I Left Them in Grief Chapter 03

I Left Them in Grief Chapter 03

Not long after Graham left, Brennon decided to bring the kids out for a visit.

Five or six stretch Lincolns pulled up outside the estate. I stood at the second-floor window and watched them in silence.

Elodie was the first one out, already grinning as she ran around to open the other door.

“Selah, come on!”

A delicate hand appeared at the car frame. Selah stepped out in a designer dress, the statement necklace Brennon had bought her at auction a few weeks ago catching the afternoon light.

She took his hand as she stepped down, then pulled Elodie into a hug.

“You didn’t have to rush like that—you could’ve waited for the driver. Be careful next time.”

Brennon looked at her the way he used to look at me.

“There’s no traffic out here,” he said softly, almost defending Elodie. “She wanted to get out, so I said it was fine. Are you tired? The drive over wasn’t easy.”

Callum appeared then, stepping up to hand Selah a bottle of water without a word.

One big happy family.

In my last life, seeing them like that had gutted me. I’d told Selah—right then, right there—to remember her place.

She’d burst into tears on the spot. Brennon had called me petty and small. The kids had looked at me like I was some villain out to make Selah’s life miserable.

This time, I didn’t even flinch.

When they came inside, I stepped forward.

“Sorry I didn’t come out to meet you.”

Brennon quickly let go of Selah’s hand and cleared his throat. “We came to check on you—the last thing we’d want is to put you out.”

He paused. “How are you feeling?”

I didn’t answer him. I looked at Selah instead.

She blinked, then shifted into her signature wounded expression.

“I know I’ve been so caught up taking care of the kids—I feel terrible for not visiting sooner. Please don’t be angry with me.”

She started to bow. “I’m so sorry.”

I didn’t stop her. Didn’t forgive her either.

I just let her stand there, bent at the waist.

Elodie couldn’t take it. She grabbed Selah’s arm and pulled her upright.

“She works herself to the bone taking care of us,” she said, eyes sharp on me. “Don’t make this harder for her.”

Callum watched me with the same look—like I was the problem. Like I’d staged this.

Even braced for it, having my own children look at me that way still hurt. It settled somewhere under my ribs and stayed there.

I waved them off.

“I’m tired. I need to rest.” I turned before anyone could respond. “Make yourselves at home.”

Back in my room, I spread the plan out on the bed again.

“The medication we talked about,” I said. “The one that mimics the vitals of someone gone. You have it ready?”

Maeve looked at me with soft, unhappy eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want to try talking to him one more time?”

I smiled. “His head’s full of Selah. He stopped hearing me a long time ago.”

I looked at her. “And if you’ve changed your mind, you can walk away right now. I mean it—no hard feelings.”

Her expression shifted. She dropped to her knees before I could stop her.

“You took me in when I had nothing,” she said. “Whatever comes next, I go where you go.”

I nodded. “Then listen. The fact that they came here today, strutting around like they own the place—that tells us they’re not planning to leave me alone. Which means they’ll make a move. And when they do, that’s our opening.”

I was right.

The very next day after Selah quietly assumed control of the estate’s household arrangements, I noticed the railing along the main staircase had been loosened.

She’d also made a point of telling the kids to stay away from my wing of the house. Just in case something happens.

Fine by me. The less foot traffic around me, the easier this would be.

My strategy of quietly stepping aside had clearly put Brennon at ease. He seemed almost pleased—like I’d finally stopped fighting, finally accepted things the way they were.

He had no idea that in my mind, we’d already been over for a long time.

I’d originally planned to wait until after the Fourth of July weekend to move forward.

But then Callum and Elodie did something that forced my hand.