Chapter 2 - I do not touch him again
My first instinct was to pull Eli toward me.
I stopped myself.
The flinch had taught me something.
So I asked.
“Can I hug you?”
He stared.
Then nodded.
I opened my arms.
He came forward.
Not running.
One step.
Then another.
When he reached me, his body folded.
He pressed his face against my chest.
I felt him shaking.
My anger became almost unbearable.
Simone said:
“Marcus, this is not what you think.”
I looked at her.
“What do I think?”
“He’s upset because I took his tablet.”
“You were searching his dresser for a tablet?”
“No.”
“What were you looking for?”
She did not answer.
Eli tightened his arms.
I said:
“Go downstairs, Simone.”
Her face hardened.
“This is my house too.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t get to order me around because he’s being dramatic.”
Eli flinched again.
That word.
Dramatic.
I heard it.
“So don’t call him dramatic.”
“You have no idea what happens while you’re gone.”
There.
Same structure as the sentence Eli had just whispered.
Different meaning.
I said:
“I’m trying to find out.”
Simone pointed at him.
“He lies.”
Eli’s grip tightened.
I moved my body between them.
“Downstairs.”
She stared.
Then walked out.
I heard each step.
Only when she was gone did Eli breathe fully.
I looked at him.
“Do you need a doctor?”
“No.”
“Does anything hurt?”
He rubbed his arm.
“Not really.”
“Did Simone do that?”
Silence.
I immediately regretted the direct question.
Too leading.
I had attended enough corporate investigations to know better, yet with my son I wanted one clean answer.
“Forget that. You don’t have to explain everything right now.”
He looked relieved.
Then:
“Are you leaving again?”
The question hit harder than the bruises.
“No.”
I had another trip scheduled four days later.
At that moment I meant:
No, I will never leave you with her again.
But children hear promises literally.
So I corrected.
“I’m not leaving today. And I’m not leaving you alone with Simone while we figure out what happened.”
His shoulders lowered.
May you like
That was a promise I could keep.
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