Chapter 8
Damon blamed Frank at first.
Convenient.
I did not let him.
“You knew there were tests.”
“Yes.”
“You let Olivia participate.”
“Yes.”
“You heard Leo screaming.”
His face tightened.
“Yes.”
“And you laughed.”
Silence.
There.
No father to hide behind.
No old tradition.
Just Damon.
He sat across from me and rubbed his face.
“I thought if I objected, Frank would say Olivia wasn’t ready.”
“For what?”
He laughed bitterly.
“That’s the stupid part.”
I waited.
“I don’t even know anymore.”
Good.
Truth.
Frank had turned vague future relevance into something Damon could chase without ever reaching it.
Every time he needed approval, Olivia had to prove more.
Damon thought his daughter’s strength increased his standing.
Frank ensured the standard never ended.
“You used Olivia too.”
He looked at me.
The sentence hurt.
“It didn’t feel like that.”
“It rarely does to the adult benefiting.”
Silence.
Damon looked toward the garden where his daughter sat alone.
“What do I do?”
“Stop asking her to carry your pride.”
He closed his eyes.
May you like
That was his work.
Not mine.
