Chapter 13 - Father and Son
David asked to see Lucas three days later.
Mara suggested a neutral place.
They chose a park near the river.
David arrived carrying no papers.
No attorney.
No laptop.
Only two cups of hot chocolate.
Lucas accepted one.
They sat on a bench.
For a while they watched cyclists pass.
Finally David said, “I’m sorry I made you afraid of telling the truth.”
Lucas looked at the river.
“You made it sound like everyone would lose everything because of me.”
“I know.”
“Did you mean it?”
“At the time?”
“Yes.”
David thought.
“Partly.”
“That’s not a good answer.”
“It’s the accurate one.”
Lucas looked at him.
David continued.
“I was terrified of losing the contract. I had taken financial risks. I convinced myself that if the company suffered, it would be because Claire attacked us.”
“But she just filed a complaint.”
“Yes.”
“Why did that make you hate her?”
David rubbed his hands together.
“Because some part of me knew the complaint had merit.”
Lucas stared.
David looked ashamed.
“I used parent council access to identify families for market research.”
“Without permission.”
“I told myself it was community outreach.”
“That sounds like the video.”
David nodded.
“It does.”
Lucas looked down at the hot chocolate.
“I don’t know who you are anymore.”
The sentence hurt both of them.
David did not defend himself.
“I know.”
“I thought you were the person who taught me not to lie.”
“I tried to be.”
“You did teach me.”
David looked at him.
Lucas’s eyes filled.
“That’s why this is so messed up.”
David covered his face briefly.
When he lowered his hands, he was crying.
Lucas had seen his father cry only twice.
At Anna’s funeral.
And once in the garage months later when he thought Lucas was asleep.
“I keep thinking about your mom,” David said.
“So do I.”
“She hated manipulation.”
Lucas almost laughed.
“She hated when you edited her vacation pictures.”
A wet smile.
“She said I made every sky too blue.”
“She was right.”
“She usually was.”
They sat quietly.
Then David said, “I used her against you.”
Lucas knew exactly what he meant.
Your mother would hate seeing you treat me this way.
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“That was worse than the yelling.”
“I know.”
“No. I don’t think you do.”
David nodded slowly.
“Tell me.”
Lucas had not expected that.
He swallowed.
“It made me feel like telling the truth meant betraying both of you.”
David closed his eyes.
“I am sorry.”
Lucas believed him.
Believing the apology did not erase the injury.
“What happens now?”
David looked toward the river.
“The company board may remove me.”
“Will they?”
“I don’t know.”
“The contract?”
“Westbridge disqualified Turner Strategic Media from the current procurement.”
Lucas felt his stomach twist.
“What about the employees?”
“We have other clients.”
“So forty-two people aren’t losing their jobs.”
“No.”
Lucas stared at him.
David understood.
“I exaggerated the danger.”
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
Lucas breathed out.
The word did not destroy the world.
David could say it.
Lucas could hear it.
“I don’t want to live with Mara forever.”
“I don’t want that either.”
“But I don’t want to come home yet.”
Pain crossed David’s face.
“All right.”
Lucas looked at him sharply.
“That’s it?”
“I’m trying to learn that loving you doesn’t mean controlling the timing.”
That sounded suspiciously like therapy.
“Are you seeing somebody?”
David almost smiled.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Brutal child.”
“You deserve it.”
“Probably.”
They drank their hot chocolate.
When they stood to leave, David opened his arms slightly.
Not assuming.
Asking.
Lucas hesitated.
Then hugged him.
David held him tightly.
Lucas cried against his jacket.
Nothing was fixed.
That was what made the hug honest.
Back at school, Claire found Lucas distracted during a constitutional law discussion.
“Mr. Turner.”
He looked up.
“Sorry.”
“What did I just ask?”
“Whether government power should be limited even when leaders think they have good intentions.”
“And?”
Lucas thought of David.
“Yes.”
Several students laughed.
Claire raised an eyebrow.
“That was a very sophisticated constitutional argument.”
Lucas smiled.
After class, he said, “I saw my dad.”
Claire stopped organizing books.
“How was that?”
“Complicated.”
She nodded.
“I’m learning that’s usually the real answer.”
Lucas hesitated.
“Do you accept his apology?”
Claire considered.
“I accept that he made one.”
“That isn’t the same.”
“No.”
“Will you forgive him?”
“I don’t know.”
Lucas nodded.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“It’s an underrated sentence.”
Before he left, Claire handed him his latest essay.
Ninety-four.
At the bottom she had written:
Strong evidence. Be careful not to assume motive when facts already make your argument.
Lucas smiled.
Even now.
Especially now.
She would not reward him for hating his father correctly.
As he reached the door, Claire said, “Lucas.”
He turned.
“Speaking up was brave.”
He looked uncomfortable.
“People keep saying that.”
“Then let me add the less dramatic part.”
“What?”
“Bravery doesn’t make you responsible for everything that happened afterward.”
Lucas looked at her for a long moment.
May you like
He wanted to believe that.
He was getting closer.
