Three Breakdowns A Year Was All I Was Allowed novel · Chapter 11 of 24
Chapter 11: Luther's POV
Luther's POV
Pia stood on Shanna's porch holding out a cheque, and I stood in the doorway and did not let her past me.
"I'm not here to fight," she said. "It's a gift. Fifty thousand dollars, from the practice, for Emmy's recovery."
"Recovery from what?"
"From a hard year." Her smile was kind and a little tired. "She won't have to work. She won't have to see Christian. She only has to agree not to speak about the book before the launch."
Emmy had come up behind me.
I could feel her there without turning, and I felt her stop next to my arm.
She looked at the cheque for a long moment.
"There's a line at the bottom," she said. "In the memo."
"Just the usual."
"It says 'Consulting, Case Study 3.'"
Pia's smile did not change.
"Accounting wanted something to put down," she said.
"You're paying me as a consultant for my own miscarriage."
"Em, that's not what it means."
"Then it means I signed something," Emmy said. "Take it away."
Pia held the envelope a little longer.
Then she tucked it into her bag, kindly, and said, "Whenever you're ready, my door is open," and walked down the steps in her good shoes.
I watched her taillights go.
I had been handed a cheque once.
It was the day after the funeral, from a county office, for the cost of the ambulance.
Three weeks of casseroles and cards had followed, and every person who brought one said the same thing.
You must be so strong.
You'll be okay.
Take all the time you need, but not too much.
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