Chapter 20 - Arthur’s Confession
Arthur asked me to lunch alone.
By then he had fully retired.
No trust role.
No board.
He looked lighter.
Older.
“I owe you one truth.”
I braced.
“What?”
“I suspected the old test before this dinner.”
I went cold.
“How long?”
“About a year.”
“What?”
“Grace once asked me whether M 44718 meant anything. I told her it was my registry number.”
“And?”
“She looked frightened.”
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
I stared.
“Why?”
“I told myself it was probably administrative.”
“Did you ask Constance?”
“No.”
“Julian?”
“No.”
“Me?”
“No.”
“So another adult saw crack and chose silence.”
“Yes.”
I stood.
He said:
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t care.”
“I know.”
I left.
That confession hurt because Arthur had become reliable ally.
But allies can have origin sins.
I did not cut him off immediately.
Caleb liked him.
I told therapist.
Then eventually Arthur himself told Caleb in age appropriate way:
“I had a chance to ask questions sooner and didn’t.”
Caleb asked:
“Why?”
“I was afraid of causing trouble.”
Caleb:
“Everybody in this family is afraid of trouble.”
Arthur laughed sadly.
“Yes.”
Caleb:
“Trouble happened anyway.”
Exactly.
May you like
Arthur never again positioned himself as hero.
That made continued relationship possible.
