“Lock yourself somewhere.”
Marcus heard Zoe’s bedroom door open.
“Daddy?”
He turned.
She stood in the hallway in pink pajamas, rubbing her eyes.
Marcus immediately moved toward her.
“Morning, sweetheart.”
“Are we making pancakes?”
“Maybe.”
Zoe walked past him.
Before Marcus could redirect her, she entered the living room.
Eleanor stopped talking.
Zoe looked at her.
Then smiled sleepily.
“Are you feeling better?”
Eleanor stared.
“What?”
“My dad said you got sick.”
Zoe walked closer.
“He makes toast when my stomach hurts.”
Marcus stepped into the room.
“Zoe.”
She turned.
“What?”
Eleanor’s eyes moved from daughter to father.
Then around the living room.
The school photographs.
Children’s books.
A framed picture of Marcus and Danielle.
A drawing labeled ME AND DADDY AT THE ZOO.
Zoe’s backpack.
One tiny sneaker beneath the coffee table.
Then she noticed the note.
Her phone had been resting partly on top of it.
She picked it up.
Read.
Then read again.
Her face changed.
“Rachel, hold on.”
She lowered the phone.
“Marcus.”
His entire body felt tight.
“Yes.”
“Did we…”
She could not finish.
Marcus knew exactly what she meant.
“No.”
Eleanor looked at him.
“Nothing happened.”
He kept his voice completely even.
“You became intoxicated at the reception.”
“No one else would stay with you.”
“Your phone was dead.”
“You couldn’t remember your new address.”
Eleanor stared.
Marcus continued.
“I tried several hotels.”
“I considered the hospital.”
“You refused medical care.”
“I brought you here because I could not safely leave you alone.”
He pointed toward the dining chair.
“Your dress was stained.”
“I put clean clothes on the coffee table.”
“You changed yourself in the bathroom while I stayed in the kitchen.”
He pointed down the hall.
“I slept on the floor beside my daughter’s bed.”
Eleanor looked toward Zoe.
The little girl was now standing close to Marcus.
“You missed my play because of her.”
Marcus exhaled.
“Zoe.”
“What?”
“It’s okay.”
“No, it isn’t.”
Eleanor looked devastated.
Marcus held out one hand.
“Sweetheart, kitchen.”
Zoe frowned.
“I want cereal.”
“Good.”
She walked toward the kitchen.
Then paused beside Eleanor.
“Do you want cereal?”
Eleanor stared at her.
“No, honey.”
“Toast?”
“Maybe later.”
Zoe nodded.