Chapter 12 - “MY NAME IS ANTHONY”
Victor answered:
“Yes.”
I looked at him.
“I said I want to find him.”
“I heard you.”
“No private investigators.”
“No.”
“No security men knocking on doors.”
“No.”
“No forcing him into a meeting.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
Then relaxed.
“No.”
His attorney sent one formal letter.
From me.
My name is Harper Lane. I believe Marjorie Lane adopted you. I was her daughter. If you want contact, I would like to meet. If you don’t, I will respect that.
Three days passed.
Nothing.
Then Finn had another siren episode.
An ambulance passed during dinner.
He froze.
Victor stayed seated.
“Finn.”
Finn looked at him.
“I hear it too.”
“Is somebody coming here?”
“I don’t know.”
Good.
No false reassurance.
“But nobody in this room is leaving without telling you.”
Finn looked at me.
Then Victor held out his hand.
“Want the anchor?”
Finn hesitated.
Then climbed into his father’s lap.
Victor looked at me as though someone had handed him a priceless object without instructions.
I nodded once.
“Breathe with me,” Victor said.
Too fast.
Finn shook his head.
“Not like that.”
Then demonstrated.
“In.”
Victor followed.
“Out.”
By the fifth breath, Finn’s shoulders lowered.
The siren faded.
Later, Victor stood inside Finn’s doorway.
Not outside.
Inside.
“He came to me.”
“Yes.”
“I almost didn’t touch him.”
“Why?”
“I thought I’d do it wrong.”
“You probably will.”
He gave me a look.
“You’ll do lots wrong.”
“Very comforting.”
“So will I.”
That made him quiet.
“Children don’t need perfect. They need repair.”
Then my phone rang.
Wisconsin area code.
Unknown number.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then a man said:
“Harper Lane?”
“Yes.”
May you like
“My name is Anthony.”
Everything inside me stopped.
