I zipped the suitcase closed. The brass zipper stuck for a second, then slid shut with a sharp, final click.
From downstairs, I heard the quiet murmur of Liam’s voice talking to Grace, who was likely hiding in the back hallway to avoid my father’s anger.
I looked at the window that showed the dark gravel driveway where Liam’s small truck sat. It was the only vehicle parked outside that did not belong to my father’s collection.
I picked up the suitcase. It was lighter than I expected.
As I reached the top of the staircase, I saw Miriam standing at the landing below. She had her arms crossed, her eyes tracking my movement as I began my descent.
She did not look sweet anymore. The soft expression she used around my father was gone, replaced by a cold, calculating stillness.
“You are making a mistake that cannot be undone,” Miriam said, her voice carrying up the stairwell.
“It is my mistake to make,” I said, holding the wooden banister.
“If you leave with him tonight, you leave with nothing,” she said.
