school.
She was the only person who knew the entire story.
“She told me I didn’t have to carry it alone,” he said.
“Then why didn’t you tell Beth and me?”
Dad’s eyes filled.
“Because I didn’t want you growing up with a newspaper headline for a father. I wanted to be the man who helped with homework, took you camping, and made pancakes on Sundays.”
He reached for my hand.
“I just wanted to be your dad.”
“You were,” I whispered. “You always were.”
He told me that a
