Chapter 15 - Daisy’s Question
Grant rented a small cottage near a lake.
It was quiet.
Daisy had her own room.
Nothing in it was stored for someone else.
She chose yellow curtains and a blue blanket.
Grant placed her glass savings jar on the dresser.
Eight dollars remained inside.
She had not bought him a Florida souvenir.
One evening, she asked, “Is Dad coming?”
“Not unless you ask.”
“Does he want to?”
“Yes.”
“Does Mom?”
Grant answered carefully.
“Lauren wants to speak to you.”
“That is not what I asked.”
Grant looked at her.
Daisy had become quieter since Florida.
But not weaker.
She was learning to separate words from truth.
“No,” he said. “I do not think she wants to understand what she did.”
Daisy nodded.
“What about Dad?”
“He says he does.”
“Do you believe him?”
“I believe he is trying.”
She picked at the edge of her blanket.
“Why didn’t he stop her?”
“Because he was afraid of conflict.”
Daisy frowned.
“Was he more afraid of Mom than he was afraid for me?”
Grant’s chest tightened.
“Yes.”
She absorbed the answer.
Then she asked the question Ethan had feared most.
“Can someone love you and still let bad things happen?”
Grant sat beside her.
“Yes.”
“That does not make it okay.”
“No.”
“Does it mean I have to forgive him?”
“No.”
Daisy looked relieved.
Grant continued.
“You never owe forgiveness to make another person comfortable.”
She leaned against him.
“Can I talk to him once?”
“Yes.”
“But you stay.”
“I will.”
The meeting was arranged at the attorney’s office.
Ethan entered carrying no gifts.
No excuses.
He sat across from Daisy.
She looked at him for a long time.
Then she asked, “Did you know I was scared?”
He began crying.
“Yes.”
“Did you still get on the plane?”
“Yes.”
“Then why should I trust you?”
Ethan lowered his head.
“You should not. Not yet.”
Daisy’s eyes filled.
May you like
For the first time, he had given her an answer that did not ask her to protect him.
👉 Ethan had finally told Daisy the truth—but honesty could not guarantee she would ever call him Dad again.
