"Okay, I shouldn't have said that. But honey, what's done is done. I only told you because I didn't want that on my conscience anymore, didn't want to feel guilty facing you every day. Dad's gone. Let's just move on."
But he was the one who'd knelt at my father's grave and sworn to God he would never betray his teaching, never waste his help and mentorship, that he would love me and take care of me for the rest of his life.
Then he'd taken my father's last chance at survival and spent it saving the woman he cheated with.
I was about to speak when his phone rang.
Bess.
"Professor Swanson, there's a problem with the experiment. Can you come look at it? Please?"
"Sure. Hang tight, I'm on my way."
He forgot I was standing right there. Grabbed his jacket and turned to leave.
I stepped in front of him.
"In your eyes, my father's death doesn't even matter as much as one of her research reports? Do you know how many times I had to convince myself you didn't lose that money on purpose? Do you?!"
He ignored me completely. Sighed, pulled a tissue from the box, held it out.
"I gave you the money back. People have to look forward. Don't let something that's already gone ruin what we have now, okay?"