Not physically, but morally. He sent flowers, then letters, then long voicemails filled with apologies about debt, pressure, fear, and how Vanessa “took things too far.” I ignored all the versions in which he blamed her more than himself. Weakness is not innocence. He sat on that couch and agreed to weaponize my desire for a grandchild. Even though the idea had started with Vanessa, he gave it his silence, his moment, and his last name.
Yes, I met with him once, six weeks later, in Caleb’s office.
Not to reconcile, but to sign the terms of the refund.
She agreed to return every last penny spent under the false pregnancy narrative, including the baby room purchases and the money transferred from my account under fabricated pretexts. It will take time. I don’t mind. Time is cheaper than trust, and trust was what she truly owed me.
As for the lake cabin, I kept it.
