Maria and Nick met eyes for a moment. Maria wasn't exempt from the guilt, as she did have a particular vision for her children and wasn't subtle about prodding them in that direction, even if she did couch it in motherly concern. But Nick felt it too, and it felt wrong. Guilt and regret sparked defensiveness, but things had to change. He hadn't become this way out of nowhere, after all.
"Of course we've always loved you," he said gruffly. The past between them was such a mess, how did they even begin? "But you said you didn't want anything to do with us. You walked away. That hurt us too. Losing a child..." He trailed off, unwilling to finish that thought. "I am sorry you felt that way. It wasn't our intention to make you feel... inadequate."