Chapter 7 - THE DINNER THEY PLANNED
Faye came the next morning wearing yesterday’s mascara.
She stood in the doorway holding a paper bakery bag.
“I didn’t know what to bring.”
“You didn’t have to bring anything.”
“I know.”
Neither of us moved.
Finally, I stepped aside.
We sat in the sunroom while Wren slept against my shoulder.
Faye put the bag between us.
Two muffins. One crushed.
“I need to tell you something before my mother tells you a different version.”
I waited.
“The dinner wasn’t just because she was leaving.”
My skin prickled.
“What was it?”
“Roland wanted us to talk about the money.”
“Without me.”
“He said you were ashamed to ask your father.”
I let out a short, ugly laugh.
“He said a lot about what I felt.”
Faye nodded.
“Mom said we needed to help you understand that marriage means putting your husband first.”
“So you invited everyone to discuss how to pressure me.”
“I thought we were discussing how to help him.”
“Did nobody wonder why I wasn’t there?”
She stared at the crushed muffin.
“I should have.”
I shifted Wren carefully.
“What happened when he saw the camera alert?”
“He looked scared.”
“Of losing me?”
Faye’s eyes filled.
“I don’t know.”
That answer was worse than a lie.
“He kept saying, ‘She can’t talk to him tonight.’ Mom asked who Raymond was. Then Roland said your father was going to misunderstand everything.”
“He understood enough.”
Faye wiped her cheek.
“Ben wants to sell his truck to make the loan payments.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not asking you for money.”
I hadn’t realized I was bracing for it until she said it.
“I’m asking you not to let me pretend I was just an innocent bystander.”
I looked at her.
“You weren’t.”
“I know.”
For the first time, I believed we might someday have an honest conversation that didn’t end with me apologizing.
Her phone rang.
Mom.
Faye silenced it.
Then mine rang.
Celeste.
I answered.
She didn’t bother saying hello.
“Your little performance has gone far enough.”
“What would you like to say?”
“I’m coming over.”
“No.”
“That is my granddaughter.”
“And this is not your invitation.”
Her voice dropped.
“You think that house makes you untouchable?”
“No. I think hanging up ends this conversation.”
May you like
Before I could, she said something that made me freeze.
“Ask your husband where the first fifteen thousand dollars went.”
