Chapter 6: The Father Who Broke Rank
"Madison." Robert Walker's voice was quieter than I remembered.
He was a large man who spoke in a large way — filling rooms, finishing other people's sentences, laughing too loudly at his own observations.
This voice was smaller.
"I hope I'm not — I wasn't sure you'd pick up."
"I almost didn't," I said honestly.
"That's fair." A pause.
"Is the baby — is James — is he all right?"
"He's healthy.
He's good."
"I'm glad." Another pause, longer.
"Madison, I owe you an apology.
I've been sitting with that since we got back from Scottsdale and I — I don't know how to make it mean anything.
But I need to say it."
I sat down.
"I'm listening," I said.
"I didn't know about the financial arrangement.
I want you to know that.
Denise handles — she has always handled the family's financial decisions.
I sign what she puts in front of me.
I have for thirty years." He stopped.
"That is not an excuse.
I'm telling you because I want you to understand that when I found out what Gregory Holt had drafted, I was — I told Denise it was wrong.
That it needed to be undone."
"What did she say?"
"She said it was already done and that you would never find out."
The room was very quiet.
"Robert," I said carefully.
"Why are you calling me?"
A long pause.
"Because I was in that car," he said.
"On your due date.
I sat in that passenger seat and I scrolled through my phone and I didn't come inside and I didn't ask if you were all right.
And three days later I found out my grandson had been born and I wasn't there and you were alone and—" His voice broke slightly.
He steadied it.
"I have a granddaughter.
Ethan's older sister, she was born early, and Denise was alone for four hours before I got to the hospital because I was in a meeting I thought I couldn't leave.
I have lived with that for twenty-eight years."
I didn't say anything.
"I'm not asking you to forgive me," he said.
"I'm not asking you to forgive Ethan.
I'm calling because Patricia Osei's office sent a document request to Gregory Holt this morning that included my name.
And before your lawyer calls me, I wanted you to hear from me directly that I will cooperate with whatever she needs."
My breath caught.
"You'll cooperate."
"Fully," he said.
"I have records Denise doesn't know I kept.
From the joint family account.
Transfers going back four years." A pause.
"Some of them predate your marriage."
I stood up slowly.
"Robert.
I need you to call Patricia Osei directly.
Today.
Before end of business."
"I know her number," he said.
"Ethan mentioned her."
"Call her."
"I will." Another pause.
"Madison.
Can I — someday.
Not now.
But someday.
Can I meet him?"
I looked across the room at James, who had fallen back asleep, his arm down now, his face completely peaceful.
"Someday," I said.
"Yes."
I heard him exhale.
"Thank you," he said.
And then, quietly: "I'm sorry I was in that car."
He hung up.
I sat without moving for a full minute.
Then I called Patricia.
She answered on the first ring.
"Robert Walker just called me," I said.
"I know," she said.
"He called me thirty seconds ago.
Madison, if what he's describing is accurate—"
"How bad is it?"
May you like
"For Denise?" Patricia's voice was careful and precise.
"It's very bad."
