Chapter 13
Claire could not speak at first.
Neither could Rachel.
Twenty-four years of survival apparently had no elegant opening line.
Finally Claire whispered, “Mom?”
Rachel broke.
The sound came through the speaker before any words.
Sofia started crying too, though she barely understood why. She reached for Claire’s hand and held it.
Rachel finally managed one sentence.
“I’m sorry.”
Claire shook her head even though Rachel could not see it.
“I thought you left me.”
“I know.”
“I thought you died.”
“I know.”
“Why didn’t you come?”
Rachel cried harder.
“Because every time I tried, someone sent me a picture of you.”
Claire stared at the phone.
“What?”
“Sleeping. School. Walking home. Later, working.”
The room went cold.
Not photographs from protectors.
Surveillance.
Lucia’s face changed.
Rachel continued.
“Each time there was a message. If I came back, you would disappear before I reached you.”
Claire slowly looked at Lucia.
Lucia said nothing.
Rachel’s voice steadied.
“I stayed alive because I believed staying away kept you alive.”
Claire wiped her face.
“It did.”
Lucia laughed quietly.
Everyone turned.
She looked almost bored.
“You’re welcome.”
I stood.
The room changed instantly.
Lucia looked at me.
“What? Claire survived.”
I crossed the distance between us slowly.
“You terrorized a mother for twenty-four years and think survival makes you merciful.”
“I kept the family stable.”
“No.”
I stopped in front of her.
“You made everyone around you frightened enough to call silence stability.”
Rachel heard my voice through the phone.
“Adrian?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t hurt her for me.”
Lucia smiled.
I looked toward the speaker.
“Why?”
Rachel took a breath.
“Because she still thinks pain is the only consequence she understands.”
I looked at my aunt again.
Rachel continued.
“Take away the thing she actually loves.”
Lucia’s smile disappeared.
I understood.
Not life.
Not comfort.
Control.
Rachel had spent twenty-four years thinking about this woman.
She knew her better than I did.
I returned to the phone.
“Come home.”
Silence.
Rachel whispered, “Bellini’s Cafe isn’t home.”
Claire finally spoke again.
“Then come meet me somewhere that can be.”
That sentence silenced everyone.
Claire was not begging for the mother she lost.
She was offering Rachel a place to start again.
Rachel cried.
May you like
Then said yes.
And Lucia lowered her eyes for the first time all night.
