Three Fates

she finished.
    “You say that as if you weren’t part of the equation.”
    She started to make an excuse, then simply let the truth spill out. “I don’t feel I am.”
    “Then we’re all at fault. She’s never been able to cut the cord with you. Perhaps I cut it too easily, or too quickly. And you tolerated both actions.”
    “I guess I did. But you’ve always been a good father to me.”
    “No, I haven’t.” He set his coffee down, studied her astonished face. “And I can’t say I gave the matter much thought or attention since you were, oh, twelve or so. But I have since the day you came to ask for Henry Wyley’s journal, and I brought it down to you. And you were sitting, waiting for me, and you looked so unhappy.”
    “I was unhappy.”
    “And surprised now that I noticed.” He lifted a hand, then picked up his cup again. “It surprised me as well, and made me wonder how often I hadn’t noticed.”
    “I made you unhappy,” Tia stated, “by not being what you wanted.”
    “Yes, and my way of dealing with that was to leave you to your mother, as it seemed you had a great deal more in common with her than with me. Strange, I’ve always considered myself a very fair man. But that was remarkably unfair to all involved. The best thing for you and your mother, in my opinion, is your cutting the cord yourself. You’ve let her push you around your entire life. Whenever I tried to interfere—and I can’t claim I tried particularly hard—one or both of you circumvented that effort.”
    “You gave up on me.”
    “You seemed content enough the way things were. Children leave home, Tia. If one’s committed to a marriage, then one lives with another person most of one’s life. I’ve structured mine in a way that satisfies and pleases me. You come from two very self-absorbed people. And what are your phobias and nervous disorders but another sort of self-absorption?”
    She stared at him, then let out a half laugh. “I suppose you’re right. I don’t want to stay that way. I’m almost thirty, how much can I change?”
    “Whether or not you change, you’re still almost thirty. What difference does your age make?”
    Nearly speechless, she sat back. “You’ve never talked to me like this before.”
    “You never came to me before.” He moved one shoulder, elegantly. “It’s not my habit to go out of my way, or vary my routine. Speaking of which . . .” He checked his watch.
    “I need a favor,” Tia said quickly.
    “This is quite the red-letter day in the Marsh household.”
    “It concerns the Three Fates.”
    The vague impatience that had crossed Stewart’s face faded. “You’ve developed a significant interest in them recently.”
    “Yes, I have. And I’d like that interest to stay between you and me. Anita Gaye also has a significant interest. She may ask you about them again, try to pick your brain for any detail you might have through Henry Wyley’s connection to them. If and when she does, I wonder if you could remember—vaguely, casually—some mention of the third Fate being seen or reputed to having been seen in Athens.”
    “Athens?” Stewart sat back. “What game are you playing, Tia?”
    “An important one.”
    “Anita isn’t a woman who would scruple to break rules if doing so was profitable.”
    “I’m more aware of that than I can tell you.”
    “Tia, are you in trouble?”
    For the first time since she’d entered the house, she smiled. “That’s something you’ve never asked me. Not once in my life. If I am in trouble, I’m determined to handle it, even enjoy it. Can you find a way to mention Athens to her?”
    “Easily.”
    “And not, under any circumstances, to mention Wyley’s journal or my relationship with the man Mother met at my apartment?”
    “Why would I? Tia, do you have a line on one of the Fates?”
    She wanted to tell him, wanted the thrill of seeing pride and surprise in his eyes. But she shook her head. “It’s very complicated, but I’ll tell you everything as soon as I can.” She got to her feet. “One last question. As a dealer, what would you pay for them?”
    “It would depend. Speculatively, up to ten million. If I had an interested client, I’d advise him to go upwards of twenty. Perhaps a bit more. Contingent on testing and verification, of course.”
    “Of course.” She walked over, kissed his cheek. “I’ll go upstairs and try to make things up with Mother.”

    WHILE TIA WAS stroking Alma’s ruffled