Chapter 6 - The Question Richard Couldn’t Answer
The meeting took place in a supervised visitation room.
Richard entered wearing a plain detention uniform.
Noah stared at him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Richard smiled.
“Hey, buddy.”
Noah didn't smile back.
“Hi, Dad.”
Richard sat.
“I've missed you.”
Noah looked at me.
I nodded.
He could say whatever he needed to say.
“Mom said you gave my medicine away.”
Richard glanced at me.
I said nothing.
“It was complicated,” he told Noah.
“How?”
“You were very sick, and another person was sick too.”
“Madison?”
Richard swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Did you know she was your girlfriend?”
“Noah—”
“Mom said I can ask.”
Richard looked uncomfortable.
“Yes.”
Noah thought about that.
Then asked the question that none of the prosecutors had asked.
“If there was only enough medicine for one person, why didn't you choose me?”
Richard opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Noah waited.
So did I.
Finally, Richard whispered, “I thought I could get more.”
“But you didn't know.”
“No.”
“So you picked her.”
Richard’s eyes filled with tears.
“I made the worst decision of my life.”
Noah nodded.
Then he stood.
Richard looked startled.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“Already?”
“Yes.”
“Can I hug you?”
Noah looked at me.
The decision belonged to him.
He turned back to Richard.
“Not today.”
Richard started crying.
Noah walked toward me.
At the door, he stopped.
“Dad?”
Richard looked up hopefully.
“I hope you become better.”
Then Noah took my hand.
We left together.
In the parking lot, I asked, “Are you okay?”
Noah nodded.
“Are you angry?”
“A little.”
“Sad?”
“A little.”
Then he looked at me.
“Can people be both?”
“Yes.”
He thought about that.
“Can we get pancakes?”
I smiled.
“Absolutely.”
Six weeks later, Richard pleaded guilty.
He received a lengthy federal sentence.
His assets connected to the fraud were seized.
The divorce became final soon afterward.
I didn't celebrate.
There was nothing joyful about watching the father of my child destroy himself.
But there was relief.
The kind that comes when a door finally closes.
I thought that was the end.
I was wrong.
Because one year after Noah left the hospital, Rebecca called me again.
This time, she wasn't asking for evidence.
May you like
She was offering me a job.
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