Chapter 6 - CLARA GOES TO SEE HER SISTER
Vanessa was held pending trial because prosecutors considered her a flight risk.
Clara did not visit for two months.
Then she did.
Vanessa entered the visitation room wearing county-issued clothing.
No makeup.
No designer coat.
She looked smaller.
They sat across glass.
Vanessa picked up the phone.
“Why are you here?”
“I wanted to see if you'd lie to my face.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“About Thomas?”
“Yes.”
Silence.
Clara waited.
Vanessa began crying.
“I didn't know he would die.”
“You knew his truck wasn't safe.”
“I knew the records were fake.”
“That's not what I asked.”
Vanessa looked at her.
“Yes.”
There it was.
No lawyer.
No qualifying language.
“Yes.”
Clara's throat tightened.
“Why didn't you call me?”
“Because Derek said Thomas was bluffing.”
“Why didn't you call him?”
“I was scared.”
“Of what?”
“Losing everything.”
Clara laughed bitterly.
“You did.”
Vanessa cried harder.
“I know.”
“What was worth more than Thomas?”
“Nothing.”
“That's not true.”
At the time, something had been.
Money.
Marriage.
Lifestyle.
Status.
The belief she could contain wrongdoing without becoming responsible for its consequences.
Clara leaned closer.
“Twelve years ago, why did you stop speaking to me?”
Vanessa stared.
“You stopped speaking to me.”
“No.”
Clara shook her head.
“You sold Mom's house without telling me.”
“It was costing money.”
“It was half mine.”
“I sent you your share.”
“After.”
Vanessa wiped her face.
“You always made me feel greedy.”
“You were greedy.”
“I know.”
Clara had not expected that.
Vanessa continued:
“And you always made being good look easy.”
Clara almost laughed.
“It wasn't.”
“I know that now.”
She looked down.
“When Thomas died, I wanted to call you every day.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Because I knew.”
Silence.
Vanessa had stayed away because every conversation with Clara risked exposing what she had done.
Not hatred.
Cowardice.
Again.
Clara's family had lost twelve years to cowardice.
She whispered:
“I don't forgive you.”
Vanessa nodded.
“I know.”
“I don't know if I ever will.”
“I know.”
“But I'm glad you told the truth.”
Vanessa cried.
That was all Clara could give.
For now.
Outside, Gabriel waited in the parking lot.
Not at her request.
He had driven because her leg? no, Clara's fine. Because the prison was two hours away and he knew she might not want to drive home alone.
He did not ask what Vanessa said.
Clara got into the car.
“Drive.”
He drove.
Twenty miles later she said:
“She knew.”
Gabriel's hands tightened on the wheel.
“Yes.”
“Don't say anything.”
“Okay.”
Another ten miles.
“She says she was afraid of losing everything.”
Gabriel stayed quiet.
Then Clara started crying.
He pulled over.
She did not want comforting words.
He seemed to know.
So he simply sat.
Eventually she leaned against his shoulder.
Gabriel went completely still.
Then relaxed.
Months earlier Vanessa had looked at his injured body and decided he was too damaged to keep.
Now Clara was using that same shoulder as somewhere safe to cry.
He understood the difference.
One was ownership.
The other was trust.
May you like
He said nothing.
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