“Do you think you still have so much influence over me? I’m my own man now.”
After a moment of heavy silence, Arthur’s father shook his head.
“You see, this is why I advised the fair’s organizers against letting you exhibit.”
Arthur winced as his father’s words slammed into him.
“You—” he started to say.
“Did youreallythink thatmoneywas the issue, Arthur? Back in the winter, when you begged me to approach Mr. Burnham and the others, I was truthful with them. I let them know how erratic you are. And I cautioned them against having you be part of such an important event. It’s bittersweet to see that I was right to do so. You haven’t changed a bit. Not even after all these years.”
Bile rose up Arthur’s throat, and he swallowed thickly to keep the hurt from spewing forth. His parents still wouldn’t have forgiven him had he succeeded in being part of the World’s Fair, then. Hell, not only would they never have forgiven him, they never would have respected him, either. Neither his mother nor his father had ever even believed in him at all.
His mother took a small step forward.
“Arthur, love, please listen to us about Emma. We only want what’s best for her.”
Arthur blinked back his tears. He had to be strong. For Emma.
“You want what’s best foryou,” Arthur spat back. “I know what this is really about. You’re concerned about your social standing. You’re concerned about what people will think if your granddaughter winds up a bachelor girl, rather than the matriarch of a household.”
Arthur’s mother replied, “Yes,of coursewe’re concerned about that. Emma is awonderfulgirl. She could have such a beautiful future ahead of her if only—”
Arthur held up a hand, silencing her. “Shewillhave a beautiful future. But it will be one thatshechooses. Becoming a journalist is important to her. It’s what she believes will make her happy. And I want her to be happy. I want that more than anything.”
Arthur’s parents looked at one another. His mother’s eyes fell to the floor.
Rubbing his forehead, his father said, “Dammit, I can’t believe you’re being so stubborn. Arthur, it’s incredibly shortsighted of you to entertain this. I wish you would let yourself see that.”
“And I wishyouwould let yourself see that Emma is what’s most important. Her happinessandher well-being.”
His father heaved a sigh. “We’re finished talking about this.” He looked back and forth between Arthur and Jesse, his eyes flitting to Charlotte for a brief moment before he then shook his head and clicked his tongue. “Arthur, whatever the hell it is that you’re doing here, it has to stop. I’m not only talking about letting Emma pursue this foolhardy career as a journalist, but...” His face reddened and he looked away, wrinkling his nose. “Well, I’m sure you know what else I’m referring to.”
Arthur’s stomach curdled, and shame flared to life on his cheeks. His first instinct was to hang his head and let his father continue to berate him. Years back, Arthur would have relented. Desperate for their love and approval, he’d have simply fallen in line. Hell, he’d have done that merely a few short weeks ago as well.
But no more.
“I have no intention of ending my friendship with Jesse,” he said. “Just as I want Emma to be happy, I want to be happy, too.”
Arthur’s father’s eyes bulged, and his mother covered her mouth with one of her hands.
His mother said, “Don’t you know what could happen if—”
“Yes,” Arthur said. He took a few steps forward. His legs wobbled as he continued down the stairs. Thank God he had the railing for support. “And I know, too, that this might mean that you no longer want to be in my life.” Arthur exhaled a trembling breath. Tears pooled in his eyes once again. He let a few of them fall. “But I’ve made peace with that.”
Arthur’s parents simply stared, their expressions a mixture of hurt and anger and sorrow. Silence followed for some time, theseconds stretching on into eternity. Arthur’s heart continued to beat hard and fast, fear percolating in his veins. He wondered whether his parents would spill his secret. And even whether they’d try to take Emma from him. One week prior, he had been certain that neither of those horrible things could ever come to pass, but now, standing here in front of his parents, his soul laid bare, Arthur realized he couldn’t know that. Just as Arthur’s life and livelihood had been in his parents’ hands when they had first learned about Ella’s pregnancy all those years ago, it was in their hands now, too.
But this time, Arthur wouldn’t bow to them to save himself.
And his parents seemed to know it.
Finally, his father let out a breath and said, “Goodbye, Arthur. Don’t expect us to come for our weekly dinner later today. Don’t expect us to visit for the foreseeable future, either. Emma may write to us on occasion. But that will be the extent of our relationship from this point forward.” Frowning, he looked over at Arthur’s mother, who looked as though she was struggling to hold back tears. “Anyway, we should go.”
She only nodded in response, though Arthur could have sworn he heard a faint sniffle. When they turned to leave, Arthur shut his eyes.
And he listened to his parents walk out of his life.
Arthur was still rooted to the same spot on the stairs when he heard the floorboards creak behind him. Assuming it was Charlotte, he turned, only to see Emma coming toward the stairwell, her nightgown swishing back and forth with each step, her brows upturned and pinched together.
