Chapter 10 - MADDIE ASKED ROMAN THE QUESTION I HAD BEEN TOO AFRAID TO ASK
Roman saw Maddie twice a month.
Then once a week.
Slow.
Structured.
No sleepovers.
No Vale estate.
There was no Vale estate anymore.
Sometimes they met at the park.
Sometimes Groundwork.
Sometimes museums because Maddie developed an alarming obsession with dinosaur skeletons.
Roman apparently hated museums.
He went anyway.
Claire noticed.
One Saturday, Maddie asked Roman to come to her school art show.
Claire almost said no.
Not because Roman was dangerous now.
Because school events were intimate.
Family things.
Roman would stand beside parents who knew him from headlines.
Some would whisper.
Maddie did not care.
“Mr. Roman likes my pictures.”
That was enough.
Claire agreed.
Roman arrived early.
No bodyguard visible.
Dark jacket.
He stood near the back.
Maddie’s painting hung on the wall.
Four houses.
Groundwork.
Claire.
Daniel above the clouds.
Roman near a tree.
Thomas beside a car because apparently Thomas’s identity remained transportation.
Roman stared for a long time.
Claire stood beside him.
“You’re shorter than me in the picture.”
“I noticed.”
“Maddie understands hierarchy.”
Roman almost smiled.
Then the teacher called families together.
Maddie ran over.
“Mr. Roman!”
He crouched.
“Hi.”
“Did you see?”
“Yes.”
“Do you like?”
“Very much.”
“Which part?”
Roman pointed toward Daniel.
“Your dad.”
Maddie smiled.
“He has wings.”
“Apparently.”
“Mom says maybe heaven doesn’t work like that.”
“Your mother enjoys ruining imagery.”
Claire elbowed him lightly before thinking.
Both froze.
First casual touch in years.
Claire stepped back.
Roman said nothing.
Thank God.
Later, they sat outside with cupcakes.
Maddie looked at Roman.
Then asked—
“Why did you marry Mommy?”
Claire stopped breathing.
Roman went completely still.
“Maddie.”
Claire started.
“No.”
Roman said softly.
“She can ask.”
Claire looked at him.
Maddie waited.
Roman thought for several seconds.
Then—
“Because I loved her.”
Maddie frowned.
“That’s not whole answer.”
Claire stared.
Roman almost laughed.
“No.”
“You’re right.”
He set down the cupcake.
“When I first met your mom, I was looking for something that belonged to your dad.”
“The box?”
Maddie knew about Daniel’s box in simple terms.
“Yes.”
“So you tricked her.”
Roman’s face tightened.
“Yes.”
Claire’s heart hurt.
Maddie looked at her.
“Mommy?”
“Yes?”
“Did you know?”
“Not then.”
Maddie looked back at Roman.
“That’s bad.”
“Yes.”
“Did you love box or Mommy?”
There.
The question Claire had never asked that cleanly.
Roman looked at Maddie.
“At first?”
He swallowed.
“I wanted the box.”
Claire’s chest tightened despite knowing.
“Then I wanted your mom.”
Maddie frowned.
“Like marry?”
“Yes.”
“And me?”
Roman’s expression changed.
“At first, I told myself you were just part of her life.”
Claire looked away.
Maddie stared.
“That’s mean.”
“Yes.”
“When did you like me?”
Roman almost smiled.
“The gummy bears.”
Maddie’s face brightened.
“What?”
“You gave me all the red ones.”
“Because you like red.”
“I did after that.”
She laughed.
Roman continued—
“Then you drew me with six fingers.”
“You need six.”
“Apparently.”
“And you fell asleep on my jacket once.”
“I drooled?”
“Extensively.”
Maddie gasped.
Claire laughed.
Then Roman became serious.
“I started loving you before I admitted it.”
Maddie looked at him.
“Why not say?”
Roman’s eyes shifted toward Claire.
“Because saying you love someone means they can hurt you.”
Maddie thought.
“So?”
Roman stared.
Claire covered her mouth.
The simplicity.
“So.”
Roman repeated.
“I was scared.”
Maddie nodded.
“Mommy says scared isn’t excuse.”
Roman looked at Claire.
“Your mother is right.”
Maddie took another bite.
Then—
“Did you love Daddy Daniel?”
Roman blinked.
“No.”
“Did you know him?”
“Yes.”
“Was he nice?”
Roman thought.
“He was brave.”
Claire’s throat tightened.
“He also insulted my suits.”
She laughed.
“What?”
“He said anyone with twelve charcoal suits was emotionally suspicious.”
That sounded exactly like Daniel.
Maddie giggled.
Roman continued—
“He loved you.”
Her smile faded.
“I know.”
“He talked about you even when he was afraid.”
Claire’s eyes filled.
Maddie looked down.
“Do you want to be my daddy?”
Roman stopped breathing.
Claire did too.
He answered carefully.
“I want to be Roman.”
Maddie frowned.
“That’s your name.”
“Yes.”
He smiled faintly.
“And if being Roman means I get to come to your art shows and hear about dinosaurs and occasionally receive gummy bears…”
He swallowed.
“…that is enough.”
Maddie stared for a long time.
Then asked—
“Can I call you Dad sometimes?”
Claire’s heart stopped.
Roman’s face emptied.
He looked at Claire.
Not permission exactly.
But respect.
Claire did not answer for Maddie.
Roman turned back.
“You can call me whatever feels right to you.”
Maddie considered.
“Dad Roman.”
Roman’s eyes filled.
“Okay.”
She smiled.
“Dad Roman.”
Claire turned away.
There are moments that rearrange grief.
Not erase.
Rearrange.
Daniel remained Maddie’s father.
Nothing changed that.
Roman did not become Daniel.
He became something else.
Chosen.
Complicated.
Earned slowly.
After the show, Roman walked Claire and Maddie to their car.
Maddie climbed inside.
Roman stood beside Claire.
“She surprised me.”
“Yes.”
“Are you okay?”
Claire looked at him.
“I don’t know.”
“Fair.”
“She isn’t replacing Daniel.”
“I know.”
“She never could.”
“I know.”
Claire stared.
“That word is becoming less annoying.”
Roman almost smiled.
Then—
“I would never ask her to.”
“I believe you.”
The sentence escaped.
Roman stopped.
Claire realized what she had said.
I believe you.
Not I forgive you.
Not I love you.
But belief.
Roman’s face changed more than if she had kissed him.
He nodded once.
“Thank you.”
He began walking away.
“Roman.”
He turned.
Claire’s pulse accelerated.
“Dinner.”
He stared.
“What?”
“Not with Maddie.”
Silence.
“Me.”
Roman’s mouth opened.
Nothing came.
Claire almost smiled.
“You negotiate with federal prosecutors better than this?”
“Usually.”
“Tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“Seven.”
“Yes.”
“No suits that cost more than Groundwork’s espresso machine.”
Roman looked offended.
“That eliminates most of my wardrobe.”
“Growth.”
He smiled.
A real one.
Then walked away.
Claire watched him.
Not because he belonged to her.
May you like
Because she was choosing to.
That distinction changed everything.
