“You were helping yourself,” Rosa said, and now there was hurt under the anger. “Because you wanted a fantasy in your head to come true.”
Billy stepped in, gentle but firm, “Immy, listen… We love you. And we get why you wanted it. But you can’t do that again.”
Imogen’s eyes flashed. “Why not? It worked.”
Rosa let out a short laugh that wasn’t amused. “Do you hear yourself?” Billy turned to watch her.
Imogen’s cheeks flushed. “I’m just saying—if I hadn’t done anything, you’d still be…like you were. You’d still be doing that thing where you pretend you’re fine and then you cry when you think I can’t hear you.”
The room went quiet.
Billy’s head snapped towards Imogen. “Imogen!”
Rosa’s throat bobbed. She looked away, as if she couldn’t bear to have that said out loud.
Imogen’s voice wobbled, just slightly, and it was the first crack in her certainty. “I’m not stupid. I know you’re lonely. And I know Ma’s been miserable with half the people she’s tried to move on with. And I know you both love each other because you’re terrible at hiding it. So yeah, I pushed. Because I was thinking if I went to uni, I didn’t want to leave you like that.”
Rosa stared at her daughter, and the anger in her eyes shifted into something else—something raw.
“You don’t get to manage my life,” Rosa said quietly. “You talk to me. You ask me. You don’t…move me around like a piece on a board.”
Imogen swallowed, her bravado slipping. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know,” Rosa said, and her voice softened, but her posture stayed firm, “but that’s what you did.”
Meredith finally leaned forward, her expression gentler as she momentarily looked away from the group. Turning back, focusing on her granddaughter, she said, “Imogen, love, you can be right about what people feel and still be wrong about what you do with it. And I shouldn’t have indulged you.”
Imogen’s eyes filled, which seemed to annoy her more than anything. She scrubbed at them with the heel of her hand, telling Rosa, “I just wanted you to be happy.”
Billy reached across and caught her hand. “Wearehappy. But it has to beourchoice.”
Imogen looked at Rosa, properly looked, and her voice came out small, “I’m sorry.”
Rosa held her gaze for a long beat, then opened her arms. “Come here.”
Imogen crossed the space in two steps and folded into her, all sharp elbows, teenage pride finally giving way. Rosa hugged her hard, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other pressed between her shoulder blades like she was anchoring her.
“I love you,” Rosa murmured into her hair. “But you don’t get to do that again.”
“I won’t,” Imogen whispered, voice muffled. “I swear.”
Billy watched them, something bright and painful in her chest. She let out a breath through her nose, steadying herself, and when Imogen pulled back, she tugged Billy in too—three bodies awkwardly trying to fit into one moment.
Meredith stood, picked up her mug, and sniffed like she hadn’t been watching her own heart heal in real time. “Right,” she said briskly. “Now that we’ve all confessed our sins—”
“Uh, don’t think you’re off the hook so easily,” Billy said. Meredith stopped moving, glanced at Imogen, then back to Billy. “You should have known better.”
“I know, I just said as much.”
“That’s not good enough. You’re my mother and I expect no less from you, but Rosa deserves better, and she deserves a proper apology.”
Meredith nodded. “You’re right.” She turned to Rosa. “I am sorry that I allowed my better judgement to be overruled by wanting what I thought was best for you both. It was unfair and…” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I should’ve known better. I just couldn’t stand watching you both lose more time. Rosa, you and Imogen are the best thing this family ever lost, and now you’re home again. I’ll never be sorry for that.”
Her eyes lingered on Rosa. The room was silent as everyone waited for a response.
“I’m not sorry for it either,” Rosa said, reaching for Billy’s hand. “But there will be no more of this behaviour from either of you.” Her voice stayed firm as her eyes moved between Meredith and Imogen.
They both nodded. They both grinned.
