Alex didn't have history the next day, and she didn't see Dr. Linus at all. They were supposed to have history club, but there was a note on the door saying he wasn't feeling well and had to cancel for the day. So she took the city bus to his house.
The door was opened by an old man with an oxygen tank. He took one look at her and smiled. "You must be Alex."
"How did you know?"
"I just know. Come on in. Ben stopped off at the store on the way home, so he isn't here yet. Your mom inspired him to try cooking. You know, instead of microwaving. He's not too bad."
"Are you his dad?"
"Yes. My name's Roger."
"If I'd known Dr. Linus had a dad, I would have invited you for dinner too."
"No, no. It's good to get him out of the house. Otherwise he'd spend all his time taking care of me. Do you know what Benjamin means? 'Son of my right hand.' He's been my right hand for a long time now. Always taking care of me. Time someone took care of him for a change."
"I wouldn't mind trying," she said in a low voice. "I'm trying to get my mom to want to, too, but they had a big argument yesterday. She accused him of kidnapping and murder, which is ridiculous."
Dr. Linus' dad leaned forward and patted her hand. "One thing I've learned, Alex: there's nothing a person can do that can't be forgiven. Everyone has the ability to do what is terribly evil, and everyone has the ability to do what is right and good. And everyone can change. Everyone should have a second chance. I should know."
The front door opened then, and Dr. Linus came in with two large grocery bags. He nearly dropped them when he saw Alex. "Alex?"
"Hi, Dr. Linus."
He put the bags on the table. "Dad, how's your oxygen? Do I need to change it out?"
"I think I'm done with it, Ben."
"Dad…"
"No. It's time for me to go, Ben. You have things to do that don't need to involve me. Now that I've seen Alex, I'm ready to go. I'll see you soon, son. Help me one last time, though."
Dr. Linus' hands seemed to tremble as he helped Roger remove his oxygen tubes. The old man stood straight and didn't seem quite so old. He reached out and took his son's face in his hands much as Dr. Linus had done to Alex yesterday and said, "I'm sorry for everything I did to you, Ben. I love you." And he kissed his forehead, and then they embraced for what seemed like a very long time. Alex could see Dr. Linus was crying, which was a little alarming. "I'll see you soon, Ben."
"Goodbye, Dad."
Roger walked out of the house. Dr. Linus stood staring at the screen door, and then he turned quickly and picked up his groceries. "Excuse me."
Alex sat where she was as he put the groceries away in the kitchen. When he came back out and set a cup of tea in front of her and sat down with one of his own, his eyes were pink, and yet, like her mom yesterday, there was a kind of radiance in them.
"What was he sorry for?" Alex asked.
"I remember him abusing me when I was younger. He blamed me for my mother's death and didn't take care of me. And then I remember doing something even worse to him. And now it is-has been-my privilege to care for him and his to love me and want good things for me. Because he's my dad." He smiled, luminosity in his eyes.