Chapter 12 - An Apology with No Door Attached
Dad sat on the bottom stair.
He watched the video twice.
The second time, he cried.
I stood by the kitchen doorway and waited.
“I kept thinking there would be another chance,” he said.
“There wasn’t another graduation.”
“I know.”
“There wasn’t another Mom.”
He bent forward, elbows on his knees.
“I know.”
This time, he didn’t say it like a way to end the conversation.
He said it like the words hurt.
He admitted he had known about the party before graduation.
He admitted Dana hadn’t forced him to send Julie the wrong date.
“She said your aunt would judge us.”
“So you gave her a reason.”
“Yes.”
The word surprised me.
No explanation attached.
No complaint about my tone.
Just yes.
He had liked Dana’s post because he wanted people to think the situation was complicated.
“It wasn’t complicated,” I said.
“You didn’t want to disappoint her.”
“Yes.”
“And you thought disappointing me would cost less.”
His face crumpled.
“Yes.”
I sat across from him.
That answer did not fix anything.
But it was the first honest thing he had given me.
He showed me the repayment plan.
The remaining account balance had been transferred.
He had arranged to sell his fishing boat.
He had canceled expenses and set up monthly payments for the rest.
Julie would help me keep records.
“I’m not asking you to come home,” he said.
I looked up.
He rubbed his eyes.
“I want you to.
But I don’t get to put that in the deal.”
“And Owen?”
“I told him I lied.
I told him you invited him.”
“What did Dana say?”
“She’s angry.”
“Are you going to change your mind when you get home?”
He stared at the floor.
“I understand why you asked that.”
It was a better answer than a promise.
Before he left, I gave him one condition.
“If you want to be in my life, you don’t get to punish me for telling the truth.”
He nodded.
The next afternoon, Dana came to the diner.
She chose a booth in my section and waited until I was holding a pot of coffee.
Then she smiled.
May you like
“I hope you’re proud of yourself,” she said.
“Your father is tearing our family apart over you.”
