Chapter 9 - The Father at the Train Station

Gabriel could not speak.

Maria did.

“Marco?”

Silence.

The man on the phone stopped breathing.

Then:

“Maria.”

She began crying.

Gabriel held the phone between them.

Marco’s voice broke.

“You are alive.”

Maria laughed through tears.

“So are you.”

No one moved.

Twenty-one years.

Compressed into two sentences.

Gabriel whispered:

“Where are you?”

Marco answered:

“Union Station.”

“Stay there.”

“I will.”

Gabriel looked at Maria.

She nodded.

They drove.

Victor came.

Elena too.

Arthur stayed with Cross.

Union Station was crowded.

Cold.

Announcements overhead.

Gabriel saw him first.

An older man near platform nine.

Gray beard.

Cane.

Dark coat.

Marco Marino.

His father.

Gabriel stopped walking.

Maria did not.

She moved faster.

Marco saw her.

His cane fell.

Maria reached him.

They stared.

Then she hit his chest.

Once.

Twice.

“You were alive.”

Marco cried.

“So were you.”

She hit him again.

Then hugged him.

Gabriel stood ten feet away.

Marco looked over her shoulder.

Saw his son.

Everything changed.

“Gabe.”

Gabriel’s face tightened.

Marco stepped forward.

Gabriel did not.

“You left me.”

Marco nodded.

“Yes.”

“You survived.”

“Yes.”

“For seven years under Dominic.”

“Yes.”

“Then escaped.”

“Yes.”

“And still did not come home.”

Marco looked down.

“No.”

“Why?”

Marco’s voice shook.

“Because I was damaged.”

Gabriel stared.

“That is an explanation.”

“Yes.”

“Not an excuse.”

Marco looked at him.

“No.”

Gabriel nodded once.

Good.

Marco continued.

“I had memory problems.”

“Seven years?”

“Longer.”

“I could still have known you.”

“Yes.”

“I could have known you.”

“Yes.”

Gabriel looked away.

Marco whispered:

“I was ashamed.”

Gabriel laughed bitterly.

“There it is.”

Marco nodded.

“I thought you would see what they turned me into.”

Gabriel looked back.

“You thought I would prefer a dead father.”

Marco’s eyes filled.

“No.”

“But you chose for me.”

“Yes.”

Maria closed her eyes.

The phrase had followed them all night.

Victor stepped forward.

Marco saw him.

His face hardened.

“You.”

Victor stopped.

“I deserve that.”

Marco looked at Elena.

Then back at Victor.

“You signed the prescriptions.”

“Four.”

“You sedated my son.”

“I was told it was anxiety.”

“You still did it.”

“Yes.”

Marco nodded.

Victor continued.

“And I helped hide Maria.”

“Yes.”

“I am sorry.”

Marco looked at him.

“You should be.”

Then Marco saw Elena.

“Victor’s daughter.”

“Yes.”

Marco looked at Gabriel.

“Your fiancée.”

Gabriel nodded.

Marco almost smiled.

“Families have terrible timing.”

Nobody laughed.

Then Gabriel asked:

“Where is Reed?”

Marco’s expression changed.

“Gone.”

“Dead?”

“No.”

“Where?”

Marco looked toward the station entrance.

“He ran after Catherine confronted him.”

Maria stared.

“Catherine is here?”

A woman approached.

Seventy.

Short gray hair.

Scar along her jaw.

Catherine Reed.

She looked at Maria.

“I am sorry.”

Maria stared.

“For what?”

“For helping Marco escape and never finding you.”

Maria hugged her.

Charles Reed had spent thirteen years believing his wife was gone.

His lies had separated two families.

His wife had been alive.

Everyone had been alive.

Everyone had been hidden.

Gabriel looked at Marco.

“Did you use Mom’s prescription?”

Marco nodded.

“I asked Cross to reopen the file.”

“Why?”

“To make Arthur notice.”

“You could have called.”

Marco smiled sadly.

“I tried indirect things because direct things terrified me.”

Gabriel stared.

Marco continued.

“I was wrong.”

Simple.

No defense.

Gabriel’s face softened slightly.

Then Dominic’s voice came from behind them.

“Very touching.”

Everyone turned.

Dominic Marino stood near the station doors.

Two men beside him.

Gabriel’s expression changed.

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Dominic smiled.

“I was wondering when the dead would all gather in one place.”