Chapter 24 - BRAVERY USUALLY ISBy summer, Lila no longer flinched when unfamiliar staff approached her.
She still disliked being fed too quickly.
Caroline made that a firm rule.
Lila fed herself whenever possible.
Messy.
Slow.
Normal.
Miles sat beside her at breakfast one morning.
She attempted to spear a strawberry.
Failed.
Tried again.
Marissa would have taken the fork.
Miles waited.
On the fourth try, Lila succeeded.
She looked delighted.
“Did it!”
“You did.”
Vivian entered.
Lila waved.
“Gamma!”
The entire room still changed when Vivian entered.
But not from fear.
Not for the children.
Miles watched his grandmother sit.
“Grandma?”
“Yes?”
“Were you scared when you heard Marissa that day?”
Vivian looked at him.
“Why?”
“You looked like you weren’t.”
“I was angry.”
“That’s not scared.”
“They can coexist.”
Miles considered.
“What were you scared of?”
“That I had arrived too late.”
He stopped.
Vivian continued.
“That I might discover something had been happening in my home while everyone assumed everything was fine.”
Miles looked down.
“So you were scared.”
“Yes.”
“But you didn’t look scared.”
Vivian raised an eyebrow.
“Neither did you.”
“I was.”
“I know.”
Caroline entered holding coffee.
Miles said:
“Mom says I was brave.”
Vivian nodded.
“You were.”
“I was scared.”
Vivian buttered toast.
“Bravery usually is.”
Miles smiled.
“That sounds like something you practiced saying.”
“I resent the implication.”
Ethan entered.
“What are we resenting?”
“Your son.”
“Normal morning.”
Lila dropped her spoon.
Everyone looked.
For half a second Miles’s body tightened.
Old memory.
A bowl.
A hand behind Lila’s head.
A voice shouting EAT.
Then Lila laughed.
Ethan picked up the spoon.
“Five-second rule.”
Caroline gave him a look.
“Absolutely not.”
He carried it to the sink.
Miles breathed.
Memory did not disappear.
It became less powerful.
That afternoon Vivian took Miles for ice cream.
He asked why.
“No reason.”
“Adults always have reasons.”
Vivian almost smiled.
“Fine.”
They sat outside the shop.
Vivian said:
“I have been thinking about what Marissa asked you.”
Miles knew immediately.
Who would believe you?
“She wanted you to believe credibility comes from age.”
Miles listened.
“Or position.”
She continued.
“Or money.”
Miles nodded.
“She was wrong.”
“Because you believed me?”
“No.”
Vivian looked directly at him.
“Because truth does not become true only after powerful people approve it.”
Miles thought for a long time.
“That sounds complicated.”
“It is.”
“Can I just have ice cream?”
May you like
“Yes.”
That was enough philosophy for one afternoon.
