Chapter 19 - The New Foundation
Years passed, bringing a profound, beautiful rhythm of peace to our lives.
Clare grew into a fiercely intelligent, fiercely independent little girl. She had her father’s steady, analytical mind, and a stubborn streak that was entirely my own.
Olivia and I maintained a close, cautious relationship. We met for coffee, we brought our children together for playdates, and we actively worked to unlearn the toxic behaviors our parents had instilled in us.
We were not the family we were born into. We were the family we actively chose to build.
One afternoon, I stood in my kitchen, watching Clare sitting on the living room rug, building a massive, complicated tower out of wooden blocks.
She carefully placed the final block on top. The tower wobbled, tilted, and then came crashing down onto the floor with a loud clatter.
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Clare didn't cry. She didn't look at me in terror, waiting to be punished for making a mess.
She just laughed, a bright, joyous sound, and immediately started gathering the blocks to build it all over again.
