Chapter 14 - DAMIAN RETURNED SOMETHING CELESTE HAD TAKEN
By spring, Damian restored several photographs of Allison to the house.
Not all of them.
He did not turn the living room into a memorial.
One family picture went back onto the console table.
Another into Emma’s bedroom.
The Christmas ornaments came down from the attic.
Emma found one she remembered.
A tiny wooden rabbit Allison had bought before she was born.
“Celeste said these made you sad.”
“They do.”
Emma looked concerned.
Damian sat beside her.
“Sad doesn’t mean bad.”
That was something he wished he had learned earlier.
Emma turned the ornament in her hands.
“Can we still use it?”
“Yes.”
“What if you cry?”
“Then I cry.”
Emma seemed to consider this revolutionary.
Later that night she asked:
“Did Mommy love you when she died?”
Damian swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Even though you fought?”
“Yes.”
“Did you love her?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you tell her to leave?”
There was the question.
No safe shortcut.
Damian explained that people sometimes say hurtful things when angry.
That adults can love each other and still make serious mistakes.
That Allison chose to drive.
That another driver caused the crash.
That Damian’s regret was real but was not the same as causing her death.
Emma listened.
Then asked:
“Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“Because I was ashamed.”
Emma nodded.
That answer she understood.
Before bed, she placed Allison’s photograph beside her rabbit.
Damian stood at the doorway.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah?”
“Next time something is sad, can you just tell me?”
His throat tightened.
“Yes.”
May you like
It was not a dramatic promise.
It might be the most important one he ever made.
