Chapter 14 - Alexander Asked the Question We Feared
At ten, Alexander asked, “Why did Mom marry Daniel if Vance was my dad?”
Children are efficient.
Adults build elaborate explanations.
Kids find the center.
We answered together.
Rebecca first.
“I made a bad choice and lied.”
Vance next.
“I helped her lie.”
Daniel said, “I believed them, and I loved you before I knew.”
Alexander looked at me.
“And Aunt Val?”
I smiled sadly.
“I was married to Vance then.”
His eyes widened.
“So Dad cheated on you with Mom?”
Vance closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Alexander thought for a long time.
“That was really bad.”
We all laughed nervously.
“Yes,” I said.
“Are you mad?”
“Not anymore.”
“At Mom?”
“Not anymore.”
He looked confused.
“How?”
I thought.
“Because being angry forever would make what they did keep deciding my life.”
He nodded like that made sense.
Then asked if he could play video games.
Children.
The conversation we feared for a decade lasted twelve minutes.
May you like
Truth, delivered calmly, was less destructive than secrecy.
Always.
