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. »