Chapter 10 - Anna’s ChoiceAnna Hawkins had spent four years telling herself divorce solved the Victor problem.
It solved the marriage.
Not the power.
Victor remained Mason’s principal.
His academic gatekeeper.
His recommendation writer.
His father.
Anna avoided confrontations because every confrontation became three hours of Victor explaining why she did not understand education.
“I gave up.”
Mason looked at her.
They sat in family therapy.
Anna continued:
“I started saying, ‘Talk to your dad. He knows school.’”
Mason’s jaw tightened.
“You did.”
“I know.”
“When I said retests felt weird?”
“I said he knew what he was doing.”
“You did.”
Anna’s eyes filled.
“I’m sorry.”
Mason looked away.
The therapist waited.
Anna did not ask for forgiveness.
Good.
She continued:
“I made peace more important than checking.”
Responsibility.
Not blame.
Victor made the decisions.
Evelyn changed scores.
Anna failed to investigate.
Different roles.
Then Anna filed to modify the family decision-making agreement.
Not to cut Victor out entirely.
To remove his unilateral authority over school enrollment, testing accommodations, and academic decisions while the investigation continued.
Family court issued temporary shared restrictions.
Victor could communicate with Mason through agreed channels.
No academic pressure.
No direct involvement in Mason’s current testing.
Power narrowed.
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Mason chose whether to take calls.
For the first time, fatherhood did not automatically equal access to every part of his school life.
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