Chapter 6 – THE LETTER HE SIGNED ALONE

Victoria removed another sheet from the folder.

This one was written in Charlie’s handwriting.

Not the carefully worded answers from the application.

Not the goodbye letter.

A different page entirely.

Across the top, in block letters, Charlie had written:

I agree to attend school away from home.

Beneath it were several short promises.

He would cooperate with the staff.

He would follow the school’s rules.

He would not request visits during the initial adjustment period.

At the bottom was his signature.

Charles Daniel DeLuca.

Marco read the page without speaking.

Then he read it again.

“Why would you ask him to sign this?”

Victoria sat back down.

“The school wanted reassurance that he understood what he was agreeing to.”

“He’s twelve.”

“He’s old enough to have an opinion.”

“He told me he didn’t want to leave.”

“He was frightened of change.”

Marco pointed at the final promise.

“Six weeks without family visits?”

Victoria looked at the paper.

“It’s an adjustment recommendation.”

“You were going to stop him from seeing me for six weeks?”

“It wasn’t punishment.”

Marco stared at her.

“Did Charlie understand that?”

She hesitated.

“I explained it.”

“Did you explain that I hadn’t agreed?”

Her silence became unbearable.

Marco stood.

“I need Charlie.”

Victoria reached for his arm.

“Please don’t make him feel as though he’s done something wrong.”

Marco looked down at her hand.

“He hasn’t.”

Then he walked out.

I remained beside the desk.

Victoria watched the doorway.

“You think I’m a monster,” she said.

I hadn’t expected her to address me.

“No, ma’am.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

I took a breath.

“I think you were frightened of losing the future you wanted.”

Her eyes filled unexpectedly.

“And I think you made a child carry that fear for you.”

Victoria looked away.

For several seconds, she seemed older than she had that morning.

Then she straightened.

“You’ve been here twelve days, Claire.”

“I know.”

“You’ve seen a few moments of our lives.”

“Yes.”

“And you think you understand what this family needs.”

“No,” I answered. “But I know what Charlie needs tonight.”

She looked at me.

“He needs to eat dinner without wondering whether it’s his last one at home.”

Victoria’s lips parted.

Then she looked away again.

Marco returned with Charlie a few minutes later.

The boy had changed into sweatpants and was carrying his father’s old cardigan.

Marco showed him the page.

“Do you remember signing this?”

Charlie nodded.

“Yeah.”

“Did you know it meant you might not see me for six weeks?”

Charlie glanced toward Victoria.

“She said you’d be busy with the baby.”

Marco took a slow breath.

“I won’t be too busy for you.”

Charlie looked at the floor.

“She said it would be easier if I didn’t keep asking to come back.”

Marco sat beside him.

“Did you want to come back?”

Charlie nodded.

“Then why did you sign?”

The boy hesitated.

“Because I thought if I was good at leaving, you wouldn’t be mad.”

Marco lowered his head.

I had never seen such a powerful man look so helpless.

Then Charlie added, “I didn’t want the school to think I was a problem.”

Marco looked up.

“You aren’t a problem.”

“But I am sad all the time.”

“Being sad doesn’t make you a problem.”

Charlie considered that.

“Even when I don’t want to talk?”

“Even then.”

“Even when I break things?”

Marco glanced at the ceramic pieces.

“Especially then. We might have to buy stronger pencil holders.”

Charlie smiled briefly.

Marco turned to Victoria.

“I am canceling the placement.”

She looked startled.

“Marco, the deposit—”

“I don’t care about the deposit.”

“There may be penalties.”

“Then I’ll pay them.”

“It’s a very good school.”

“It might be,” Marco said. “But it’s the wrong place for a boy who believes he’s being sent away because nobody wants him.”

Victoria lowered her eyes.

Marco took the paper and tore it in half.

Not dramatically.

Just once, down the middle.

Charlie stared.

“Can you do that?”

Marco looked at him.

“It’s your agreement. You can change your mind.”

Charlie slowly nodded.

Then he asked, “What if I still need help?”

Marco’s expression softened.

“Then we find someone who can help you here. Someone you trust. We can talk about it together.”

Charlie studied him.

“You’d come?”

“To the appointments?”

“Yeah.”

“I would.”

Charlie looked at Victoria.

She managed a faint smile.

“I wanted you to feel better, sweetheart.”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he picked up his father’s cardigan and walked toward the bookshelf.

There was a cardboard box beside it.

I hadn’t noticed it earlier.

Charlie lifted the lid.

Inside were Daniel’s old ties, a desk calendar, a baseball glove, and several books.

“What are you doing with those?” Marco asked.

Charlie looked confused.

“Packing.”

“Packing for school?”

“No.”

He pointed to the words written on the side.

DONATION.

Marco went still.

“Who told you to pack your father’s belongings?”

Charlie glanced at Victoria.

“She said it was time.”

Marco looked at the box.

Then at the cardigan in Charlie’s arms.

“Time for what?”

Charlie spoke quietly.

“To make room for the baby. She said Dad wasn’t coming back, so we didn’t need to keep saving his place.”

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