Chapter 13 - Revoking Access
The deputy asked whether my family had access to my home or authorization involving my son.
“Yes,” I said. “All three of them have keys. They are listed as school emergency contacts, and my sister is approved to pick him up.”
My mother looked at me with a faint, confident smile, as if that access still proved her importance.
“I am revoking all of it tonight,” I said.
Her smile disappeared. “Bri, do not make permanent decisions while you’re emotional.”
“This is not an emotional decision.”
“You cannot remove an entire family from a child’s life because of one mistake.”
“I’m not removing an entire family. I’m removing people who demonstrated that his safety becomes optional when he inconveniences them.”
My father leaned forward. “We are his grandparents.”
“That is a relationship, not an exemption from responsibility.”
My mother’s voice became quieter. “Rhett loves us.”
“He trusted you.”
The difference landed heavily. She looked toward the closed door behind which Rhett waited.
“You are going to confuse him.”
“No. I am going to make the rules clear.”
“And what exactly are those rules?”
I met her eyes. “You will not be alone with him. You will not collect him from school. You will not enter my home without permission. You will not contact him directly. Any future communication will go through me or my attorney.”
My mother stared at me. “You have been planning this.”
May you like
“I began planning it when park security called because you did not.”
For once, she had no immediate response.
