Thank you for the update. This chapter has made things so very clear to me. I think, I rushed to judgment with John. Don't misunderstand me, I still dislike him. However, this seemed to  be more about a woman that was hurt/scorned. Her mother's 'help', made that glaringly obvious. "I'm not saying that you dislike Evangeline but you painted her into a corner when you didn't return her love and she found herself pregnant with your child.  She didn't want you anywhere near her so she did what she thought she had to do to accomplish that." Evangeline loved John and he did not return it, so she hit him where it would do the most damage... keeping him from his child. She even admitted that she liked the fact that John was fighting for their child and probably subconsciously wishes that he had done the same for her. 

 Personally, I think a lot of her keeping their child away from him, has more to do with her feelings being hurt and less to do with his mental state. Why stick around and dangle his child under his nose? She was being a bit vindictive, understandable, but still vindictive. What she wanted, he didn't have in him to give and therefore it made them both miserable. I do believe that John isn't the only one that needs professional help. Evangeline should seek some as well, if nothing else to figure out ...why she stayed as long as long as she did, with a man who was clearly not boyfriend material and still continued to be intimate with him, knowing he did not love her. I hope for their son's sake, they both get help and past the pain to be better parents.

Your stories are great. They bring out my analysing  skills..I know  it isn't always a good thing. I can't help it. LOL.  You are great a writer. P.S. Congratulations on your book, I will be purchasing a copy, soon.

Have a great and blessed weekend.