But there was one question I needed him to answer.
“Would you have defended me if Richard hadn’t known who I was?”
Daniel opened his mouth.
Then he looked away.
“I don’t know.”
That hurt.
But at least he hadn’t lied.
“I don’t need a wealthy man’s approval to make me worthy of respect,” I said. “I needed my son to know that before anyone else told him.”
Tears filled his eyes.
“I know.”
I took his hand.
“And I owe you some honesty too. I sent that clown because I wanted to embarrass you.”
He gave a sad smile.
“You succeeded.”
“It was unkind. I regret that part. But I don’t regret telling the truth.”
“Jessica thinks you should apologize.”
“What do you think?”
He considered it.
“I think the clown was cruel. But what I did was worse.”
I nodded.
“Can you forgive me?” he asked.
“I love you. But forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending nothing happened.”
