The words landed in him like something physical, not painfully. The opposite of painfully, like something that had been braced against a weight for a long time was being told it could relax. He had been told in various ways across the 40 years of his life that the skills he had, the mechanical intelligence, the structural thinking, the ability to stand in a broken system and locate the failure point were practical skills, bluecollar skills, respectable enough certainly, but belonging to a particular lane that did not cross over into the lanes where the real thinking happened. He had accepted this. He had found his pride in the work itself rather than in its perceived status because that was the healthier choice, the choice that let him function.
But there was a difference. He was realizing now between choosing not to need something and genuinely not missing it. My father used to say, Marcus said slowly, that the man who knows how something works will always have work. And the man who knows how to explain it will always have power. But the man who knows both will spend his whole life being asked to prove he's allowed to be in the room.
Clare was quiet for a long moment. Your father was right. She said that's exactly what happens. And it's wrong and it's she stopped. I was going to say it's getting better.
But I don't know if that's true or just something people say. Probably both. Marcus said probably both. She agreed. They walked in silence for a while.
It was a comfortable silence. By now, they had logged enough miles beside each other that the quiet between them had texture. Had trust didn't need to be filled. Then Clare said, "Without particularly building to it, my company is hosting a charity event next month. It's a pretty big deal.
Some significant donors, couple of executives from firms I've been trying to bring on as clients. The kind of room where everyone is performing their professional best. " She paused. I'd like you to come. Marcus looked at her. Why?
Because I'd like to see you in that room, she said simply. And because I think it would be good for you to see yourself in it. He almost said no. The automatic response was already forming. He had plans with Jallen.
He had an early shift. Logistics and reasonable excuses assembled themselves with the speed of long practice. He opened his mouth. Before you list reasons, Clare said. Jaylen can stay with Linda.
I know because I already mentioned the idea to her and she said and I'm quoting about time that man did something for himself. Marcus closed his mouth. You talked to Linda about this. I was in the neighborhood. You don't go to Linda's neighborhood.
I do now. She looked at him without apology. Is that overstepping? He thought about it honestly. Another person doing it would have felt like management, like being handled from Clare.