Chapter 5 - Caroline’s Explanation
Caroline finally asked to see Ellie four days after the fire.
They met at Rebecca’s house.
No hugs.
Rebecca remained in the next room.
Caroline sat on the edge of the sofa.
Without the immaculate villa behind her, she looked smaller.
Ellie placed the old photograph on the coffee table.
“There used to be four.”
Caroline looked at it.
“Yes.”
“Where’s mine?”
“I don’t know.”
Ellie stood.
“I’m done.”
“Wait.”
Ellie stopped.
Caroline stared at the photograph.
“There was a mask for you.”
“When did it disappear?”
“I think during the renovation.”
“You packed the bag.”
“Sometimes.”
“Dad said you reorganized it.”
Caroline’s mouth tightened.
“Your father says many things when he’s scared.”
“Did you take it out?”
“No.”
Ellie watched her.
Caroline was not lying.
At least not about that.
“Then why did you say you could only choose one?”
Caroline closed her eyes.
“I don’t know.”
“You looked at me.”
“I remember.”
“You weren’t confused.”
“I was terrified.”
“So was I.”
“I know.”
“No. You were outside.”
Caroline flinched.
Ellie sat across from her.
“Why Noah?”
The answer came too quickly.
“His lungs.”
“He hasn’t had an asthma attack in fourteen months.”
“He could.”
“So could I.”
Caroline pressed her hands together.
“When he was three, he stopped breathing in my arms.”
Ellie had heard the story hundreds of times.
“The paramedics had to—”
“I know.”
“I thought my baby was dying.”
“I was your baby too.”
Caroline’s face crumpled.
Ellie did not look away.
“I was five.”
“I know.”
“Who was holding me?”
Caroline stared at her.
She genuinely did not remember.
That told Ellie more than any apology could.
“Aunt Rebecca,” Ellie said.
Caroline began crying.
“I’m sorry.”
“For the fire?”
“For more than that.”
Ellie waited.
Caroline wiped her face.
“After Noah got sick, I started thinking about everything in terms of what could happen to him.”
“And Dad?”
“He adapted.”
“That’s a nice word.”
Caroline accepted the rebuke.
“I told myself you were stronger.”
“You made me stronger because nobody came when I needed you.”
Caroline covered her mouth.
Then Ellie asked, “Did Dad know there were only three masks?”
Caroline lowered her hand.
“I don’t know.”
“Think.”
A long silence.
“Mark checked the bag after the contractor moved the upstairs safety equipment.”
“When?”
“Three weeks before the fire.”
Ellie’s stomach dropped.
“Did he say anything?”
Caroline looked toward Rebecca’s kitchen.
May you like
“He said he’d handle it.”
That changed everything.
