“Because I raised you.”
A tear rolled down my cheek.
“So why make me think less of you?”
His answer came quietly.
“Because I could survive you being disappointed in me.”
His eyes filled completely.
“I wasn’t sure I could survive something happening to you or that baby while everything was exploding around you.”
I covered my mouth.
Dad continued.
“The night you came home, I wanted to drive to your house and put Daniel through a wall.”
Despite myself, a broken laugh escaped me.
Dad smiled faintly.
“Your mother talked me out of that.”
“Does Mom know what you told me?”
“Oh, yes.”
I blinked.
“She does?”
“She wanted to strangle me too.”
I laughed again.
Then cried.
Dad reached for my hand but stopped.
He let me decide.
After a moment, I placed mine in his.
He squeezed gently.
“I hated myself every time you looked at me differently.”
My throat tightened.
“You let me believe something terrible about you.”
“I know.”
“For weeks, I kept wondering whether every marriage was secretly damaged.”
Dad shook his head.
“That part I’m sorry for.”
“You should be.”
“I am.”
We sat silently.
Then I whispered:
“You really never cheated on Mom?”
“Never.”
“Not once?”
“No.”
“And all that nonsense about male physiology?”
Dad winced.
“Possibly the stupidest speech I’ve ever given.”
Despite everything, I laughed.
A real laugh.
It hurt my stitches.
“Don’t make me laugh.”
“Sorry.”
“You should be.”
He smiled.
Then his face became serious again.
“Claire, listen to me.”
I met his eyes.
“What Daniel did was Daniel’s choice.”
Dad spoke slowly.
“Pregnancy did not make him cheat. You did not make him cheat. Your son did not make him cheat. Nothing about your body, your attention, your exhaustion, or your marriage forced him to betray you.”
Something inside me cracked open.
I hadn’t realized how badly I needed someone to say that.
Dad squeezed my hand.
“And you don’t owe him forgiveness because you stayed until Noah was born.”
I started crying again.
This time, Dad moved closer.
And I let my father hold me.
Part 8 — Daniel Asked for Another Chance
Daniel knew something had changed when he returned with coffee.
He looked from my red eyes to Dad.
“What happened?”
Dad stood.
His entire posture changed.
For months, he had been civil to Daniel.
That civility disappeared.
“Ask your wife.”
Then he walked out.
Daniel slowly set the coffee down.
“Claire?”
I looked toward Noah.
My son was sleeping.
Everything suddenly felt very clear.
“My father never cheated on my mother.”
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
“He lied to me.”
I watched understanding form on his face.
“Why?”
“He was trying to get me through the pregnancy without making any permanent decisions.”
Daniel sat down.
“So…”
“So now the pregnancy is over.”
His expression changed.
“Claire.”
I looked at him.
Not angrily.
That surprised me.
