Chapter 23 - Victor and Elowen
Victor Vane saw Elowen for the first time after the gala at a foundation concert two years later.
He approached me first.
“May I say hello?”
Good.
Not family entitlement.
I asked Elowen.
She shrugged.
“Okay.”
Victor crouched slightly so he was not towering.
“Hi, Elowen.”
“Hi.”
“I’m Marcella’s dad.”
“I know.”
Children.
Then:
“I’m sorry my daughter hurt you.”
Elowen looked at him.
“Did you tell her to?”
“No.”
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“Do you still love her?”
Victor’s face changed.
“Yes.”
“Even though she’s mean?”
“I love her. I don’t approve of what she did.”
Elowen considered.
“My dad says two things can be true.”
Victor looked at me.
“Apparently your dad is getting wiser.”
“Court class.”
I stared.
Elowen grinned.
Victor laughed.
Available joke.
Then he left.
No alliance.
May you like
No family merger.
Just one grandfather-aged man refusing to pretend loving his adult daughter required denying what she did.
