Chapter 15 - THE FRONT ROW
Liam’s school play began at ten on a Friday morning. Richard arrived at nine-thirty and took a seat in the front row.
Emily sat beside Rachel a few seats away. Ethan and Noah, who had smaller parts, kept peeking through the curtain to make sure everyone was there.
When Liam stepped onto the stage, he saw Richard first. Then Emily. His face lit up so brightly that he forgot his opening line.
The audience waited.
Richard gave him a small thumbs-up.
Liam took a breath and began again.
Afterward, all three boys ran into the aisle. Richard caught Ethan and Noah while Liam wrapped his arms around Emily. For a moment they stayed like that, surrounded by folding chairs, scattered programs, and other families gathering their children.
Richard no longer needed to look like he had everything under control. He only needed to be there.
Over the next several months, the criminal cases moved through court. Victoria’s planted watch and her recorded call were presented alongside the forged travel papers. Adrian’s contracts and messages showed how long he had pursued Grace’s shares. Martin’s financial dealings came to light through the audit.
Richard attended the hearings that affected his sons. He left the business investigation to the people qualified to handle it.
Emily moved into her apartment. On some Saturdays, she met the boys at the park. On others, she came to dinner. Richard asked in advance and respected her answer. Slowly, the boys stopped asking if she would disappear whenever she walked out the door.
One evening, nearly a year after the day in the street, Richard found Liam at the kitchen table with the old flash drive beside a drawing.
“Where did you get that?” Richard asked.
“Detective Ortiz gave it back after they copied everything. I asked Priya to help me put the videos somewhere safe.”
Richard sat down. “Do you want to keep it?”
Liam shook his head. “I don’t want to watch them. I just wanted you to know what happened.”
“I do know.” Richard slid the drive into a small box. “You shouldn’t have had to carry that alone.”
Liam leaned against him. Richard put an arm around his shoulders.
The doorbell rang. Ethan and Noah shouted Emily’s name and charged toward the front hall.
Liam stayed seated for another second.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Are you coming?”
May you like
Richard looked at the drawing on the table. Five people stood in front of a house, their hands joined in a long, uneven line. Liam had made enough room for everyone.
“Yeah,” Richard said, taking his son’s hand. “I’m coming.”
