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Sure, you didn’t. My mouth pulls slightly to one side, lips pursed. While Maman stares in my direction, Yannick gives me a conspiratorial smirk.
Time to get all the drama out of the way. “I need to pack up Uncle François’ belongings to take to the rehab center. Mostly clothes, I think.”
“You can take a few things tomorrow and the rest will remain here until François returns.” Maman thinks she has everything planned out.
“Yannick will take his stuff. I’m leaving tomorrow morning.”
“What? You were supposed to stay until at least Friday.”
“I need to get back to Chicago. Things are sorted for uncle. And he won’t be coming back.”
“He’ll survive this experience and here is the only place he has to come back to.”
I look her squarely in the eye. “He’s going back to Montreal. Social services is working to find him a place once he leaves the facility.”
“Is this your idea?” she shouts, which brings on a coughing fit.
“No.” It’s not really a lie, but it is stretching the truth a little. “He wants to go back.”
“Once you move here, we’ll be a proper family.”
“I’m not moving back. How many times must I remind you that my business is in Chicago?” I give her another look. “And Micki is there.”
A howl tears out of her. “I don’t want you to marry Micki. You need to marry Angélique.”
“Even if I can’t marry Micki, I won’t marry Angélique. She’s a liar and a cheat. She knows I have money now. The whole idea is repugnant.”
“Her boys are…”
“Nothing to us. And she stole your ring.”
Furrows line her brow. “Borrowed it.”
Alternate crying and coughing doesn’t help. “She’s everything I want in a daughter-in-law—she is Catholic, French Canadian, has wonderful sons, and she’ll be around to take care of me.”
“It’s the boys you’re attached to. The rest is immaterial, and she’s just looking for her next comfortable nest. I like the boys, but not enough to marry that gold digger.”
Mouth drawn into a stubborn line, she spits back at me, “JL, I know what’s best. And that’s Angélique. Please think it over.”
“If you love her that much, you marry her. She already has the engagement ring.” I throw my napkin into my half-eaten bowl of stew. “Yannick, can I stay with you tonight?”
“Sure, as long as you don’t mind the couch.”
Maman sniffs and walks out of the dining room. Pots and pans bang in the kitchen sink.
Fifteen minutes later, we’re out the door with my duffel and Uncle François’ case. The last thing I see is Maman standing in the kitchen doorway, eyes red, arms folded. I don’t walk down to her, and she doesn’t come to the door.
There are no goodbyes.
ChapterTwenty-One
Take all the time you need to heal emotionally. Moving on doesn’t take a day, it takes lots of little steps to be able to break free of your broken self. —Tere Arigo
Micki
Max and Cresslet no grass grow under their feet. Two hours back from London and they’ve turned up at the condo. A crisp knock at the door has Liam looking out of the peephole. He unlocks the lock and unchains the chain.
“Didn’t expect to see you here,” Liam says, opening the door wide. Cress runs over and hugs me. I must look really sad because she’s not a hugger.
