Chapter 20 - Bianca Returns
Six years after cemetery, Bianca returned to Virginia for her father’s parole-related? Too soon for parole on 21 years. No. She returned because her mother died? We haven't introduced mother. Let's not. She returned for sale of remaining Thorne estate holdings.
She requested through Naomi to meet me.
I almost said no.
Then curiosity won.
Public café.
Naomi nearby.
Dante not present.
Bianca looked different.
Simpler clothing.
No cream coat.
She sat.
“Thank you.”
“You have ten minutes.”
She nodded.
“I sold the bracelet photograph.”
“What?”
“The original from Dad’s files.”
“To whom?”
“No. I mean I sold most of his memorabilia. I kept the photograph of Eleanor and Isabella.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
I stared.
She continued:
“I wanted to give it to you.”
“You already gave copy.”
“This is original.”
I looked.
Same photograph.
Two women.
Bracelets.
Bianca said:
“I don’t want it.”
“Then give to Dante.”
“I thought it belonged to you.”
Why?
Because Eleanor’s side had less archives.
I accepted.
Not as reconciliation.
History.
Then she said:
“I’m sorry.”
“You wrote that.”
“I know.”
“Anything else?”
“I used you because I thought people below me were safer to hurt.”
That sentence was brutal.
Accurate.
“I knew Preston didn’t love me the way I wanted. I could not punish him without losing face. I punished you.”
I nodded.
“Correct.”
Her eyes filled.
“You really won’t make this easier.”
“No.”
“Fair.”
Then:
“Do you forgive me?”
I thought.
“I don’t know.”
She nodded.
“I can live with that.”
That was growth.
Before leaving, she asked:
“How’s your daughter?”
“Good.”
“Name?”
“Nora.”
She smiled faintly.
“I won’t ask for a picture.”
“Good.”
She left.
We never became friends.
Never needed to.
May you like
Later I realized I no longer felt fear when I saw cream coat in a store window.
That was enough.
