A Visit to Victor’s Grave
Chapter 16 - A Visit to Victor’s Grave
Adrian avoided his father’s grave for months.
Then Noah asked to go.
“Why?”
“I want to see where the guy who lied is buried.”
Claire nearly objected.
Adrian said yes.
They went together.
Noah stood before Victor’s headstone.
“So he knew us?”
“Yes.”
“Did he love us?”
Adrian struggled.
“I think he believed he did.”
Noah frowned.
“That’s not an answer.”
Adrian looked at the stone.
“Love without honesty can hurt people.”
Noah considered that.
Then he placed a small baseball on the grave.
Claire was surprised.
“Why?”
Noah shrugged.
“He never got to see me play.”
It was not forgiveness.
It was something gentler.
A refusal to inherit hatred.
Adrian put his arm around Noah.
Eli leaned against Claire.
As they walked back to the car, Adrian stopped.
“I spent years trying to become him.”
Claire looked at him.
“And now?”
“I’m trying to become someone my sons won’t need to recover from.”
May you like
Claire took his hand.
She did not let go.
