“You didn’t start being family when me and Dad did.”
“But you can still be family later.”
“Right?”
Caroline knelt.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
“So you’re coming back?”
Caroline looked across the yard.
Marcus stood near his porch.
He looked terrible.
She returned her eyes to Amara.
“Whatever happens between me and your dad is never because of you.”
“Do you understand?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Amara nodded.
Then hugged her.
Caroline held on.
When she looked up again, Marcus had crossed half the distance.
“Amara.”
His voice was gentle.
“Go get your backpack.”
“The bus will be here.”
She hesitated.
“It’s okay.”
Amara ran inside.
Marcus continued toward Caroline.
He stopped several feet away.
“I’m sorry.”
Caroline swallowed.
Marcus rubbed a hand across his beard.
“I said something cruel.”
“I knew it was cruel when I said it.”
“I said it anyway because you hit something I didn’t want to look at.”
She said nothing.
“You were right about part of it.”
“The pride.”
“The fear.”
“I keep telling myself everything I do is for Amara.”
“Most of it is.”
He looked toward the house.
“But some of it is me being scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“Having something worth losing again.”
Caroline’s breath caught.
Marcus’s eyes were wet.
“I threw you out because you mattered.”
“That’s a terrible compliment.”
He laughed weakly.
“I know.”
“I’ve spent three days missing you so badly that the house feels wrong.”
“That isn’t Amara.”
“She misses you too.”
“But this…”
He touched his chest.
“This part is mine.”
Caroline looked down.
“The folder was never me trying to save you.”
“I know.”
“I don’t think you’re broken.”
“I know that now.”
She wiped her eyes.
“I wanted to give you your nights back.”
“That’s all.”
“You give everyone everything.”
“Your daughter.”
“Your customers.”
“Your jobs.”
“I wanted somebody to give something back.”
Marcus looked at her for a long time.
Caroline continued.
“I should have asked.”
“I should have said, ‘I have an idea.’”
“Instead I designed your future and handed it to you like I had already decided.”
“That was arrogant.”
Marcus nodded.
“A little.”
She almost smiled.
“More than a little.”
“Probably.”
The school bus turned onto the street.
Amara ran outside.
Marcus looked at Caroline.
“Come over tonight.”
She stared.
“After Amara’s asleep.”
“Please.”
“We’re not finished.”
Caroline nodded.
“Tonight.”
That evening, Caroline sat on Marcus’s couch while he occupied the same chair he had used the first night.
They both held water bottles neither drank.
The room felt smaller than usual.
Marcus finally spoke.
“You were about to say something this morning.”
“Yes.”
“What?”
Caroline looked at her hands.
“I need you not to interrupt.”