CHAPTER 23: THE FAMILY MEETING
My father called me a month later.
He wanted to meet. Just the two of us. He sounded different. Softer. Almost apologetic.
We met at a quiet restaurant in the suburbs. He was waiting at a corner table, a glass of water in front of him.
"Evelyn," he said. "Thank you for coming."
"Dad, what is this about?"
"I want to make things right. I know I can't undo the past. But I want to try."
"Why now?"
"Because I've been doing a lot of thinking. About your mother. About your brother. About everything."
He took a deep breath.
"Your mother is never going to change. I know that now. But I'm tired of being afraid. I'm tired of letting her control my life."
"So what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to leave her. I've already filed for divorce."
I stared at him. "You're leaving Mom?"
"She's toxic, Evelyn. She's always been toxic. And I let her destroy our family."
"And Grant?"
"Grant is on his own. He made his choices. I can't save him."
He reached across the table and took my hand.
"I want to be in your life, Evelyn. I want to be a grandfather to Sophie. I want to make amends."
I looked at him for a long moment. I saw the regret in his eyes. The pain.
"Okay, Dad," I said. "We can try."
May you like
He smiled.
And for the first time in years, I felt like I had a father again.
