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He smiled, glancing away. “Maybe. Promise me you won’t think differently of her?”
I shook my head. “Never. She always did what she thought was best for everyone, and it’s just another example of that. I’m sorry I blamed you.”
“Come here.” He put the glass down and beckoned me into his arms.
I went.
He wrapped me in a giant hug that drew tears to my eyes, and one spilled down my cheek as I hugged him back. “Do not ever apologise for how you feel. Your feelings are always valid, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. If they do, punch them in the face.”
I laughed, but it was a weird kind of half-laugh, half-cry that almost resulted in me snotting all over his shirt. “I’m using that as a defence if I’m ever arrested, by the way. You said I could, so it’s fine.”
“I’ll pay for your lawyer.” He chuckled. “As long as you don’t cry all over my shirt.”
“Can’t promise anything.”
“I’ll cheer you up—no family dinner this Friday.”
“Why not?” I pulled back, wiping under my eyes.
“One, I’m not sure it’s a good idea in light of this information,” Dad said, looking at me knowingly. “And, two, I heard from Violet this morning. Eric’s funeral is this Saturday afternoon, so we won’t be here on Friday.”
I pressed my lips together.
“I thought you and I might attend alone.”
“What about Carmen and Vincent?”
He shook his head. “I’ll tell Violet they aren’t available, and I’ll tell Carmen only you and I were invited.”
“Dad. What have we learnt about not telling the truth?”
“That sometimes lying is okay.” He grinned. “The Glenrochs will be there. Well, Stuart, Katie, and William will be.”
I swallowed.
“And I don’t think Carmen would enjoy reminiscing about our life before her,” he said, looking pointedly at me. “And now I have to know how you accidentally ended up at Freya’s wedding, because I know you aren’t dating William for real.”
I sighed. “Do you have any more of that whiskey?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX – GRACE
Then and Now
“Whoa,” Amber breathed, staring at me with wide eyes. Her jaw was slack, and I imagined it was probably exactly what I’d looked like all day. “Is that true?”
“Granny has no reason to lie about Dad, especially in this situation. He comes out looking a lot better than Mum, that’s for sure,” I pointed out. “I just… it doesn’t make sense with the person I knew she was.”
“Doesn’t it?” she asked quietly. “She always put everyone else first. It doesn’t make sense to us, but we can’t possibly imagine how she felt. They wanted more kids, right?”
I nodded. “I always knew they wanted more than one baby, but it never happened. Obviously, now I know why.”
“Right. Then your mum not only had her own wish taken away from her, but your dad’s, too. It’s not rational to us, but we can’t put ourselves in her shoes to understand why she felt that way.”
“I know that.” I sighed and grabbed a pillow, hugging it to me. “And I get it. It’s not like I don’t understand. I both study and live in this weird patriarchal society, I just wish it wasn’t so…” I trailed off.
“Patriarchal,” Amber finished for me.
“I guess. This just changes everything I thought I knew about their relationship, and I don’t know how to feel about it. I’m so… pissed off.”
