“I know.”
“You told me you were helping your sister. You did not tell me there was a baby living in our house.”
Rachel looked at the floor.
Daniel continued.
“You definitely did not tell me I was apparently becoming his father.”
Rachel’s eyes filled.
“I wanted to.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
“Because every time I tried, something happened.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“That’s an excuse.”
“Yes.”
Rachel looked up.
“It is.”
That stopped him.
She was not defending herself.
“I was scared.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Everybody’s scared.”
“I know.”
“I was overseas thinking about coming home to my wife.”
“You were coming home to me.”
“And apparently a son.”
Rachel flinched.
Marcus remained near the doorway, silent now.
Daniel pointed toward him.
“And where does he fit into all of this?”
Rachel looked confused.
“I told you.”
“You said he helped.”
“He did.”
“How much?”
Marcus finally spoke.
“A lot.”
Daniel turned.
Marcus did not look away.
“Rachel had a baby show up in her life overnight. She didn’t know the first thing about custody, daycare, state paperwork, medical coverage, any of it.”
“And you did?”
“My sister works family services.”
Daniel remembered that.
Vaguely.
Marcus continued.
“I helped her make calls. I drove her to appointments when her car was in the shop. I fixed that stupid crib after she nearly threw it through a window.”
Rachel almost laughed despite herself.
Daniel did not.
Marcus looked at him.
“I was your friend before you left.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Exactly.”
“And I was still your friend while you were gone.”
Daniel stared at him.
Marcus’s voice hardened.
“You asked me to look out for Rachel.”
“That didn’t mean become part of my family.”
“I didn’t.”
Marcus pointed toward Caleb.
“I helped that kid because he needed help.”
Daniel said nothing.
Marcus continued.
“And because your wife was trying to handle everything alone while pretending to you that she wasn’t falling apart.”
Rachel lowered her eyes.
Daniel looked at her.
“What does that mean?”
She sighed.
“It means I didn’t want every call with you to be about problems.”
Daniel stared.