The first meeting was painfully polite.
The second was worse.
Not because it went badly.
Because it went well.
Daniel arrived without uniform, wearing jeans and a plain gray shirt. I had never seen him look less like Colonel Reynolds. He brought no gifts after being advised not to buy affection. He answered questions honestly. When Noah asked, “Did you love Mama?” Daniel looked shaken but said, “Yes. Not well enough. Not bravely enough. But yes.”
When Sophia asked, “Are you still selfish?” he said, “Sometimes. I’m working on noticing before it hurts people.”
When Ethan asked, “Do you have proof you’re working on it?” Daniel almost smiled and handed him a therapy attendance record.
Ethan inspected it. “Acceptable evidence.”
Olivia showed him a drawing of a horse with wings.
Daniel said, “It’s beautiful.”
She narrowed her eyes. “It’s still not my best one.”
“I understand.”
