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I just find myself siding with the father every step of the way.
His son is late. He doesn't know why, but we as readers know it was on purpose to avoid meeting up with his dad.
He's concerned with manners, and doesn't want the people meant to be serving him acting too familiar. It isn't bad that she wants to refer to him by name, but if she knows him well enough to call him by his name she should know he prefers Mr. Burke.
He liked Ruth, but is upset that trans ideology warped her mind and got her body mutilated, and is confused by the sudden name change. Furthermore, he correctly points out it's all an act. We all know they aren't actually a guy, they're just pretending for Ruth/Elkin's sake. Compassionate, maybe, but misguided.
And his son is/was cutting himself. The harsh love, as he describes it, is out of concern for his son's wellbeing. He doesn't want him cutting himself. He offers his son a place to live, so long as he isn't harming himself. Whether his son accepts or not -- whether his son is harming himself or not -- he takes care of his son by giving him money that he desperately needs.
Everyone reacts to these pages like he's a villain, but he's a good dad, in my opinion. Perfect? No, of course not, but he clearly cares.
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