Chapter 15 - DANIEL’S FAILURE
Daniel and I met alone after Lily’s third therapy session.
He said:
“You should hate me.”
“I did.”
“Past tense?”
“Don’t get excited.”
He almost smiled.
Then stopped.
“I believed them because part of me wanted a reason.”
That hurt.
“A reason for what?”
“To be angry at you.”
“Why?”
“You wanted me to leave the company.”
“You wanted to leave.”
“I know.”
“Then?”
He rubbed his face.
“I was terrified.”
Of Margaret.
Of disappointing his late father’s expectations.
Of failing outside family business.
I had pushed.
“You called me weak.”
“I did.”
“You said if I stayed, you’d never respect me.”
I remembered.
Cruel.
Young.
True anger phrased as contempt.
“So when the test came back,” Daniel said, “it made me the injured one.”
I understood.
That was worse than simple stupidity.
Victimhood gave him permission not to confront his fear.
He chose the explanation that relieved him from difficult decisions.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
I looked at him.
“You can apologize to me later.”
“What now?”
“Be consistent with Lily.”
He nodded.
“Don’t buy her.”
He looked offended.
“I wasn’t—”
“You brought a giant Lego set last week.”
“She likes Lego.”
“She met you twice.”
He closed his mouth.
“Show up. Listen. Learn her teacher’s name. Stop trying to compress seven years into presents.”
May you like
He nodded again.
For once, I did not have to make him understand.
