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“I have a 3 o’clock tee time,” Sean says. “Gina is going to take Matthew to the Children’s Center for a few hours.”
“The Children’s Center…what for?”
“Are you feeling okay?” he asks cocking his head.
“I’m fine. I just—”
“Sorry,” Sean says to Gina. “We’re ke
eping you. The plans of the diligent lead to profit, as surely as haste leads to poverty.” He points to the stairs. “Matthew’s in the playroom.”
“Proverbs 21:5,” she says, like it’s a test. I watch as she climbs the stairs. Sean turns to me. “Go up and shower. I’ve laid a dress out on the bed. You and I are going to have a little fun.”
“Why is Matthew going with Gina?”
He smiles and takes my hand. “Like I said, I have something to show you.”
I follow him down to the wine cellar. “Sean, what’s going on?”
They like to keep you in the dark. Literally and figuratively. “Why is Matthew going with the nanny?”
He locks the door. My throat swells. “Sean?”
“You ask a lot of questions, don’t you?”
“I have a right to know where my son is going.”
“You have no rights. Your parents married you off to the highest bidder. And that was me, darling. I saved you from a wretched life in the wretched town. I saved you from a life where your only purpose would be to pop out baby after baby. There wouldn’t be fancy dinners or weekend getaways. And certainly, none of those expertise classes you’re always insisting on.”
“But none of that has anything to do with Matthew. You know this.”
“You signed the agreement and now you want to disrespect me by questioning my judgment? And you have the audacity to tell me you have rights?” He laughs. “I own you, remember? Bought you fair and square. Just like all those men…in all those hotels…oh, and speaking of—I heard about your trip. I also heard it was your idea to pursue this one. You like him. And clearly, he likes you.”
“He was a better target, that’s all.”
“For who?”
“For the church, of course.”
“You sure about that? Because I’m not.”
“I never wanted to be a Siren, Sean. It’s not like I had a choice.”
“Some people can’t help what they are. You started out as a whore, looking for a man to take care of you, so this should be nothing new. I’m just hoping for everyone’s sake that you don’t get any bright ideas in that tiny little brain of yours. You aren’t educated, remember that. That’s why you have me to make the decisions.”
I am unfazed by his cruelty. It is well worn; I have been broken in like an old pair of shoes. “And Matthew…what did he do?”
“He misbehaved. A bit too much like his mother, if you ask me.”
“But what did he do? I can have a talk with him.”
I can see he’s reaching—this isn’t about Matthew at all. “He touched my letter opener after I told him not to. He thinks it’s a play toy. Talk is cheap, Vanessa. And anyway, it’s too late for that.”
“No!” I cry. “Sean, please don’t do this...”
He covers my mouth with his hand and leans in close. His spittle wets my face. “If you cause a scene, it’ll only be worse. Not just for you. For everyone.” He steps back and crosses his arms. “But then, they’ll hardly hear you down here.”
I feel the tears sting my eyes. “You can’t do this, Sean. He’s just a baby.”
