The Talk

Katherine decided it was time to have that talk with Dad. Way past time, actually. She had stayed with him a long time, working along side him on the farm, cooking, cleaning, watching over the finances. It had all started the year of her high school graduation when Mama died and Judy, Katherine's sister, came home for the funeral--pregnant. Two weeks later Judith gave birth and disappeared two weeks after that leaving Dad and Katherine with an infant girl. So began 30 years of reasons Katherine could not leave.

But now it had to stop. Katherine pulled her chair up beside Dad's in the darkening room.

She cried a little and then began, "I'm sorry I haven't ...I know I've had a bad attitude..Please forgive... forgive me for not talking to you sooner...I hope you can...forgive me. I've been resentful of staying here. I've blamed you for the decisions I've made, and I never...I never talked to you about that. Until now...And I do love you. I...I've never told you that before either."

She paused. "I'm ashamed to admit that...that I've felt...trapped...and sometimes I've even thought I'd be glad if you died. I know it's a wicked and shocking thing to say and I'm...so sorry."

A knock at the door interrupted her confession.



"Please come in," Katherine said to Velma from Dad's church. She accepted the casserole Velma had brought and placed it on the counter.

Velma looked uncomfortable as she began, "I'm so sorry, Katherine. I couldn't make the funeral yesterday, but I wanted to pay my respects. You know your father was a fine Christian man. So respected in the community. He often spoke of you at church, you know. 'So smart and such a hard worker and good with money and really good at everything. Better'n any hired man!' I heard him say more'n once. Yes, he thought the world of you, girl. Thought the sun rose and set just for you," she smiled kindly at the memory. "I know you'll miss him terribly."

"Yes," Katherine answered quietly, "I will miss him. I do miss him...terribly."