Chapter 2: The Father Who Came Back
At 8:17 the following morning, someone rang the doorbell.
Richard was standing in the kitchen, drinking coffee.
He hadn't slept much.
The graduation photograph was still lying on the counter.
He walked to the front door and opened it.
Marcus stood on the porch.
He was wearing jeans, a white shirt, and the same expensive watch from the previous afternoon.
“Morning, Richard.””
Richard didn't smile.
“What do you want?””
Marcus glanced over his shoulder.
“Can I come in?””
“Depends.””
“On what?””
“Whether you're here to talk or to ask me for something.””
Marcus gave a short laugh.
“You always were a suspicious guy.””
Richard stepped aside reluctantly.
Marcus entered the living room and looked around.
His eyes landed on the family photographs arranged above the fireplace.
There were pictures of Maya at five, ten, twelve, and sixteen.
In nearly every photograph, Richard was somewhere nearby.
Holding her bicycle.
Standing behind her at a school award ceremony.
Helping her blow out birthday candles.
Marcus examined one of the pictures.
“She's grown up.””
Richard crossed his arms.
“She has.””
“Beautiful girl.””
“Yes.””
Marcus nodded.
Then he pulled a folder from his leather bag.
“I came because I want to discuss Maya's future.””
Richard looked at the folder.
“What about it?””
“College. Her living arrangements. Financial support.””
Richard almost smiled.
“You've suddenly become interested in financial support?””
Marcus frowned.
“What's that supposed to mean?””
“It means I paid for her graduation. Her applications. Her books.
Her school expenses. I don't remember seeing you at the bank.””
Marcus placed the folder on the coffee table.
“Look, I'm not here to fight.””
“Then don't.””
Marcus sat down without being invited.
“I've been thinking about how much time I've missed.””
Richard remained standing.
“That's unfortunate.””
“I want to make things right.””
Richard looked at him for a long moment.
“Then start by being honest about why you disappeared.””
Marcus shifted in his chair.
“That's between me and Denise.””
“No. It stopped being between you and Denise when you walked into my house pretending to be the father of a child you abandoned.””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“I didn't abandon her.””
“Where were you when she was born?””
“I was working.””
“Her first birthday?””
“Things were complicated.””
“Her second?””
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“Richard, you don't know the whole story.””
Richard stepped closer.
“Then tell me.””
Marcus opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Finally, he pushed the folder toward Richard.
“Let's not get distracted. I want Maya to have the best possible start. I've got some business connections, and I think I can help her.””
Richard didn't touch the folder.
“Good for her.””
“There's something else.””
Richard looked up.
Marcus lowered his voice.
“I understand you've been helping her financially.””
“I have.””
“And I heard you were planning to give her some money yesterday.””
Richard's expression changed.
“Who told you that?””
Marcus shrugged.
“She mentioned it.””
“Did she?””
“Look, I think it would be better if we coordinated. You know, as parents.””
Richard let out a humorless laugh.
“As parents?””
Marcus spread his hands.
“She's our daughter.””
Richard stared at him.
“Yesterday, she told me I wasn't her father. Today, you're calling me a parent because you heard I have money.””
Marcus stood.
“Don't be childish.””
“Get out.””
“Richard—”
“Get out of my house.””
Marcus picked up his folder.
At the door, he turned around.
“You should understand something. Maya needs her biological father now. She's entering adulthood. She needs connections, opportunities, and a man who can guide her.””
Richard held the door open.
“I hope you become that man.””
Marcus paused.
“What does that mean?””
“It means I hope you do a better job than you did when she was a child.””
Marcus's face darkened.
He walked out without another word.
Richard closed the door.
For several seconds, he remained there with his hand on the handle.
Then he heard a car horn outside.
He looked through the window.
Marcus was sitting in his car, talking on his phone.
He appeared relaxed.
Almost pleased.
Richard watched him pull away.
At eleven, Denise returned home.
She dropped her handbag onto the kitchen counter and removed her sunglasses.
“Marcus told me you two had a disagreement.””
Richard was washing a coffee mug.
“He came here.””
“I know.””
“Did you know he was coming?””
Denise hesitated.
“Not exactly.””
Richard turned off the faucet.
“What does that mean?””
“He mentioned he wanted to talk about Maya.””
“About Maya or about my money?””
Denise's expression tightened.
