Dear Savvy Auntie,
My brother committed suicide a little over two years ago. He left behind a daughter and wife, although they were estranged from him at the time. Prior to his death, his side of the family - me, my mom, my Aunt, and grandparents - raised my niece from when she was two days old until age nine. We did this to protect her and to make sure she grew up in a loving environment, as her parents wouldn’t.
Two years ago, my niece’s mother decided that I was not allowed to see the child anymore, because the mother doesn't like me. She has now extended that to all members of this side of my niece's family. I know that my niece still loves us and misses all of us dearly, especially me, because there are "accidental" times that one of us will see her, like at the bus stop before school or at the store. On these occasions, she always says she misses me and loves me.
My question is, do you think that my time invested prior to this will sustain her until we can be together again, which might be another six years? Or will she slowly forget about us and we will be no more than a memory to her and I am hoping in vain to reconnect at some point?
Estranged Auntie