Adrian Silvercrest's Arc

Chapter 11 of 23

The lie held, but the house kept moving. Eric learned new words that week. He said cup. He said cat. He said dada, and he said it to Adrian, and Adrian caught it in his chest like a thrown stone. Aldric was at the table when it happened. He smiled, and then he looked down at his hands. Adrian noticed. He noticed again the next morning, when Elara knelt on the floor with Eric between her knees and buttoned his shirt, and Adrian stood behind her with his hand on her shoulder, and Aldric watched them from the doorway with his hat still on. "You could come in," Adrian said. "I'm going to the study," Aldric said. "I've got six pages left on the ward diagram." He went. The door shut quietly, which was worse than if it had slammed. Elara stood up with Eric on her hip. She looked at the closed door. She looked at Adrian. "He thinks he's the visitor," she said. "He isn't." "I know that. You know that. He needs to know that." She crossed the kitchen and pushed the study door open with her foot. Adrian followed. Aldric was at his desk, quill down, staring at nothing. Elara set Eric on the rug in front of him. Eric wobbled, caught his balance on Aldric's knee, and pulled himself up. "Hold him," Elara said. "He's fine on the floor." "Hold him, Aldric." Aldric lifted Eric onto his lap. Eric grabbed a fistful of black hair and yanked. Aldric winced and didn't move the hand away. Elara knelt by the chair. She put her hand over Aldric's, the one holding Eric's back. "He loves you," she said. "You're his father the same as Adrian. He's almost said papa to you twice. I've heard him try." Aldric's jaw tightened. "He said dada to Adrian." "He said one word. He has a hundred left." She squeezed his hand. "Must I show you how much we all still love you? Because I will. Every day, if I have to." Aldric's face went red at the ears, the way it did at the kitchen ceremony a year ago. He looked at Eric. Eric put a wet hand on his cheek. "Papa," Eric said. Clear as a bell. Once. Aldric made a sound that wasn't a word. Adrian stepped forward and put his hand on the back of Aldric's neck. Aldric leaned into it. "Say it again," Aldric said to Eric, hoarse. Eric said cat. Elara laughed. Adrian laughed. Aldric laughed last, and longest, with his forehead pressed to Eric's soft black hair. They stayed in the study a long time. When Adrian finally stood to go start supper, Aldric was still holding the child, and the quill was still down, and the six pages could wait.