Ethan clung desperately to his grandfather’s coat and looked directly at his father
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Chapter 9 / 17
Chapter 9
Mark began therapy.
His idea.
Not mine.
Good.
He also moved into the guest wing.
Not punishment.
Ethan needed space.
Fatherhood had to be rebuilt, not declared.
He started with small things.
Breakfast.
Bath time.
Reading.
No big apologies Ethan could not understand.
Behavior.
One night Ethan asked:
“Why didn’t you get me from snow?”
Mark froze.
There it was.
No therapist could answer for him.
“I was scared to fight Claudia.”
Ethan frowned.
“Why?”
Mark laughed sadly.
“She got angry.”
Ethan stared.
“So?”
Three-year-old logic.
Brutal.
“So I made a bad choice.”
“Very bad.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“I’m sorry.”
Ethan thought.
“Okay.”
Not forgiveness contract.
Just receipt.
May you like
Then he asked for his train.
Life continued.
