figured at least my parents might recover now. There’s been some consolation in that.”
His story moved me as much as it grieved me. An attachment toward Marcus, like the first tiny roots clinging to the soil, took hold in my heart. “Do they know where you are? You know, in case they’re worried? Even if they’re angry with you, you’re still their son.”
“The day I flew out I told them. They have my address and phone. But there’s been no communication from them, so I’ve let it go. I assume when I hear from them someday, if I ever do, it’ll be time. But you see, Ellie was always their favorite, and I understood that. Everybody adored her, including me. She was funny and sweet and full of life. I was always a few steps behind her in every way even though I was twenty years older.” Marcus took a bite of his lamb.
“What do you mean, a few steps behind her?”
“Well, I’ve never fit in with my family the way Ellie did. Some kids seem like they belong to their parents, and then there are kids like me. A little offbeat. Sometimes I can relate to children better than adults. When I was a teenager I thought I’d been adopted, but I wasn’t. I’m just different.”
How very true. But now instead of agreeing with Marcus about his peculiarities I wanted to defend him. “I’m sorry your family did that to you. Surely, though, in the end, they wouldn’t want to lose both their children.”
“It’s what I hope for, pray for.” He daubed at his mouth with his napkin. “But I will say this … you don’t really know people until there’s a tragedy. Even family. Suffering has this way of stripping us all bare of any pretenses. There can be no more pretending.”
I thought of my mother. If Camille really had been taken from Mother against her will—although I couldn’t imagine how—it would have been a terrible heartbreak. I know if anyone had taken Julie from me it would have been unbearable. Maybe Mother’s grief had turned into bitterness over the years, which would explain her attitude. “You’re right, calamity works like fire, bringing impurities to the surface, but sometimes all that’s left are the impurities.”
“The voice of experience?” he asked.
“Yes.” Maybe God really had brought this man along to help me. Marcus of all people could understand my strange family drama.
We ate quietly for a few moments as the sounds of the evening surrounded us. Finally I said, “Thank you for sharing that piece of yourself. I’m sure it was hard for you to tell me.”
“Surprisingly, it wasn’t that difficult.” Marcus smiled, revealing some of the buoyancy from when I’d first met him. “I trust you, even though we’ve just met. Why is that, Lily?”
“Honestly, I have no idea.”
“I’m sorry if my story put a damper on the evening.”
“Nonsense,” I said. “It was just an honest moment between two new friends.”
Marcus smiled. “Maybe we should hurry a little. I wouldn’t want you to miss your sister after coming so far.” He sliced off another bite of lamb.
“Thanks.” I gave him my best smile. “Really, Marcus. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
When we were finished, Marcus paid for the food and escorted me out of the bistro. The performers had just started to show up along the promenade—magicians, musicians, and comedians all delighting the crowds.
“I didn’t expect to see so many people. So many performers.”
“It’s the balmy weather,” he said. “Brings them out like turtles on a sunny rock.”
I laughed. “Balmy?” Was that another twinkle in his eyes? I tucked my sweater around me.
Marcus took off his jacket and put it around my shoulders. “You need this more than I do. I’m used to the weather, you’re not. I don’t want you to get ill your first night here.”
“Thanks.” I snuggled into the warmth of his jacket and vowed to be more prepared the next day for the wildly fluctuating temperatures of Australia. I could
His story moved me as much as it grieved me. An attachment toward Marcus, like the first tiny roots clinging to the soil, took hold in my heart. “Do they know where you are? You know, in case they’re worried? Even if they’re angry with you, you’re still their son.”
“The day I flew out I told them. They have my address and phone. But there’s been no communication from them, so I’ve let it go. I assume when I hear from them someday, if I ever do, it’ll be time. But you see, Ellie was always their favorite, and I understood that. Everybody adored her, including me. She was funny and sweet and full of life. I was always a few steps behind her in every way even though I was twenty years older.” Marcus took a bite of his lamb.
“What do you mean, a few steps behind her?”
“Well, I’ve never fit in with my family the way Ellie did. Some kids seem like they belong to their parents, and then there are kids like me. A little offbeat. Sometimes I can relate to children better than adults. When I was a teenager I thought I’d been adopted, but I wasn’t. I’m just different.”
How very true. But now instead of agreeing with Marcus about his peculiarities I wanted to defend him. “I’m sorry your family did that to you. Surely, though, in the end, they wouldn’t want to lose both their children.”
“It’s what I hope for, pray for.” He daubed at his mouth with his napkin. “But I will say this … you don’t really know people until there’s a tragedy. Even family. Suffering has this way of stripping us all bare of any pretenses. There can be no more pretending.”
I thought of my mother. If Camille really had been taken from Mother against her will—although I couldn’t imagine how—it would have been a terrible heartbreak. I know if anyone had taken Julie from me it would have been unbearable. Maybe Mother’s grief had turned into bitterness over the years, which would explain her attitude. “You’re right, calamity works like fire, bringing impurities to the surface, but sometimes all that’s left are the impurities.”
“The voice of experience?” he asked.
“Yes.” Maybe God really had brought this man along to help me. Marcus of all people could understand my strange family drama.
We ate quietly for a few moments as the sounds of the evening surrounded us. Finally I said, “Thank you for sharing that piece of yourself. I’m sure it was hard for you to tell me.”
“Surprisingly, it wasn’t that difficult.” Marcus smiled, revealing some of the buoyancy from when I’d first met him. “I trust you, even though we’ve just met. Why is that, Lily?”
“Honestly, I have no idea.”
“I’m sorry if my story put a damper on the evening.”
“Nonsense,” I said. “It was just an honest moment between two new friends.”
Marcus smiled. “Maybe we should hurry a little. I wouldn’t want you to miss your sister after coming so far.” He sliced off another bite of lamb.
“Thanks.” I gave him my best smile. “Really, Marcus. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
When we were finished, Marcus paid for the food and escorted me out of the bistro. The performers had just started to show up along the promenade—magicians, musicians, and comedians all delighting the crowds.
“I didn’t expect to see so many people. So many performers.”
“It’s the balmy weather,” he said. “Brings them out like turtles on a sunny rock.”
I laughed. “Balmy?” Was that another twinkle in his eyes? I tucked my sweater around me.
Marcus took off his jacket and put it around my shoulders. “You need this more than I do. I’m used to the weather, you’re not. I don’t want you to get ill your first night here.”
“Thanks.” I snuggled into the warmth of his jacket and vowed to be more prepared the next day for the wildly fluctuating temperatures of Australia. I could
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