Chương 8
From upstairs came the sound of a door closing.
Claire sighed.
“I should go deal with Emma.”
Alexander nodded.
She took two steps, then stopped.
“Would you read the email?”
He looked at her.
“Mercer’s?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t trust my own reaction to it.”
Alexander considered saying no.
He should have said no.
This was no longer four children hiding under a café table.
This was her employment, her evidence, her judgment, and a man who had already tried to turn personal access into professional leverage.
Claire unlocked her phone.
“I’m not asking you to fix it.”
Alexander took the phone.
“I know.”
The message was longer than Claire had implied.
Mercer’s tone was calm, almost wounded.
He wrote that the café incident had embarrassed everyone, that outside interference had distorted a private disagreement, and that Claire could still prevent unnecessary consequences.
Then came the sentence Alexander read twice.
If you clarify to Daniel that our relationship was mutual and that no unwanted contact occurred, I am prepared to recommend immediately that my partners resume negotiations.
Alexander handed the phone back.
Claire searched his face.
“Well?”
“He put the condition in writing.”
“That’s bad?”
“For him?”
Alexander looked at her.
“Yes.”
For the first time that morning, Claire’s fear shifted.
It did not disappear.
It became focused.
And from the staircase behind them, Emma said quietly, “I told you it mattered.”
Emma stood three steps above the kitchen floor, one hand wrapped around the banister and the other pressed flat against the front of her sweatshirt.
Claire stared at her.
“How much of that did you hear?”
Emma shrugged.
“Enough.”
“That is not an answer.”
“You were talking in the kitchen.”
“You were upstairs.”
“I came down for my charger.”
Claire looked toward the living room, where the younger girls were still absorbed in the television.
Then she lowered her voice.
“Emma, you cannot keep listening to adult conversations.”
Emma’s face tightened.
“You cannot keep having adult conversations about whether we can still live here and expect me not to care.”
Claire went pale.
Alexander looked at Emma.
“Who said anything about the house?”
Emma looked immediately guilty.
Claire’s expression changed.
“Emma.”
The girl stared at the floor.
“I heard Mr. Daniels say that if you lost your job, everything would get complicated.”
“That is not the same thing.”
“You said the mortgage comes out of your salary.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“Wonderful.”
Emma’s voice rose.
“I’m not stupid.”
“I did not say you were.”
“You act like I’m supposed to just go upstairs and watch TV while some creepy man ruins your job.”
“Lower your voice.”
“Why?”
“Because your sisters do not need to hear this.”
Emma glanced toward the living room.
Her anger faltered.
That was enough for Claire to step closer.
“You are allowed to be scared,” Claire said.
“You are not responsible for fixing this.”
Emma swallowed.
“Neither are you, apparently.”
The words hit hard.
Claire’s face went blank.
Emma looked as if she wanted them back the instant they were out.
Alexander set the dish towel down.
“Emma.”
She looked at him.
“That was below the line.”
Her eyes flashed.
“You don’t get to tell me what the line is.”
“No.”
Alexander kept his voice even.
“But I can recognize one.”
Emma folded her arms.
“You barely know us.”
“That is also true.”
Claire touched her forehead.
“Can everybody stop being correct for thirty seconds?”
Nobody answered.
From the living room, Lily shouted, “Are we in trouble?”
Claire called back, “No.”
Sophie immediately shouted, “Is Emma in trouble?”
Emma yelled, “Mind your business.”
Sophie replied, “That means yes.”
Claire inhaled slowly through her nose.
Alexander almost smiled.
She saw it.
“Not one word.”
“I said nothing.”
“Your face is still a problem.”
Emma’s mouth twitched despite herself.
The tension did not disappear, but it shifted enough for everyone to breathe again.
Claire looked at her daughter.
“Go sit with your sisters for a minute.”
Emma hesitated.
“I’m not trying to hide things from you.”
“Yes, you are.”
Claire accepted that without flinching.
“Sometimes.”
Emma looked surprised.
Claire continued.
“Sometimes I am hiding things because I am trying to protect you.”
“That is still hiding.”
“Yes.”
“Then don’t tell me it isn’t.”
Claire nodded.
“Fine.”
Emma watched her.
“I can handle stuff.”
“I know.”
“You don’t act like it.”
Claire’s mouth tightened.
“I am still your mother.”
“I know.”
“And being able to handle something does not mean you should have to.”
Emma looked away.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Emma said, “Are we going to lose the house?”
Claire answered immediately.
“No.”
Alexander watched her.
Emma did too.
Claire corrected herself.
“I do not expect that to happen.”
“That is different.”
“Yes.”
“Do you have enough money?”
Claire rubbed her lips together.
“We are not discussing our bank account.”
“That means no.”
“That means I am still the adult.”
Emma’s frustration returned.
Alexander stepped in before the argument rebuilt itself.
“Emma.”
She looked at him reluctantly.
“Your mother does not know exactly what happens next.”
Claire glanced at him, but he continued.
“She can either pretend she does or tell you the truth.”
Emma looked back at Claire.
Claire let out a quiet breath.
“The truth is I have savings.”
“How much?”
“Nice try.”
Emma almost smiled.
Claire continued.
“If I lost my job tomorrow, we would not lose the house tomorrow.”
“What about next month?”
“We would make decisions.”
“What decisions?”
“Emma.”
“Okay.”
She rubbed one thumb against the banister.
“Can you at least tell me before something really bad happens?”
Claire’s face softened.
“Yes.”
“Not after.”
“Yes.”
Emma looked at Alexander.
“Can you make her?”
“No.”
“Useless.”
“Frequently.”
Emma finally came down the remaining steps.
Claire opened one arm.
Emma hesitated long enough to make it clear the hug was not automatic.
Then she stepped into it.
May you like
Claire held her tightly.
Emma kept her arms at her sides for a second before wrapping them around her mother.
