Chapter 9 - THOMAS MERCER’S MEETING
My father requested a family meeting after police questioned him.
Natalie refused to attend.
I went alone.
That was another mistake.
Not because I could never speak to my father privately.
Because the subject was Natalie.
She had specifically said:
“I don’t want them discussing me as if I’m a problem you have to negotiate.”
I told myself I was going to shut it down.
Still went.
My father sat in his study.
Ryan was not there.
Good.
He poured coffee.
I did not take it.
“What did you know?”
Dad sighed.
“About the push? Nothing.”
“About the recording?”
He looked away.
“How much?”
“I knew Ryan sometimes recorded arguments.”
“Why?”
“To show you what was happening.”
“What was happening?”
He looked angry now.
“You disappeared.”
I almost laughed.
“I live twelve minutes away.”
“You used to come here three nights a week.”
“I got married.”
“Then she got pregnant and everything became impossible.”
There.
Not concern about abuse.
Loss.
My father continued.
“You miss dinners. You stop playing golf. You move north. Every decision comes with her explanation.”
“They are our decisions.”
“Are they?”
“Yes.”
He leaned back.
“You don’t see yourself.”
I stood.
“Don’t.”
Then he said:
“We thought if you saw enough, you’d realize.”
We.
The word hung there.
I sat again.
“What did you do?”
May you like
Dad looked at the floor.
The answer came in Chapter Ten.
