Claire and Nicholas After Divorce novel · Chapter 22 of 24

Chapter 22: Half

Claire's POV

I read the sign twice before I could speak.

AMES & DAUGHTER, in new gold paint, on the window of the shop my mother had lost.

"You sold the house," I said.

"My half."

"That was your father's money in the walls."

"It was a house. It was never the thing." Nicholas held out a long envelope. "Read this, and then tell me to go to hell."

I took it.

My hands were not steady.

I read the deed first, and my own born name on the line.

Then I read his letter, in his square architect's handwriting, standing on the pavement with Audrey pretending to inspect a lamp post.

I looked up.

"You can't give me this."

"I know."

"You can't use your house money to say sorry."

"It isn't sorry."

"Then what is it?"

"It's a door," he said. "You can walk through it, or you can nail it shut."

I could have cried, and I could have hit him.

I did neither.

I walked into the shop instead.

Judith sat on a folding chair by the table, and she lifted a hand to me without a word.

The room smelled of old thread and wet paint.

At the back by the window stood the black sewing machine on its iron stand, and I stopped.

"Audrey."

"Don't look at me."

"You took it out of storage."

"I took it out for a reason."

I put my hand on the gold decal.

My mother's hands had worn it away.

I stood there for a long time, and nobody spoke.

Then I turned around.

"I refuse," I said.

Nicholas's face went still.

"The deed?"

"All of it. The gift."

"All right." He nodded, though I saw what it cost him. "I understand. I'll sell it back..."

"Let me finish."

I walked to him and took the envelope.

"I won't be given a building by a man who owes me. That's what my father does. He gave my mother a company, and then he took her out of it." I held up the deed. "But I'll buy half."

He blinked.

"What?"

"I'll pay you half of what you paid. With money I earned." I lifted my chin. "I'm a copy editor, Professor. It's a hobby, I'm told, but they pay by the page."

His breath left him in a startled laugh.

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