Chapter 18 - What We Tell the ChildrenWhen the twins turned twelve, Noah asked again.
“Why don't we ever see Uncle Mark?”
This time, I knew they were old enough.
So we sat around the kitchen table.
I told them the truth.
Not every financial detail.
Not every piece of evidence.
But enough.
“Your uncle made decisions that endangered your father and tried to take you when you were a baby.”
Noah was silent.
“Did he want money?”
“Yes.”
Lily asked:
“Did Grandma and Grandpa help him?”
“Yes.”
“Were they bad people?”
I thought carefully.
“They did bad things.”
“That isn't the same.”
“No.”
Noah stared at the table.
“Would you ever forgive them?”
“Forgiveness is complicated.”
“Do you forgive Uncle Mark?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why don't you hate him?”
I smiled sadly.
“Because hate is another way of letting someone control your heart.”
They were quiet.
Then Lily asked:
“Do you miss Dad?”
Every time.
“Yes.”
Noah reached across the table and took my hand.
“Does it still hurt?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you smiling?”
May you like
I looked at them.
“Because pain isn't the only thing that survived.”
