"But you are a child, Elinor-- You're my child. Your father and I raised you with certain standards. You were the most difficult, Elinor, and you're still difficult to this day. You're wasting your life in a laboratory, risking blowing yourself up every day, shut away indoors. You spent four years in a forensics college. I'm proud, of course, but... Elinor... It's just not practical. You're worth so much more."
It was hard to tell whether or not she was patronizing her child. Quite frankly, Alyssa didn't know either. She was out of practice. It had been so long.
"Your father and I tried to give you everything you were worth. But you, the stubborn girl you were, just couldn't be pleased. You don't see things well, dear. You're worth more than that... thin man you brought with you today." |