“So you lied.”
“I withheld things.”
“That’s lying with better grammar.”
Rachel winced.
“Fine. I lied.”
Caleb began to whimper.
Rachel immediately rocked him gently.
“It’s okay, baby.”
Daniel watched.
Whatever anger he felt toward Rachel, it was impossible not to notice how Caleb relaxed against her.
That child trusted her completely.
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Why did you call me Daddy?”
Rachel looked at him.
“Because that’s what I want you to become.”
Daniel laughed in disbelief.
“You thought this was how you should introduce that idea?”
“No.”
She almost smiled sadly.
“In my head, this went differently.”
“How?”
“You walked in. You saw him. I explained everything. Then maybe after several hours, maybe several days, you met him.”
“And instead?”
“I panicked.”
“So you told him to call me Daddy.”
“Yes.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“That might be the worst plan you’ve ever had.”
“I know.”
Marcus cleared his throat.
“I’m going home.”
Daniel looked at him.
Marcus picked up the small box he had brought.
“For what it’s worth, man, I’m glad you’re back.”
Daniel’s expression remained guarded.
Marcus placed the box on a table.
“Your old drill. Rachel borrowed it six months ago.”
He started toward the door.
Daniel spoke.
“Marcus.”
Marcus stopped.
Daniel struggled with the words.
“I shouldn’t have…”
Marcus waited.
Daniel glanced toward Caleb.
Then back at him.
“I jumped to a conclusion.”
“Yes, you did.”
Daniel almost smiled.
Marcus did not make it easy.
“But,” Marcus added, “if I walked into this without context, I might have thought the same thing.”
Daniel exhaled.
Marcus held out his hand.
Daniel stared at it.
Then shook it.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
But enough.
Marcus left.
The house became quiet.
Rachel looked exhausted.
Caleb had fallen asleep against her chest.
Daniel sat across from them.
For the first time, he studied the boy without fear controlling what he saw.
Small fingers.
Long eyelashes.