Chapter 16 - WILLA'S BAD DREAM The night before Mother's hearing, Willa woke screaming.
“Daddy!”
I ran into her room.
She was sitting upright.
“Table.”
“What?”
“She makes me sit on floor.”
A dream.
Maybe.
Maybe memory.
I didn't ask questions.
The next morning, Dr. Chen told me Willa had remembered something else.
Grandma had once told her:
“If Daddy keeps making scenes, family will stop helping him and you'll have to move.”
That threat had terrified her.
She thought my anger could make our house disappear.
She believed:
If Daddy is good, house stays.
I sat beside her.
“Our house is not Grandma's.”
“Sure?”
“Yes.”
“Family money?”
“We don't need Grandma's money to keep our house.”
Her shoulders relaxed.
That was when I understood something important.
Financial independence wasn't just about adults.
It was emotional safety for children.
I moved family distributions out of our monthly household budget.
Our home would never depend on Mother again.
Then I updated the school contacts.
Mother removed.
Delphine removed.
Only approved people remained.
That evening, my anger counselor asked:
“What if your mother lies tomorrow?”
“Jonah handles it.”
“What if she insults Willa?”
“Jonah handles it.”
“What if she says Lila's name?”
I swallowed.
“I walk out.”
“Good.”
“What if she wins?”
I looked down.
“Legal process.”
Not pasta.
That was the promise I needed to keep.
Before I left for court, Willa called from the doorway.
“Daddy.”
“Yes?”
“No pasta.”
May you like
I smiled.
“No pasta.”
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