“I’ve always been proud of you, even when I haven’t shown it. I’m especially proud of the man you’re becoming. And I’m sorry you doubted that. I’m sorry you felt like nothing you ever did was enough.” My vision blurs with tears of my own. I blink them back impatiently. “Why’d you never . . . just say that? Like when I made captain, why’d you act like you didn’t care?” “I did care. I was so fucking proud of you I could barely talk.” He laughs bitterly. “But I’d just heard about your uncle from James. I was trying to protect you, and of course, all I did was drive you right to him.”
