A letter from "Dad"

For my blog post today, I am going to explore what I think the relationship between Delia and her father, Andrew, is like at this point in the novel. Remember, Delia has just found out that her father kidnapped her when she was young, and has been living a lie for as long as she can remember. Andrew has just been put in jail until the trial and he has not spoken with Delia since the arrest because he is not allowed to. I am not far enough into the book for me to know what Delia’s father would really want to say to his “daughter” if he ever got the chance, but this is my guess as to how a letter from him would go.

Dearest Delia,

I do not even know where to begin, but before I start, I want to beg you to read this. I know you are very angry with me but I need to know that you have heard what I have to say.

I am so sorry Delia. Pretty much all I can say at this point is that I’m sorry, and I know that you might not accept my apology but it’s all I have. I can’t take back my mistakes, but I was so young at the time and I wasn’t thinking about the consequences of my actions. I know now that I should have been. I don’t really have an explanation for what I did, I do know that I love you now and I think that now is all that matters anymore.

The police let me talk to Eric, but only Eric. I wish I could talk to you too, but I can send messages to you through him and hope that he gives them to you. If he doesn’t, I know that it is just because he loves you and is trying to protect you. If you hate me now, I understand. But I want you to know that I never meant to hurt you. I don’t know what the upcoming trial will bring, but it will probably be very hard on you, especially since your mom will not be there to help you through it. However, I do know that you are an extremely strong woman and if anyone can make it through, its you not me.

I know you may not want to, but it would mean the world to me if you wrote back.

Love, Dad

I know that some of the things said in this letter would persuade Delia to begin to forgive her father, and I’m hoping that Andrew gets a chance to say something like this to her.