Cliff froze in the doorway. “What’s he doing here?”
Bey barely stopped in time to avoid crashing into him. “Who?”
Cliff pointed into the crowd of partygoers. “Him. Danny Crawford. I’m not staying if he’s here.”
“Wait, didn’t you say he was an old flame? That was years ago. Just let it go, already.”
Cliff turned the burned side of his face toward Bey. “I didn’t say he was an old flame. I said he started the fire that burned my family’s house down. He only spent a few months in juvie. And he never apologized.”
Bey looked from his lover’s face to the man laughing in the center of a large group. Clenching his fist, he started toward him.
“Leave it alone,” Cliff said, taking hold of Bey’s arm. “He’s not worth it, and neither is the supposed friend who invited him.”
Cliff didn’t bother closing the door as they walked away. Halfway to the car, Jack caught up to them. “Hey man. I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was coming. He tagged along with Ralphie.”
“That may be,” Cliff answered, not slowing down. “But you knew I was coming, and you let him stay. “
“What was I supposed to do? He was with Ralphie.”
Cliff unlocked the car and opened the door. “If you don’t know the answer to that question, it’s not worth my breath to explain it. You’re just another piece of my life burned up in that jerk’s flames.”
I almost ended this story with Cliff cooling down over dinner and drinks and forgiving his friend who can’t handle confrontation and so let Danny stay. However, life isn’t usually that tidy and old trauma doesn’t let go that easily.
What do you think of Cliff’s reaction and his response to Jack? I know people who would burn the world down before they’d forgive someone. No matter how much they hurt themselves in the process.
I don’t have an answer regarding this question. I could spout therapeutic wisdom here, but I don’t think Cliff would be ready to hear it.
There are some hurts so deep in me, I'm not sure if forgiveness will ever be easy. With time, I suppose. As to Danny, it would be hard for me if he never acknowledged the pain he caused or at least tried to explain where he was when he behaved so cruelly. I hope one day he realizes it.
I doubt I would forgive Danny*, but I would probably forgive Jack for not kicking Danny out. I would also have expected Jack to call or text me and tell me that Danny showed up giving me the chance not to go. However, my dear, sweet, husband would not be so forgiving. He does forgive a lot, but once a line is crossed, he NEVER forgives.
*I might consider forgiving Danny if there were extenuating circumstances to an unintentional fire plus Danny felt really bad about it. It would be difficult, of course, since Danny never apologized.