Yellow Butterfly From the third-floor French doors I watch a pair of yellow butterflies chase each other around a summer breeze and think to myself, one of them could be…
Joy left home at 18 with a boy her minister father didn’t approve of. Joy and Mike marry in Vegas and arrive in LA. Shortly thereafter Joy discovers she’s pregnant and before she gives birth Mike is killed in a motorcycle accident. Broke, pregnant and widowed, Joy calls home. Her father, Art, says, “You’ve made your bed. Now lie in it.” He hangs up on her.
He’s got custody of his newborn daughter which he’s ill-equipped to handle. His son wants nothing to do with him. Emmaline’s sister shows up at his door and blames him for her death. The daughter Doug never knew about because Emmaline gave her up for adoption without telling him arrives, bringing her own anger and abandonment issues.
Between father and daughter: “I’m who I am because of you.” Meghan McCain gives a heartfelt, emotional eulogy for her late father, Senator John McCain. Through her tears she shares…
“We did the best we could.”
At the time I thought, yeah right. That was your best? Well, it wasn’t nearly good enough. Parents of their generation didn’t compliment their children because they didn’t want them to get a big head.
“We never agreed. You dictated and eventually I swallowed my own objections. I’ve been choking on them ever since. Joy is here now and she stays.” Marcy tugged Joy’s hand and Joy followed her to the kitchen feeling her father’s stare of disapproval like bullet holes in her back.
I wasn't seduced. I wasn't forced. I made a mistake.” Then why doesn't it feel like a mistake? She had asked herself that question over and over again. How could a baby be a mistake?
Before I left, I told Dad it was okay to let go and that he'd been a good dad. I don't know if he heard me. I like to think he did. It's been eight years. I know he's still with me, but I miss him so much.