Part of me was horrified that Chloe might think we were poor.
That realization bothered me more than anything Chloe had done.
Would I have felt ashamed if those really were my parents’ best clothes?
Would I have rushed to explain our finances so strangers would think better of us?
The answer wasn’t flattering.
About a month later, I called Dad. “You know what I hate?”
“Long meetings?”
“You.”
“That’s hurtful.”
“You were right about something.”
He went silent.
Then I heard him shout, “Honey! Emma said I was right!”
Mom yelled back, “Write down the date!”
“You’re both terrible.”
Dad laughed. Then I told him what I’d been thinking. He became quiet.
Finally he said, “I wasn’t completely right.”
“What do you mean?”
“Chloe apologized.”
“Yeah.”
“Darren never did.”
I smiled. “True.”
He said, “People can show you something ugly about themselves without that being the only thing they are.”
