The Father Emma Decided to Meet
Chapter 14 - The Father Emma Decided to Meet
Emma waited six months before visiting Richard.
The meeting took place in a correctional facility under supervision.
Sophia offered to go.
Emma chose Adrian instead.
Richard looked through the glass at the granddaughter he had watched from a distance.
“You have your mother’s eyes,” he said.
“Which mother?”
The question silenced him.
Emma held the telephone.
“Why did you check on me every year?”
“I needed to know you were safe.”
“Why not tell Sophia?”
“She would have taken you back.”
“She was supposed to.”
Richard looked away.
“I thought Helen gave you stability.”
“She did.”
Emma’s voice remained calm.
“But you did not choose Helen for me. You chose silence for everyone.”
Richard’s eyes filled.
“Can you forgive me?”
“I came to understand you, not forgive you.”
He nodded.
Emma continued.
“You do not get updates from Helen anymore. You do not contact my school. You do not send money secretly.”
“What may I do?”
“Write letters.”
Richard looked surprised.
“I might read them someday.”
Emma hung up first.
Adrian walked beside her toward the parking lot.
“Are you okay?”
“No.”
He nodded.
“That makes sense.”
She looked at him.
“You don’t tell people how to feel very often.”
“I’ve made that mistake before.”
Emma smiled slightly.
“Mom told me.”
Adrian groaned.
May you like
“Which one?”
“Both.”
