Chapter 15
Marco apologized to Sarah before he apologized to me.
Correct order.
“I should have passed the messages to Daniel.”
Sarah looked at him.
“Yes.”
“I thought it was a trap.”
“I know.”
“That doesn’t make it right.”
“No.”
Marco nodded.
Then he turned to Lily.
“I’m sorry too.”
She looked confused.
“You didn’t take the milk.”
“No.”
He crouched.
“But I stopped your mom from reaching your uncle.”
Lily thought about that.
“Why?”
“I was scared it would cause trouble.”
She frowned.
“Did it?”
Marco almost smiled.
“Yes.”
“Then you were right.”
He laughed once.
I did too.
Then he shook his head.
“No. I was afraid of the wrong trouble.”
Lily did not understand.
She returned to coloring.
That was fine.
Not every adult guilt needed to become a child’s burden.
Later, Marco stood beside me outside.
“What happens to Grant?”
“He’s gone from Mercer ground.”
“Vincent?”
“Same.”
“And me?”
I looked at him.
“You stay.”
He exhaled.
“But not unchanged.”
His eyes lifted.
“You don’t filter access to me based on what might embarrass the family.”
He nodded.
“If somebody says they’re blood?”
“You verify.”
“And then?”
“You tell me.”
Simple.
I should have established it years ago.
Marco looked toward the house.
“Sarah looks like your mother.”
“I know.”
“You okay?”
I thought about that.
“No.”
He nodded.
Fair answer.
I had gained a sister.
Three children.
A truth about my parents.
And proof that people I trusted had helped erase all of it.
May you like
Joy and anger could exist together.
I was learning that too.
