Chapter 6 - TRISTAN'S VERSION
Charlotte expected Tristan to defend his father.
He did.
At first.
“She’s a baby.”
“She screams all the time.”
“She touches my stuff.”
“She gets Mom attention.”
Charlotte listened.
Then asked:
“What does temporary mean?”
Tristan looked uncomfortable.
“Dad said Ben might take her someday.”
Charlotte froze.
“What?”
“He said if her real dad ever becomes responsible, she could live with him more.”
“Did he say that recently?”
“Yeah.”
“When?”
“When we looked at the house.”
Charlotte’s stomach tightened.
Ben had never requested custody.
Never discussed changing Chloe’s home.
Zachary had created a hypothetical future and used it to justify giving Chloe less space in the present.
Tristan continued:
“Dad said we shouldn’t build the whole house around someone who might not always be there.”
Charlotte almost could not speak.
“Did he call you permanent?”
Tristan nodded.
“You’re his wife. I’m his son.”
“And Chloe?”
He looked down.
“Your daughter.”
There it was.
May you like
Four people under one roof.
Three levels of belonging.
