When the reply came, it carried a quiet authority that seemed to fill the entire room.
“This is Theodore Halvorsen, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.”
The reaction was immediate.
One of the guests dropped a wine glass.
Lorraine’s face lost all color.
And Colin—who had never appeared uncertain in any room I had ever seen him enter—stood frozen beside the dining table.
A Voice That Became a Father’s Concern
For several seconds no one spoke.
Then my father’s voice returned, colder than before.
“Mr. Ashcroft,” he said calmly, “why is my daughter crying?”
Colin swallowed.
For the first time that evening, his confidence seemed to disappear.
“It’s… nothing serious,” he replied quickly. “She slipped in the kitchen.”
From where I lay on the floor, I could hear every word through the open doorway.
My father spoke again.
“Marissa.”
The tone of his voice changed completely when he said my name.
It no longer sounded like a judge addressing a stranger.
It sounded like a father.
“Dad…” I whispered weakly.
“Are you hurt?”
Tears blurred my vision.
“I think something is wrong with the baby.”
