Chapter 9: What She Said to Chloe
Three days later, Diana called her daughter.
Chloe was sitting at the kitchen table doing homework when her phone lit up.
She looked at her mother's name on the screen.
She looked at Marcus, who was making coffee across the kitchen.
He glanced over.
He didn't say anything.
He turned back to the coffee.
Chloe answered.
*"Hi, Mom."*
*"Sweetheart."* Diana's voice was warm in a way Chloe recognized — the warmth that appeared specifically when Diana wanted something.
*"How are you?
Are you okay over there?"*
*"I'm fine."*
*"I've been so worried about you.
I miss you.
I want you to know that none of this is your fault.
You were put in a very difficult position and you reacted the way any child would."*
Chloe held the phone and looked at her homework.
A worksheet about the American Revolution.
*"Okay,"* she said.
*"I've been speaking with my lawyer.
And I want you to know — whatever your stepfather may have told you about what happens next — you have the right to come home to me.
You're my daughter.
No one can force you to stay in that house."*
*"I know."*
*"So I'd like you to come.
I've arranged a lovely place for us to stay—"*
*"Mom."*
*"—and we can talk properly, just the two of us—"*
*"Mom."* Chloe's voice was quiet but it stopped the flow.
*"What you did to Amara.
I need you to just — say something real about it.
Not about lawyers.
Not about me coming home.
Just say something real."*
A pause.
*"I did what I had to do,"* Diana said.
*"You will understand when you're older that parenting a child who isn't biologically yours is—"*
*"She was seven,"* Chloe said.
*"She was hungry and she was scared and she was seven years old."*
*"Chloe—"*
*"I have to go finish my homework."*
*"Chloe, don't hang up, I need you to listen—"*
*"Goodbye, Mom."*
She put the phone face-down on the table.
Marcus set a glass of orange juice beside her homework without comment.
He went back to the counter.
Chloe picked up her pencil.
She stared at the worksheet.
Then she said, to the kitchen in general, *"She said she did what she had to do."*
*"I heard,"* Marcus said.
*"Does she actually believe that?"*
He was quiet for a moment.
*"I think some people decide what they believe after the fact.
Based on what they need to be true."*
Chloe thought about that.
*"That's a scary way to be."*
*"Yes,"* he said.
*"It is."*
She finished her homework.
He made dinner.
They ate at the small table in the kitchen because the dining room still felt wrong, and neither of them said it out loud but neither of them suggested moving.
Amara ate everything on her plate.
She asked for more.
Marcus served her more without making it into a moment, without commenting on it, without looking at Renee — who was still staying with them, sleeping in the guest room, working remotely — with any significant expression.
But Renee caught his eye across the table anyway.
She gave him a small nod.
Later, when Amara was asleep, Chloe knocked on the doorframe of the living room where Marcus was reading over documents Patricia had sent.
*"Can I ask you something?"*
*"Of course."*
She came in and sat on the edge of the armchair across from him.
*"What happens to me?
Like — legally.
If you and my mom get divorced.
I know my dad is in Germany.
I know there's a custody thing.
But what actually happens to me?"*
He set the papers down.
*"Patricia and I talked about that.
Your dad has been contacted.
He's flying in next week."*
Her eyebrows rose.
*"You called him?"*
*"Patricia did.
With my full support."* He paused.
*"He wants to see you.
He's been wanting to see you.
Your mother—"* He stopped, chose carefully.
*"The arrangement you were living under didn't reflect what he actually agreed to."*
Chloe absorbed that.
*"So I might go to Germany?"*
*"That's going to be up to you and your dad to figure out together.
You're twelve.
Your voice matters in that conversation."* He looked at her directly.
*"Whatever happens — you're not going to be dropped or forgotten or handed off without anyone asking you what you want.
I promise you that."*
She nodded slowly.
She looked like she was processing something large.
*"You don't have to promise me things,"* she said.
*"You're not my dad."*
*"No,"* he agreed.
*"But you did the right thing in this house when it was very hard.
You don't have to be anybody's daughter to deserve someone treating you decently because of that."*
She looked at him for a moment.
Then she stood up and went to bed.
May you like
She left the door to her room open.
She hadn't done that since the first night Diana had left.
