Re: Elaine/TJ
"Because the politician is perfect, the man is not, and maybe we were just protecting ourselves, showing that part of us that we consider perfect and hiding our own faults. Your father isn't the only one who did that." Elaine sighed. "We're also perfectionists. You don't get where we did without taking care of every little detail, and every failure needs to be considered before you move forward. It's not because it's you, but because it's us. Don't you think that Doug went through the same thing? I... I treated you like I treated everyone else, because I was preparing you for our life, but neither you nor Doug had asked for that, and that's my fault. I'm not saying that next time something else, we won't do the same. We're not really good at changing."
She smiled back. "You are more than good enough."
Elaine sighed. "He does, doesn't he? I hope he can find what I can't, because he deserves it. You need to help him, Sweetheart, because I can't. I don't know how. I know it's not fair to ask you that, but I need you to do that for me, for him." She didn't know about Marks, but if he made things better for her boys, she wouldn't fight it. "If you are this serious, maybe you should ask him to join us for dinner on the weekends."