Chapter 16 - A Father’s Final Move
Tuesday arrived.
8:15.
Marlo arranged the apricot tarts.
8:16.
She wiped the counter.
Poppy sat nearby pretending to draw.
8:17.
The bell did not ring.
Marlo told herself it didn't matter.
8:18.
Nothing.
8:19.
Poppy looked at her.
"Maybe traffic."
"Draw."
8:22.
Marlo turned away.
The bell rang.
She froze.
Poppy smiled.
Elias stood inside the door.
Same dark hair.
Same black coat.
Same impossible calm.
But something in him looked lighter.
He approached the counter.
Marlo folded her arms.
"You're late."
"Five minutes."
"Unacceptable."
"Traffic."
Poppy whispered, "I told you."
Elias looked at the pastry case.
"One apricot tart."
Marlo stared.
"Thirty dollars."
"Extortion."
"Inflation."
He placed cash on the counter.
Exactly thirty dollars.
Marlo laughed.
Then Poppy ran around the counter and hugged him.
Elias froze.
Slowly, carefully, he hugged her back.
Marlo had to look away.
Later, Preston arrived.
The two men faced each other.
Months earlier, that would have terrified Marlo.
Now Preston held out his hand.
"Thank you for protecting them."
Elias looked at it.
Then shook it.
"Protect them yourself."
Preston nodded.
"I intend to."
It wasn't friendship.
It was something more important.
A boundary.
That afternoon, Preston attended Poppy's cardiology appointment.
He asked questions.
He took notes.
He didn't check his phone once.
Marlo noticed.
So did Poppy.
May you like
Change, Marlo realized, rarely arrived dramatically.
Sometimes it looked like a father finally sitting in the right chair.
