Chapter 2 - Pack Your Things Still Hanging
The words stayed in the air after I said them. I could hear myself breathing too fast and I hated that sound.
Daddy didn't answer right away. His hand was still near his waist where his jacket had pulled back, and I could see the dark shape tucked there. He looked down at me, and his mouth moved like he was going to say my name again and then stopped.
Behind me, the maid made a small sound through her hands. She was still on her knees on the tile. My sisters hadn't moved. The kitchen felt too bright, the sun coming hard through the tall windows behind the island, catching the vase and the bowl of fruit until they hurt my eyes.
Daddy breathed in through his nose. "Step back," he said. His voice was low, controlled. "All three of you. Over to the island. Now."
My older sister in the pink dress reached for my youngest sister's hand. The youngest one in lavender didn't take it at first. She just stared at Daddy.
"Go on," Daddy said. He nodded toward the bench by the marble island. "Sit there where I can see you."
I didn't let go of his coat. My fingers had twisted into the edge of it, and the fabric was damp where I'd been holding it. With my other arm I held my bunny tight against my ribs. Its ear was bent flat from how hard I was squeezing.
"Lucia," Daddy said, quieter. "Let go."
I shook my head. I couldn't make my hand open.
The maid shifted forward a little on her knees. She dropped her hands from her mouth to the floor to steady herself. "Please," she said. She wasn't looking at me. She was looking at him. "Let me stay till they're calm."
Daddy's jaw moved. "You heard me," he said. "Pack your things."
"And I will," she said quickly. Her voice shook. "I just — please. Five minutes. They're scared."
I felt his coat pull when he shifted his weight. He put his tattooed hand, the right one, lightly on top of my head for a second. It was heavy. Then he slid it down to my shoulder and gave a little pressure, trying to steer me toward the island.
"Bench," he said.
I took one step because he moved me, but I didn't let go. My shoes squeaked on the polished tile. The bunny's soft head bumped my chin. My older sister was already climbing up onto the bench seat at the island. She pulled our youngest sister up after her. Their white socks flashed against the metal footrest.
The maid got slowly to her feet. She used the edge of a lower cabinet to push herself up. Her apron was wrinkled and there was a wet spot on her black dress at the knee. She didn't walk toward the hallway. She stayed by the counter, her hands clasped in front of her apron, watching us.
Daddy noticed. "I said pack," he said.
"I know," she whispered. "I'm not running. Just let them sit first."
He stared at her for a long beat. Then he looked back at me still hanging on his coat. Something in his face tightened around his eyes.
"Fine," he said. "You sit. Then you go."
He walked me the last few steps to the island himself, my hand still fisted in his jacket. The piano was behind us in the living area, lid closed, catching light. I could smell the flowers in the vase on the island, too sweet, and underneath that the cleaner smell from the tile.
He lifted me up onto the bench between my sisters. The marble edge was cold through my dress. He had to peel my fingers off his coat one by one to get free. I held the bunny with both hands then, pressing it to my chest.
"Stay here," he said to all three of us.
My older sister nodded fast. My youngest sister leaned hard into my side. I could feel her trembling through her lavender dress.
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Daddy stepped back two paces and then moved toward the hallway entrance. He didn't leave. He stood there, feet planted, blocking the way out toward the front of the house. His jacket fell back into place over the dark shape at his waist.
The maid stayed by the counter. She didn't get a bag. She didn't move toward the stairs. She just stood with her hands twisting in her apron, looking at us, and we sat on the bench looking back, waiting for what would happen next.
