Chapter 6 - The First Time Marcus Said Their NamesThe party ended early.
Guests quietly left.
The string quartet stopped playing.
The Christmas lights continued glowing over a room that suddenly felt much too large.
Marcus sat near the fireplace.
The children were nearby.
He didn't approach them.
Not yet.
He simply watched.
Then Sawyer walked over.
Marcus looked up.
“Hi.”
Sawyer studied him.
“Are you my dad?”
The question destroyed him.
Marcus swallowed.
“Yes.”
Sawyer looked at his bracelet.
“Grandpa gave me this.”
Marcus nodded.
“He loved you.”
“Did he tell you about me?”
Marcus looked down.
“No.”
Sawyer waited.
“Why?”
Marcus struggled to answer.
“Because I was stupid.”
Sawyer frowned.
“What's stupid?”
Marcus almost smiled through his tears.
“Sometimes adults make terrible choices.”
Sawyer thought about that.
Then he asked:
“Are you going to leave?”
Marcus froze.
“No.”
Sawyer nodded.
“Okay.”
Then he walked away.
That simple answer seemed to break something inside Marcus.
He covered his face.
I stood nearby.
“You don't get forgiveness because you cried.”
“I know.”
“You don't get trust because you're their father.”
“I know.”
“You don't get to become their dad overnight.”
“I know.”
I looked at him.
“Then you understand.”
May you like
He nodded.
For the first time in nine years, we agreed on something.
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