Chapter 6 - Ethan Tells the Truth
The following Saturday, Daniel arrived without Ethan.
He stood on the porch beneath a gray sky, looking exhausted.
“I need to talk to you,” he told Claire.
Marcus was at work.
Claire invited him into the kitchen.
Daniel placed an envelope on the table.
Inside were printed messages between Marcus and Ethan.
Claire read them slowly.
Marcus had been pressuring Ethan to practice longer, enter competitions, and tell Daniel he wanted to attend an expensive private academy.
One message said:
You have real potential. Do not waste it the way some children do.
Another said:
Lily gets attention because she is young. You deserve investment because you can actually achieve something.
Claire’s hands trembled.
“Ethan showed me these last night,” Daniel said. “He said Marcus keeps comparing him to Lily. He hates it.”
“Why is Marcus doing this?”
Daniel looked toward the living room, where the piano stood beneath the windows.
“When we were children, our father compared us constantly. Marcus was always told I was smarter. More talented. More responsible.”
“That does not excuse this.”
“No. But I think he believes that by turning Ethan into some kind of success story, he can claim part of it.”
Claire closed the envelope.
“He is repeating what hurt him.”
“And making two children pay for it.”
Daniel explained that Ethan would no longer practice at the townhouse.
“The piano can stay,” he said. “But my son is finished being used.”
When Marcus returned, Daniel confronted him in the living room.
“You are not mentoring Ethan. You are controlling him.”
Marcus laughed.
“You are jealous because he listens to me.”
“He is afraid of disappointing you.”
“That is called having standards.”
“No,” Daniel said. “That is called making a child responsible for your pride.”
Marcus pointed toward the door.
“Get out.”
Daniel did not move.
“You owe Lily an apology. You owe Ethan one too.”
Marcus’s face reddened.
“Do not tell me how to manage my family.”
Daniel glanced at Claire.
“That is exactly the problem. You think they are something to manage.”
After he left, Marcus closed the front door and turned toward Claire.
“You gave him those ideas.”
“Ethan showed him your messages.”
Marcus froze.
Claire watched shame flash across his face before anger covered it.
May you like
“Everyone is turning against me.”
“No,” Claire said. “They are finally speaking honestly.”
