Chapter 24 - OLIVIA ASKS WHO PAID
Olivia was sixteen when she found an old photograph from David’s seventieth birthday.
Before the dinner.
Everyone smiling.
Jessica in pearls.
David beside the cake.
Michael holding wine.
Me with Olivia and Megan.
“Was this the shrimp night?”
“Yes.”
She stared.
“We look normal.”
“We were posing.”
“Who paid for the party?”
I laughed.
“Mostly me, apparently.”
“That’s insane.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“What did you mean when you said, ‘my money’?”
I had almost forgotten she might remember the sentence.
“I had learned that morning one of my accounts paid a big part of the dinner. I didn’t know everything yet.”
“So you guessed?”
“I knew enough to know your dad’s family had been using my money without being honest.”
“Then you flipped the table.”
“Yes.”
“Was that smart?”
“No.”
She grinned.
“Cool?”
“Also no.”
“Mom.”
“I damaged property and terrified children.”
“We were already terrified.”
“That doesn’t make it wise.”
She nodded.
“Would you do it again?”
Hard question.
“I hope I’d take you and leave.”
She looked disappointed.
Growth is less cinematic.
Then:
“Did Dad deserve prison?”
“I’m not the judge.”
“What do you think?”
“I think he committed crimes and later took responsibility.”
“Do you forgive him?”
“For some things.”
“Grandma?”
“Some.”
“Grandpa David?”
“Less.”
“Do you forgive yourself?”
That surprised me.
“For what?”
“Signing things.”
I stared.
She had been listening for years.
“Yes.”
May you like
Mostly.
That answer took longest.
