“Yes.”
No comfort.
That was the truth.
He said it again.
“I should have been there.”
His voice broke.
Vanessa quietly stepped away toward the window.
Adrian looked at her.
I said:
“You need to speak with her too.”
“I know.”
Then he looked at me.
“Do the boys hate me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“They don’t know you.”
That hurt him more than anger would have.
Good.
Not because I wanted him punished.
Because reality matters.
He asked:
“Can I know them?”
I took a long breath.
“Yes.”
His head came up.
“But slowly.”
“Anything.”
“No.”
“Not anything.”
“Consistency.”
“No large gifts.”
“No sudden weekends.”
“No asking them to call you Dad.”
“No promises about making up eight years.”
“You cannot make up eight years.”
Adrian nodded.
“No blaming me for stopping contact.”
“I won’t.”
“No involving Vanessa in some competition.”
Vanessa turned slightly.
Adrian answered:
“I won’t.”
