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He removes his glasses to scrub his face. I brace for the uncomfortable conversation to follow.
“Frank, I know you’re upset—”
“Please, allow me to go first. I owe you an apology, Gavin. As it stands, I owe you many apologies, but I’ll start chronologically. I know you didn’t steal those letters. Erica has admitted to planting them in your room.”
The revelation takes a moment to sink in. “Did she tell you why she did it?”
“Jealousy, for the most part. I neglected her for much of that summer and she resented you for taking up my time. I’m sure she’ll want to apologize to you herself when she’s up to it. She is deeply ashamed of her actions.”
Looking back over the few terse conversations I’ve had with Erica, it makes sense: her coldness, coupled with the insistence that I stay away from her family. For five years, she didn’t have to think about what she’d done, and then suddenly I was back in her life, a daily reminder of a mistake she’d rather forget.
“I’ve been a fool, Gavin.” Frank’s eyes glisten. “I prioritized the wrong things. Made my daughters feel like they needed to lie and placate me in order to earn my affection. I treated their ambitions like an extension of my own.”
I let him talk without interruption because I can tell he needs to get this off his chest.
“You were a wonderful research assistant,” he says. “I assumed the worst about you with no good reason beyond my wounded pride. I let my egotism destroy our friendship, and for that, I am terribly sorry.”
After all this time, it’s cathartic to finally have Frank’s apology. At this point, there’s no telling if our friendship will ever recover, but being part of Alexis’s life will undoubtedly involve spending time with her family.
Frank and I may not be able to slip back into our old dynamic of mentor and mentee, but perhaps we can become something new.
“Is it selfish to think I could start fresh with my new grandchild?” he asks.
“I don’t think it’s ever too late to do better.”
He nods, wiping the tears from his cheek, and then rests his hand on the table. “Now about thisrelationshipyou’ve developed with Alexis. She obviously cares about you very much and, erroneous character judgments aside, I can see that you care about her. If this is what you both want, I won’t stand in your way. But I will recommend that you mention it to Carl.”
“I plan to,” I say.
“If you’d like I can give him a heads up. Let him know Rachael and I are in support of the relationship, and confirm that you and Alexis have history that pre-dates your tenure at Brookstone.”
It certainly couldn’t hurt to have Alexis’s parents’ blessing.
“I’d appreciate that. Thank you.” Even if Carl decides not to take disciplinary action against me, there’s a chance Alexis will have to retake the class. For the sake of her sanity, I hope her attendance record and quiz scores will be enough to convince him that our involvement had no bearing on her academic performance.
Frank smiles at something over my shoulder. I glance back to find Alexis eyeing us with barefaced suspicion. Her father motions for her to approach, then takes her hand once she’s within reach.
“Hello, darling,” he says. “How’s your sister?”
“She’s still good... I just came down to get Mom a cup of coffee. Dr. Gupta’s keeping Erica and the baby overnight and Mom wants to stay, too.”
“I suppose I’ll stay as well. At least until Erica kicks me out for snoring too loud.” He rises from the table. “I’ll take care of your mom’s coffee. You go home and get some rest.”
“Dad, no.” She shakes her head. “I can stay.”
“You have been a wonderful help to us all.” He kisses her temple and then turns to me. “Make sure she gets home safe.”
“Always.”
As Frank begins to stride away, Alexis turns to her father and says, “Hey, Dad. I have to tell you something.”
He shoots her a pleading glance. “What is it, sweetheart?”
She straightens her posture. “I’m not going to grad school. I thought you should know.”
Frank looks like he might cry again, but he manages to hold it together.
“If that’s what you want, then I...support your decision.”
