Chapter 15 - Richard’s Birthday
A year after O’Hare, Richard turned seventy.
He invited me.
I almost said no.
Emma asked me to come.
So I went.
Small dinner.
No Olivia.
No lies.
Richard looked nervous when I arrived.
“I didn’t think you would.”
“Neither did I.”
Fair.
After dinner, he asked to speak privately.
“I owe you more than an apology.”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
No defensiveness.
“I treated marriage like something Daniel could transition out of while keeping the family comfortable.”
“You helped him erase me.”
“Yes.”
That direct answer surprised me.
He continued.
“I told myself I was protecting Emma and Noah from conflict.”
“But really, I was protecting Daniel from shame.”
“Yes.”
He looked toward the dining room.
“I loved you like a daughter.”
I felt anger rise.
“Then you should have called me.”
“I know.”
“I sat at your table for twelve years.”
“I know.”
“You upgraded his room with another woman.”
His eyes filled.
“I know.”
There was nothing more useful to say.
Finally:
“I don’t expect things to go back.”
“They won’t.”
“Can they become something else?”
I thought.
“Maybe.”
That was all I had.
He accepted it.
May you like
The man who once helped create a secret vacation finally learned that access to me was not guaranteed by family title.
That was enough progress for one birthday.
