Chapter 14 - The Visit Caleb Almost Refused
Nearly seven months after the nursery incident, Meredith requested a supervised visit.
Not with Elara.
With Caleb.
She had been living elsewhere, attending intensive therapy and complying with legal restrictions that kept her away from the child.
Caleb agreed to meet in a counselor’s office.
Meredith looked different.
Not transformed.
Tired.
She brought nothing.
No gifts for Elara.
No photograph of Laurel.
No excuse prepared in an envelope.
“I want to ask you something,” she said.
Caleb waited.
“If there’s ever a time when you think I can see her again—”
“No.”
Meredith stopped.
Caleb continued.
“Not now.”
Her eyes lowered.
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
“I’m trying to.”
That was the closest thing to progress he had heard from her.
Meredith asked whether he planned to tell Elara what happened when she was older.
“Yes.”
“All of it?”
“As much as she can understand at the appropriate age.”
“Even about me?”
“Yes.”
Meredith looked hurt.
Caleb let her be hurt.
Then she surprised him.
“Good.”
He studied her.
“She shouldn’t grow up thinking I disappeared because you were cruel.”
Caleb had once imagined that if Meredith ever accepted responsibility, he would feel satisfaction.
He didn’t.
He felt tired.
She reached into her handbag.
Caleb’s body tightened before he could stop it.
Meredith noticed.
She slowly placed both hands on the table instead.
“I was going to give you something.”
“What?”
“Laurel’s hospital bracelet.”
Caleb stared at her.
“I’ve kept it since she died.”
“Why bring it?”
“I thought you should have it.”
He almost accepted.
Then he stopped.
“No.”
Meredith looked confused.
“Keep it.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m done deciding who owns pieces of Laurel.”
Her expression changed.
Caleb stood.
“You can keep something without turning it into permission.”
Meredith nodded slowly.
When he reached the door, she spoke again.
“Caleb?”
He looked back.
“I am sorry about June.”
Not Elara.
June.
The person Meredith had spent months reducing to an obstacle.
May you like
That apology did not repair anything.
But it was the first one that showed Meredith understood the damage had spread beyond the person she believed she was grieving.
