I lowered my eyes.
For a moment, I almost apologized.
Then Levi spoke.
“That’s enough, Mom.”
His voice wasn’t loud.
But something about it made everyone stop talking.
“You want to discuss Dad? Fine. Let’s talk about him.”
Diane straightened.
“Levi, this isn’t the time.”
“You brought him into this conversation.”
He looked toward the guests.
“My father didn’t simply have high expectations. He spent my childhood making me feel that nothing I did was good enough.”
Diane shook her head.
“That’s not fair.”
Levi continued.
“When I was fifteen, I placed second at the state science fair. Second in the entire state. I was incredibly proud.”
He paused.
“I brought my certificate home and showed Dad. Do you know what he asked me?”
Nobody answered.
“He asked who had beaten me.”
A few guests exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Levi’s voice remained steady.
“Then he spent dinner discussing everything I should have done differently.”
