Chapter 7 - The Night Grace Was Fired
Grace remembered every detail.
She remembered the cold rain.
She remembered Richard standing in the office with an envelope of money on the desk.
She remembered Claire leaning against the wall.
And she remembered the way everyone looked at her.
Like she was already guilty.
“Explain this.”
Richard had pointed at the cash.
Grace stared at it.
“I’ve never seen that before.”
“It was in your locker.”
“No.”
“Grace.”
“No.”
Her voice had cracked.
“I did not put that there.”
Claire sighed.
“Then somebody must have planted it.”
Grace turned toward her.
“Yes.”
Claire raised both hands.
“Don’t look at me.”
Grace looked at Richard.
“Check the camera.”
“We did.”
“You entered this office at 8:17 last night.”
“I came in for the inventory sheets.”
“The safe was ten feet away.”
“I didn’t touch it.”
Richard looked exhausted.
“My father is in the hospital.”
“I cannot deal with this.”
Grace’s eyes filled with tears.
“Please.”
“Don’t do this.”
Richard placed her final paycheck on the desk.
“You’re terminated.”
Grace looked toward Claire.
And something had bothered her.
Claire had been smiling.
Not openly.
Not enough for anyone else to notice.
But Grace had noticed.
Years later, she still remembered that smile.
Now, lying on her couch while Noah warmed soup in the kitchen, Grace stared at the ceiling.
Margaret sat beside her.
“I should have protected you.”
Grace shook her head.
“You were with your husband.”
“I was still responsible.”
“You believed me.”
“But belief without action didn’t help you.”
Grace looked toward Noah and Ellie.
“It taught me something.”
“What?”
“That people can believe you and still choose what’s easier.”
Margaret lowered her eyes.
Grace coughed again.
This time, she could not stop.
Noah rushed over.
“Mom?”
Grace covered her mouth.
When she pulled the cloth away, there was blood on it.
Margaret stood immediately.
“We’re going to the hospital.”
Grace shook her head.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I can’t afford it.”
Margaret stared at her.
“That is not a reason to stay here.”
Grace tried to rise.
Her knees collapsed.
Noah caught her arm.
“Mom!”
Ellie began crying.
Grace’s face had turned gray.
May you like
Margaret grabbed her phone.
And while Noah held his mother on the floor, Margaret called 911.
