Chapter 6 - JULIAN ASKS FOR ONE HOUR
Six weeks after the gala, Julian requested supervised visitation.
My first instinct:
No.
Then I forced myself to separate mine from Maya’s.
Court evaluators reviewed everything.
The assault was committed by Genevieve, not Julian.
But Julian’s failure to intervene and his verbal response raised serious concerns.
Recommendation:
One-hour therapeutic visitation.
Only if Maya agreed to enter the room.
She did.
I hated it.
I also respected it.
The meeting happened at a child-services center.
One-way observation glass.
Julian entered without a suit.
No watch.
No phone.
He looked older.
Maya sat beside Dr. Morgan.
Julian stopped.
“Hi, bug.”
Maya’s face changed.
That had always been his nickname for her.
“Hi.”
He sat across.
“I’m sorry.”
Maya looked at Leah.
Then at him.
“For what?”
Julian swallowed.
“For not helping you.”
Good.
Specific.
Not “for everything.”
He continued.
“I should have stopped Genevieve.”
“Yes.”
“I should have picked you up.”
“Yes.”
“I should have listened to Mommy.”
Maya said:
“You laughed.”
Julian broke.
“I know.”
“You said I make problems.”
“I was wrong.”
She looked at him for a long time.
Then:
“I don’t want Genevieve.”
“You never have to see her with me.”
That was one promise he could reasonably make under supervision.
Maya nodded.
Then the sentence that changed him:
“You were supposed to be my safe grown-up.”
Julian cried.
Not theatrically.
His shoulders folded.
Maya did not comfort him.
Good.
Children do not owe adults comfort for adult guilt.
After forty-two minutes, Maya asked to leave.
The session ended.
Julian did not protest.
Outside, he saw me.
“Eleanor.”
I stopped.
He looked through the window toward Maya.
“I destroyed this.”
“Yes.”
No softening.
Then:
“Did you ever love me?”
I stared.
“For years.”
He closed his eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”
“I did.”
His eyes opened.
“I told you who I was every day.”
He looked confused.
“I liked cheap coffee.”
“I wanted my career.”
“I hated your mother insulting staff.”
“I wanted you home for Maya’s bedtime.”
“I wanted honesty.”
“I told you all of that.”
Then:
“You’re asking why I didn’t tell you how rich my father was.”
Silence.
“That is not the same as telling you who I was.”
Julian looked down.
May you like
There was nothing to add.
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