“I’m not asking you to pretend. I’m asking you to behave like a father.”
I invited Emily and Brian for dinner.
Robert wasn’t pleased.
“I won’t pretend.”
“I’m not asking you to pretend. I’m asking you to behave like a father.”
He didn’t answer.
Brian arrived carrying lilies between his prosthetic hands.
For the first twenty minutes, dinner was almost normal.
“Peace offering,” he joked.
Emily wore my mother’s pearls.
For the first twenty minutes, dinner was almost normal.
Brian told us about a coworker who accidentally sent a private message to the entire company.
Emily laughed so hard she nearly dropped her fork.
I thought maybe the worst had passed.
Even Robert smiled once.
I thought maybe the worst had passed.
Then Emily said, “Dad, I picked the song for our dance.”
Robert’s fork hit the plate.
Clang.
“There will be no dance.”
Silence.
Emily looked up.
“Our father-daughter dance.”
Robert pushed his chair back.
“There will be no dance.”
I felt my chest tighten.
“Because there will be no wedding.”
“Robert.”
He ignored me.
“Because there will be no wedding.”
Emily went pale.
