Chapter 29
"I need to say something."
Adrien looked at me.
"I can leave."
Curtis shook his head.
"No. You should probably hear it."
That made me nervous.
Curtis looked toward the barn.
"When I came back in May, I thought if I could get Rosalie to forgive me, everything would be what it was."
Adrien remained silent.
Curtis gave a short laugh.
"Turns out what it was wasn't so good."
I said nothing.
"I blamed you."
He looked at Adrien.
"Seemed easier."
"I noticed," Adrien said.
Curtis almost smiled.
"I thought you were taking my place."
Adrien's voice stayed calm.
"I'm not."
Curtis frowned slightly.
Adrien looked toward the barn.
"No one takes the place of a boy's father. A father keeps it or loses it himself."
Curtis stared at him.
Then nodded.
"Yeah."
He turned to me.
"I know you don't want me back."
I waited.
"And I finally understand that doesn't mean you want me dead."
"Usually."
He laughed.
A real laugh.
So did I.
The strange thing was how much it sounded like the man I had once loved.
The stranger thing was how little that made me want him.
Curtis looked at Adrien again.
"You going to marry her?"
I nearly fell off the porch.
Adrien's face went blank.
"Curtis."
"What?"
"That is none of your business."
"I know."
He smiled faintly.
"I'm practicing asking instead of deciding."
I covered my face.
Adrien cleared his throat.
"I have not asked."
Curtis looked surprised.
"Why the hell not?"
I stared at both men.
"Have I ceased to exist?"
"No, ma'am," Adrien said.
Curtis began laughing.
I pointed toward the road.
"Go."
He raised both hands.
"Leaving."
He walked toward the barn to collect Oscar.
At the steps he turned.
"Rosalie?"
"What now?"
His expression became serious.
"I'm sorry."
No performance.
No explanation.
Just the words.
"For what?"
"All of it."
My throat tightened.
There are apologies that demand forgiveness.
There are apologies that demand comfort.
And then, rarely, there are apologies that simply return ownership of pain to the person who caused it.
Curtis asked for nothing.
I looked at him.
"I forgive you."
His eyes closed.
When they opened, they shone.
"Thank you."
"But I won't forget."
"I know."
"And neither should you."
He nodded.
Then he went to find his son.
I sat down.
Adrien remained standing.
"What?"
I asked.
"Nothing."
"You're staring."
"Yes."
"Why?"
He looked toward the barn, then back to me.