Adam Linton set down the Daily Advocate and looked at his daughter. She had stopped stirring her oatmeal, the spoon no longer rapping against the sides of the bowl.
“What?”
“Dad?” Veronica licked her spoon.
“Yes?”
“Is Grampa a bad man? A really bad man?”
“No. No, sweetie, he is not a bad man. He made some—maybe
a lot of people very angry.”
“Does Gamma hate him?
“Oh, hate. Hate, such a word. She’s angry at him, she’s
hurt. She’s unhappy.”
She looked down at her bowl.
“Why so many questions this morning? What’s up? Because
I’m going to see him tomorrow?”
Veronica took a bite of oatmeal and a sip of water.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Something, Veronica. Tell me.”
“Nothing. Just some friends were talking—“
“Some friends? Let
me guess, Lisa or Alice?”
“Lisa. Mostly.”
“What did she say?”
“Oh, like how Grampa wanted to destroy the country,
wanted to hurt people.”
“You think that is Lisa talking?”
“I don’t know. No. Maybe. I don’t know.”
“It’s very complicated. Your grandfather is a complicated
person. He loves you very much. He cares very deeply about the country.”
“Then why is he in jail? Why can’t I see him?”
Adam pushed back his chair and turned it so he could face
her directly.
“Some very powerful people are very angry at your
grandfather. And they don’t want him to cause any more trouble. You are
underage and so they have decided you can’t see him until you are 18. Or he is
released early.”
“Will he?”
“What, be released early? I don’t know. That I just don’t
know. Eat your breakfast.”
She took a few more bites as he adjusted his chair toward
the table and picked up the newspaper.
“Did Mom suffer in the explosion?”
Adam’s head jerked toward her. “Veronica! Why are you
asking me such a question? Now? At the breakfast table? What the bloody hell?”
“I’m sorry. Don’t yell at me. I was just thinking—“
“Now? That is what you were just thinking—“
“Why are you so angry at me?” She pushed her chair back.
“Do not get up and just walk off. You can’t just ask a
question like that.”
“I don’t want to talk to you. I have to get to school.”
“Veronica. Sweetheart—“
“I have to go.”
“You don’t have to go for another twenty minutes.”
She stood up. “I’m sorry.”
“Please don’t just walk away. Please. Please, sit.”
“Daddy—“
“Please.”
“Okay.”
“Honey—well, I just never, or try never to think about
your mother, when she—died. I don’t know what her last thoughts were or what
was happening. Maybe she was talking to another rider, I don’t know. I just
don’t—can’t—really think about it.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy. People keep talking about it. Talking
about you. Talking about Grampa. I want them to shut up. To leave me alone.”
Adam stood. “Come here.” She stood and moved toward him
and he put his arms around her and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m so sorry
for all of this, all of this to be part of your life now. It isn’t fair. I know
it hurts you.”
“I know it hurts you, Daddy. I don’t know what to do.”
“I know. Honestly, I don’t know what to do either.”
He stepped back and smiled at her. “We’re doing the best
we can.”
“The best we can.” She smiled and headed to her room to
get her book bag.
Maybe, Adam thought, maybe that’s all there is, ever can
be, doing the best that can be done. He headed to the kitchen to start a new
pot of coffee.
Lyman 2021
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