***
Living with my daughters again was strange. They were adults now, but they fell back into teenage patterns almost immediately.
I did not ask them for much. I did not charge them rent or demand they contribute to groceries. I just asked that they be kind and acknowledge the fact that their little brother existed.
But they did not.
Not really.
They were polite, sure. They said good morning. They occasionally asked him about school.
But there was no warmth or genuine interest. When Jacob tried to show them his drawings or tell them about his day, they smiled tightly and found excuses to leave the room.
It hurt. God, it hurt to watch my son try so hard to connect with his sisters, only to be met with indifference and ignorance.
“Why don’t Kyra and Mattie like me?” he asked me one night as I tucked him into bed.
My heart cracked.
“Because of Dad?”
I kissed his forehead.
“Yeah, baby. Because of Dad. Their dad.
Not William.”Continue reading…