Chapter 15
Theo asked to visit the marina again.
Not immediately.
Four months later.
I said yes.
Then regretted it.
Then remembered the choice was his.
We went in daylight.
No waiting boat.
No Briana.
Lucas came only because Theo asked.
He stood several yards away at first.
The padded bench remained.
The gangplank.
The ropes.
Same place.
Different day.
Theo held my hand.
“Boat?”
“There are boats.”
“Mine?”
“No boat is yours unless you want one.”
He pointed at a small harbor launch.
“That one come back?”
“Yes.”
“Always?”
I smiled faintly.
“It’s supposed to.”
He looked at Lucas.
“Dad?”
Lucas walked closer.
“What?”
“You ride?”
“If you want.”
Theo thought.
“No.”
Lucas nodded.
“Okay.”
That mattered.
No disappointment performed.
No pressure.
Theo walked to the end of the pier and watched gulls.
Then he asked to feed them.
Daniel told him absolutely not because apparently Daniel had strong opinions about gulls.
Theo laughed.
Good.
The marina began becoming a marina again.
Not the place where his father stopped needing him.
That would take time.
Maybe years.
May you like
Places do not demand reclamation either.
But choice helps.
