Chapter 16
Celestine saw Julian when he was eighteen months old.
Because Amabel finally said yes.
Neutral garden.
No Arthur.
No me at first.
Then Amabel asked me to remain nearby.
Celestine approached slowly.
Julian stared.
Children are merciless judges.
She crouched.
“Hi.”
He offered her a crushed cracker.
That was apparently his diplomacy.
Celestine took it.
Cried immediately.
Julian became alarmed.
Amabel almost laughed.
Then Celestine apologized.
Not to Julian in adult detail.
Simple.
“I kept you from your mommy.”
Julian did not understand.
Good.
He did not need to yet.
Amabel did.
Celestine looked at her.
“I had no right.”
There.
The sentence Amabel had waited for.
Not I was scared.
Not Father told me.
Not I thought it was best.
No right.
Amabel nodded.
That was all.
No hug.
But when Celestine left, Amabel said:
“Maybe again.”
May you like
Maybe.
Enough.
