Chapter 11
Julian asked to see Noah.
I said no.
Then Noah surprised me.
“I want to go.”
I stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because I want him to look at me when I ask.”
So we went.
Behind glass.
With Samuel beside us.
Julian looked older in jail orange.
Smaller.
He smiled when he saw Noah.
“Buddy.”
Noah sat down.
“Don’t call me that.”
Julian flinched.
“I made mistakes.”
“You called Mom trash.”
Julian looked ashamed.
At least he tried to.
“I was angry.”
“You laughed.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You only say that because everyone knows now.”
Julian’s mouth tightened.
There was the real man.
Noah leaned forward.
“Did you know about Lila?”
Julian swallowed.
“I thought she died.”
“Did you check?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Julian stared at him.
No answer.
Noah nodded like he expected that.
Then he asked the question that broke my heart.
“If Grandma told you I died, would you check?”
Julian’s face crumpled.
“Noah—”
“Would you?”
Julian started crying.
I did not care.
Noah stood.
“That’s why you’re not my dad anymore.”
He walked out before the visit ended.
In the hallway, he collapsed into my arms.
I held him while he sobbed.
Lila came with us that day.
She knelt beside him.
“You did the brave thing.”
Noah cried harder.
“I didn’t feel brave.”
She touched his shoulder.
May you like
“Me neither.”
And somehow, that helped.
