“You did.”

He accepted that without defending himself.

We walked for fifteen minutes.

Before leaving, he said he hoped we might someday share a holiday meal, but he understood if I was not ready.

I told him I would think about it.

Driving home, I realized I had spent too many years measuring a good day by whether my father approved of me.

Now I had good days when a shipment arrived on time or a junior planner solved a difficult problem.