Chapter 11 - Ryan Had to Grieve a Mother Twice
Ryan stopped speaking to David for months.
Not Linda.
That relationship was already subject to legal restrictions.
David was harder.
His father had loved him.
Raised him.
Attended every baseball game.
Paid for college.
Held him after his first breakup.
And still allowed Ryan to believe his biological mother abandoned him when David knew the story was at least deeply compromised.
People wanted Ryan to simplify that.
Forgive him.
Cut him off.
Choose.
He refused.
“I don't know what he is to me right now.”
That was allowed.
Karen gave Ryan twenty-six letters Susan had written but never mailed.
Some had been returned.
Others she feared sending.
One said:
You may grow up believing I chose to leave. I hope someday somebody loves you enough to tell you that losing in court and leaving are not the same thing.
Ryan read it beside Lily’s crib.
Then cried silently for almost an hour.
I did not tell him everything would be okay.
May you like
Some things do not become okay.
They become known.
