“Grandpa, Daddy said you were going away. Are you leaving us?”
I held her tightly.
“No, sweetheart. Grandpa isn’t going anywhere.”
My grandson hugged me next.
And standing there with those two children in my arms, I understood something.
My son had threatened to take away my family, but he had no right to decide who loved me.
Two weeks later, Daniel returned.
This time, he came alone.
He looked exhausted.
He sat across from me at the kitchen table and apologized.
He admitted that his debts were worse than anyone had realized and that Susan had insisted he seek professional help managing them.
Then he said something I never expected.
“Dad, I don’t deserve your forgiveness.”
I looked at him for a long time.
“You’re my son, Daniel. I’ll always love you. But loving you doesn’t mean allowing you to hurt me.”
He nodded, crying quietly.
