Chapter 9 - Victor Asked to See Them
Victor was charged with multiple offenses arising from the forged documents, continued concealment of the children, misuse of benefits, and related conduct.
Not everything happened at once.
His lawyers challenged jurisdiction.
Some acts occurred in different states.
The original forgery involved Rachel, who was dead.
Prosecutors had to separate what Victor did with Rachel from what he chose afterward.
The twins’ case did not wait for criminal resolution.
Victor requested supervised contact.
Denise opposed it initially.
The twins’ therapist wanted more time.
Then Amelia said something unexpected.
“I want to know why.”
Not forgiveness.
Why.
The court eventually permitted a therapeutic video session.
Victor appeared on a screen.
No suit.
No perfect hair.
He looked tired.
Ava kept both hands beneath the table.
Amelia stared directly at him.
“Did Mom die?”
Victor closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why did you say she left?”
“I thought I was protecting you.”
Ava spoke for the first time.
“From what?”
“Pain.”
Amelia’s voice sharpened.
“You made different pain.”
Victor started crying.
Neither girl comforted him.
That mattered.
“Why didn’t you take us to Aunt Laura?”
Victor looked down.
“Because I thought she would turn me in.”
“So?”
He looked stunned.
Amelia repeated:
“So?”
Eight years old.
One syllable.
The entire case.
Victor had convinced himself that his freedom and the twins’ safety were the same thing.
They weren’t.
He admitted that after Grant went to prison he considered coming forward.
Then Rachel’s forgery would have surfaced.
So would his role.
He might have faced charges.
He might have lost the girls.
“I told myself I would fix it after another year.”
Then the survivor checks became part of rent.
Then debt.
Then routine.
“I never took all your money.”
Ava looked confused.
Her therapist interrupted.
“This session is not for defending financial conduct.”
Victor stopped.
Good.
At the end Amelia asked:
“Did you love us?”
Victor answered immediately.
“Yes.”
She looked toward the therapist.
“Then why do people say love like it fixes stuff?”
Nobody in the room had a quick answer.
The session ended.
Victor requested another.
May you like
The girls declined.
For now.
