"And because of that..." He swallows. "I couldn't even see the man standing in front of me."
I don't say anything.
"I judged you before I ever knew you."
"You did," I answer.
"I know."
He nods.
"I saw tattoos. Leather. A motorcycle club." He shakes his head again. "I never bothered to look any deeper."
Karen reaches over and places a hand on his arm.
Frank closes his eyes for a second.
"And I treated your mother the same way."
Karen stiffens.
"I told myself I was leading our family." He laughs once, bitter and full of regret. "Truth is, I made every decision. I decided where we'd live. What we'd spend. What she'd do. I called it taking care of her."
His voice grows quieter.
"I never asked what she wanted."
Karen finally speaks.
"You never did."
He looks at her.
"I'm sorry."
She doesn't answer.
Instead, tears slide silently down her cheeks.
Frank wipes at his own eyes.
"I watched your mother's light fade over the years, and I still couldn't admit I was the reason."
He looks back at Lucy.
"Then you started pushing back."
Lucy doesn't move.
"You wanted school. You wanted your own future. You wanted choices." He shakes his head. "Every time you fought for yourself, I dug my heels in harder."
His voice breaks again.
"I was wrong."
Nobody says anything.
"I should've been proud that you were becoming your own person."
