week.”
“Give her time.”
What he did not say:
Helen had started keeping Rebecca’s old ultrasound picture on the dresser beside a pink knitted blanket.
She told James:
“That was supposed to be our first granddaughter.”
He corrected her.
“That pregnancy ended before anyone knew the sex.”
Helen answered:
“I knew.”
No medical basis.
No test.
Belief.
Then:
“Margaret rushed because she always has to compete.”
Dad said:
“That’s not true.”
Helen became furious.
He dropped it.
Again.
At thirty-three weeks, he heard her say:
“If Margaret had any decency, she wouldn’t make everyone celebrate this.”
He asked:
“What are you talking about?”
Helen said:
“She took Rebecca’s year.”
Her year.
As though births were:
reserved appointments.
James considered calling me.
He did not.
Why?
He told himself:
Helen never hurt anyone.
She was saying:
ugly things
inside their own house.
He believed informing me would:
stress my pregnancy,
destroy my relationship with Mom,
make Rebecca feel responsible.
So he managed:
access.
No unsupervised visits.
No babysitting.
No holding the baby without another adult nearby.
He created safety rules without explaining why the safety rules existed.
That was not enough.
Because people follow rules differently when they know:
the risk.
May you like
I did not.
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