Chapter 10 — Margaret Doesn’t Ask to See Oliver
Daniel frowned.
“You came all this way without knowing?”
Margaret nodded.
“I know what I don’t want.”
“What’s that?”
“I don’t want to pretend eight years didn’t happen.”
“I don’t want you agreeing to holidays because you feel guilty.”
“And I don’t want Oliver meeting me because somebody tells him he should love his grandmother.”
Daniel stared at her.
This sounded almost nothing like the Margaret he remembered.
He was not naive enough to assume one conversation proved permanent change.
But he could acknowledge what he was hearing.
“Then what would you consider a good outcome?”
Margaret thought.
“That you leave tonight believing I finally understand what I did wrong.”
“And maybe someday you answer if I send you a message.”
Daniel looked toward her.
“That’s it?”
“For now.”
Then Margaret asked:
“Can I ask one question about Oliver?”
Daniel immediately became cautious.
“You can ask.”
“Not whether I can see him.”
Daniel waited.
“Is he happy?”
The simplicity of the question caught him off guard.
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
Margaret smiled.
“Good.”
She did not ask what school he attended.
Did not ask for photographs.
Did not ask whether he remembered her.
Did not ask to go upstairs and meet him.
Daniel noticed all of it.
They spoke for another forty minutes.
Not about every argument.
Not about every missing year.
Just enough.
Before leaving, Margaret said:
“Peter has my phone number.”
“You already have it too, probably.”
Daniel nodded.
“I never deleted it.”
Margaret looked surprised.
Daniel stood.
“Don’t read too much into that.”
“I won’t.”
He walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
“Mom.”
Margaret froze.
It was the first time he had called her that all evening.
Daniel did not turn around immediately.
“I’m not promising anything.”
“I know.”
“But I’m not saying never either.”
Margaret’s eyes filled.
“Okay.”
Daniel left the Cedar Room.
When he returned to Claire’s office, Oliver immediately looked up.
“Did you see her?”
Daniel nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Do I see her?”
Daniel looked toward Peter.
Then toward Claire.
Then back to his son.
For the first time that evening, the next decision was entirely Daniel’s.
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