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137 Bye Bye Judy

337 Bye Bye Judy (Winona)

The playroom is busy, full of kids running around and laughter filling the space. It's a typical scene for this supervised visit, the noise and chaos swirling around.

I sit on the bench, arms crossed, watching Abby and Judy interact. Judy gets two hours a week with her, and I always make sure to keep my distance. Today's no different.

"Mommy, look at the tower I built!" Abby rushes over, beaming, holding up a colorful stack of blocks, her face glowing with pride.

"Wow, that's amazing, honey," I say with a smile, softening just for her. "Go show Grandma Judy. This is her time with you, sweetie." "Okay, Mommy!"

Abby runs back to her, her little legs carrying her eagerly. I settle deeper into my seat, crossing my arms again. The less I engage with Judy, the better. But today, I have to tell her we're leaving for Europe soon. Just thinking about that makes me tense up. I'm dreading her reaction, her manipulations.

Judy's voice drifts over from where she's sitting with Abby, but it's all directed at my daughter. "You're getting so big, sweetheart. So clever, too," she says, every bit the doting grandmother.

Abby giggles, stacking more blocks while Judy smiles at her, I can't fault her love for Abby. But that alone will never be enough for me to trust her or invite her back into our lives.

Not after everything. The problem is, I wonder if she's ever really out of our lives. She finds ways to stay connected, to keep her influence creeping around the edges.

thing I want is for her to try and turn this into some sort of advantage for herself. "Judy," I

that signature smile plastered across her face. "How lovely. The whole family back together again. I'm sure it

her eyes sparkling with something I can't quite read. "Well, I'm sure Abby

for a beat, her tone sweet but probing. 1 assume the baby

my skin crawl. Judy always knows

do with the delays in Henry's medical clearance. But I don't rise to the balt.

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337 Bye Bye Judy

letting you know that Abby's visits will

falter, but there's a flicker in her eyes, something calculating.

I don't need to give her any more information

Abby, and they head over to the reading area, laughing over something as Judy sits and scoops Abby with her book into her lap. I retreat to

matters.

d daddy.

her a little longer than usual. "Be good for your

her eyes lighting up. "I will,

adds, her

Abby chirps, giving her

all the best for your trip," Judy says as she rises to leave,

the courts know

hug. "Have fun, my sweet girl. I'll call you,

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