Chapter 9: Ruth Hears Truth
Ruth came over the following Tuesday with a plant for the baby's room.
She set it on the windowsill and sat down in the armchair by the bassinet and looked at me with the directness of a woman who has lived long enough to say exactly what she means.
"Diane called me," she said.
"I know."
"She said she made a mistake.
Said she told me something that wasn't true." Ruth paused.
"She didn't exactly fall over herself with the apology, but she said the words."
"That's more than I expected."
Ruth looked at the baby.
"She's beautiful."
"Thank you."
"What's her name?"
I smiled.
"Clara."
Ruth reached out and touched Clara's hand — that instinctive thing people do with newborns, as if the smallness of them requires contact.
Clara's fingers curled around Ruth's index finger and held on.
"She's got a good grip," Ruth said.
"She does."
Ruth looked up at me.
"You've got a good grip too.
I saw that on the doorstep."
I didn't say anything.
I didn't need to.
---
Patricia sent the confirmation two weeks later.
Diane's solicitor had withdrawn the inquiry.
No filing.
May you like
No claim.
The letter was three sentences long and said nothing that mattered except the last line: *Our client will not be pursuing this matter further.*
