Delores Parker's Arc

Chapter 6 of 8

Delores stood by the chair draped with knit ties and watched her husband read his name on the stone marker. Five fathers had been chosen. One slot was still open. She touched the small wooden pendant at her throat, carved with his face, and waited. She thought of the Model A he had wanted. He'd skipped it. Their oldest needed speech therapy, and he had paid for it without a word. No new car. Just quiet help for their kid. Her husband walked over and lifted the last tie off the chair. He looped it around his own neck. He tapped the brass plate with his name and grinned at her. The sixth slot was his. He had taken it. Delores let out a long breath. The pendant felt warm against her skin. He was the sixth father, settled and sure, and she was proud enough to burst.