But she's seven. She comes first always. She should come first, Viv said quietly. That's not an obstacle. That's who you are.
Then you understand why I'm saying this. Might need to know. Viv said it without heat. I understand why you're scared. I'm scared, too.
But I'm not going to let your ex-in-laws, neighbors, and a gossip blog win a decision that belongs to us. Marcus studied her. Reev is using this. She said that comment in the article, that's not goodwill. He has a board seat and he has been waiting for a moment to suggest I'm compromised.
If I back down from this because of public pressure, I hand him the narrative. She leaned forward. And more importantly, Lily asked me on Saturday if the compass knows where home is, and I've been thinking about that answer for 4 days. I don't want to walk away from an answer I can actually feel. The room was quiet.
You spent four years being alone because someone hurt you, Marcus said. Yes, and I've spent 3 years being careful because losing someone broke something in me that I'm still rebuilding. He looked at the compass. This isn't simple. No, she agreed.
I'm not asking for simple. I'm asking for honest. From the hallway, a small voice. Dad. Lily appeared in the doorway in her pajamas regarding them both with a specific assessment of a child who has been listening to adult conversation and is deciding whether to intervene.
"Are you breaking up?" "We're talking," Marcus said. "It sounds like breaking up." She walked in and sat on the couch beside Viv with the calm of someone claiming territory. "I don't want you to break up," she said directly to Viv.
I know the people said mean things, but you already told me mean people don't get to decide. You told me that. Viv looked at Marcus over Lily's head. He was looking at his daughter with an expression that had caved open. The kind of love that doesn't leave room for pretense.
Lily, he said, go back to bed. After you say you're not breaking up, a long pause. Marcus looked at Viv. First sign that the attention is hurting her. First real sign.
We talk about it immediately. Viv agreed. You tell me and we adjust. That's a standing agreement, not a one-time concession. He exhaled, turned the compass over one last time.