Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN WHO STOPPED BEGGING
For the first six months, Joanna tried to keep Daniel connected to the children.
She sent photographs.
School updates.
Appointment reminders.
Birthday invitations.
She encouraged the children to call.
She reminded Daniel about parent-teacher conferences.
But his responses became shorter.
Can't make it.
Work is crazy.
Maybe next weekend.
I'll send money.
Money arrived irregularly.
Promises arrived constantly.
Actual visits became rare.
One evening, after Lucy spent twenty minutes crying because Daniel had canceled another weekend, Joanna called him.
He answered on the fourth ring.
“What?”
She closed her eyes.
“Lucy was waiting for you.”
Daniel sighed.
“Joanna, I told you I had to work.”
“You told her you'd be here.”
“I can't control everything.”
“No. But you can control what you promise.”
He became defensive.
“Are you going to make me feel guilty every time something comes up?”
Joanna stared at the kitchen wall.
“Daniel, your daughter is seven years old.”
“I know how old she is.”
“Then stop expecting her to understand excuses that don't make sense.”
He went silent.
Joanna took a breath.
“I can't keep doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“Protecting your relationship with the children more than you do.”
Daniel scoffed.
“So now you're turning them against me?”
“No.”
Her voice was quiet.
“I'm going to stop telling them you're coming until you actually arrive.”
Daniel said nothing.
“And I'm going to stop making excuses for you.”
He laughed bitterly.
“Fine.”
Joanna closed her eyes.
“Fine.”
Then she ended the call.
For the first time since he left, she didn't cry afterward.
May you like
She simply opened her laptop.
And searched for divorce attorneys in Pittsburgh.
