I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry and that I'm going to do better. Not for you, not even for Lily, but for myself because I can't keep living the way I've been living. That's good. Marcus didn't know what else to say. That's good, Victoria.
I'm not asking for anything," she continued quickly. "I know I don't deserve another chance. I know the supervised visits are on hold until I finish treatment. I'm okay with that. I'm just I'm going to do the work.
I'm going to get better. And maybe someday, if Lily wants to know me, I'll be someone worth knowing." Marcus thought about his daughter, about the nightmares she'd had in the weeks after Victoria's call that day, the one where she'd told Lily she might have to leave, about the fear in her eyes when she'd asked if they were going to be okay. Victoria had caused that fear. Victoria had put that weight on a six-year-old's shoulders.
But Victoria was also Lily's mother, and someday Lily might want to understand where she came from, might want to know the woman who had given her life. even if that woman had walked away from it. "Get better," Marcus finally said. "Do the work, and maybe someday we can talk about what comes next." "Thank you." Victoria's voice was thick with tears.
"Thank you, Marcus. Don't thank me. Just get better for real this time." He hung up and stood there for a long moment staring at the phone in his hand. Then he slipped it back in his pocket and returned to the Porsche.
Some things couldn't be fixed overnight. Some damage took years to repair, but that didn't mean it wasn't worth trying. That Saturday, Marcus told Harrison about the call. They were on the terrace again watching the sun set over the city while Lily and the twins played some elaborate game involving a blanket fort in the living room. How do you feel about it?
Harrison asked. I don't know. Marcus shook his head. Part of me is still angry. Part of me wants to tell her to stay the hell away from us forever, but another part another part wants Lily to have a mother.
Yeah. Marcus sighed. Is that stupid? It's human. Harrison swirled the coffee in his mug.
I've spent 18 years on the family court bench, Marcus. I've seen every kind of custody battle you can imagine. Messy ones, bitter ones, ones that dragged on for years and destroyed everyone involved. And the ones that turned out best, they weren't the ones where one parent won and the other lost. They were the ones where both parents figured out how to put their child first, even when they hated each other, even when it was hard.
Marcus looked at him. You think I should give Victoria another chance? I think you should wait and see. Let her prove she's changed. Let Lily decide when she's old enough what kind of relationship she wants with her mother.
Harrison met his eyes. But don't close the door completely. for Lily's sake, if nothing else." Marcus nodded slowly. "That's pretty good advice. I've had a lot of practice."