His face brightened.
“Sure.”
That small thing mattered.
I had spent my life not needing him.
Maybe he had learned that relationship with me meant receiving.
Not giving.
That part belonged to me too.
We sat on the porch.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Ethan asked.
“How much are you worth?”
I laughed.
“Absolutely not.”
“Dad.”
“No.”
“Come on.”
“Enough.”
“That’s what you said yesterday.”
“And it remains correct.”
He smiled.
Then became serious.
“Is this why you retired?”
“Partly.”
“What will you do?”
“Nothing.”
“You can’t do nothing.”
“I can try.”
He laughed.
Then.
“You’re still making pies.”
“Yes.”
“That’s work.”
“That’s fun.”
He nodded.
Then asked.
“Were you testing us?”
I thought about it.
“No.”
“Not initially.”
“What does that mean?”
“I genuinely thought I might stay with you while I decided what came next.”
He looked ashamed.
“And then Vanessa gave you the rules.”
