Chapter 19 - ARTURO AND MARCUS
Arturo refused to see Marcus for three years.
His choice.
Relatives pressured.
“He apologized.”
“He completed probation.”
“He’s family.”
Arturo answered:
“So am I.”
Good.
Then at seventy-nine, after another hip procedure, my father changed his mind.
Structured meeting.
No lawyer required by then.
I waited outside.
They spoke for forty minutes.
I know only what Arturo later told me.
Marcus apologized.
Again.
Arturo asked:
“Did you think I was stupid?”
Marcus answered:
“No.”
“Did you think I was senile?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I thought if I made everybody else think you were, you’d eventually stop fighting.”
That honesty cost him.
Good.
Then Arturo said:
“You moved my cane before the charity dinner.”
Marcus admitted it.
There.
One suspicion confirmed.
He had moved it across the room to make Arturo rely on staff.
Not to cause a fall.
Still manipulation.
Then:
“The watch before?”
Marcus admitted taking it twice.
Wore once.
Returned.
Again.
Then Arturo asked:
“Anything else?”
“No.”
Arturo believed him.
Maybe.
Then Marcus asked to hug.
Arturo said no.
Meeting ended.
Two months later they had coffee.
May you like
No hug.
Progress did not need physical proof.
