Page 69 of The Oath We Give

“You’re my daughter, and despite what you may believe, despite some of my actions, I want you to be happy.”

“Few years too late for that,” I spit viciously, turning back toward him slowly. He’s taken a few more steps into the room, a little closer to me than he was before.

“Did you come to ask if I could drop off your dry cleaning?” I motion toward the garment bag draped over his arm, my voice edged with anger.

“Here.” His hand extends toward me. “Nora would’ve wanted you to have this. This was going to be the dress she wore at our wedding—” He clears his throat uncomfortably before he continues. “Take it. Get rid of it, wear it, whatever you want.”

Disbelief strikes through me.

I didn’t even know he’d planned to marry my mother. Hell, I think this is the first time I’ve heard him speak her name out loud. All I’ve heard is the vile shit Regina has said over the years and the assumptions from her anger.

When I don’t move to take it, he steps past me, laying it on the bed next to Lilac’s open suitcase.

“You kept this? After all these years?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. Eyes flicking between the bag and his face, I search for any ounce of dishonesty I can find.

“Yes,” he replies, pushing his hands into his pockets. “I don’t know why exactly. Regina would burn the house down if she knew, but maybe it reminded me of a time when things were simpler. When I was young and in love. Before life got in the way.”

My teeth grind together.

Despite everything, the anger, the pain, the bitterness, I can see the pain etched on his face. I can see the semblance of a young man clutching a baby to his chest, all alone in a hospital nursery, tears streaking his face as he hums, knowing the love of his life lies cold in the next room over.

None of this makes sense, him giving this to me, him talking to me like this. It doesn’t make sense.

“I see so much of Nora in you. The same tenacious spirit, your white streaks. You have her eyes.”

I swallow the knot in my throat. “Why tell me all of this? Why now?”

I want to believe over the years, we’d both let Regina poison our relationship, that she’d been the wedge driven between us. There is truth in his words I can’t deny, but forgiveness is not on my tongue.

James shrugs, running a hand through his dark hair, a sad smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “There are a lot of things I regret, Coraline. Things I hope one day we can talk about when you’re ready.”

He leaves me there after that, taking my silence as a response, shutting the door behind him.

I stand there, staring at the dress that was meant to be worn by a woman I never knew, and I feel the weight of his words settling in my chest. My fingers pull at the zipper of the bag, exposing the gown inside.

There are layers of lace and delicate silk with intricate beading along the bodice and ivory buttons down the back. It has a timeless elegance that has stood the test of time.

My eyebrows knit together in confusion as I notice a small, faded piece of paper tucked beneath the white tulle, its receding edges giving it a yellow hue.

They are vows.

I feel like I am peeking into a world that was never meant for me, a world that belongs to James and Nora alone. It’s a reminder of a love that was lost, an unfulfilled promise, a dream that never came to fruition.

As I read, tears burn the corners of my eyes, and it leaves me wondering.

Is anyone truly who they pretend to be?

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SIXTEEN

LIGHTS OUT

CORALINE

“How much for the night?”

I snap my head toward the voice, pulling my cigarette from my lips.

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