Chapter 12 - Milo and Ava
Milo stopped asking to hold Ava.
That broke Adrian.
Before incident, he loved it.
He would sit on sofa with pillows arranged around him and Ava supported in his lap while Adrian remained beside them.
Now he stayed several feet away.
“What if I bad?”
“You’re not.”
“Sera say baby not safe.”
“That wasn’t true.”
Milo looked at Ava.
“What if cry?”
“Babies cry.”
“What if I make?”
“Sometimes babies cry while someone safe is holding them.”
Milo did not believe immediately.
Therapist helped slowly.
One afternoon Ava fussed in bassinet.
Milo looked toward Adrian.
“Can touch hand?”
“Yes.”
He offered one finger.
Ava wrapped tiny fingers around it.
Milo smiled.
“Baby like.”
Adrian had to turn away so his son would not see him cry.
Later Milo asked:
“I good brother?”
Adrian answered:
“Yes.”
Then corrected himself.
“You don’t have to prove it.”
Milo thought.
Then nodded.
“Okay.”
May you like
That was more important.
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