Chapter 22 - The Question No Mother Could Escape
Leonardo asked to meet Serafina on a Tuesday morning.
We were eating pancakes in the kitchen.
He had syrup on his chin and a miniature dragon balanced beside his plate.
Dante was reading a newspaper.
I was reviewing construction estimates for the academy.
Then Leo tapped the table.
We both looked at him.
I want to ask the other mother a question.
My fork stopped halfway to my mouth.
Dante lowered the newspaper.
He signed carefully.
What would you like to know?
Leo looked between us.
Why didn't she come back?
The silence that followed felt enormous.
I wanted to tell him that some questions did not have answers.
But I knew better.
Children need truthful explanations, even when those explanations are painful.
And Leonardo had already spent too much of his life being denied information because adults found it uncomfortable.
That afternoon, I contacted his counselor, Dr. Hannah Brooks.
She specialized in supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing children and worked with qualified interpreters whenever necessary.
Hannah recommended a carefully prepared meeting in a familiar setting.
Leo would know whom he was meeting.
He could choose what questions to ask.
And he could end the visit whenever he wanted.
Evelyn coordinated the legal details.
Serafina agreed immediately.
Three days later, we met in a private therapy room near the academy's temporary learning center.
Serafina arrived wearing a simple blue sweater.
No pearls.
No sunglasses.
No dramatic entrance.
She had begun attending ASL classes.
When Leonardo entered, she stood nervously.
Then she signed a stiff, hesitant greeting.
Hello, Leonardo.
He watched her hands.
Hello.
Her eyes filled.
"I've been practicing," she said.
The interpreter conveyed her words.
Leo nodded politely.
Then he sat across from her.
For several minutes, they talked about ordinary things.
He showed her his dragon drawings.
She told him about the sea near Monaco.
He explained that his favorite subject was science and that Captain Waffles was terrible at following instructions.
Serafina laughed.
I watched her expression.
For the first time, she seemed to be looking at her son rather than at what he represented.
Then Leo became serious.
He placed his drawing on the table.
His hands moved slowly.
Did you know I was smart when I was little?
Serafina stopped smiling.
She looked toward the interpreter, who voiced the question.
"I didn't know how much you understood."
Leo frowned.
Did you ask anyone who knew signs?
Her face went pale.
"I should have."
Why didn't you?
Tears gathered in her eyes.
"I was frightened, sweetheart."
Leo watched her.
Of me?
"No," she said quickly. "Of being a bad mother. Of not knowing what to do. Of disappointing everyone."
He thought for a moment.
Then he signed something that made my throat close.
Clare didn't know everything either. She learned.
Serafina covered her mouth.
"You're right."
Leo continued.
I waited for you.
The interpreter's voice cracked slightly.
I watched Serafina's face collapse.
Not dramatically.
Not like the polished tears she had displayed for reporters.
This was the expression of a woman finally seeing the damage her choices had caused.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Leo looked down.
You missed my birthdays.
"I know."
You missed my first book.
"I know."
You missed when Daddy learned to sign.
Serafina began crying openly.
"I know, Leonardo. And I can never get those years back."
He sat quietly.
Then he looked toward Hannah.
Can I go now?
Hannah nodded.
Of course.
Leo stood.
Serafina reached toward him, then stopped herself.
"Could I see you again?"
He considered the question.
Maybe.
He picked up his drawing.
Then, after a moment, he tore a small corner from the paper.
It showed a blue dragon sitting alone on a hill.
He handed it to her.
You can have this one.
Serafina held the scrap of paper as though it were priceless.
After Leo left with Hannah, she broke down.
"I thought he would hate me."
I sat across from her.
"He may feel many different things about you. You need to let him have those feelings."
She nodded.
"I will."
Then her expression changed.
"Clare, there's something else I haven't told you."
I waited.
"Nathaniel didn't only promise to erase my debts."
"What else?"
"He said that if I obtained primary custody, a court could be asked to place Leonardo's financial interests under different supervision."
"His supervision?"
"Yes."
My chest tightened.
Serafina pulled a document from her handbag.
It was a draft agreement prepared by Voss's office.
Under its proposed terms, she would request that Voss remain managing trustee and receive expanded authority over Leonardo's investments.
In return, a company tied to Voss would provide her with an enormous consulting fee.
I read the figure.
Six million dollars.
The whole custody case had been designed to create financial leverage.
Serafina stared at the drawing Leo had given her.
"I was going to sign it."
My stomach turned.
"Why didn't you?"
She swallowed.
"Because today my son told me he waited for me."
May you like
Her voice cracked.
"And I realized Nathaniel was offering me six million dollars to disappoint him all over again."
