Camille continued.
“Jordan spent two birthdays waiting for Andre to show up.”
“He didn’t.”
“Eli stopped asking.”
“When Maya cries because she misses Renee, you hold her until she sleeps.”
“When Jordan gets angry about Andre, you tell him his dad loves him and needs time.”
Marcus looked away.
“Because I don’t want to turn them against him.”
“I know.”
“But do you see the difference?”
He did.
Not completely.
Enough.
Camille wiped her face.
“You treat Maya like she is fragile because her mother died.”
“You treat my boys like they are guests because their father might come back.”
Marcus felt something inside him shift.
“They’re not guests.”
“Then why haven’t you ever disciplined Jordan?”
“I have.”
“You tell him to clean his room.”
“That isn’t what I mean.”
“If Maya lies, you sit her down.”
“You talk.”
“You parent.”
“If Jordan lies, you tell me.”
Marcus tried to remember.
He could.
Because it was true.
“I thought you wanted—”
“I wanted a husband.”
“I wanted a partner.”
“I didn’t want you to become their replacement father without asking.”
“But somewhere along the way, I needed you to stop acting like you might disappear if Andre suddenly gets sober.”
Marcus sat across.
That hurt because it was fair.
Camille continued.
“Jordan notices.”
“Eli notices.”
“They see you at every one of Maya’s events.”
“You attend theirs too.”
“Yes.”
“But with Maya you’re Dad.”
“With them you’re Marcus who is doing something nice.”
He looked down.
“Why didn’t you tell me this?”
“I did.”
“When?”
“I said the boys felt left out.”
“You said Jordan was having trouble adjusting.”
“Exactly.”
“That is not the same.”
“Because every time I say anything about Maya, you hear me attacking a child whose mother died.”
Marcus stared.
“Were you attacking her today?”
Camille flinched.
“Yes.”
No excuse.
That answer mattered.
She wiped tears.
“I was.”
“Why?”
“I got angry.”
“At me?”
“At everyone.”
“That doesn’t explain hiding her ticket.”
Camille looked toward stairs.
“My mother called three weeks ago.”
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
Denise.
Camille’s mother.
A woman Marcus had learned to tolerate in small doses.
“What did she say?”
“That the boys are always going to come second.”
“She has said that before.”
“Yes.”
“She said you’d never really make them yours.”
“She asked whether Maya’s college trust was larger.”
Marcus stared.
“How does she know about Maya’s trust?”
“I told her.”
“Why?”
“I was upset.”
“Camille.”
“I know.”
“No.”
“You do not discuss Renee’s life insurance trust with your mother.”
“I know.”
“That belongs to Maya.”
“I know.”
“Do the boys know?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Camille rubbed her hands.
“Mom asked what Jordan and Eli have.”
“You know what they have.”
“I know now.”
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Camille looked ashamed.
“I checked.”
“Checked what?”
“The accounts.”
Marcus stared.
“The education accounts you opened.”
“Yes.”