Chapter 13 - Marcus comes alone
Marcus asked to see me without Daniel.
We met at a private room in a restaurant.
He arrived ten minutes early.
He was always punctual when nervous.
“Dad.”
“Marcus.”
He did not mention Thomas.
Good.
Instead:
“I’m sorry I got in the car.”
I waited.
“I’ve said that to myself every day.”
“Why did you?”
He looked down.
“Daniel was furious.”
“That is about Daniel.”
“I was embarrassed.”
“About?”
“You.”
There.
I preferred that to false compassion.
“Why?”
“The bankruptcy stories. The board fight. You showing up outside the tower.”
“Being my son was embarrassing.”
“In that moment.”
“Enough to leave me dying.”
His face collapsed.
“I didn’t think you were dying.”
“What did you think?”
“Panic attack. Maybe angina. You’ve done that before.”
“I had never collapsed before.”
“No.”
“You heard me ask for help.”
“Yes.”
“Then?”
“I thought somebody from the building would handle it.”
Somebody.
The invisible workforce children of wealthy men often assume will appear.
Marcus said:
“I am sorry.”
“I believe you.”
His head lifted.
“Does that mean—”
“No.”
He stopped.
“Does that mean what?”
“The trust.”
There.
Still.
I smiled sadly.
“You came almost far enough.”
He looked ashamed.
May you like
That mattered.
Not enough.
