Chapter 26 - Robert’s Anniversary
On the eighth anniversary of Robert’s death, Daniel came with me to the cemetery.
Just us.
He brought no flowers.
Robert hated cut flowers.
We brought coffee instead.
Daniel sat beside the grave marker.
“Dad knew I was a mess.”
“He knew you were human.”
“That’s nicer.”
“It is also true.”
Daniel looked at the name carved in stone.
“I spent years thinking he thought I was weak.”
“No.”
“What did he think?”
“That you were capable of more than you were doing.”
Daniel smiled sadly.
“That sounds worse.”
“Parents are annoying.”
We sat.
Then he said:
“Thank you for stopping.”
I turned.
“What?”
“The money.”
I almost cried.
“Don’t become sentimental.”
“I mean it.”
He looked toward me.
“I hated you.”
“I know.”
“For like three months.”
“I know.”
“I thought you wanted to control me.”
“Part of me probably did.”
He stared.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I smiled.
“Rescuing someone gives you influence. That can become addictive too.”
He thought.
“So we were both using the arrangement.”
“In different ways.”
That was the mature truth.
Daniel used money to avoid responsibility.
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I used helping to avoid feeling unnecessary.
Both had to stop.
