Chapter 7 — Mireille Tells Garrick What She Wants
Garrick sat beside Mireille.
Not too close.
He looked toward Therese first.
“Can I ask her something?”
Therese nodded.
“As long as she knows she does not have to answer.”
Garrick looked toward Mireille.
“Do you want to come back to Bellgrave?”
Mireille looked at her suitcase.
Then at him.
“Yes.”
Garrick’s eyes filled.
“When?”
Therese immediately said:
“One question at a time.”
Garrick nodded.
“Sorry.”
Mireille thought.
“Maybe next weekend.”
Therese looked toward her.
“We already have plans Saturday.”
Mireille frowned.
“Other weekend?”
“Maybe.”
Garrick caught himself before saying anything.
That restraint mattered.
Mireille continued.
“I like my room here.”
“I like garden.”
“And big bath.”
Garrick almost laughed.
“The bath is impressive.”
Mireille smiled.
Then her face became serious.
“I don’t like when you say Mommy taking me.”
Garrick listened.
“Because Mommy not stealing.”
Therese’s eyes filled.
Garrick looked devastated.
He had never used the word stealing.
But he had repeatedly said:
“Your mother keeps taking you away just when I’m getting used to having you here.”
To him, affectionate exaggeration.
To Mireille, accusation.
“Mommy isn’t stealing you,” Garrick said.
“I know.”
“I need to stop talking like that.”
Mireille nodded.
“Yes.”
Therese hid a small smile.
Garrick looked toward the suitcase.
“May I carry that to the car for you?”
Mireille immediately pulled it closer.
Garrick’s face fell.
Then Mireille thought.
“You can carry if you give back.”
Garrick nodded.
“I promise.”
She released the handle.
This time he lifted it because she allowed him.
Not to stop her.
To help her leave.
They walked toward the front door.
Before stepping outside, Garrick turned toward Therese.
“Where exactly are you going?”
Therese studied him.
There was no demand in the question now.
“Our apartment.”
“Then tomorrow we’re driving to the coast.”
Mireille brightened.
“Beach!”
Garrick smiled.
“How long?”
Therese answered:
“Four days.”
He nodded.
No objection.
Then:
“Would you message when you arrive?”
Therese considered.
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
Garrick carried the suitcase to the car.
Placed it in the trunk.
Then stepped away.
He hugged Mireille only after asking.
“Can I?”
She nodded.
He held her.
“Have fun at the beach.”
“Okay.”
Then she whispered:
“I come back.”
Garrick closed his eyes.
“Whenever Mommy says it’s a good time.”
Mireille smiled.
Therese noticed.
The letter had done what Lucien hoped.
Not won an argument.
Interrupted a pattern.
But after Therese and Mireille left, Garrick returned to the entrance hall and read the letter again.
This time he noticed that Lucien had written another name in the margin.
ASK MOTHER ABOUT THE BLUE SUITCASE.
Garrick’s mother had been dead for twelve years.
But the blue suitcase still existed.
And when Garrick found it, he discovered the same family pattern had begun one generation before him.