Chapter 3: Finally Home: I
Edmond Dantès practically sprinted through the crowded streets of Marseilles, his heart hammering against his ribs like it was trying to break free. He’d just gotten off his merchant ship after months at sea, and there was only one person he wanted to see.
The narrow alleyways of the old port city were a maze of stone buildings and hanging laundry, but Edmond knew these streets like the back of his hand. He ducked into a shabby little building and took the stairs three at a time, his boots echoing in the cramped stairwell. Four flights up, he stopped outside a half-open door, trying to catch his breath.
Through the gap, he could see his father puttering around their tiny apartment. The old man was standing on a wobbly chair, his weathered hands shaking as he tried to tend to some climbing flowers by the window. Edmond’s chest tightened, his dad looked even more frail than when he’d left.
"Father!" Edmond burst through the door and wrapped his arms around the old man.
His father let out a startled cry and nearly fell off the chair. When he turned and saw his son’s face, all the color drained from his cheeks.
"Jesus Christ, Edmond! You scared the hell out of me!" the old man gasped, clutching his chest. "I thought... I thought I was having a heart attack."
"I’m sorry! Are you okay?" Edmond steadied his father, alarmed by how thin he felt. "You look terrible. Are you sick?"
"No, no, my boy. I’m fine. Just... I wasn’t expecting you back so soon. The surprise of it all..." His father’s eyes were bright with tears. "God, I missed you."
"Hey, don’t cry. I’m here now, and I’ve got incredible news!" Edmond grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Captain Leclerc died on the voyage, may he rest in peace, and I’m pretty sure Monsieur Morrel is going to give me his position. Can you believe it? Me, a captain at twenty years old! I’ll be making real money, Dad. We’re going to be set."
His father managed a weak smile. "That’s wonderful, son. You deserve it."
"I’m going to get us a proper house with a real garden. You can grow all the flowers you want, no more balancing on rickety chairs." Edmond was practically bouncing with excitement, but then he noticed his father swaying. "Dad? You’re white as a sheet."
"I’m fine, it’s just-" The old man’s legs gave out, and he collapsed backward.
"Dad!" Edmond caught him. "Okay, you need some wine. Where do you keep it?"
"Don’t bother looking," his father whispered. "There isn’t any."
Edmond’s blood ran cold. He started yanking open cupboards, finding them bare except for a few scraps of stale bread. "What the hell? Where’s all the food? Dad, didn’t you have money? I left you two hundred francs three months ago!"
His father wouldn’t meet his eyes. "I had everything I needed."
"Bullshit." Edmond was starting to panic. "Two hundred francs doesn’t just disappear. What happened?"
"Well... you remember that debt you had with Caderousse?"
"That bastard came here asking for money?"
"He said if I didn’t pay him, he’d go to Monsieur Morrel and cause trouble for you. I couldn’t let that happen, so..."
"So you paid him." Edmond felt sick. "How much did you give him?"
His father’s voice was barely audible. "One hundred forty francs."
"One hundred forty..." Edmond did the math in his head and wanted to punch something. "You’ve been living on sixty francs for three months? Sixty francs?!"
"I don’t need much. I’m just happy you’re home safe."
Edmond dropped to his knees, overwhelmed by guilt and rage. His father had been starving himself while that piece of shit Caderousse walked around with money that wasn’t even his.
"Don’t kneel, son. You’re here now, that’s all that matters."
"I’m sorry for leaving you alone." Edmond emptied his pockets onto the table, gold coins, silver pieces, everything he had. "Take this. Buy food, real food. Tomorrow I’ll bring more from the ship."
His father’s face lit up at the sight of the money. "Where did this come from?"
"It’s my wages, Dad. It’s ours now. Buy whatever you want, just don’t go crazy all at once or people will talk."
"I’ll be careful. Oh, and son? I have some coffee and tobacco hidden on your ship that-"
Heavy footsteps on the stairs cut him off. A moment later, a stocky man with a black beard appeared in the doorway, flashing a shit-eating grin that showed off his perfect white teeth.