I wanted to call Patty and scream.
But I calmed down.
“What else did Grandma say? »
Olivia looked at the door. “She said if I cut my hair, maybe Dad wouldn’t pick me.
“But Dad is dead. You remember? »
***
In the hallway, I took three great inspirations. Then I wiped my cheeks, went into the kitchen and opened Olivia’s backpack.
“What did Patty do? “I whispered.
I found a piece of paper.
Olivia had drawn herself, Grandma Patty and a tall man with yellow hair in front of a big house. There were the words: “Dad’s house”
I took three great inspirations.
Below, Patty wrote:
“Don’t forget who you belong to, Olivia.”
***
The next morning I called Mr. Wallace, the lawyer who was involved in William’s estate.
“Allie. Is everything okay? “He asked.
“No. Did Patty contact you? »
He’s you.
“What did she ask for? »
“She called last month,” he said cautiously. “She wanted to know if a grandparent could ask to supervise a child’s trust if the surviving parent was emotionally unstable. »
“What did she ask for? »
“Did she use those words? »
“Yes. »
“What else? »
She asked whether erasing the deceased parent’s memory could serve as an argument in a complaint about access. »
“I didn’t do anything like that.”
“Allie,” he said. “Consign everything in writing. I told Patty that I could only act in the course of my duties, and William clearly expressed his wishes. You and Olivia come first. »
“I didn’t do anything like that. »
***
That afternoon, I went to Patty alone.
“Allie,” she said. “Where is my granddaughter? »
“She’s home with my mother. »
“So why are you here? »
I came in and put the drawing on his coffee table.
Patty looked at him, and then looked at me.
“So why are you here? »
“What is it? “I asked.
“It’s a drawing, Allie. »
“Try again, Patty. »
“You cut his hair, moved William’s stuff and stopped bringing him here every Sunday. And you act like you’re shocked that I want her to remember her father? »
“I took her to get her hair cut because brushing her hair hurts. »
“These loops are William’s. »
“To make her remember my son? »
“No,” I said. “These loops are Olivia’s. »
“You don’t know what it’s like to lose a son. »
“No, you are right. I know what it’s like to lose a husband.”
She looked away.
I got closer. “Did you tell Olivia her father was coming back? »
“I told him he was always with us. »
“You don’t know what it’s like to lose a son. »
“Did you tell her he might not recognize her if she cut her hair? »
“Replie me. »
“She looks like him! Every time I see her, I see him. And you keep changing everything. »
“She is four years old. She’s supposed to change. »
“It’s easy for you to say. You have his house, his money and his child. »
“Replie me. »
And here is the awful truth.
“My husband left us the house,” I said. “And he left money for Olivia’s future. »
“His family should have a say. »
“His family has no right to scare my daughter either. »
Patty’s eyes filled with tears. “But she’s all that I have left. »
I had pain for my mother-in-law.
Then I heard my daughter’s voice in my head: “Dad might not recognize me”
“Olivia is not a memorial,” I said. “She is a child. »
