Page 55 of Gideon's Gratitude

“But I won’t.”

“But Leo doesn’t see it that way.”

Another wince. “He won’t forgive me. He won’t give me another chance. He doesn’t…”

“Doesn’t…”

“Believe the pain is real. Believe the sensitivity is real. He honestly believes I’m faking everything.”

“To what end?”

He dropped into the chair. “I don’t know anymore. I just don’t know.”

“See, and here’s why I offered to help. Just because the divorce is final, doesn’t mean custody has to be set.”

“I told you. Everyone agreed the kids were better off without me around.”

Lord help me.“Are they truly? Yes, you endangered them once. And I’m not attempting to minimize that. But if you’re clean and sober, then you should be offered a chance at redemption.”

“What if I don’t? What if what I did was unforgivable?”

“Most offenders get a second chance. Even if Leo’s not willing to give you that chance, I’ll bet we can find a judge who is. Agree to supervised visitations at first. Prove you’re better.”

“But I’m not better. I can’t pick up my kids. I can’t get down on the floor and play with them. I can’t be the father they need.”

And here might just be the actual cause. “I represented a mother in a wheelchair who fought for custody. You think she was any less capable? Her husband was a jackass who’d had multiple affairs while his wife got sicker. He figured the courts would side with him thatshe couldn’t care for the children. But she could. And she did. It’s all about adaptation and changing expectations. You figure out what you can do, and you make it work.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

“It’s not easy. It’s hard. It’s damn hard work. But it would also be worth it, yes?”

No missing the flare of hope in those light-brown eyes. “Do your visit today, see the counselor tonight, and we’ll see about the rest of it.”

He sat a little straighter, then winced. Then winced at the wince. “I need to stop doing that.”

“Stop feeling pain? I didn’t know that was possible.”

A roll of the eyes. “You know what I mean.”

“No, I don’t know what you mean. Chronic pain is real. Millions of people have it. Billions of dollars have been made trying to treat it. You haven’t found what works for you. But you will. And I suspect you’ll feel better once your kids are back in your life.”

“If.”

“When.” Did I have the right to be so confident? No. Was I going to push anyway? Well, that was what I did.

“It’s time.” He positioned himself, and after a few clicks, the familiar screen popped up.

I moved away, but he leaned over and snagged my arm. “Next to me, please?”

He didn’t take his eyes off the screen, but the pleading was clear.

After grabbing another chair, I tucked myself next to the nervous man, ensuring I was out of sight.

A moment later, a gasp and a squeal. “Daddy.”

“Hey, sweetheart.”

The catch in his throat was unmissable.

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