Michael knelt beside him.
“Grandpa was wrong to take your candy without asking. You weren’t wrong to be upset.”
Ethan looked uncertain.
“But he said we were selfish.”
“You weren’t,” Michael said. “And I’m sorry I wasn’t there when he said that.”
I added, “We’re going to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Later that day, Carol called.
“Richard bought the replacement candy,” she said. “Can we bring it over?”
“Is he ready to apologize?” I asked.
There was a pause.
“He says he wants to put this behind us.”
“I understand. But the boys are worried he doesn’t want to spend time with them anymore.”
Carol sighed.
“I didn’t realize they were taking it so hard.”
“They were standing right there while he took their favorite chocolates. Then he told them they were ungrateful.”
“I know.”
“Carol, I need you to understand something. We’re not asking him to apologize because we want to punish him. We’re asking because the boys deserve to know they can speak up.”
