Chapter 22 - Daniel’s apology
His first apologies were too broad.
“I’m sorry I scared you.”
Not enough.
“I’m sorry work came home.”
Work did not open our door.
Then, one evening in therapy eleven months after the break-in, Daniel said:
“I saw Evan at the airport and knew there was a chance I had underestimated the danger.”
I stayed quiet.
He continued:
“I did not call you then because if I told you, you would ask me to come home.”
“Yes.”
“I thought I had to make the Chicago meeting.”
There.
“I thought if I missed it, Nathan would erase evidence and I would lose my chance to prove I wasn’t part of what he did.”
“Yes.”
“So I chose the meeting.”
My chest tightened.
He continued:
“I told myself that choice protected our future. It did not protect you that night.”
No excuses.
Then:
“When the garage alert came, I understood immediately that I had been wrong.”
I nodded.
“I called you because I loved you.”
“I know.”
“That doesn’t erase the hour before.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“I’m sorry I treated you like someone to warn after I made the decision instead of someone entitled to help make the decision.”
There.
That was the apology I needed.
Not:
May you like
I’m sorry there was danger.
I’m sorry I decided your role inside it.
