Chapter 43

The Tremblays have extendedtheir visit twice now, but it’s time for them to return home. The police have told Chloe she’s free to leave. And more importantly, they’re ready. The restaurant needs Bastian’s steady hand and innovative specials, Emilie’s missed nearly a week of school, and Chloe frets about her own garden every time she helps Amy with the weeding and watering. There are plans for Amy and the kids to visit Quebec City this summer, and Kristy and her family have talked the Tremblays into joining them for a week during their upcoming vacation at a waterpark resort in Wisconsin. Even Diana, who travels so much for work that she prefers to stay put in her free time, has been making noises about a visit. Chloe and Bastian promise they’ll be back to Pittsburgh again soon.

Still, after so recently reconnecting, the thought of Chloe leaving again makes Amy’s heart heavy. So she’s not surprised when she’s unable to sleep the night before her sister is leaving. She’s also not overly surprised when she creeps down the stairs to find Chloe and a bottle of chilled rosé waiting for her.

“You have an early flight,” she warns as Chloe uncorks the wine.

Chloe gives a very French shrug, fills a glass, and passes it to Amy. “Eh, I’m not flying the plane.”

Amy extends her glass. “à ta santé.”

Chloe clinks her glass. “Cheers.”

Amy sips the crisp drink and studies her sister’s face as if she’s trying to memorize it. “I’m gonna miss you.”

Chloe makes a face. “Stop it. We’ll video chat.”

“It won’t be the same.”

“No, it won’t.”

They’re silent for a moment, then Amy says, “Did you talk to Jordana today?”

“Yes. I called to say goodbye. My interview airs tomorrow. I’m glad I’ll be on a plane when it goes live. I won’t be so nervous—of course, Bastian will probably play it on a loop when we land.”

“Maisy said she knows how Andre died,” Amy remarks.

“I know. She asked if I wanted to know before the episode airs. I told her no.”

Amy’s surprised. “Why?”

“I don’t think I’m entitled to any special information. I knew him for a few hours. It feels inappropriate to make more of it than that.”

“You performed CPR on him. You tried to save his life,” Amy argues.

Chloe shrugs. “Still.” She changes the subject. “Have you decided whether you want to see Rich?”

“Not yet.” She’s on his visitor list at the jail, but she’s not ready. She dropped the kids off to visit once, but they haven’t asked to return.

“He thought he was protecting me,” Chloe says haltingly.

Amy puts her glass down and gives her sister a fierce look. “Do you think what he did was defensible? Be honest.”

Chloe presses her downturned lips together. “No, of course not. But you have children with him and?—”

“And I’d be sending them the wrong message if I pretended that our marriage isn’t over. Not to mention, he did abduct you, take you to the woods, and threaten to kill you. That’s a thing that happened.”

Chloe twists her mouth to the side but says nothing.

Amy continues, “Did you know everyone else is cooperating? Brett, Frank and Andy, the girls, everyone. Everyone except for Rich. If he showed some remorse, some understanding of what he did or empathy for Andre’s aunt, maybe I could see a path toward something—forgiveness, possibly friendship. But he hasn’t.”

She nods. “That’s fair.”

Amy gives her head a shake. “Enough about Rich.”

Chloe sips her wine and agreeably changes the subject. “I’m glad our girls connected.”

“Me, too. Ava’s heartbroken that Emilie’s leaving, but I have a feeling they’ll be cross-border besties. Ava’s already asked to switch into French class instead of German next year so they can gossip in two languages.”

Chloe laughs, and Amy seals this moment in her memory.