Chapter 7 - What Elsie Heard
Three days later, Wade received permission to visit Elsie in the tower’s family lounge.
Maren remained nearby but allowed them space.
Wade arrived carrying a new stuffed rabbit.
Elsie looked at it and held her old one more tightly.
“I thought Mr. Buttons might need a friend,” Wade said.
“He doesn’t.”
Wade placed the new toy on a chair.
“Can I sit beside you?”
Elsie nodded.
He sat at the opposite end of the sofa.
“I am sorry.”
“For what?”
The question startled him.
“For not stopping Grandma.”
Elsie looked down at her shoes.
“She said Mom tricked you.”
“She was wrong.”
“She said you only adopted me because Mom asked you.”
Wade’s face tightened.
“That is not true.”
“She said real Aldens don’t run away when things get hard.”
“You are a real Alden if you want to be.”
Elsie’s eyes lifted.
“Mom says our name doesn’t decide who we are.”
“Your mom is right.”
“Then why does Grandma care so much?”
Wade struggled for an answer.
“Because she thinks our name makes her important.”
“Does it?”
“No.”
Elsie considered this.
“Why didn’t you tell her?”
Wade looked through the windows at the city.
“Because I was afraid of disappointing her.”
“You disappointed us instead.”
The words were simple, spoken without cruelty.
They broke something inside him.
Wade covered his face with one hand.
He had spent years describing himself as trapped between two strong women. It had allowed him to pretend his passivity was fairness.
But Elsie had shown him the truth.
He had not stood between Maren and Lorraine.
He had stood aside.
After the visit, Wade asked to speak privately with Maren.
They entered a conference room near the lounge.
“I will sign whatever custody arrangement you think is best,” he said.
Maren studied him.
“I am not trying to take Elsie away from you.”
“I know. But I don’t want to fight just because I am frightened.”
“That is the first honest thing you have said in days.”
Wade accepted the criticism.
“I also gave investigators everything I know about the loan applications.”
“Your mother will consider that betrayal.”
“She already does.”
“What happened?”
“I told her she must find her own lawyer and her own place to live.”
Maren’s expression changed slightly.
“You asked her to leave?”
“The notice requires it.”
“You could have gone with her.”
“I almost did.”
Wade looked toward the closed door separating them from Elsie.
“Then I realized I would be choosing her again.”
Maren felt sadness rather than satisfaction.
She had once wanted Wade to make that choice. Now it seemed too late.
“I started therapy,” he continued. “Not to convince you to stay. I need to understand why I became this person.”
Maren nodded.
“That is good.”
“Is there any chance for us?”
She took time before answering.
“There is a chance for you to become a better father.”
May you like
He understood.
For now, it was the only chance she could offer.
