Chapter 38

I go to work the next morning with a bit of a heavy heart.

Mr. Carter and Paige are still gone for the weekend, I still have duties to attend at the country club. With my new job starting so soon, however, I feel it’s only right to print out my resignation letter and leave it on Mr. Carter’s desk for him to find Monday.

I want to talk to him about it, but I refuse to ruin his vacation by calling him now. When he gets back, I can only hope he understands. I do make a note explaining my ability to help cover on weekends as needed. Keeping these connections couldn’t hurt me, after all. Neither could a few extra bucks.

After work, I spend the afternoon with my daughters. They help me pick out a dress and some earrings for my dinner that night.

I ask them if they are disappointed to be missing out. “I’m sure grandma would welcome you if I asked.”

“No,” they both say at once.

“No offense, Mom,” says Iris, the oldest, “But those dinners are always really uptight.”

My adopted parents do value a good, formal dinner over casual practicality, which is why I have to dress up in the first place. I can understand the girls’ resignation.

When it’s time to leave, I hug the girls tightly.

Iris tells me, “Good luck.”

“Thank you,” I tell her, having a feeling I’m going to need it.

When I make it to the Owens estate, I’m not surprised for the family’s butler to open the door. What does surprise me is that my mother doesn’t come running to hug me when I’m announced. Even the butler, Davis, turns to check as he opens the door wider for me.

“They are in the sitting room,” Davis says. “Would you like me to escort you?” Usually mother does. This change definitely makes me uncomfortable. Even Davis seems unsure.

“No. I know the way. Thank you, Davis.”

Davis nods, his face relaxing with relief. “My pleasure, Esther.”

I see myself to the sitting room. There, my mom, dad, aunt, and uncle are already seated.

“You were almost late,” my father says to me, after checking his pocket watch.

I’m five minutes early, but I bite my tongue. My father is a huge believer in being punctual. Overly so. Anything less than fifteen minutes early is late. A moment more than that, however, is rudely early.

“I was visiting with the girls,” I say.

“You must miss them,” says my aunt. She pauses a moment, gauging my mother as she says, “Since you moved out.”

“Was kicked out, more like,” Mother says.

Her words startle me. “I left because –”

“Enough,” Father says. “Did we teach you to talk back to family?”

“No, sir,” I say, at once feeling like a little girl again. At five years old, the whole world is scary, especially for a kid plucked out of foster care. I just wanted these people to love me.

They did. They do.

But it’s clear to me that they’re pissed as hell at me right now. What I don’t know is why? They never particularly liked Garnar. They always thought I was selling myself short with him.

Now, when I’ve been cheated on and cast aside like old trash, they believe I ought to stay? That can’t be right. There has to be more to this than that.

With my father this angry, however, speaking out of turn will only land me in hotter water. I need to dig and uncover their real reasoning, but I have to do it on their terms.

God, I was right to have felt nervous. This is going to be a long night.

“Come, Esther,” my father says. He motions toward a single chair at the end of both couches. I sit and all eyes turn to me.

“I’ve heard that you started working at the country club,” my aunt says. Her smile may be fake but I can tell she’s genuinely trying to be kind to me. Bless her. Honestly. She’s always been in my corner. I wish we saw each other more often.

“Yes, though –”

“Under-utilizing your skills once again,” Father interrupts. “Your mother and I did not put you through college for you to work as some assistant of Mr. Carver’s.”

“I’m making good connections,” I say, knowing he could appreciate that. “There are lots of high ranking members at the club. I see them so often, many know me on a first-name basis now.” Before, I was only ever Mrs. Graham or Owens’ adopted daughter. Now, I’m Esther, plain and simple.

“Now is not the time to be making more connections,” Father says, which surprises me. He believes any event is a chance to network. Why would this be different? Because I’m working there?

I’m so confused. Why doesn’t he see this as the opportunity that I did? Maybe if I tell him about Hugo, he’ll understand.

“Actually, Father, I’ve made a connection that I think you will be proud of. It’s lead to something wonderful, and I –”

“You father will not be proud of you,” Mother says. “Not after what you’ve done to shame this whole family.”

“Ethel,” my aunt says, calling my mom by her first name. They are sisters. If anyone can get through to her, it’s my aunt.

“Stay out of this, Barbara,” Mother says. This time, even my aunt’s pleas are falling on deaf ears.

“Everyone makes mistakes,” my aunt says.

“This was more than a mistake,” Mother replies.

“Wait,” I say, speaking up. “Just what is it that I’m supposed to have done?”

If anyone in my marriage is at fault, it’s Garnar. Unless my parents are about to blame that on me? I’m too weak to keep a husband, maybe?

No. That doesn’t seem like them. They should be happy I’m taking a stand. Finally. After all these years.

Something else is going on here, and I will hear right now what it is.

“You cheated on your husband, Esther,” Mother said, spitting each word. “Like I need to spell this out for you. How dare you make me say this out loud.”

“What? I did not!”

“Don’t raise your voice to your mother,” Father says.

It’s a struggle, but I force myself to be calmer. “I don’t know where you heard that, but it’s not true.”

“You cheated,” Mother says. She lifts a handkerchief I only now realize she’s been holding in her lap and dabs at her eyes. Genuine tears are welling there.

“Mother –”

“Then you pushed Garnar away when he resolved to try to stay with you and fix things,” Mother continues. “Think of those children, Esther. Garnar has always been a worm, but what are you doing to them?”

“None of that is the truth,” I say. “You have to believe me. I don’t know what Garnar’s been telling you, but –”

“We didn’t hear this from Garnar,” Father says. “We wouldn’t believe a word that man says without corroboration.”

“Then who?” I ask.

“Me,” says Thea, now standing in the doorway. “You don’t have to pretend anymore, Hazel. I’ve told Mom and Dad everything you’ve told me. They know all about it.”

“Thea?”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep your secrets,” Thea says, giving me a pitying smile. “But this was too big to keep to myself.”

“You did the right thing,” Father says to Thea.

I totally freeze, half-feeling like I’ve been carried to some other dimension. This can’t be reality.

My sister… the one who is actively cheating with my husband…

Is blaming the whole thing on me?