Chapter 24 - WHAT I TOLD NORA AT SIXTEEN
At sixteen, Nora asked:
“Did Dad try to kill me?”
The question hurt.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure there was never proof he intended to kill you.”
“Did he almost?”
“He put both of us in danger.”
“Why does that sound lawyerly?”
“Because truth matters.”
I explained more.
Trust.
Company.
Debt.
Capacity plan.
The trench.
Not every detail.
Enough.
She stared.
“So I owned a company before I was born?”
“A trust held shares for you once you were born.”
“Same difference.”
“No.”
“Mom.”
“Fine. Economically close.”
She laughed.
Then:
“Did Dad love me?”
“Yes.”
“Was I also useful to him?”
My throat tightened.
“Yes.”
She looked out the window.
“That’s gross.”
“Yes.”
“Do you forgive him?”
I smiled.
“People love that question.”
She had heard me say it before.
“Do you?”
“Some things. Not others.”
“Can I?”
May you like
“Whatever you feel.”
That was the inheritance I cared about.
