Chapter 9 - The Last Door
Two years after Clara's first day, she returned to the old estate for the last time.
The property was empty.
The gardens had grown wild.
The chapel stood untouched.
She walked through the courtyard.
Bruno, older now but still huge, followed beside her.
Matteo came behind them.
"Why did you want to come here?"
Clara looked around.
"I needed to say goodbye."
"To the house?"
"To who I was."
Matteo took her hand.
"You don't have to."
"I want to."
They walked through the East Wing.
Clara remembered the first time she had cleaned the room.
The silver vase.
The spilled water.
Matteo standing in the doorway.
Bruno growling.
Everything felt distant.
They reached the study.
Matteo opened the door.
Nothing remained.
Except one desk.
Clara touched it.
"This is where you told me I wasn't leaving."
He smiled.
"I remember."
"Do you regret it?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you stayed."
She looked at him.
"I chose to."
"I know."
Silence settled.
Then Bruno barked.
Clara laughed.
"Even now."
Matteo smiled.
They returned to the courtyard.
Snow began falling again.
Exactly like the first day.
Clara looked up.
"Funny."
"What?"
"Everything began with snow."
"And water."
"And an angry dog."
"He wasn't angry."
"He was."
"He was confused."
"That's what you called him."
"I was trying to sound calm."
She laughed.
He pulled her closer.
"Do you remember what you said?"
"What?"
"I am so sorry."
Clara smiled.
"I was apologizing to Bruno."
"I know."
"What did you think?"
He looked at her.
"I thought you were going to be trouble."
She laughed.
"And now?"
"Now I know."
He kissed her forehead.
"You're the best thing that ever happened to me."
She wrapped her arms around him.
Then a small voice came from behind.
"Mommy?"
Clara turned.
A little girl stood beside the car.
Their daughter.
Emma.
She was holding a stuffed black dog.
Clara smiled.
"Why did you get out of the car?"
Emma ran toward Bruno.
The old dog lowered himself patiently.
Emma hugged him.
Matteo watched.
His expression softened.
Clara stood beside him.
"He's getting old."
"I know."
"Someday..."
Matteo nodded.
"I know."
Clara squeezed his hand.
"But not today."
"No."
Not today.
They drove home before sunset.
The new house was bright and warm.
Emma fell asleep on the couch.
Bruno curled beside her.
Clara covered them with a blanket.
Matteo stood in the doorway.
"Family."
She looked at him.
"Family."
He walked over.
They stood quietly together.
The past had become a story.
A terrible story.
But a story that no longer controlled them.
The next morning, Clara woke to a familiar sound.
Scratch.
Scratch.
Scratch.
She opened the bedroom door.
Bruno sat outside.
She laughed.
"You haven't changed."
He looked at her.
Then he walked toward the kitchen.
She followed.
Matteo stood there making coffee.
He looked at Bruno.
"You did this to me once."
Clara smiled.
"History repeats itself."
Matteo handed her a cup.
"Not all of it."
She took the coffee.
"No."
May you like
He kissed her cheek.
"Only the good parts."
