Chapter 26 - Patricia Asked Daniel to Visit
Patricia Mercer called six months after Victor died.
Daniel almost declined.
He had not spoken to her since Allison’s sentencing.
Patricia sounded older.
“I need to ask something.”
Daniel waited.
“Allison’s eligible for transfer to a lower-security facility next year if she maintains her record.”
“That’s good.”
“I didn’t call to ask you to support it.”
Daniel relaxed slightly.
“Okay.”
“I want you to visit her.”
“No.”
Immediate.
Patricia accepted it.
“Okay.”
Daniel frowned.
“You’re not going to argue?”
“No.”
“Then why ask?”
“Because she asked me not to.”
Daniel became still.
Patricia continued.
“She told me never to contact you.”
“Then why did you?”
“Because she is convinced the best thing she can do is disappear completely.”
Daniel stared at his desk.
The irony hurt.
“Patricia.”
“I know.”
“She abused Sophie.”
“I know.”
“She helped keep Rachel from us.”
“I know.”
“I don’t owe her closure.”
“No.”
Patricia’s voice shook.
“You don’t.”
Daniel waited.
“Forget I called.”
After hanging up, he told Rachel.
He expected anger.
Rachel asked:
“Do you want to visit?”
“No.”
“Then don’t.”
“That’s it?”
“What else?”
Daniel laughed.
“I don’t know.”
Rachel touched the pendant around her neck.
“You spent years thinking there was a correct emotional response to Allison.”
“Maybe.”
“There isn’t.”
Daniel did not visit.
He did something else.
Through Grace, he authorized Allison to receive a copy of the final public restitution report.
No personal message.
No photograph.
No forgiveness.
Just the completed accounting of what her testimony helped expose.
Months later a response came.
Three lines.
Thank you.
I understand why you did not come.
Please tell no one they owe me another version of my life.
Daniel showed Rachel.
She read it twice.
“She finally sounds like Allison.”
Daniel nodded.
Not Amanda.
Not Victor’s manufactured daughter.
Not Daniel’s almost-wife.
Allison.
That mattered.
Patricia continued visiting.
Allison completed accounting classes in prison instead of nursing courses.
When asked why, she reportedly joked that she had spent enough time around medicine.
Rachel almost laughed when she heard.
Then did.
Sophie turned six.
At her birthday party she received too many toys.
Rebecca gave her a new art set.
Daniel bought a bicycle.
Rachel objected to the size.
Sophie adored it.
At the end of the party Sophie carried the old flower basket upstairs.
Daniel noticed.
“What are you doing?”
“Putting my cards in it.”
“Okay.”
She stopped.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Did you keep it because of the pendant?”
He smiled.
“Kind of.”
“Can I throw it away someday?”
Daniel froze.
Then laughed.
“Of course.”
Sophie nodded.
“Not today.”
“Okay.”
She carried it upstairs.
Daniel watched.
Objects became dangerous when adults forced meaning onto them.
May you like
The basket belonged to Sophie.
So did the right to stop keeping it.
