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Chapter 47
Lizzie
I followed Phin's mother down the opulent staircase to the back of the house. She showed me to the large open living room and kitchen area. The warm sunlight poured in through the French doors, and you could faintly hear the sound of their infinity pool in the backyard. Despite the formality of the rest of the house, this room was warm and comfortable; I imagine this is where they spent the majority of their time together. The rest of the house felt like a museum, holding their entire lives hostage to what other people thought.
I had expected to see loads of servants busily cleaning the house and cooking, but surprisingly there was only the one maid I noticed earlier. Mrs. Dunbar motioned for me to sit at the kitchen island while she poured us some coffee. She leaned against the opposite side of the island looking lost in thought. I hated awkward silences, so I took a moment to speak up.
"You know Phin's agreed to have the test?"
His mother looked at me on the verge of tears. "Yes, I believe I have you to thank for his change of heart. It's obvious you love my son, and no one can deny it. I hope one day you'll allow me to be a grandmother to your children." She smiled with a twinkle I hadn't seen yet in any of our other meetings. This smile seemed genuine and heartfelt. To say I was shocked was an understatement, but I needed to believe it was real.
"Well, Mrs. Dunbar, I am glad that you approve but our relationship will be up to Phin."
"Elizabeth, call me Olivia, we'll be related soon enough."
"Thank you, Olivia it means a lot to both of us. I'm very close to my family, and I'd like for Phin to have that sort of connection with both of you. I'd also like for our kids to be spoiled rotten by both their grandparents."
"Thank you, Elizabeth." She looked wistfully out at the sparkling pool.
"Neither myself nor Phin's father had very loving families. We came from families with money and nannies, so we lived with expectation and privilege. We never went without anything except love and affection. Elizabeth, our marriage was not a love-at-first-sight sort of story. Our marriage was arranged by our families, because of the financial benefits of the union. My parents weren't abusive like Thomas's they were just emotionally unavailable. Nannies raised me and later I was shipped off to boarding school. You have to understand this was how I was raised, so I didn't question it. Thomas's father was a controlling and very mean man. I was scared of him and other than our wedding day, I rarely spoke to the man. He did love Phineas, which is why he left him such a handsome trust."
I sat and listened to her tell me her story, not wanting to interrupt. The story felt like a long-needed confession, so I let her unburden herself.
"Phineas' grandfather ran the family business and pulled all the strings. He wanted my father's company, and having me marry into the family was an easy way for him to take it over. Of course, I wasn't aware of any of this; I was told to do this for the family and not question it. As well-bred women did at that time, I did what my parents told me. Thomas and I courted for a year. We had a pleasant time together; he was easy to talk to and had an even disposition when we were alone. I never saw the ugly side of him until Phin was born, and by then it was too late for me. I had fallen in love with this man that now verbally and physically abused our one and only child. I decided not to have any more children after I realized the brutality he was capable of because I couldn't leave him. When Phineas was younger, I protected him as much as I could, but there were times when I couldn't do it." She picked up a tissue and wiped her eyes. "Elizabeth, you have to understand I did try, but I was weak."
"Why didn't you leave him?"
“Would you like more coffee?" I nodded, and she topped me up, giving her a needed break from her monologue.
"I know you'll find it hard to believe that I love my husband. I know you must think that makes me a monster, but you know what it's like to love someone like that. You love my son that way.” She gave me a weak smile. "I couldn't leave him, you see. I'd never worked, and he'd made sure I didn't have many friends that would help me. I've been a prisoner for a long time. He was only emotionally abusive when Phin was little. The physical beatings didn’t start with until Phin got older. Phin's father hit me once when I threatened to leave him, take all his money and expose him. He was particularly bad if he'd been drinking, and it just became worse and worse over the years. I'll tell you a secret; I was happy the day Phineas left. I was glad he got away from Thomas, but I missed him. I've lived every day hoping that we'd find him again and that he'd find a way to forgive us."
"He's working hard to do that."
"I know, Elizabeth. Phin's father has changed. When Phin left, it was a wake-up call. We both stopped drinking and got counseling. We have a much better relationship now. We found that love that we'd had when we first got together. And then sadly he got sick."
I wanted to rip into her for being weak, but I couldn't do it, not after she bared her soul to me.
"I know I don't deserve his absolution, but I just hope he'll let us back into his life, even just a little would make us both very happy."
"Well blackmailing him into doing this wasn't a good way to start."
"Yes, I know, but I was desperate, Elizabeth. I know we don't have time to wait." The look on her face told me what I needed to know. I'd probably have stooped to blackmail if Phin's life was in the balance. Taking a deep breath, I decided it was time for me to forgive his mother. Phin needed my support, not me screaming at his forlorn mother. I let her drink her coffee for a few minutes, quietly contemplating her story. She wasn't a monster; she was just a weak woman who failed to fight. As much as I despised her weakness in not taking care of Phin when he needed her, I tried to understand. My own sympathetic mother's voice whispered in my ear. Forgive her, Lizzie, she had no one else.
"I understand, but I must talk to Phin."
"Of course, my dear. Would you like a chocolate croissant to go with your coffee?"
"Yes, please." My stomach growled just at that second to agree. Olivia and I might have a decent relationship after all. She's given me three of my favorite things; chocolate, coffee, and Phin. She wasn't all bad. As I sat and ate the most delicious croissant I'd had in my life, I wondered how it was going upstairs, so I changed the subject.
"So, Olivia, shall we talk about your future involvement in the charity?"
