“Tommy,” I said, “you don’t have to hate your father to prove that you love me.” “Right now I do hate him,” he mumbled.

“That’s okay.

You’re allowed.” “What if someday I don’t hate him anymore?” “Then that will be okay too, sweetheart.

What he did to me as my husband is mine to deal with.

What you feel about him as your dad is yours, and I will never, ever use your feelings as a weapon in my fight.

That’s a promise.”

Chapter 14 — Do You Actually Want to Know?

Months in, Tommy agreed to a court-monitored visit with his father.