Chapter 24 - BLAKE’S APOLOGYRosa waited four months.
Then she agreed.
One hour.
A public park.
Malcolm brought Blake but sat thirty yards away.
No speeches.
No instructions beyond one:
“Tell the truth.”
Blake walked toward Rosa holding nothing.
No gift.
His counselor had suggested that.
An expensive apology could become another form of purchase.
Rosa sat on a bench.
Blake stopped several feet away.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
He looked different.
Not physically.
In posture.
Less certainty.
More awareness.
“Dad said you don’t hate me.”
“I don’t.”
Blake swallowed.
“I’m sorry.”
Rosa waited.
He continued.
“For hitting you.”
Silence.
“And dumping water on you.”
Rosa nodded.
“And calling you the maid.”
“You can call me a maid.”
He looked confused.
“I was one.”
“Oh.”
“The problem wasn’t the job.”
Blake stared at his shoes.
“It was the ‘only.’”
Rosa felt something twist in her chest.
He understood.
At least intellectually.
“I thought because you worked for us, I could tell you what to do.”
“Yes.”
“I thought you couldn’t leave.”
“I did.”
His eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Blake wiped his cheek.
“I thought saying sorry would make you come back.”
Rosa smiled sadly.
“I know.”
“Dad said apologies aren’t purchases.”
“Your father is getting smarter.”
Blake almost laughed.
Then became serious again.
“I hurt Ethan too.”
“I heard.”
“He still doesn’t like me.”
“That is his right.”
“I know.”
The words came reluctantly.
That made them more believable.
“Mom said people like him were different.”
Rosa looked at Blake.
“What do you think?”
“I think she was wrong.”
“Because your father told you?”
Blake hesitated.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Ethan’s dad works maintenance and he still knew I was being a jerk.”
Rosa laughed.
Blake smiled for half a second.
Then he said:
“Carla said she never stopped liking me.”
“She didn’t.”
“I cried.”
“I heard.”
His face reddened.
They sat silently.
Finally Blake asked:
“Will you forgive me?”
Rosa knew this moment mattered.
Too easy, and the apology became magic.
Too cruel, and remorse became punishment.
“I’m glad you’re sorry.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
“No.”
He waited.
“I think forgiveness takes time.”
His shoulders fell.
“But I hope someday you become somebody who would never do that again.”
He looked up.
“Do you think I can?”
“Yes.”
The answer came immediately.
Blake’s face changed.
Rosa continued.
“That does not mean what happened was okay.”
“I know.”
“It means you’re ten.”
He nodded.
“You have time to decide what kind of man you become.”
He looked toward Malcolm.
His father sat beneath a tree pretending not to watch.
“Dad says the same thing.”
“Then listen once in a while.”
Blake smiled.
When the hour ended, he stood.
“Can I hug you?”
Rosa thought.
Then opened her arms.
Blake hugged her.
Not tightly.
Not possessively.
When he stepped away, he said:
“I’m sorry, Rosa.”
This time he used her name.
She nodded.
“I know.”
He walked back toward Malcolm.
Halfway there, he turned.
“Rosa?”
“Yes?”
“Your company van is cool.”
She laughed.
“Go away, Blake.”
He grinned.
For one second she saw the little boy who once asked why the moon followed the car.
Not redeemed.
Not finished.
May you like
Just reachable.
And for now, that was enough.
