The Boys Speak
Chapter 14 - The Boys Speak
The court-appointed evaluator interviewed everyone separately.
Claire.
Adrian.
Evelyn.
The teachers.
The boys.
Claire was terrified of that last part.
She did not want Owen and Luke carrying adult decisions.
The evaluator assured her that children were not asked to choose a parent.
They were asked how they felt.
Owen spoke first.
He said he loved his father.
Then he said he did not trust him.
Luke said he missed sleeping at the old house.
Then he admitted he hated hearing adults talk about money.
Neither boy asked to stop seeing Adrian.
That surprised Claire.
And taught her something.
Children could be hurt and still love the person who hurt them.
Adults could too.
The evaluator's report recommended that Claire remain the primary residential parent.
Adrian would have structured visitation and family therapy.
Evelyn's contact would be permitted only if she respected boundaries and stopped discussing the case.
The judge adopted the recommendation temporarily.
Outside the courthouse, Adrian sat alone on a bench.
Claire would have walked past.
Then he said, "Did they tell you what Owen said?"
She stopped.
"No."
"He said he still wants me at his baseball games."
Adrian covered his face.
Claire felt the old instinct to comfort him.
She did not obey it.
But she did not enjoy his pain either.
"Then show up," she said.
He looked at her.
"That's it?"
"No."
Claire's voice softened.
"Show up without making him responsible for forgiving you."
Adrian nodded slowly.
It was the first conversation they had in months that did not feel like a battle.
But peace was still far away.
Because Evelyn had one final move left.
May you like
She challenged Richard's trust amendment.
If she won, the entire financial motive behind the case could be rewritten.
