The Apology Draft
Chapter 14 - The Apology Draft
Preston’s apology draft was terrible.
Charles read it the next morning in his office while Evelyn sat near the window, pale and silent. The document had no readable text shown to anyone else, but Charles did not need to display it to know it was a disaster.
It began with regret for confusion.
It mentioned heightened emotions.
It referred to Ivy as “the young attendee.”
It contained the phrase “if anyone felt blamed.”
Charles placed it on the desk.
“No.”
Preston stood across from him in sunglasses despite being indoors. “It’s standard.”
“That is the problem.”
“My lawyer approved it.”
“Your lawyer is not your conscience.”
Preston laughed bitterly. “You want me to grovel to a child?”
Evelyn flinched.
Charles saw it. Preston did not.
“I want you to say what happened,” Charles replied. “You knocked the box down. You blamed Ivy. You frightened her. You lied.”
Preston removed his sunglasses slowly.
“You’re enjoying this.”
Charles leaned back.
The accusation landed nowhere because it was too childish to carry weight.
“No. I am grieving the years I made this moment necessary.”
For the first time, Preston looked uncertain rather than angry.
Evelyn spoke quietly.
“Preston, I helped you become someone who could write that apology and think it was enough.”
He turned to her.
“Mom.”
Again, the old word.
Evelyn’s eyes filled.
“I love you,” she said. “But I will not lie for you anymore.”
Preston stared at his parents as if they had been replaced.
May you like
In a way, they had.
By the versions of themselves they should have been years earlier.
