Chapter 19 - NORA MARRIES SOMEONE ELSE
Nora married Daniel Hayes when Sophie was ten.
Daniel was a civil engineer.
Normal salary.
Normal car.
Zero interest in Morello mythology.
I disliked him immediately for no defensible reason.
Then I recognized jealousy.
Not romantic.
Parental.
Daniel would live with my daughter more days than I did.
That hurt.
It also did not make him my enemy.
Before the wedding, Nora asked whether I was comfortable with Daniel becoming an emergency school contact.
I almost laughed at the phrasing.
“You don’t need my emotional permission.”
“We share legal custody.”
“Then yes.”
Good.
Daniel never asked Sophie to call him Dad.
She called him Daniel.
Then, at twelve, she started saying bonus dad as a joke.
I survived.
Helena attended the wedding only because Nora invited her after years of improved contact.
No interference.
No seating demand.
No pearls? She wore pearls again. Fine.
At the reception Helena approached Daniel.
I saw his body stiffen.
She said:
“Take care of them.”
Daniel answered:
“They take care of themselves pretty well.”
I liked him more after that.
Then Helena looked at me.
We both knew the old version of her would have interpreted his answer as disrespect.
May you like
She smiled instead.
Progress can look like not starting a war at a wedding.
