Chapter 14 - The grandchildren
My grandchildren complicated revenge.
Daniel’s oldest, Grace, was seventeen.
She called me.
“Grandpa, are you mad at Dad?”
“Yes.”
“Are you mad at us?”
“No.”
“People at school saw the video.”
I closed my eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“Did he really leave you?”
“Yes.”
Silence.
“Why?”
“You need to ask him.”
“Are you going to take the company away?”
There it was.
Children hear money even when adults whisper.
“I do not personally own the whole company.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes.”
“What happens to us?”
I answered carefully.
“You have your parents. You have education trusts. You have your own lives. Nothing about my disagreement with your father means you are punished.”
She cried.
“I don’t want everyone hating Dad.”
“I don’t either.”
That surprised both of us.
I did not hate Daniel.
I hated what he did.
Those are not always the same.
Grace asked:
“Do you forgive him?”
“No.”
“Will you?”
“I don’t know.”
May you like
Good.
No promises from old men about emotional futures.
