Chapter 13: The Visit

Elena's POV

Three days pass in Connecticut with no word from Alexander except cold silence.

 I've stopped calling, stopped begging, what's the point when he won't even acknowledge his son's tears.

Julian and I are having breakfast when my phone rings, Marcus's name lights up the screen.

"Hey," I answer.

"How are you this morning?"

"We're okay, just having pancakes."

"Listen, I know this might be overstepping but I was thinking, you've been alone there for days, would it be okay if I came to visit? 

Brought Julian something to cheer him up?"

My first instinct is to say no but then I remember Alexander won't even answer when I call.

"Actually that would be really nice, Julian could use the company."

"Great, I'll be there around noon."

At noon exactly a car pulls up, Marcus steps out carrying a gift bag.

Julian runs to greet him before I can get down the steps.

"Marcus, you came!"

"Of course I did buddy," Marcus crouches down.

 "I brought you something."

He pulls out a bright red toy truck, Julian's eyes go wide.

"Wow, thank you!"

Marcus stands and hands me three books about childhood literacy programs, exactly the kind of research I've been wanting to read for my foundation.

"Marcus you didn't have to do this." I say, genuinely touched.

"I wanted to, thought you might appreciate some reading material."

We spend the afternoon in the garden, Julian is in heaven with his new truck.

Marcus joins him on the grass, getting down on his knees in his expensive suit without a care.

I watch from the bench, something warm and painful mixing in my chest.

"You're really good with him," I say when Marcus sits beside me.

"Kids are easy," Marcus smiles, "you just have to show up, be present, something his father clearly doesn't understand."

I feel a flash of guilt wanting to defend Alexander but then I remember five days of silence.

"No, you're right, Alexander doesn't understand that."

Marcus notices the small photo in my pocket, my parents on their wedding day.

 "Is that them?"

"Yeah, this was taken the day they got married."

"Tell me about them, what were they like?"

I open up, telling him about my mother's gardening, my father's terrible jokes, how we spent Sundays reading together.

 "The fire happened so fast, faulty wiring they said, I was at a friend's house, by the time I got home everything was gone."

Marcus listens with perfect sympathy, his hand covering mine.

 "You've been through so much Elena, you're stronger than you know, surviving that loss, building yourself back up, creating your foundation, that takes incredible strength."

"I don't feel strong."

"That's what strength looks like sometimes, just getting up every day and trying again, that's real strength."

We sit in comfortable silence watching Julian play, the sun warm on our faces, this moment feels peaceful in a way I haven't felt in years.

As the sun sets Marcus checks his watch.

"I should probably head back, early meeting tomorrow."

"Of course, thank you so much for coming, Julian had such a good time."

At the front door Marcus pulls me into a hug, it's meant to be friendly but it lasts a moment too long, his arms strong around me, I can smell his cologne, feel his heartbeat.

 When I pull back I'm flustered by the flutter in my chest.

"Thank you for coming," I say, my voice slightly breathless.

"I'll come back whenever you need me." 

"Anytime Elena, day or night, you just call."

After his car disappears I stand on the steps feeling lighter somehow, less alone.

Julian is chattering about his new truck and how much fun he had.

We go inside and I'm making dinner when my phone buzzes, Alexander's name makes my stomach drop.

Enjoyed your visitor? Don't get too comfortable, you're still my wife, and that means something whether you want it to or not.

I stare at the message, he was watching, of course he was, the cameras everywhere…. He saw everything that had happened between us.

Instead of fear I feel defiance, anger, cold satisfaction.

Good…..

Let him watch, let him see what he's missing.

let him see another man showing up for his son.

I type back quickly.

Yes I did enjoy it, Julian needed male attention since his father can't be bothered to call.

Marcus was kind enough to spend time with your son, maybe you should thank him.

I hit send, watch as it goes to read almost immediately, three dots appear, he's typing, my heart pounds, finally a message comes.

We'll discuss this when you come home, and you will come home Elena, you have nowhere else to go….

….no money that isn't mine, no life that isn't connected to me.

The message is meant to remind me of my powerlessness but instead it makes me angrier.

Maybe I don't want to come home, maybe I'm tired of living in a prison, maybe Julian and I are better off without you.

I send it and turn off my phone immediately, I don't want to see his response.

Julian is playing with his truck, happy and content, more relaxed than I've seen him in days.

 Marcus did that, showed up and made him feel valued.

I think about the hug at the door, how safe I felt in Marcus's arms, how he listens when I talk, really listens, how he sees me as a person not property.

I've been fighting so hard to save my marriage, begging Alexander to let us come home, and for what.

Maybe Marcus is right, maybe my worth isn't defined by whether Alexander chooses to love me

 I've been fighting for something that was never real to begin with.