Chapter 13
Frank asked to apologize to Nora.
I said no at first.
Not because I wanted punishment.
Because his guilt belonged to him.
Nora was not responsible for making him feel better.
Three months later, she asked why Frank no longer stood at the front door.
I told her.
“He made a bad choice with Caleb.”
“What?”
“He told Caleb things about us he should have kept private.”
She frowned.
“Like secrets?”
“Yes.”
“Did he say sorry?”
Good question.
“To me.”
“To Nora?”
“No.”
She thought.
“Why?”
I did not answer for her.
“Would you want him to?”
She shrugged.
“Maybe.”
That became enough to ask.
Frank met her in the garden.
No uniform.
No weapon.
No guard role.
He crouched several feet away.
“I told Mr. Caleb things about when you went to school and when your dad wasn’t home.”
Nora looked at me.
“That bad?”
“Yes.”
She looked back.
“Why?”
Frank swallowed.
“Because I wanted money and wanted to feel important.”
Clean.
Good.
“Did Caleb make?”
“No.”
Better.
“I chose.”
Nora stared.
“Daddy fired you?”
Frank almost smiled.
“Yes.”
“Forever?”
“From guarding you.”
She thought.
Then:
“You can do other job.”
“Yes.”
Apparently consequence accepted.
Then she asked:
“Do you still like me?”
Frank’s face broke.
“Yes.”
Nora nodded.
“Okay.”
That was it.
No hug.
No forgiveness ceremony.
She ran back to her chalk.
Frank stood slowly with tears in his eyes.
I walked beside him toward the gate.
“She doesn’t hate me.”
“No.”
“That almost makes it worse.”
I understood.
Hatred would let him focus on injury received.
Her ordinary affection forced him to face harm he caused.
“Become worthy of that memory.”
He nodded.
Frank later took warehouse work.
No security.
No household access.
Not destroyed.
Repositioned.
That became the model.
May you like
Consequences should protect what was harmed.
Not satisfy the crowd.
