Chapter 11 - WHEN CHLOE FINALLY FACED MARCUS, SHE REFUSED TO CALL HIM DAD UNTIL HE ANSWERED ONE QUESTION
The prison visiting room smelled like disinfectant and coffee.
Chloe was fourteen.
Tall.
Confident.
Terrified.
She wore black jeans and a sweatshirt from her school jazz band.
Marcus entered.
He stopped.
She stopped.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Marcus cried.
Not dramatic.
His face simply collapsed.
“Chloe.”
She sat.
I sat several feet away.
Marcus looked at me.
“Elena.”
“Marcus.”
Then Chloe asked:
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Why didn't you open the door?”
Marcus froze.
He knew which door.
Practice Room Six.
“I saw the video.”
she said.
“You were outside.”
“Yes.”
“You knew I was inside.”
“Yes.”
“You knew I was crying.”
His eyes filled.
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you open it?”
No lawyer.
No jury.
No strategy.
Just his daughter.
Marcus looked down.
“Because opening it would have meant admitting Victoria was wrong.”
Chloe waited.
“And if Victoria was wrong, I was wrong.”
His voice shook.
“And I cared more about being right than stopping your pain.”
Chloe cried.
“So you heard me?”
“Yes.”
That answer devastated her.
She stood.
I almost moved.
Dr. Patel had prepared us.
Let Chloe control the visit.
Marcus remained seated.
“I hate you.”
she said.
He nodded.
“You're allowed.”
“I don't want to call you Dad.”
“Okay.”
“Don't tell me you're my father like that means I owe you.”
“I won't.”
“You always told me family has to forgive.”
“I was wrong.”
She stared.
Then:
“Are you sorry because you're in prison?”
Marcus thought.
“Prison made it harder to avoid what I did.”
Not an easy answer.
“But no.”
He looked at her.
“I’m sorry because you were eight and I taught you that love could lock a door.”
Chloe covered her mouth.
Marcus cried too.
“I hope every person you love after me teaches you the opposite.”
Silence.
Chloe sat again.
They talked for another hour.
Music.
School.
Grandpa.
Her friends.
At the end, Marcus didn't ask for a hug.
That mattered.
Chloe stood.
“Bye, Marcus.”
“Goodbye, Chloe.”
We reached the door.
Then she turned.
“Maybe next time I’ll call you Dad.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Maybe is more than I deserve.”
Outside, Chloe breathed deeply.
“How do you feel?”
“Bad.”
“Okay.”
“And good.”
“Okay.”
“And angry.”
“Okay.”
“You're just going to say okay to everything?”
“Probably.”
She smiled.
Then hugged me.
“Thanks for coming.”
“Always.”
She pulled back.
“Not always.”
“What?”
“I mean, when I go to college, don't follow me everywhere.”
I laughed.
“Fine.”
“Boundaries.”
“I regret teaching you that word.”
May you like
“No, you don't.”
She was right.
