Chapter 12 - When Weston Came Home
Weston was released after serving thirty-one months.
Good behavior.
Financial education programs.
Cooperation credit.
Vivienne knew the date because Nell told her, not because she tracked it.
He did not contact her.
Weeks passed.
Then a letter arrived.
No request.
No apology essay.
Just a short note.
Vivienne, I am back in Charleston temporarily. I will not come near your home or office without permission. There are personal items from my father that belong to you under our settlement. Thomas has them. I hope you are well. —Weston.
Vivienne showed Gabriel.
“You don’t need my permission to see him.”
“I know.”
“Do you want to?”
“I don’t know.”
That answer remained for a month.
Then Thomas called.
One item was Augustus’s journal.
It mentioned Vivienne repeatedly.
She agreed to retrieve it.
Weston happened to be at Thomas’s office when she arrived.
Thomas had warned her.
Vivienne almost canceled.
She went.
Weston stood when she entered.
He looked thinner.
Gray at the temples.
Less polished.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
No music.
No dramatic embrace.
Just two people who once knew each other’s toothbrush habits.
“You look good,” Weston said.
“So do you.”
“I’m working at a nonprofit financial literacy center.”
Vivienne raised an eyebrow.
“I know.”
“The irony isn’t lost on anyone.”
“That helps.”
He laughed.
Then silence.
Thomas wisely disappeared.
Weston handed her Augustus’s journal.
“Dad wrote about you.”
“I heard.”
“He respected you more than me.”
Vivienne said nothing.
“I used to resent that.”
“I didn’t know.”
“I resented everyone who made me feel insufficient.”
“That sounds exhausting.”
“It was.”
He looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
Vivienne’s expression softened.
“I know.”
“No defense.”
“Good.”
“I loved Claire.”
Vivienne was surprised.
“Did you?”
“For a while.”
“Does she know?”
“She does now.”
“What happened?”
“She refused to see me after prison.”
Vivienne almost smiled.
“Smart.”
“She became smarter.”
“So did you, hopefully.”
“I’m trying.”
He looked toward her ringless hand.
“Gabriel?”
Vivienne blinked.
“How do you know?”
“Charleston has newspapers.”
“Ah.”
“He seems nice.”
“He is.”
Weston swallowed.
“That’s hard.”
“I imagine.”
“But I’m glad.”
Vivienne believed him.
That was the strangest part.
“I’m not asking you to forgive me.”
“I already did.”
Weston’s eyes filled.
“But I’m not coming back.”
“I know.”
“Forgiveness is not reopening a door.”
“I know.”
He nodded.
“I think prison taught me that doors have separate functions.”
Vivienne laughed before she could stop.
Weston smiled.
It was familiar.
Not dangerous anymore.
They hugged.
Brief.
Human.
When Vivienne left, she cried in her car.
Not because she wanted him.
Because something had ended gently that began violently.
Gabriel was waiting at home.
He did not ask for details until she volunteered them.
“I hugged him.”
“Okay.”
“You really are not jealous enough.”
“I can manufacture some if needed.”
She laughed.
Then cried again.
Gabriel held her.
This was trust, she realized.
May you like
Not never feeling afraid.
Having fear met without punishment.
