Looking at him, my heart began to soften. After all, he was my son, the boy I had raised with my own hands.
When he had a fever as a child, I stayed up all night by his bedside. When he went off to college, I saved every penny I could to pay for his tuition.
Now he was struggling to build his own business. How could I, as his father, really just walk away and leave him on his own?
“Dad,” he said again when I stayed quiet, “please don’t go. I’ll talk to Wanda and make sure she watches how she speaks next time.”
“I’ll also raise your salary by seventy dollars.”
I put down my clothes and let out a long sigh. “You don’t need to raise my pay. I’m not staying for the money.”
Daniel smiled with relief. “Thanks, Dad. I knew you cared so much about me.”
He stood up, still smiling. “Get some rest. You’ll need to wake up early tomorrow to buy groceries.”
I nodded.
He turned around and quietly closed the door behind him.
Later that night, I lay in bed but couldn’t sleep.
When I got up to use the bathroom and passed by my son’s bedroom, I heard muffled laughter inside.
“See? I told you,” Daniel said proudly. “I know my dad too well. Just a few soft words and a bit of pity talk, he always gives in.”