Chapter 6
“Tyler, watch your tone.”
“Did you know?”
Mitchell exhaled.
“Of course I knew she finished eventually.”
The room went silent.
My mother slowly turned toward him.
“Mitchell?”
He rubbed his forehead.
“Come on. I wasn't keeping a file on her.”
Tyler stared.
“You told me she washed out.”
“I was joking.”
“For my entire life?”
Mitchell didn't answer.
Tyler's voice grew quieter.
“You let me say that to her face.”
I saw my brother look at his son.
For the first time that evening, he seemed to understand that he had lost control of the room.
“Son, I didn't mean for you to take it so seriously.”
Tyler gave a short, humorless laugh.
“You told me she was jealous because I was going to become a pilot.”
My stomach tightened.
I hadn't known that part.
Mitchell's face flushed.
“That's not what I said.”
“It is exactly what you said.”
Tyler looked at me.
“That's why I never asked you for help.”
I nodded slowly.
“I wondered.”
His eyes filled again.
“I thought you were embarrassed.”
I reached for his hand.
“Tyler, listen to me. I'm proud of you. I was proud when you got into ROTC. I was proud when you commissioned. I'm proud you're learning to fly.”
His mouth trembled.
“I know that now.”
“And I want you to be a better pilot than I ever was.”
He shook his head.
“I don't know if that's possible.”
“It is,” I said. “And that's what you should be trying to do.”
Grandpa chuckled softly.
“There she is.”
Everyone looked at him.
He pointed toward me.
“That's the girl who kept trying to drive my skiff straight through the dock.”
I laughed through my tears.
“You said you'd never teach me again.”
“I said I'd never teach you again if you didn't learn to listen.”
He nodded toward the television.
“Looks like you learned.”
Then he turned to Mitchell.
His expression changed.
“Your sister earned those wings. I pinned them on her myself.”
Mitchell swallowed.
“I know, Grandpa.”
“No,” Grandpa said. “You knew. That's different.”
Nobody spoke.
Grandpa took off his veteran cap and placed it on the table.
“You know why I kept that picture of my old surf boat beside Kate's acceptance letter?”
Mitchell shook his head.
“Because I wanted her to understand something. The sea doesn't care who your father is. It doesn't care how much money you make, how loud you talk, or how many people laugh at your jokes.”