“Because I raised you.”
A tear rolled down my cheek.
“So why make me think less of you?”
His answer came quietly.
“Because I could survive you being disappointed in me.”
His eyes filled completely.
“I wasn’t sure I could survive something happening to you or that baby while everything was exploding around you.”
I covered my mouth.
Dad continued.
“The night you came home, I wanted to drive to your house and put Daniel through a wall.”
Despite myself, a broken laugh escaped me.
Dad smiled faintly.
“Your mother talked me out of that.”
“Does Mom know what you told me?”
“Oh, yes.”
I blinked.
“She does?”
“She wanted to strangle me too.”
I laughed again.
Then cried.
Dad reached for my hand but stopped.
He let me decide.
After a moment, I placed mine in his.
He squeezed gently.
“I hated myself every time you looked at me differently.”
