Chapter 4 — The Father Jason Thought Had Walked Away
Jason had never met Mark Ellis.
For thirty years, he knew only the simplest version of the story.
Melissa met Mark while working at Seabrook.
They dated for one summer.
Then Mark left.
Months later, Melissa discovered she was pregnant.
She raised Jason alone.
Whenever Jason asked about his father, Melissa never insulted him.
She simply said:
“He chose a different life.”
Jason interpreted that the obvious way.
Mark left.
Never came back.
Never cared enough to look.
Now Jason held a letter asking Melissa to meet him.
William looked toward him.
“Don’t open it without your mother.”
Jason nodded.
For once, he did not act impulsively.
He called Melissa.
“Mom, I found something.”
“What?”
“At Seabrook.”
Silence.
Then:
“What did you find?”
“A letter.”
Melissa’s voice changed.
“From who?”
Jason looked at the envelope.
“Mark.”
The phone went silent.
“Mom?”
Finally:
“Don’t open it.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“I’m coming.”
Melissa arrived less than an hour later.
She was fifty-one.
Jason had seen his mother nervous before.
Never like this.
The moment she saw Room 412, she stopped in the doorway.
“This was our hallway.”
She looked toward the window.
Then Jason handed her the envelope.
Melissa stared at Mark’s handwriting.
“I would’ve recognized this anywhere.”
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
Inside was one sheet of paper.
She began reading silently.
Then sat down.
Jason crouched beside her.
“What does it say?”
Melissa handed him the letter.
Mark had written:
Melissa, I know you’re angry.
I shouldn’t have said you had to choose tonight.
Then:
I leave tomorrow afternoon, but I’ll be at the old pier at sunrise.
If you come, we’ll talk properly.
And finally:
If you don’t, I’ll understand that you want me to go.
Jason looked at his mother.
“Did you go?”
Melissa shook her head.
Tears filled her eyes.
“I never knew he was waiting.”