CHAPTER 45
She knew from experience that a cry was not necessarily healing. In fact, for something like this, something long repressed, she imagined he felt worse for it.
“I’m glad you shared,” she murmured when he was done. “I know there was nothing else you could have done.”
“Maybe.” He did not seem to be agreeing.
“And I know your mom would’ve wanted you to swim away.” That got her some very surprised eyes in response.
“Daria, I—”
“No, before you said she wanted you to stay back when she confronted your father, didn’t you? I don’t know why she did that, but she clearly wanted to protect you, and I know she never meant to leave you alone.”
She wasn’t sure the words made it better, but he leaned against her, head on her shoulder all the same.
“And if that scar is a point of shame,” she guessed, and by the way he flinched she guessed it was true, “then I think you should reconsider. You were willing to fight a shark to preserve her memory. I’ve seen…
feeding frenzies.” It was hard to say that word knowing it was his mother as the food.
“There’s no way you could have stopped that.
The fact that you even tried…” She put her hand on his.
“That’s not something to be ashamed of.”
He was totally silent for a long time until finally he said, “I’d like to believe you.”
“Believe me,” she murmured, the words so passionate it was almost a beg. “Believe me because it’s true. And I’ll tell you a hundred times if you want me to.”
“A thousand?”
“A million.”
“I love you, Daria. With all my life.”
“I love you too.”