Hope Asks About Her Father
Chapter 19 - Hope Asks About Her Father
When Hope was nine, she asked why Nathan never attended school events.
Claire had prepared for the question with a child therapist.
“Your father made choices that were unsafe and dishonest,” she said. “A court decided he could not be part of our daily life.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“Yes.”
“Does he love me?”
“He may feel love. Love also has to respect safety and choice.”
Nathan had written from prison through approved channels.
His early letters blamed Richard.
Later letters admitted his own decisions.
Claire preserved them for Hope.
She did not use them to demand forgiveness or rejection.
At fourteen, Hope chose to read one.
She decided not to respond.
“Will that make him sad?” she asked.
“Probably.”
“Is that my job to fix?”
“No.”
Hope returned the letter.
May you like
The answer represented a freedom generations of Bellweather women had rarely received.
Someone else’s feelings did not automatically become permission to control her decision.
