Chapter 4 - The Father Marco Refused
Roman rented a small house outside Bellhaven.
He did not demand visits.
He did not arrive at Elena’s door with lawyers.
Instead, he started showing up where Elena allowed him to.
At the bookstore.
At Marco’s school soccer games.
At the local diner on Saturday mornings.
At first, Marco ignored him.
Roman brought gifts, but Elena made him take most of them back.
“No buying his love,” she said.
So Roman learned how to sit quietly.
He learned Marco liked dinosaurs, not superheroes.
He learned Marco hated tomatoes but loved grilled cheese.
He learned Marco was afraid of thunderstorms.
One evening, a storm knocked out power across Bellhaven.
Elena was at work late, and Marco was staying with the bookstore owner, Mrs. Callahan.
Roman happened to be there when Marco began crying.
“I want my mom,” Marco said.
“I know,” Roman answered.
“I don’t like thunder.”
“I don’t either.”
“That’s stupid. You’re a grown-up.”
Roman smiled sadly.
“Grown-ups get scared too.”
Marco looked at him.
“Then what do you do?”
Roman sat on the floor beside him.
“I stay with the people I care about until it passes.”
Marco was quiet.
Then he slowly moved closer.
Not into Roman’s arms.
Not yet.
But close enough that their shoulders touched.
May you like
Roman did not move.
He was afraid even breathing too hard might ruin the moment.
