Chapter 12 - RAYMOND’S LAST LETTER TO DANIELAmong Raymond’s files was a separate letter.
To Daniel.
I did not open it.
It belonged to him.
Months later, Daniel told me part of it.
Raymond wrote:
Son, you have always mistaken avoiding conflict for kindness.
Daniel laughed sadly when he read that to me.
Accurate.
Then:
Owen’s failures are not yours to hide. Your mother’s emotions are not yours to manage.
And:
If you ever use Allison as a shield because you are afraid to tell your family no, you will lose the best thing you ever chose for yourself.
Daniel looked at me.
“Dad knew.”
“He knew your pattern.”
“Yes.”
Then Daniel said:
“He didn’t say you were perfect.”
“Good.”
“He said you can be rigid.”
I smiled.
“Also accurate.”
Forensic accountants are delightful dinner companions.
But Raymond’s point was not that I was morally superior.
It was that Daniel’s fear of family conflict made him dangerous when pressure rose.
He chose the person least likely to retaliate.
His wife.
Until I did.
May you like
Not with revenge.
With exit.
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