Chapter 18 - CAROLINA'S NEW HOUSE
Carolina bought a small townhouse.
Two bedrooms.
Tiny yard.
No dramatic staircase.
Gracie noticed that immediately.
“Did you choose one floor because of me?”
Carolina looked embarrassed.
“Partly.”
Gracie rolled her eyes.
“I’m not scared of stairs.”
Carolina laughed.
“Okay.”
Eventually she bought a loft bed for Gracie.
More climbing than any staircase.
Progress.
Sawyer attended the housewarming briefly.
He stood in Carolina’s kitchen drinking coffee.
Strange.
Peaceful.
She showed him Gracie’s room.
Not as invitation.
As co-parent.
There were boundaries.
Medication list.
School calendar.
Emergency numbers.
Clear.
No hidden plans.
No custody files.
No investigator.
Systems replacing fear.
Sawyer realized trust did not return as a feeling first.
May you like
It returned as predictable behavior.
That was more useful.
