The Daughter They Erased Came Back Untouchable novel · Chapter 9 of 24
Chapter 9: What It Costs
I did not forgive my brother in the kitchen.
I want to be honest about that.
"Four years," I said.
Gaetano nodded.
"I counted the steps of our staircase every night in a dormitory in Switzerland. Twenty-two. I thought the extra one was mine."
"Nerina."
"Do you know what I thought when nobody wrote? I thought all of you knew I was innocent and didn't care."
"I cared."
"You were seventeen and tall enough to open a door."
He flinched.
"Say you're sorry," I said, "and I will still go to bed angry. It doesn't cost you anything."
"Then tell me what costs."
I looked at him for a long time.
His eyes were swollen, and he did not look away.
"On Friday a judge asks if I'm fit to hold my grandmother's shares," I said. "Papa's lawyer will say I hurt a child."
"And I'm supposed to do what?"
"Tell the judge what you heard through that door. Under oath. With your name on it."
The color left his face.
"That's Papa," he whispered. "That's accusing Papa, in a court."
"Yes."
"He'll cut me off. He will take everything."
"Yes."
He closed his eyes.
"I will think about it," he said.
"No," I said. "You've had four years to think. Tomorrow morning at seven, the notary's office. Or don't come, and I'll know."
He didn't answer.
He got up and walked out of the kitchen with his hand on the wall.
At ten to seven the next morning I stood on the pavement outside the notary's office on the Via Garibaldi, with Hanna on my left and the housekeeper on my right.
The housekeeper had her coat buttoned wrong, and she kept touching the bag with the yellow sign inside.
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