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“We’re not finished,” he said It sounded like both a threat and a proht while I was lying onto sleep had been a bust School started back soon but I was finding it hard to raisethat the seed of doubt David had planted regarding my career choices had taken root inside my brain I liked architecture, but I didn’t love it Did that matter? Sadly, I had no answers Lots of excuses—some bullshit and some valid—but no answers

David would probably say I could do whatever the fk I wanted to I knew all too hat my father would say It wouldn’t be pretty

I’d been avoiding seeingI’d hung up on the lecture ive me the second day after my return Relations had been frosty since then The real surprise was that I wasn’t surprised They had never encouraged anything that didn’t directly support the plan There was a reason I’d never returned their calls when I was in Monterey Because I couldn’t tell thes they wanted to hear anymore, it had see interference with the folks, which I appreciated, but ht I figured the text wasto try and wheedle out of it So old black and white

David: She surprised ht away But I didn’t want it

I stared at

David: You there?

Me: Yeah

David: I need to know if you believe me about Martha

Did I? I took a breath, searched deep There was frustration, plenty of confusion, butlast Because I didn’t doubt he’d told me the truth

Me: I believe you

David: Thank you I keep thinking of ot married because of Jimmy Mo her to keep quiet She’s been hustling hiot lawyers onto it now

Me: Glad to hear it

David: We retired Dad to Florida I told him about you He wants to meet

Me: Really? I don’t knohat to say …

David: Can I coet y old T-shirt, washed so inal color was a faded memory He’d just have to take me as he found me I unlocked the front door of our apartment and padded down the stairs on bare feet, h, a tall shadow loo’s front door I pushed it open to find hiht was still, peaceful A fancy silver SUV was pulled up at the curb