Chapter 12 - THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE
Evelyn's return didn't erase the past.
She and Silas had difficult conversations.
About trust.
Fear.
The choices they'd made.
And the life they wanted for Leo.
They attended counseling.
Separately at first.
Then together.
Silas admitted how much he'd relied on control.
How often he'd mistaken providing money for being present.
Evelyn admitted that she'd become frightened of confronting him.
Not because he was cruel to her.
But because his world made honesty dangerous.
They listened.
Argued.
Cried.
And slowly began understanding each other again.
Meanwhile, Leo thrived.
He attended a bilingual educational program.
Made friends.
Joined an art class.
And taught his father new signs every week.
One afternoon, he brought home a drawing.
Three people.
Holding hands.
Silas smiled.
“Who's this?”
Leo signed:
MOM. DAD. ME.
Silas nodded.
Then noticed a fourth figure.
A woman in a blue uniform.
He pointed.
WHO?
Leo grinned.
KHLOE.
Silas laughed.
“Of course.”
Evelyn smiled.
“She changed our lives.”
Silas nodded.
“Yes.”
Then Evelyn looked at him.
“Silas.”
He turned.
“Yes?”
She swallowed.
“I don't know exactly what our marriage will look like.”
Silas nodded.
“I understand.”
She continued.
“But I want to try.”
His eyes filled.
“So do I.”
May you like
They reached for each other's hands.
And for the first time in a long time, neither felt the need to pretend everything was perfect.
