Chapter 16
Rupert apologized to Ottilie much later.
She was seven.
He asked me first.
Then Isadora.
Then Ottilie.
Three permissions.
Good.
They met in the garden.
He stayed standing until she told him to sit.
Interesting reversal.
“I’m sorry I said you could replace Emily.”
Ottilie stared.
“Can’t.”
“No.”
“Because I’m me.”
“Yes.”
Simple.
Then she asked:
“Why say?”
Rupert took his time.
“Because I missed Emily and got scared when Isadora was hurting.”
Ottilie frowned.
“So you borrowed kids?”
Brutal accuracy.
“Yes.”
“That bad.”
“Yes.”
She thought.
Then:
“Don’t borrow me.”
“I won’t.”
Meeting over.
No hug.
Rupert left looking lighter.
Not forgiven necessarily.
Clearer.
That was enough.
Later Ottilie asked me:
“Grandpa, can people be sad and bad same time?”
I looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Can sad make bad okay?”
“No.”
She nodded.
Satisfied.
Seven years old.
Solved what adults spend fortunes avoiding.
May you like
Pain explains.
It does not authorize.
