I feel Lucy's hand slip into mine again.
"You didn't ask her to become someone else."
His voice is steady now.
"You didn't ask her to quit school."
"You didn't tell her how to dress."
"You didn't try to make every decision for her."
He lets out a slow breath.
"You loved her exactly the way she is."
He looks back at me. "And that's something I never managed to do."
My throat tightens, but I keep my expression steady.
Frank gives a small nod. "You're a better man than I've been." He looks down for a moment. "A better man than I taught her to look for."
Lucy lets out a shaky breath beside me, but she doesn't speak.
Frank looks at Lucy.
"I don't expect you to forgive me."
His voice is tired.
"Not today. Maybe not ever."
Lucy doesn't answer.
"But I needed you to know that I finally see what I've done."
He wipes his eyes with the back of his hand.
"I hurt you for years because I confused control with love."
He glances toward Karen.
"I hurt your mother for the same reason."
Karen closes her eyes for a moment.
"I can't change any of that."
He shakes his head slowly.
"But I can stop making the same mistakes."
He looks back at Lucy.
"I want to do better."
"I want to learn how to be the father you deserved all along."
His voice cracks again.
