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.

I glance at my watch, noting the time. We're almost halfway through the visit. I take a deep breath, steadying myself before dropping the news. The last thing I want is for her to try and turn this into some sort of advantage for herself. "Judy," I say, keeping my tone neutral as I approach them. "Just so you're aware, we'll be going to join Jayden for an extended vacation at the end of next week."

Judy looks up at me, that signature smile plastered across her face. "How lovely. The whole family back together again. I'm sure it will be a wonderful trip." I nod, keeping my responses short and factual. "Yes."

Her smile widens, her eyes sparkling with something I can't quite read. "Well, I'm sure Abby will have a wonderful time over there. I'll miss seeing her."

She pauses for a beat, her tone sweet but probing. 1 assume the baby is okay to travel then. He must be getting stronger."

Just the fact that she mentioned Henry traveling makes my skin crawl. Judy always knows too much, always inserting herself into situations she has no business in.

I suspect she had something to do with the delays in Henry's medical clearance. But I don't rise to the balt. I'm not playing her games.

337 Bye Bye Judy

"Anyway, I'm just letting you know that Abby's visits will be postponed while we're away."

Judy's smile doesn't falter, but there's a flicker in her eyes, something calculating. I'm sure time will fly. It always does.": text © owner.

I give her a curt nod and step back; glad the conversation is brief. I don't need to give her any more information than necessary. I'm not inviting further questions. I won't be drawn into going into details.

Judy shifts her attention back to 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 my bench, glad that bridge has been crossed. This visit will be over soon, and that's all that

matters.

d daddy.

I watch Judy hug Abby tightly, holding her a little longer than usual. "Be good for your mommy and okay?" she coos softly.

Abby grins, her eyes lighting up. "I will, Grandma Judy!"

"You know how much I love you," Judy adds, her voice almost too sweet. "And kiss Henry for me, alright?

"Okay!" Abby chirps, giving her one last squeeze.

"Winona, all the best for your trip," Judy says as she rises to leave, her smile still firmly in place.

'T'll let the courts know when I'm back."

Judy gives Abby another long hug. "Have fun, my sweet girl. I'll call you, okay?"

"Okay! Bye, Grandma. See you soon!" Abby says as she waves.

We head out to the car, and I buckle Abby into her seat,

"Abby, you won't be seeing Grandma Judy again before we leave, you know that, right?" "Yes, Mommy."

"Oh, it's just that you said 'see you soon.' I thought maybe you were confused."

Abby shakes her head. "No, Grandma Judy said she'll see me soon. After we read the books."

I feel a wave of cold wash over me, but I keep my voice steady. "What do you mean, sweetie?"

"Grandma Judy said she'll see me soon but don't tell anyone. Am I in trouble for telling?"

I force a smile, my mind racing. "No, you're not in trouble, honey. You did the right thing by telling me. St probably just said that to make you feel better about not seeing her for a while." Abby seems satisfied with that, but I'm not.

She has no right to put thoughts in a child's head like that. Just to make me pissed. Judy would know that Abby would tell me. Lying to a child as a pawn in her sick game.

It's a horrible thing to do.

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