Chương 13
He handed it to Elena.
She read the first lines.
Her eyes stopped.
Sophie watched her mother's face.
"Is it yes?"
Elena swallowed.
"Yes."
Sophie looked at Vincent.
He had imagined this moment badly during the drive.
In every version, there had been some clear emotional reaction.
Tears.
A hug.
A question.
Something recognizable.
Sophie simply stared at him.
Then she said, "Okay."
Vincent nodded.
"Okay."
She looked back at the cards.
Nobody moved.
Finally Sophie asked, "Do I call you Dad now?"
Vincent's throat tightened.
"Only if you want to."
"Do you want me to?"
Every adult in the room looked at him.
He could have lied gently.
Instead he said, "Yes."
Sophie considered that.
"But I don't know you."
"No."
"So maybe not yet."
The word yet entered him like light through a crack.
"That's fair."
She nodded, satisfied.
Elena pressed the paper flat against the blanket.
Her fingers were trembling.
Vincent sat in the chair nearest the wall.
He left the space beside Sophie's bed to Mr. Chen.
That choice did not go unnoticed.
Sophie picked up two cards.
"If you're my dad, are these your eyes?"
Vincent looked at her.
"Technically, I think they're yours."
"You know what I mean."
"Then yes."
She leaned closer.
"Mom's are brown."
"I noticed."
"Mine look green when I'm mad."
Vincent glanced at Elena.
"So do mine."
Elena gave him a look.
"Do not encourage genetic mythology."
Sophie frowned.
"What's mythology?"
"Complicated stories people tell because facts are boring."
Vincent said, "Your mother is making that up."
Elena almost smiled.
Sophie held another card.
"Do I have your nose too?"
"No," Elena said immediately.
Vincent looked offended.
"What's wrong with my nose?"
"Nothing."
"That was fast."
"It is simply not her nose."
Sophie touched her face.
"Whose is it?"
"Mine."
Mr. Chen nodded.
"Good nose."
Everyone looked at him.
He shrugged.
"Conversation needed expert."
Sophie laughed.
The sound loosened something in Elena's face.
Vincent watched both of them and felt painfully unnecessary.
It was an odd sensation.
He was used to entering rooms and becoming central.
Here, he was extra.
A late arrival.
A fact that had to be fitted around routines already established.
That was probably how it should be.
Elena folded the test result.
"We need to talk."
"Yes."
"Not here."
"Okay."
She looked suspicious again.
Vincent leaned back.
"Still learning."
"Slowly."
The doctor discharged Elena late the following afternoon with strict instructions, a new antibiotic schedule, and a warning that another fever meant returning immediately.
Vincent did not offer his car until Elena asked how they were getting home.
Mr. Chen had come by subway.
Elena's old sedan was at the apartment.
Vincent waited.
Finally she sighed.
"Can your driver take us?"
"Yes."
"No convoy."
"One car."
"No men standing outside."
"None."
"No photographers."
"I cannot control every photographer in New York."
She stared.
"That was almost a normal answer."
"I'm exhausted."
"Maybe that's the secret."
Sophie climbed into the back seat and immediately inspected everything.
"Why are the windows dark?"
"Privacy."
"Can people see us?"
"Not easily."
"That's weird."
"It is a little."
"Do you have snacks?"
Vincent looked at Marco.
Marco opened the center console.
Inside were two protein bars, mints, and a packet of almonds.
Sophie looked disgusted.
"Those aren't snacks."
Marco said, "Thank you."
She pointed at Vincent.
"He eats steak."
"I've heard."
Elena sat beside Sophie.
Vincent took the front passenger seat.
It was a small thing.
Elena noticed.
He saw her notice in the mirror.
Nobody commented.
Outside Elena's building, there were no reporters.
Marco had arranged for a lawyer to send formal notices regarding the child's image, but the larger sites had already copied the story.
The internet was harder to intimidate than men.
Vincent had begun to respect that reluctantly.
Mr. Chen opened the building door before they reached it.
He had somehow beaten them home.
"How?"
Vincent asked.
Mr. Chen lifted a grocery bag.
"Subway."
"That's not an answer."
"It is New York answer."
Sophie ran inside.
Elena moved more slowly.
Vincent stayed close enough to catch her if she stumbled and far enough not to make it obvious.
On the second-floor landing, she stopped.
"I can do stairs."
"I didn't say you couldn't."
"You're hovering."
"I don't hover."
"You are absolutely hovering."
From above, Sophie called, "He's hovering."
Vincent looked up.
"Traitor."
Sophie giggled.
By the time they reached the apartment, Elena was breathing hard.
She hated that he noticed.
He hated that she hated it.
He said nothing.
Inside, the same unpaid envelopes sat on the kitchen table.
Vincent deliberately kept his eyes on Sophie.
She was showing Marco the drawing from the previous day.
"That's Mr. Chen."
Marco studied the giant black stick figure.
"Why does he have six fingers?"
"He moves fast."
Marco nodded as though this explained it.
Vincent stood near the window.
Elena came beside him.
"You're trying very hard not to look at the bills."
"Yes."
"It is obvious."
"I know."
She folded her arms.
"You can ask."
Vincent turned.
"Ask what?"
"Whatever is making your forehead do that."
"My forehead doesn't do anything."
"It does several things."
He ignored that.
"What happens if your treatment keeps you out of work?"
Elena looked toward Sophie.
"Already happened."
"For how long?"
"Six weeks."
"And your employer?"
"Small firm."
"Benefits?"
"Some."
"Enough?"
"No."
Vincent nodded.
She stiffened.
"That's all?"
"You asked me not to fix things without permission."
"I did."
"So I'm asking."
Her expression changed slightly.
"Asking what?"
"Can I help with the medical debt?"
Elena looked away.
"No."
He waited.
She glanced back.
"You're not going to argue?"
"I want to."
"But?"
"But I'm not."
"That must be painful."
"Extremely."
A quiet smile appeared.
Then vanished.
Vincent continued.
"Can I help with Sophie's expenses?"
Elena's jaw tightened.
"Define help."
"School, clothes, food, medical care, anything she needs."
"That's broad."
"It was meant to be."
"And what comes with it?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing never comes with money."
May you like
"Then write rules."
She studied him.
