Chapter 5 - CALEB MEETS HIS DAUGHTERCaleb's first supervised visit happened at Margaret's house.
Grace agreed because she did not want Madeline's future determined entirely by what Caleb had done to her.
Caleb arrived carrying flowers.
“For you,” he said.
Grace shook her head.
“No speeches today.”
His eyes dropped.
“Okay.”
Then he saw Madeline.
Everything about him changed.
His daughter was tiny, wearing a yellow onesie.
Caleb stared at her.
“Can I hold her?”
Grace hesitated.
Then nodded.
He picked up his daughter.
His eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
Grace said nothing.
Madeline slept peacefully in his arms.
Caleb looked at her face.
“She doesn't even know me.”
“No,” Grace replied.
The words hurt him.
Good.
Not because Grace wanted him to suffer.
Because he needed to understand the consequence.
He had missed her birth.
He had missed the first cry.
He had missed the first moment she opened her eyes.
Those moments could never be recovered.
The visit lasted thirty minutes.
Before leaving, Caleb looked at Grace.
“I know I don't deserve forgiveness.”
Grace answered:
“Forgiveness isn't the issue.”
“What is?”
“Trust.”
Caleb nodded.
May you like
“I understand.”
For the first time, Grace believed he might actually mean it.
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