Chapter 7: The Last Thing She Said
Miah's father came in from the kitchen.
He looked at Miah, then at the suitcases, then back at Miah.
"Go put your bag down," he said quietly.
"I'll make us something to eat in a bit."
Miah didn't move right away.
She was looking at the suitcases — the monogrammed clasps, the neat luggage tags, the careful way they'd been packed and aligned, as if Renee had been planning this longer than one night.
"Miah." Her father's voice was gentle.
"It's okay.
Go on."
She went upstairs.
But she didn't close her door.
Below, she heard Renee end her phone call.
The click of heels.
Her father's voice, steady and low.
"The car will be here in twenty minutes."
"I know," Renee said.
"I've transferred the account back.
You'll have access by tomorrow morning."
"That's very efficient of you."
A pause.
"Renee—"
"Don't." Her voice was flat.
Not angry.
Something past angry.
"Don't do the kind thing now, Daniel.
It doesn't suit the moment."
Silence.
"I tried," she said.
"I want you to know that.
Whatever you think of me, I tried to make this work."
"I know you did," her father said.
"She reminded me of her every single day.
The way she looks.
The way she talks.
I couldn't—" Renee stopped.
Started again.
"I know that's not her fault.
I know that."
"Then why didn't you—"
"Because knowing something and feeling it are not the same thing." Her voice cracked once, then steadied.
"I'm not a monster, Daniel.
I just wasn't the right person for this."
Miah sat on the top step, very still.
"You should have told me that," her father said.
"Before it got to this."
"Would you have listened?"
He didn't answer.
The doorbell rang.
A driver.
Her father opened the door, exchanged a few quiet words.
The sound of wheels on the front path — the suitcases being taken out.
Renee's heels crossed the hallway.
She stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
Miah looked down through the railing.
Renee looked up.
For a long moment, neither of them moved.
"I'm sorry," Renee said.
Her voice was quiet.
Not soft — Renee's voice was never soft — but quiet.
"I treated you badly.
You didn't deserve that."
Miah didn't say anything.
Renee nodded once, as if she hadn't expected a response.
She picked up her handbag from the hall table.
At the door, she paused with her back still turned.
"She would have been proud of you," she said.
"Your mother.
She would have been very proud."
Then she walked out.
The door clicked shut behind her.
Miah sat on the top step for a long time after that.
Her father came and sat beside her without being asked.
He didn't say anything.
May you like
He just put his arm around her, and she leaned into his side, and the house was quiet in a way it hadn't been in a very long time.
Outside, the car pulled away.
