A Decade For Nothing novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Ten Minutes

Lydia's POV

I had told myself I only wanted to see his face.

I had said it to Dad, and to Macy, and to myself in the bathroom mirror at six that morning.

Now I stood on the terrace steps in a yellow dress, watching blue smoke rise through my mother's maples, and Levi was looking at nobody.

He stood at the back of the lawn beside his grandmother.

He wore the grey suit he wore to funerals.

His hands were by his sides, and they were not shaking, although I had seen him shake before a nursing exam.

Macy set the cord down and turned to the guests.

"I want to say something," she said. "Before we eat."

The lawn quieted.

"Some of you saw what happened at the wedding. Some of you have heard things. I'd like to say, in front of everyone, that I'm not angry with anyone."

Her voice caught.

"Levi, I forgive you. I just want him to have a father who stands up for him. That's all I'm asking."

She turned to him with her arms half open.

People looked at Levi.

I looked at him too.

I thought, now. Now he will say nothing, and I will know.

He took a step forward.

"Macy," he said.

His voice was not loud.

It carried across the grass anyway.

"I'd like to take that test today."

A murmur went through the guests.

"Right now," he said. "There's a lab technician parked at the bottom of the drive. Joel booked him last night. It's a cheek swab. It takes about ten minutes. I've paid for it."

Joel lifted a hand from the back and waved.

Nobody laughed.

"If it's mine, I'll sign a paper tonight," Levi said. "I'll pay for every doctor's visit and every month of rent. I'll be there when he's born. But I'm not going to be called a father by a video, and I'm not going to let you call yourself a liar by saying nothing."

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