“You have a therapist?”
“Don’t make this weird.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
He threw a cushion at me.
For the first time in months, I laughed with my best friend.
Then Daniel became serious again.
“I told him I was angry because I thought you were taking something away from me.”
“Your mother?”
He nodded.
“I know that sounds awful.”
“It sounds human.”
“She was the one person I could count on when everything else fell apart. And when Dad left, I started thinking I had to protect her from everything.”
He swallowed.
“But she doesn’t need me to decide whether she’s allowed to be happy.”
I felt a lump in my throat.
“No. She doesn’t.”
Daniel looked toward the television.
“I still don’t know how I’m supposed to feel about you two.”
“You don’t have to figure it out today.”
“What if I never get completely comfortable with it?”
“Then we’ll keep being honest with each other.”
He looked at me.
“You really love her?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re not just trying to prove something to Dad?”
I stared at him.
“Daniel, your father could move to another continent tomorrow, and I’d still want to be with your mother.”
He was quiet for a long time.
Then he nodded.
“I can’t give you permission to date her. She’s not mine to give away.”
“No.”
“But I don’t want to spend the rest of my life trying to stop her from having a life.”
My chest loosened.
Daniel leaned forward, elbows on his knees.
“I need time. And I need you not to act like everything is normal just because you two are happy.”
“I promise.”
“And if you hurt her, I will make your life miserable.”
I smiled.
“There he is.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
He stood and walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he turned around.
“Mom asked about you.”
I froze.
“What did you tell her?”
“That you’re an idiot.”
“That’s fair.”
He smiled.
Then he said, “You should go see her.”
I waited until he had left before allowing myself to breathe properly.
