CHAPTER 18
AFTER HER INTERVIEW WITH MR. AND MRS. SEBOLD, SIDNEY ASKED TO visit with Marshall.
It was agreed that Derrick would not record, as the Sebolds worried that sensory overload would cause Marshall to shut down.
Maybe after Marshall got to know her, the Sebolds suggested, he’d be open to a documented interview.
Sidney was looking for ways to show the audience who Grace was before Sugar Beach, and meeting her brother would only help her efforts.
If it led to a recorded interview later, all the better.
“He’s going to ask you to play a game of chess,” Glenn Sebold told Sidney before she entered Marshall’s room.
“Chess?”
“It relaxes his brain and takes the edge off his anxiety. All he’s known since he was a little kid was how to compete.
He can’t do that on the football field anymore.
Hasn’t touched a football since the accident.
But somehow with chess, it makes him a normal kid again.
Hell, he’s not a kid anymore, but when he plays chess, it reminds me of the old Marshall. ”
“Is that how you two connect with him?” Sidney asked.
Glenn shook his head. “Gretchen and I haven’t played chess with him for some time. He’s thirty-five years old, but having to rely so heavily on us has caused a teenage-type rebellion in him. I told him you’d play, if that’s okay.”
Sidney nodded. “Of course. If it helps him answer a few questions.”
“He’ll talk your ear off during a game of chess. If you need anything, let me know. I’ll be in the living room.”
“I’ll let you know when we’re done.”
She knocked softly and then opened the bedroom door. Marshall sat in his wheelchair staring at his computer screen.
“Can I come in?” Sidney asked.
Marshall shrugged, so Sidney walked into his bedroom and closed the door.
“I was hoping to talk with you a little bit about Grace. No cameras.”
“They said you’d play chess,” Marshall said.
“Yeah, I’d love to play.”
Marshall maneuvered his chair away from his desk and pointed to his closet.
“You’ll have to get my chess set down.”
Sidney pointed to the closet. “In here?”
“On top,” Marshall said.
Sidney opened the closet door and stood on her tiptoes to peer at the top shelf. Next to shadowed football trophies, she found Marshall’s chess set stashed away in a satchel. She pulled it off the shelf.
“Your parents told me you haven’t played for a while,” Sidney said as she handed the chess set to Marshall.
“Not with them,” he said.
He turned to the table in the corner and slid his chess set out of the sack, which consisted of two pinewood cases that each held the competing black and white chess pieces.
Opening the first case, Marshall revealed elaborately sculpted figures.
The characters were seated in thick protective foam inside of the chess case.
Eight white pawns ran in a circle around the perimeter.
The rooks, bishops and knights made up an inner ring, and in the center sat the king and queen.
Marshall removed each piece and studied it before placing it on the board.
Sidney sat in the chair across from him amazed by the transformation.
Marshall seemed to have an easier time with his motor skills when he handled the chess pieces.
He sat taller in his chair and his articulation when he spoke was more precise and direct.
“This is quite a chess set,” Sidney said, opening the second case, which held the black pieces. “I’ve never seen one quite like this before.”
“It’s a Lladró. The pieces are porcelain and handcrafted.”
Sidney removed a figurine and studied the design.
She was never much of a chess player, but even to her untrained eye, she knew this was a unique set.
Medieval themed, the figures each carried long, stoic facial expressions.
The king was decorated with a tall crown and elongated beard.
The pawns carried blank stares under their headdresses.
“These pieces are amazing,” Sidney said.
“Grace gave it to me,” Marshall said. “After the accident. It was a way to pass time while I was laid up. I haven’t played with it much since she’s been gone.” He pointed to the board once the assembly was complete. “You can open.”
Sidney moved a porcelain pawn forward. Marshall did the same.
“It seems a shame to keep this chess set stored in the closet. Why haven’t you played lately?”
“I play online.”
“Your dad says you won’t play with him.”
“He’s said that for ten years. But the truth is that since Grace has been gone, I haven’t played with anyone on this board.”
“Why?”
Marshall was quiet while he studied the board.
“Your dad thinks it’s because you’re angry with him,” Sidney said as she moved another pawn forward.
Marshall shook his head. “No. It’s because Grace asked me to put my set away after she went to jail, so I did. Today is the first time I’ve had it out since.”
Sidney smiled. “You two played a lot? You and Grace?”
“Used to,” Marshall said, still scrutinizing the board.
“Your mom said you and Grace are close.”
“As close as you can get when you never see each other. But Grace and I don’t need to see each other. We have something that connects us.”
“What connects you two?”
Marshall pointed to the bedroom door. “They didn’t tell you?”
“Your parents? No.”
“Grace was born with a rare type of leukemia. The only thing that would save her was a bone marrow transplant. My parents couldn’t find a matching donor.
So they had another child—me. I was a perfect match.
Grace likes to say that part of me is inside her, so we’ll always be connected.
And we each understand that neither of us would be around if the other didn’t exist. If I didn’t come around, Grace would have died.
And if Grace hadn’t gotten sick, I wouldn’t have been conceived. ”
“That’s an amazing story, Marshall.”
“They say they were always planning to have another child, regardless.” Marshall shrugged. “Grace and I talk about this invisible string that connects us. We always feel it, even now when she’s so far away.”
Marshall advanced his pawn. Sidney imagined the story of Grace’s younger brother saving her life would play strongly into her intention of changing the way America saw Grace Sebold.
“But you’ve still visited her, yes?” Sidney asked. “While she’s been in St. Lucia?”
“Whenever they decide to go. They claim they can’t afford to visit more than a few times a year.”
Sidney made another move. “It’s a long way, for sure. And expensive.”
“It’s their daughter,” Marshall said, moving another piece.
“Your mom told me a little about your accident.”
Marshall shrugged, keeping his focus on the board.
“Would you mind if I included your story in the documentary? Not just about the accident, but also about what you did for Grace to save her life?”
“Why?”
“Because it shows Grace in a different light than how she’s been portrayed for many years. I heard she decided to go into neurology so she could help people who had similar injuries as yours.”
“She changed to neurology because she felt guilty.”
“About the accident?” Sidney asked.
Marshall nodded. “It’s the same reason she bought me this chess set. Just another way to try to fix something that’s unfixable.”
“I’m sure everyone involved has regrets. Ellie Reiser, I’m sure,” Sidney said. “She was driving.”
Marshall remained silent as he continued to stare at the chessboard.
“I was hoping to ask you about Grace’s friends. You two are close in age. Did you hang out in the same circles?”
Marshall shrugged. “Before. Not so much after.”
“Before the accident?”
Marshall nodded.
“Can you talk about Grace’s friends?”
“Like who?”
“Ellie Reiser. Or Grace’s friendship with Daniel Greaves. They are the only two friends who have stayed in touch with Grace while she’s been in jail.”
Marshall let out a laugh. “I can tell you anything you want about those two.”
“Really? Anything? You know them that well?”
Marshall looked up at Sidney, finally taking his gaze off the chessboard.
“Ever since the accident, people assume that I’m unaware of what goes on around me.
That I don’t listen. Just because I don’t drool over their every word doesn’t mean I don’t hear their conversations.
I listened a lot while I was in St. Lucia. ”
“Listened to who?”
“Grace and her friends.”
“Can you tell me about any of it?”
“Sure,” Marshall said, pointing at the board. “It’s your move, though.”