Chapter 9 — Victoria Visits Claire’s House
Three weeks passed before Victoria asked to see Emma.
Claire did not agree immediately.
She asked Emma.
“Grandma Victoria wants to apologize to you again.”
Emma frowned.
“At our house?”
“Only if you want.”
Emma thought about it.
Then nodded.
Victoria arrived carrying no gifts.
No flowers.
No expensive toy.
Claire appreciated that.
An apology was not something to purchase.
Emma sat beside her mother.
Victoria sat across from them.
For several seconds, she seemed unsure how to begin.
Then:
“Emma, I was wrong.”
Emma looked at her.
Victoria continued.
“I saw the flowers broken.”
“I saw you nearby.”
“And I decided those two things told me what happened.”
“They didn’t.”
Emma nodded slightly.
Victoria’s voice became quieter.
“You told me you didn’t do it.”
“I did not listen.”
Then:
“I poured that bucket over you because I was angry.”
“That was cruel.”
Claire watched carefully.
No excuses.
No mention of Caroline.
No:
I was emotional because the memorial meant so much.
Victoria had already explained that to herself enough.
Emma finally asked:
“Why didn’t you ask me?”
Victoria looked toward her.
“Because I thought I already knew.”
Emma frowned.
“But you didn’t.”
Victoria nodded.
“No.”
Then Emma asked:
“Did Oliver get in trouble?”
Victoria looked surprised.
“He had consequences for pulling the tablecloth.”
“But he wasn’t punished for telling the truth.”
Emma nodded.
That seemed important to her.
Victoria added:
“And I’m working on not making people afraid to tell me when something goes wrong.”
Claire looked toward her.
That was the larger work.
Not rebuilding a flower display.
Changing what happened before people felt they needed someone else to blame.