Chapter 2 - The Keys in Her Father's Hand
"James, you've completely lost your mind!"
Celeste hurried toward the fireplace.
Mia was sobbing.
"My bag! My beautiful bag!"
James checked that both women stayed away from the flames. He used the fireplace tools to contain the burning material, then secured the protective screen.
He knew he'd just done something reckless.
But when he turned around, his daughter was still standing with tears running down her face.
And neither Celeste nor Mia had asked whether she was okay.
"Inside," James said.
Celeste followed him through the door.
Simone remained on the porch while her father spoke to his wife.
"You need to pack a bag and stay somewhere else tonight."
Celeste stared at him.
"You're throwing me out over a dress?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"I'm telling you to leave because you stood there while your daughter deliberately humiliated mine."
Celeste's eyes narrowed.
"You destroyed three thousand dollars of property."
"I know what I did."
"Mia could call the police."
"That's her decision. I won't pretend I didn't do it."
For the first time, Celeste hesitated.
James continued.
"What I did with that handbag was wrong. But it doesn't make what Mia did disappear."
Celeste folded her arms.
"You're choosing Simone over your marriage."
James looked toward the open front door.
Simone was sitting on the porch steps, her graduation cap resting in her lap.
"No," he answered. "I'm finally choosing not to ignore what's happening to my daughter."
Mia entered the house, furious.
"You owe me a new bag!"
"We'll address the bag," James told her. "But first, I want you to understand something."
She glared at him.
"That dress belonged to Simone. You destroyed it because you knew it would hurt her."
"It was ugly!"
"Then why did you burn it instead of leaving it alone?"
Mia opened her mouth.
No answer came.
Celeste stepped between them.
"Don't interrogate my daughter."
James stared at his wife.
"That's exactly the problem, Celeste. You can recognize cruelty when it's directed at Mia. But when it's directed at Simone, you call it drama."
Celeste looked away.
He lowered his voice.
"I bought this house before we married. I'm asking you to stay with your sister tonight. We'll work out everything else properly."
For several minutes, the only sound was Mia crying over her ruined handbag.
Then Celeste went upstairs.
James stepped outside.
Simone hadn't moved.
He sat beside her.
"I'm sorry, baby."
She wiped her cheeks.
"Why?"
The question surprised him.
"Because I should've been paying attention."
Simone stared at the graduation cap in her hands.
"You didn't burn my dress."
"No."
"Then why are you apologizing?"
James considered his answer.
"Because I knew things weren't right in this house. And I kept convincing myself everybody just needed time to get along."
Simone gave a small, humorless laugh.
"Five years is a lot of time."
He had no defense for that.
A car engine started behind them.
Celeste and Mia were leaving with their overnight bags.
Mia rolled down her window.
"You better replace my purse!"
James nodded.
"We'll discuss it."
Celeste looked at Simone.
"I hope you're happy."
James stood.
"Don't put this on her."
Celeste rolled up the window.
The car pulled away.
Simone watched until the taillights disappeared.
Then she whispered, "Did I ruin your marriage?"
James turned toward her.
"No."
"But they're leaving because of me."
"They're leaving because of choices the adults made, and because Mia destroyed something that belonged to you."
Simone swallowed.
"I never wanted all this."
"I know."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his car keys.
"Come on."
She looked confused.
"Where?"
"We're buying another graduation dress."
Simone shook her head.
"Dad, it's already late."
"The stores aren't closed yet."
"I don't want you spending all that money."
He held out the keys.
"That isn't your responsibility."
She looked toward the fireplace.
The white dress was gone.
Even if they found something new, it wouldn't be the one she'd saved for.
James seemed to understand.
"I can't give you back the dress you bought," he said. "But I can help make sure tomorrow still belongs to you."
Simone took the keys.
"You want me to drive?"
"Yes, ma'am."
She managed the smallest smile.
James opened the passenger door.
Before climbing inside, Simone looked at the empty driveway.
"Are they coming back?"
James didn't answer too quickly.
"We're going to have difficult conversations about that."
She nodded.
"Okay."
He watched her settle behind the steering wheel.
May you like
Then he closed the door and walked around to the passenger side.
For the first time in years, they drove somewhere together without another person's plans deciding where they should go.
