Chapter 15 - Walt’s boat
My father had always been easier than my mother.
That made his role harder for me.
Gloria commanded.
Walt avoided.
As children, Rachel and I went to Dad when Mom was angry.
He would say:
“Give her time.”
“Just apologize.”
“Don’t make it bigger.”
Peace through surrender.
I had loved him for being softer.
Now I saw the price.
He met me at Rebecca’s office after his lawyer arranged a voluntary family settlement conference.
No Gloria.
He looked exhausted.
“I signed the withdrawals.”
“I know.”
“Not all of them were for us.”
“I know.”
“The boat equipment was wrong.”
I stared.
“Say more.”
He looked irritated.
“Natalie.”
“No. Say it accurately.”
Rebecca said nothing.
Walt exhaled.
“I wanted to upgrade the boat.”
“Yes.”
“Your mother said the care account owed us reimbursement for summer expenses.”
“What summer expenses?”
“Camp. Driving. Food.”
“Did those total forty-eight hundred dollars beyond what was already reimbursed?”
“No.”
“So?”
“She said we could take the money and balance it later.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
There.
“Why sign?”
He stared at the table.
“Because I wanted the equipment.”
That was the most truthful sentence my father had given me in months.
Then:
“I told myself Lizzy uses the boat.”
“How often?”
“Twice that summer.”
I laughed once.
He accepted it.
Then:
“I was wrong.”
Good.
May you like
Not enough.
But good.
