In the fitting room, she slipped into the sea-glass blouse first. It skimmed her waist just right. And the flutter sleeves made her shoulders look delicate. But the color was the real winner. It brightened her face so much she leaned closer to the mirror and whispered, “My goodness. I should wear more of this.”
She tried on the khaki shorts next with the hot pink tee, and nearly laughed at her reflection. They fit perfectly, like they were meant for this new, confident version of her.
The white eyelet top was the final test. When she pulled it over her head and turned sideways, she nodded at herself. “Oh, yes. Definitely date material.”
Cece gathered her new items with a little thrill. It had been a long time since clothing made her feel this good. The last time she’d smiled in a dressing room had been when? Not counting the dress she’d bought to go out to dinner with Joe, she honestly had no answer.
At the checkout, she caught her reflection in one of the security mirrors. Her hair was a little tousled, her mouth curved in a soft, self-assured smile.
“You’re getting there, Cece,” she murmured. “One oil change and one cute outfit at a time.”
She walked back to her car with her bag swinging at her side, ready for the next book club, ready for dinner with Joe, and maybe for the first time in a long time, ready to be happy with herself again.
Chapter Thirty-Five
The afternoon sunlight slanted across the living room in long, warm bands, but Essie felt cold. She’d been pretending to read the same page of her book for nearly an hour, her eyes flicking to her phone every few sentences even though it hadn’t buzzed.
They still hadn’t heard anything from Chad except for a text late last night saying he couldn’t talk yet but would reach out to them as soon as possible.
Across from her, Frank sat in his recliner, remote in hand but not really watching the golf tournament playing out before him on the television. Every few minutes, he’d unlock his phone just to check the screen. He’d always been the calm and steady one but right now the restless drumming of his fingers on the armrest betrayed him.
She understood. She was feeling it, too. She set her book down and exhaled shakily. “I hate this waiting. It feels like something is pressing on my chest.”
Frank nodded without looking up. “Same here. Chad said he’d text right away.”
Essie clasped her hands together in her lap. “I know she’s your daughter, but I can’t stop worrying.”
“That’s because you’re a good person who genuinely cares. If Sophie understood that, none of this would be happening.”
“It shouldn’t be happening regardless.” Essie knew there was some anger in her voice, but she didn’t like what Sophie was doing to the family. Who wouldn’t be angry about that?
Frank met her eyes again. “I know,” he said, softer this time. “But she’s hurting. And hurt people…well, they lash out.”
Essie swallowed hard. “She’s hurting us, too. You especially.”
A beat of silence passed. Frank didn’t contradict her because they both knew it was true. He went back to his golf. She went back to her book.
When Frank’s phone finally rang, the sudden sound split the quiet like a crack of thunder.
Essie jumped.
Frank grabbed it up, pinning it to his ear. “Chad?” He gave Essie a nod. “Hang on, son. I want to put you on speaker so Essie can hear.”
He tapped the button and set the phone on the arm of his recliner. “All right, go ahead.”
Essie leaned forward, bracing her hands on her knees, pulse racing.
Chad’s voice filled the room. He sounded frayed at the edges, his exhaustion unmistakable. “Hey. Sorry it’s taken so long but last night was…long. I’ve got news.”
Essie held her breath.
“How did it go?” Frank asked quietly.
Chad inhaled sharply. “Not good. Not good at all.”
Essie’s stomach hollowed out. That wasn’t what she’d been praying for. “What happened?”
Chad hesitated, as though choosing where to begin. “I tried to talk calmly to her about the lawsuits. I wasn’t accusing her,I wasn’t judging her. I swear. I just I told her she was crossing a line. That she was hurting the family. That this wasn’t the answer.”
