The Daughter They Sacrificed Chose a New Life novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: Peace Offering

Chloe lifted a worn wooden box out of her suitcase and held it against her chest.

It was Gran's paint box.

I knew the scratched brass latch before I could see the lid.

"I brought it," Chloe said. Her chin was already shaking. "I couldn't sleep knowing I had it. It never belonged to me."

Flynn had stopped working. He stood at the plotter with a roll of paper in his arms, watching her.

"How did you get here?" I asked.

"I took a flight with the money from my birthday. Mom thinks I'm at a friend's house." Tears slid down her face. "Saskia, I was awful. I let them do that to you at the party, and I kept the box because I was jealous of you. You had one thing that was yours, and I wanted it."

She put the box in my hands.

It was lighter than I remembered.

I stood there with my grandmother's brass latch under my thumb and could not find a word.

"Please forgive me," Chloe whispered. "I don't have anyone but you."

I hugged her.

I didn't decide to. My arms just went around her, because for nine years that was the thing I did when she cried.

Over her shoulder, Flynn's face did not change, but he set the paper down without a sound.

My professor had a rule about guests. She invited Chloe to dinner within an hour.

By the end of the meal, Chloe had told her how proud she was of me, and asked about the school, and complimented the pasta, and been sent away from the dishes twice.

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