Chapter 7: The Father Who Came Back
"He left," Chloe said.
"When Danny was diagnosed.
You said he left."
"He did," Richard said.
"Three years ago.
Teresa hasn't heard from him since the divorce was finalized.
Neither has Danny."
"Then why is he texting you?"
Richard took the phone back.
"I don't know how he got my number.
Teresa doesn't know I received this.
I haven't responded."
"What does he mean, 'what that's worth to certain people'?" I asked.
"I've been asking myself the same thing for three weeks."
Mom had gone very still.
"Richard.
Is there any reason someone would want to use Danny's situation against Teresa?
Legally?
Financially?"
Richard was quiet for a moment.
"The house on Calloway Street belonged to Teresa's mother.
She passed two years ago and left it to Teresa outright.
It's not worth a fortune, but in this market it's not nothing either." He paused.
"Garrett signed away parental rights as part of the divorce settlement.
But Teresa mentioned once that he'd been making noise about contesting that.
Claiming he wasn't in his right mind when he signed."
"He wants the house," I said.
"Or leverage over Teresa.
Or both."
Chloe sat down hard in the nearest chair.
"So he found out about Richard coming every night and he thinks he can use that somehow?"
"I don't know what he thinks," Richard said.
"But a man who abandoned a sick child and then sends a message like that—" He stopped himself.
"I don't trust his intentions."
Mom stood up.
"Call Teresa."
"It's early—"
"Call her," Mom said.
"Right now.
She needs to know about that message.
Whatever Garrett is planning, she shouldn't be the last one to find out."
Richard looked at her for a moment.
Then he picked up his phone and dialed.
Teresa answered on the second ring.
Her voice was careful when she heard Richard's tone.
He read her the message.
The silence on her end lasted long enough that I started to count it.
"He called me last week," she finally said.
"I didn't tell you because I didn't want to worry you.
He said he wanted to see Danny.
I told him no.
He said I didn't have the right to keep his son from him." Her voice was tight and controlled.
"I told him a judge gave me exactly that right three years ago."
"What did he say?"
"He said judges can change their minds." A pause.
"Richard, he knows about Danny's procedure.
He knows about the insurance gap.
I don't know how."
Richard's hand tightened around the phone.
"He said if I let him back in — if I let him have a relationship with Danny — he'd cover the full cost of the procedure.
Private pay.
No insurance needed."
The kitchen was absolutely silent.
"Teresa," Richard said carefully.
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him I needed time to think."
Richard closed his eyes briefly.
"And what are you thinking?"
Her answer came slowly, like she'd been carrying it for days and was only now setting it down.
"I'm thinking that Danny needs that procedure.
And I'm thinking that Garrett knows exactly what he's doing by offering it now.
And I'm thinking—" Her voice broke, just slightly.
"I'm thinking I don't know what the right thing is anymore.
And I'm scared."
May you like
Richard looked at Mom across the table.
Mom was already reaching for her own phone.
