Chapter 25 - Gigi meets Victoria again
Gigi was four when she saw Victoria after a long gap.
Not two.
Not immediately.
Four.
Old enough to know:
Grandma Victoria.
Young enough that much of the party existed as fragments.
We met at a children’s museum.
Public.
Me present.
Dr. Pierce had helped plan.
Victoria arrived early.
No giant gift.
Good.
One small book.
She asked me first:
“Can I give this?”
“Yes.”
Gigi saw her.
Paused.
Then:
“Grandma?”
Victoria cried instantly.
I nearly ended the visit because tears can become pressure.
Victoria caught herself.
Wiped them.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
Gigi looked at me.
I nodded.
She walked closer.
Victoria did not grab.
“Can I hug you?”
Gigi thought.
“No.”
Victoria’s face changed for half a second.
Then:
“Okay.”
That was the whole test.
No:
But I’m Grandma.
No wounded performance.
Okay.
Ten minutes later Gigi handed her a plastic dinosaur.
“Hold.”
Victoria held it.
Twenty minutes later:
“Come see bubbles.”
Victoria followed.
At the end, Gigi hugged her without being asked.
Three seconds.
Victoria looked at me over Gigi’s shoulder.
I looked away.
Let it belong to them.
Afterward Victoria asked:
“Did that go well?”
“Yes.”
“Can we do it again?”
“In a few weeks.”
She wanted sooner.
I saw it.
She said:
May you like
“Okay.”
New evidence.
