Chapter 18
Valentina became part of the problem again when Ruby was ten.
Not directly.
Through Ethan.
His visitation with her had expanded slowly.
Supervised first.
Then community visits.
Then longer daytime contact.
Daniel told Domenico because Ruby and Ethan still saw each other regularly.
Domenico’s reaction was immediate.
“Does Ethan want this?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
Daniel looked at him.
“That is what he says.”
“Children can want unsafe things.”
“Yes.”
Domenico heard his own tone.
Daniel did too.
“Careful.”
That irritated him.
“What?”
“You’re starting to treat my son’s relationship with his mother like something you control because she hurt Ruby.”
Domenico became quiet.
Valentina had used Ethan.
Rewarded him for staying in Ruby’s chair.
Told him not to move.
Placed him inside a confrontation.
Those facts remained true.
So did another one.
She was Ethan’s mother.
Family court professionals were involved.
Daniel was involved.
Ethan was older now.
Domenico was not his father.
That distinction mattered.
Ruby learned two weeks later.
“Ethan sees Valentina?”
Domenico hated how she said the name.
Not Mom.
Not Mrs. Falcone.
Valentina.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he wants to.”
Ruby stared.
“She pulled my chair.”
“Yes.”
“She made him sit.”
“Yes.”
“Then why want?”
Domenico had no answer that did not risk defining Ethan for her.
“You can ask him.”
She did.
At Anna’s house.
Directly.
“Why you see your mom?”
Ethan looked uncomfortable.
“Because she’s my mom.”
“She did bad.”
“I know.”
“You mad?”
“Sometimes.”
“Then why?”
Ethan became frustrated.
“I can be mad and still want her.”
Ruby stared.
Apparently children discovered distinctions before adults.
She looked toward Domenico.
He did not help.
Good.
Ruby turned back.
“Does she say I bad?”
Ethan’s face changed.
“No.”
“Sure?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ask?”
“Yes.”
“What she say?”
Daniel intervened.
“That part may be Ethan’s conversation with his mother.”
Ruby frowned.
Again grown-ups.
Ethan surprised everyone.
“She said you didn’t do anything.”
Ruby looked at him.
“And?”
“She said she did.”
Silence.
That was enough for now.
Months passed.
Ethan continued seeing Valentina.
Ruby continued seeing Ethan.
Nothing transferred automatically.
Valentina did not gain access to Ruby because her relationship with Ethan improved.
Ruby did not have to reject Ethan to maintain her boundary with Valentina.
That sounded obvious.
It had not been obvious to the adults during the banquet.
Back then, everyone had treated children as extensions.
Ethan represented Valentina.
Ruby represented Domenico.
One child in one chair supposedly proved who belonged.
Now Ethan could leave Ruby’s house and visit his mother.
Then meet Ruby the next weekend.
No loyalty test required.
May you like
Domenico disliked how much he had to learn from ten-year-olds.
That was probably healthy too.
