The word still belonged to Andre too.
Marcus felt no sting anymore.
Time had taught all of them that love can be additive.
Andre hugged Jordan.
Then Eli.
Then Marcus.
“You ate without me.”
Marcus said:
“You’re forty minutes late.”
“Traffic.”
“You live ten minutes away.”
“Bad traffic.”
“You walked?”
Andre grinned.
“Still judging.”
“Always.”
Andre sat.
Camille brought him a plate without asking.
There had been a time she would not have allowed him in the house after a relapse.
A time Marcus had resented his effortless biological title.
A time Jordan had worshiped him.
A time Eli had stopped saying his name.
Now he was simply an old man who had spent most of the last twenty years sober.
He had apologized many times.
Not perfectly.
He had failed again.
Recovered again.
Shown up more than he disappeared eventually.
That did not erase the boys’ childhood.
It gave their adulthood different evidence.
Andre looked around the table.
“Everybody here?”
Maya laughed.
Marcus pointed.
“Do not start.”
Andre did not know why.
He smiled anyway.
After dinner, the grandchildren disappeared into the den.
The adults remained around the table.
That was when Jordan said:
“I need to tell you something.”
Marcus recognized the tone immediately.
Every family has one.
The tone that makes forks stop.
Camille put down her coffee.
“What happened?”
Jordan looked at Rachel.
She nodded.
He breathed.
“I’m leaving the clinic.”
Marcus frowned.
“The physical therapy practice?”
“Yes.”
“You own part.”
“I’m selling my share.”
“Why?”
Jordan looked toward his daughters’ voices from the next room.
“I’m burned out.”
Nobody spoke.
Marcus had expected financial trouble.
Illness.
Divorce.
Burnout sounded almost gentle.
Jordan continued.
“I’ve been miserable for two years.”
Rachel touched his hand.
“I didn’t tell anyone because…”
He laughed humorlessly.
“Because apparently this family only reveals things after they become emergencies.”
Maya raised a finger.
“Accurate.”
Camille looked guilty automatically.
Jordan saw.
“This isn’t about the vacation.”
“I know.”
He smiled.
“Mom, you really need another phrase.”
She laughed quietly.
Jordan continued.
“The clinic grew.”
“More locations.”
“More staff.”
“I spend all day managing people and almost no time treating patients.”
“I hate it.”
Marcus asked:
“What do you want?”
Jordan looked relieved by the question.
Not what are you going to do?
What do you want?
“I want to teach.”
“Physical therapy program.”
“Maybe university.”
“Less money.”
Marcus nodded.
“Okay.”
Jordan blinked.
“That’s it?”
“What did you expect?”
“I don’t know.”
“Lecture.”
“You’re forty-six.”
“I can still lecture.”
“Please don’t.”
Marcus smiled.
“If you can afford it, do it.”