Chapter 14 - THE LETTER FROM DAVID
Emily opened David’s letter two weeks before her due date.
Emily—
I knew Michael was having an affair before you did.
There is no version of that sentence that makes me a good father.
I convinced myself I needed proof because Michael was CEO and because accusing him without evidence could damage the company, the board, and you.
What I did not admit was that I also wanted to be right about him.
That made me dangerous.
Emily stopped reading.
David had always distrusted Michael.
Too ambitious.
Too charming.
Too eager to prove he could outgrow the founder.
Some of David’s suspicions were justified.
Some were pride.
The letter continued.
I let business strategy decide when my daughter deserved the truth.
Michael did something similar for worse reasons.
That does not make us equal.
It does mean I should recognize the habit.
If you ever inherit anything useful from me, let it be this:
Information about someone’s life belongs to them before it belongs to your strategy.
Emily cried then.
Quietly.
At the bottom:
I am sorry.
No request for forgiveness.
No explanation about evidence preservation.
Just sorry.
Emily called him.
He answered immediately.
“I read it.”
Silence.
Then:
“Okay.”
She almost laughed.
“You’re not going to give a speech?”
“I’m trying something new.”
“What?”
“Not controlling the next minute.”
That made her laugh for real.
Then she said:
“I’m still angry.”
“I know.”
“Dad.”
He stopped.
Right.
Not that phrase.
“Understood.”
Better.
Then Emily’s abdomen tightened.
She froze.
Another contraction came six minutes later.
David heard her breathing change.
“Emily?”
“I think—”
She stood carefully.
Her water broke across the kitchen floor.
David immediately started issuing instructions.
Emily looked at him.
He stopped mid-sentence.
“Right.”
Then asked:
“What do you want me to do?”
That question, absurdly, made her cry harder than the contraction.
“Drive.”
May you like
He grabbed the keys.
And for once, David Carter followed instead of led.