“Richard, not everything is about money.””
“Interesting. Because the first thing he did was ask about the money I was planning to give her.””
Denise leaned against the counter.
“Marcus wants to help.””
“Then he can help.””
“He doesn't have everything you think he has.””
Richard dried his hands.
“I haven't thought about what he has. I've been too busy thinking about what he hasn't done.””
Denise looked away.
“Please don't turn this into a competition.””
Richard stared at her.
“A competition?””
“Yes. Between you and Marcus.””
“I didn't create a competition, Denise. Maya did that yesterday.””
“She was emotional.””
“Stop saying that.””
Denise blinked.
Richard's voice remained low.
“Being emotional doesn't make cruelty harmless.””
Denise folded her arms.
“She's our daughter.””
Richard looked at her.
“Then why did you let her push me out of her graduation picture?””
Denise's eyes filled.
“I didn't know what to do.””
“You could have stood beside me.””
She didn't answer.
Richard picked up his coffee.
“That's what hurts the most, Denise. Not Marcus. Not even Maya. You watched me get humiliated, and you were more worried about ruining her day than stopping her from hurting me.””
Denise lowered her head.
Before she could respond, the front door opened.
Maya walked in carrying a shopping bag.
“Hi, Mom!””
Then she noticed Richard.
“Oh. You're here.””
Richard looked at her.
“It's my house.””
Maya rolled her eyes.
“Can we not?””
She placed the shopping bag on the dining table.
“I need the graduation money.””
Richard slowly put his coffee down.
“Good morning to you too.””
“Dad said he would help me with the trip, but he needs to know how much I have.””
Richard looked at her.
“Your father can help you.””
Maya frowned.
“Why are you saying it like that?””
“Like what?””
“Like you're trying to make me feel bad.””
Richard shook his head.
“I'm not trying to make you feel anything.””
“Then just send the money.””
Denise stepped between them.
“Maya, maybe you should ask more politely.””
Maya turned sharply.
“Mom, why are you taking his side?””
Richard watched the exchange.
Something about her question stayed with him.
She genuinely believed that asking for basic respect meant someone was choosing sides.
He looked at the shopping bag.
“What did you buy?””
Maya pulled out a designer handbag.
“It's for college.””
“How much?””
“Why?””
“I'm asking.””
“Seven hundred dollars.””
Richard nodded slowly.
“And you want me to pay for your graduation trip too?””
“It's important.””
“What about tuition?””
“Dad said he would help.””
Richard glanced at Denise.
“Has Marcus offered to pay your tuition?””
Maya lifted her chin.
“He said he'd figure something out.””
Richard almost asked whether Marcus had a plan or merely a promise.
But he stopped himself.
Instead, he said, “I need to review my finances before making any decisions.””
Maya stared at him.
“You're serious?””
“Yes.””
“After everything I've been through?””
Richard looked at her carefully.
“Everything you've been through?””
She folded her arms.
“I've had to grow up without my real father.””
The room went silent.
Richard looked at Denise.
Then back at Maya.
“Who do you think was there?””
Maya's lips pressed together.
“I don't want to talk about this.””
“Neither did I yesterday.””
She grabbed her handbag.
“Forget it.””
She walked upstairs.
A moment later, her bedroom door slammed.
Denise covered her face.
Richard remained still.
Then he noticed a folded piece of paper sticking out of the shopping bag.
It appeared to be a receipt.
He wasn't trying to snoop.
But the name printed at the top caught his attention.
*HARRISON FAMILY HOLDINGS.*
He picked it up.
It wasn't a receipt.
It was a bank transfer confirmation.
And the amount was $12,000.
The recipient was Marcus.
Richard read the date.
Three days before graduation.
He turned the page over.
A handwritten note was attached.
First installment. Tell Richard the college fund is handled.
Richard felt the room tilt.
He read it again.
Then he called Denise.
She was standing right beside him.
“What's this?””
Her face drained of color.
“Richard…”
He placed the paper on the counter.
“Why is my wife sending twelve thousand dollars to Marcus?””
Denise opened her mouth.
And before she could answer, Maya's phone began ringing upstairs.
Richard recognized the ringtone.
It was Marcus.
May you like
Then he heard Maya say something that made his blood run cold.
“Don't worry, Dad. Richard doesn't know about the other account.””
