Chapter 14 - Blake Apologized Without Being Allowed to Rewrite Anything
Blake returned once to collect the last of his belongings.
Madeline chose to be present.
Walter remained nearby.
Before Blake entered, Madeline gave her father one instruction.
“Do not speak for me.”
Walter nodded.
Blake walked into the living room.
He looked thinner.
Tired.
His eyes moved toward Walter, then back to Madeline.
“I’m sorry.”
Madeline waited.
“For everything.”
“That’s too easy.”
Blake frowned.
“Say what.”
He swallowed.
“Taking your phone.”
Madeline waited.
“Stopping you from leaving.”
More.
“Texting Walter pretending to be you.”
More.
“Unplugging the phone.”
More.
Blake’s voice cracked.
“Making you think you remembered things wrong.”
Madeline’s eyes filled.
Walter’s jaw tightened.
He remained silent.
Blake looked toward him.
“You hate me.”
Walter did not answer.
Madeline said:
“This isn’t about him.”
Blake looked back at her.
“I thought if you left for a few days, you would never come back.”
Madeline nodded.
“That was possible.”
He flinched.
“You could have let me choose.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t.”
“No.”
There was nothing left to debate.
Madeline handed him the final box.
Blake took it.
Walked toward the front door.
Then stopped.
For a second Walter expected one more argument.
Blake did not turn around.
He left.
The door closed.
Madeline stood still.
Walter waited.
Then:
“You okay?”
Madeline breathed out slowly.
“Yes.”
Walter almost asked again.
He stopped himself.
Her answer did not need verification.
May you like
For months, Blake had treated Madeline’s words as the beginning of negotiation.
Walter let one word be enough.
