“I know.”
“Rachel died thinking Clare ignored her.”
Evelyn flinched.
“She didn’t.”
“Rachel didn’t know that.”
Evelyn’s voice broke.
“I wrote to Rachel once.”
Luke froze.
“What?”
“I never sent it.”
“Why?”
“Cowardice.”
At least she named it.
Luke said:
“She came to your headquarters.”
“I know.”
“You knew?”
“Security called me.”
Luke stared.
“She was downstairs?”
“Yes.”
“And you did nothing?”
“I watched her on a camera.”
The room became silent.
“She was thin.”
“Very sick.”
“She sat in the lobby for forty minutes.”
Evelyn began crying.
“I almost went down.”
Luke’s voice went quiet.
“Almost is doing a lot of work.”
Evelyn nodded.
“I know.”
He hated that everyone suddenly knew.
She continued.
“I was afraid Clare would never forgive me.”
Luke laughed bitterly.
“So you made sure Rachel never got the chance to forgive anyone either.”
Evelyn covered her face.
Luke immediately regretted the cruelty.
Not because it was false.
Because Rachel would have hated him using her death as a weapon.
He sat.
“I’m sorry.”
Evelyn looked up.
“You shouldn’t be.”
“I still am.”
They remained quiet.
Then Evelyn said:
“I love Clare.”
“I believe you.”
That surprised her.
Luke continued.
“I don’t think love is the disputed fact.”
Evelyn stared.
“The problem is what you did because you were afraid to lose it.”
Tears fell.
“Yes.”
“Why are you here?”
Evelyn looked toward Rachel’s photograph.
“To ask you to tell Clare I am sorry.”
“No.”
She blinked.
Luke continued.
“You tell her.”
“She won’t see me.”
“Then wait.”
“I’m seventy-one.”
“Margaret waited thirty-four years.”
That ended the complaint.
Evelyn stood.
At the door, she looked back.
“Was Rachel happy?”
Luke’s expression softened despite himself.
“Yes.”
“Even when she was sick?”
“No.”
Evelyn looked surprised.
Luke continued.
“She was scared.”
“Angry.”
“In pain.”
“Sometimes unbearable.”
He smiled.
“And loved.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Thank you.”
She left.
Two weeks passed.
Clare eventually returned.
Not to the garage.
To Luke’s house.
Mia opened the door.
“Aunt Clare!”
The title came naturally now.
Clare froze every time.
Then smiled.
“Hi.”
She carried three bags.
Luke looked at them.
“What is that?”
“Dinner.”
“You bought an entire restaurant?”
“Possibly.”