Chapter 13 - William’s Office Became A Playroom
Ethan eventually emptied William’s old office.
For years, it had remained almost exactly as his father left it.
Dark desk.
Locked cabinets.
Heavy curtains.
The room felt like authority.
Lily hated it.
Noah called it “Grandpa’s scary room.”
Ethan donated the desk.
Opened the curtains.
Removed the safe.
Then asked the children what the room should become.
“A game room,” Noah said.
“Art room,” Lily argued.
They compromised badly.
Half art.
Half games.
Caleb visited during the renovation.
He stood in the doorway.
“This was where he kept the letters.”
Ethan nodded.
“You okay?”
Caleb looked around.
“Actually, yeah.”
Noah appeared holding a paint roller.
“Are you Uncle Caleb?”
Caleb froze.
Ethan had not planned this moment.
Noah had.
Caleb crouched.
“If you want me to be.”
Noah studied him.
“You took us from school.”
“Yes.”
“That was bad.”
“Yes.”
“You bought me fries.”
Caleb almost smiled.
“That part was less bad.”
Noah nodded.
“Okay.”
Children did not follow adult scripts.
Lily remained upstairs.
She was not ready.
Caleb did not ask to see her.
That impressed Ethan more than an apology would have.
Boundaries were easy to praise.
Harder to obey when they hurt.
Months later, Lily came downstairs during one of Caleb’s visits.
She stopped.
Caleb remained seated.
“Hi, Lily.”
“Hi.”
Nothing else.
She got juice.
Went upstairs.
The next visit, she stayed five minutes.
Then twenty.
One day she asked:
“Do you still have fake Dad ID?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Caleb smiled.
May you like
“Very good.”
Trust returned in inches.
