The ashes were shoved into my mouth. I gagged violently.
"Eat it. You made the prop yourself, didn't you? Why so squeamish now?"
Marian's eyes were rimmed red as she clamped her hand over my mouth.
She held it there until my face turned purple and I shoved her off.
I collapsed to my knees, coughing without stop.
My trembling hands gathered the ashes from the floor, grain by grain. Tears mixed with the blood in my throat, staining what was left of Freddy.
I lay facedown in the scattered ashes, sobbing so hard I couldn't breathe.
Marian stood over me. "Think about it. When Freddy grows up and finds out his father faked a memorial portrait and forged his ashes just to win a jealousy contest.
"How do you think he'll feel?
"He'll despise you."
I was too wrecked to form a single word.
She knelt halfway down. "So tell me. Where is he? If you have any shred of conscience as a father, you'll hand him over to me. Just for now."
My eyes were raw and red.
I smiled at her. "Sure. I'll take you to him."
Frederick froze.
Marian blinked, then reached out and gripped my hand. "I knew you'd come around."
The car stopped at the edge of a cliff.
Marian spotted the small figure standing on the precipice.