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Audrey’s grip on Catherine’s wrist was surprisingly gentle, but there was an urgency in her eyes that caught Catherine’s attention. Audrey had always been the quiet and subdued one, but today, she seemed to be holding something back, something deeper than just the surface-level familial tension.
Catherine’s sharp eyes flickered as she followed Audrey’s lead, sensing the quiet desperation in her actions. As they walked toward Grandpa’s room, Catherine could hear the hushed murmurs of the family behind them, but she paid them no mind. Audrey, though subdued, seemed to have a purpose, and Catherine was curious about it.
Once they entered the room, Audrey immediately released Catherine’s wrist and stepped toward the altar where Grandpa’s photo was placed. The room was dimly lit, with only the soft glow of candles casting shadows on the walls. Audrey stood before the photo for a long moment, her face somber as she whispered something under her breath. Then, she turned to face Catherine, her expression filled with a strange mixture of vulnerability and resolve.
“Catherine,” Audrey said, her voice softer than before, “I know you’re not here to follow their rules, but please understand… this is important to me.”
Catherine raised an eyebrow, studying Audrey closely. “Important to you?” she repeated, her voice cold but tinged with curiosity. “What’s going on, Audrey?”
Audrey hesitated for a moment, then sighed. She sat down on the edge of the room’s old wooden chair, her gaze never leaving Catherine. “I know you don’t care about the Swanns and all the drama surrounding us,” she began, “but there are things here that go beyond just petty squabbles. Things that have been going on for a long time.”
Catherine tilted her head slightly, her interest piqued. Audrey’s words were cryptic, but there was something in her demeanor that suggested a deeper story. She remained silent, letting Audrey continue.
Audrey looked down at her hands, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. “I’ve been out of the family’s circle for so long, and honestly, I don’t know why I’m even trying to fix things now. But Grandpa… he always had a soft spot for me. And even though I left, even though I’ve been treated like an outsider… I still miss him. I owe him this. I owe it to myself to pay respects in the way he would have wanted.”
Catherine stood there, processing Audrey’s words. Despite her own disinterest in the family dynamics, she couldn’t help but feel a slight tug of empathy for Audrey. The eldest daughter, long dismissed by the family, now returning to pay her respects for someone she clearly cared about.
Audrey glanced up at Catherine, her eyes filled with a quiet plea. “I know you don’t owe anyone anything, but I’m asking for this one thing. For him. For the man who raised us.”
There was a long pause, and Catherine’s gaze softened, though only slightly. She had no intention of honoring the Swanns’ demands or playing their games, but she could sense that Audrey was genuinely conflicted, torn between her desire for acceptance and the remnants of familial love.
Catherine’s voice, when it came, was calm and measured. “Fine,” she said, her tone neutral. “I’ll go with you, but don’t expect anything more. This is your thing, not mine.”
Audrey nodded gratefully, her shoulders relaxing for the first time in the conversation. She stood up, leading Catherine to the small altar in the corner of the room, where a photo of Grandpa sat under a soft light. Catherine stood quietly beside her, watching as Audrey bowed her head in respect.
The atmosphere in the room felt oddly still, as if time had slowed down. Audrey took a deep breath, her eyes closing briefly before she stood upright again. She turned to Catherine with a small, appreciative smile. “Thank you.”
Catherine didn’t respond right away, but there was a flicker of understanding between them, a moment where words weren’t necessary. Catherine may not have shared Audrey’s sentimental attachment to their grandfather, but she could understand the weight of what Audrey was trying to do.
As they stood in silence, the sounds of the family’s bickering from the other room seemed far away. For just a brief moment, there was a sense of peace—fragile, yet undeniable. The family’s drama could wait. Right now, it was just Audrey and Catherine, and for once, they weren’t enemies.