Chapter 19 - THE LAST TIME HE ASKED ME TO CHOOSE HIM|
Grant's criminal hearing took place three months later.
By then, Eli had completed his physical therapy.
He could walk without assistance, although he still tired easily.
He had started kindergarten again and made a new friend named Owen, who lived two streets away.
One afternoon, he asked whether he could invite Owen over.
“Of course,” I said.
“Can we make cookies?”
“Absolutely.”
He smiled.
Then he asked, “Will Dad come?”
I looked at him.
“Would you like him to?”
Eli thought for a moment.
“I want to know if he remembers my birthday.”
My heart tightened.
“Then we'll see.”
The hearing was held in a federal courtroom.
Grant sat beside his attorney.
He looked thinner. His hair was less carefully styled, and his expression had lost the confidence that once made people move out of his way.
The prosecution presented the transfer records, the forged signatures, the foundation payments, and the recordings.
Victor Hale had agreed to testify.
Rachel testified about the private payments and the false claims made to the hospital.
The evidence showed that Grant had knowingly bypassed emergency allocation rules, misrepresented his authority, and participated in a scheme to conceal the diversion of foundation funds.
His attorney argued that he had been trying to help a sick child.
The prosecutor responded that the issue was not whether Sophie deserved care.
It was whether Grant had the right to take emergency resources away from other children to guarantee special treatment for someone he favored.
The judge ordered the case to proceed.
Outside the courtroom, Grant approached me.
“Mara.”
Holly stepped beside me.
“What do you want?”
“I want to talk.”
“You can speak through your attorney.”
“Please.”
I looked at him.
He seemed genuinely desperate.
“I made mistakes,” he said.
“You made many.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
He lowered his eyes.
“I never thought you'd turn against me.”
I stared at him.
“I didn't turn against you. I stopped standing in front of you when you were hurting people.”
He swallowed.
“I miss Eli.”
“Then you should have shown up when he needed you.”
“I want another chance.”
“That isn't my decision anymore.”
His eyes filled.
“You can't keep him from me.”
“I won't. But any contact will be based on his safety and emotional well-being, not your convenience.”
Grant looked toward the courtroom doors.
“I thought we were building a life together.”
“We were. Then you decided I was only useful when you needed me.”
He looked at me.
“I didn't mean it that way.”
“But you said it.”
I turned to leave.
Then he called after me.
“Mara, do you remember our first apartment?”
I stopped.
“I remember.”
“You used to leave the kitchen light on for me.”
“I did.”
“I thought that meant you would always wait.”
I looked back.
“No, Grant. It meant I loved you. You mistook that love for permission to keep hurting me.”
I walked away.
That evening, Eli asked whether his father had been at the courthouse.
“Yes.”
“Did he ask about me?”
“Yes.”
Eli considered that.
“Maybe he can come to my school play.”
I nodded.
“If you want that, we'll talk to your counselor and make sure it feels safe.”
Eli smiled.
Then he went back to building his tower.
I watched him for a long time.
May you like
He was learning that love could have boundaries.
And that was something I wished I had learned sooner.
