Claret stepped down from the back seat before the driver even pulled the car fully into the driveway. The low heel of her sandal clicked once on the gravel, then again on the smooth stone path leading to the mansion door. She didn’t wait for the engine to cut off. Didn’t wait for the driver to open the door wider.
She moved fast, dress fanning her legs, coat flapping open behind her like dark wings, she still caught the smell of hospital antiseptic, occasionally.
Her knees wobbled, like she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders, the headlines still carried the family's name, ugly comments on every post, eyes pale from not having any good rest since the wedding.
The front door stood slightly ajar as her hand stretched to push. She paused for half a second. Jessie was inside.
