Chapter 12 - TWO CHILDREN LEARNING EACH OTHER
Maya met Noah formally three weeks after the paternity result.
She brought him a small bag of sour gummy worms.
Hannah said:
“He may not like those.”
Maya answered:
“He told me he does.”
Daniel looked at Noah.
Noah grinned.
Apparently the children had exchanged information in the alley faster than adults managed in courtrooms.
Maya’s ASL was fluent for her age.
Noah loved that.
For once he did not have to slow down for a hearing adult.
Their relationship developed through tiny things.
Minecraft.
Drawing.
Arguments about cereal.
Maya correcting Daniel’s sloppy sign for “annoying.”
Noah teaching Maya the name of every dinosaur whether she wanted to know or not.
Daniel did not force sibling intimacy.
It came anyway.
Hannah remained cautious.
So did Daniel.
They created a parenting schedule slowly after paternity and custody were legally established.
No romantic reunion.
That story did not need one.
They had been people in each other’s lives eight years earlier.
Now they were parents to the same child.
Different job.
More important.
Maya eventually asked Daniel why he didn’t find her sooner.
He told the truth without making Hannah carry all of it.
“I didn’t know you existed.”
“Mom tried?”
“At first.”
“And Vanessa stopped it?”
“Yes.”
“Then Mom took money.”
Daniel paused.
“Yes.”
Maya stared at the floor.
“Was that bad?”
“It was a scared choice.”
“Same as bad?”
“Sometimes scared choices hurt people.”
Maya considered.
Then:
“Are you mad at Mom?”
“Sometimes.”
“Do you hate her?”
“No.”
“Do you hate Vanessa?”
Daniel almost answered too quickly.
Then stopped.
“I hate things she did.”
Maya nodded.
May you like
That distinction seemed enough.
For now.
