Page 162 of Head Room
I didn’t.Sometimes self-respect is a burden.
As I replicated his stance beside him, I switched the topic.“You looked awfully pleased with yourself.”
“I am.And pleased with your mother.”
“Aren’t you always?”I teased him.
“Especiallypleased with your mother.”
“Okay, I give.Why?”
“Because of what she’s done for you.”
“She — and Tamantha — have done a lot of work to get all this ready and I do appreciate—”
“Oh, she’s done far more than a lot of work.She’s restrained herself.She’s restrained herself mightily.All for love of her daughter.”
I looked toward the deck, where Mom had a grandson on her lap and a hand on Tamantha’s shoulder beside her.
“Got it, Dad.”
“It?”
“The message about being appropriately appreciative.”
“Take another look at Tamantha, Maggie Liz, and put her in your shoes, yourself in your mom’s.”
I truly got that — I’d do anything for that child.It wasn’t about appreciation.“Message received.”
“It’s not one-way,” he added, sounding satisfied.“I know what you’ve given your mother, too, and that it’s been difficult for you.”
He kissed the top of my head.
“Something else.When you married Wes, I took him aside and told him I’d kill him if he hurt you.”
“Dad!”
“And I would have if the timing had worked out.”
“Dad!”
“When I saw him turning into a jerk—” Clearly not his first word choice.“—and making you doubt yourself around the edges, you thought you were still in love with him.You wouldn’t have approved—”
“Of murder?No.”
He ignored my interruption.“—and you’d have mourned him and not only the marriage.Later you knew you weren’t in love with him, even though the divorce knocked you for a loop.But it wasn’t about Wes anymore, so no sense killing him.”
I knew he meant metaphorically.He had to.But I couldn’t stop another“Dad!”
“I didn’t know all that about how you were feeling, though I spotted him becoming a — jerk.The rest of it, your mother saw.”
Both of us looked toward my mother.Of course she did.
Another thought jerked me upright.“Dad, you haven’t—?You’re not going to—?Tom—?”
“Take him aside?No.”
I relaxed back.“Don’t.Ever.In fact, I might never leave you two alone again.”
