Chapter 4 — Mireille Had Been Afraid to Pack
Therese crouched beside Mireille.
“Do you want to tell Grandpa what happened this morning?”
Mireille looked toward Garrick.
Then down.
“You don’t have to.”
Therese stroked her back.
“Only if you want.”
Mireille thought for a moment.
Then whispered:
“I packed when Grandpa was outside.”
Garrick frowned.
“Why?”
Mireille shrugged.
“Because you get mad when bags come.”
Garrick’s expression changed.
Therese looked toward him.
“This isn’t the first time.”
He stared.
Therese continued.
Two months earlier, Mireille packed an overnight bag to stay with Therese’s sister.
Garrick saw it near the door.
He joked:
“Every time you pack that little bag, you try to escape Bellgrave.”
He considered it teasing.
Mireille did not.
Another time, Therese planned to take Mireille back to their apartment after a weekend visit.
Garrick said:
“Why go back to that tiny place when your real home is here?”
Mireille heard that too.
She began asking Therese:
“Is our apartment fake home?”
Garrick looked ashamed.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
Therese nodded.
“I know.”
“But meaning isn’t the only thing that matters.”
Mireille looked toward him.
“I thought if suitcase out, you make me stay.”
Garrick’s face fell.
He slowly sat on the bench opposite her.
“Mireille.”
She tightened her hands around the handle.
Garrick noticed.
He did not reach for it again.
“I shouldn’t have taken your suitcase.”
Mireille listened.
“I was angry with Mommy.”
“And I grabbed something that belonged to you because I thought it would stop both of you from leaving.”
He looked toward Therese.
“That was wrong.”
Therese said nothing.
She wanted the apology directed toward Mireille.
Garrick understood.
He looked back at his granddaughter.
“You are allowed to pack your own bag.”
“You are allowed to go home with your mother.”
“And liking your apartment does not mean you love me less.”
Mireille’s grip relaxed slightly.
“Can I come back?”
Garrick’s eyes filled.
“If Mommy says yes.”
Therese noticed the wording.
Not:
Of course, whenever you want.
Not:
This will always be your real home.
He had corrected himself.
Then Garrick looked toward Lucien’s letter again.
“Why did he tell you to keep this sealed?”
Therese’s expression changed.
“Because he hoped I would never need it.”
“There was a condition?”
“Yes.”
Garrick looked toward her.
Therese had promised Lucien she would give the letter to Garrick only if one specific thing happened.
And that morning Garrick had finally done exactly what his son feared.