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She waves her hand and goes to the refrigerator, then comes to the table with some drinks. I take my seat and notice Dad’s seat is empty. “Where’s Dad?”
“I’ve taken some food to him down in his office. He said he had some paperwork to finish off,” Sybil says and takes a serving spoon for the potato salad, but when I look around the table, no one meets my gaze.
Clearly, he’s avoiding me.
“Oh, okay.”
No one says another word.
We all dig into the salads and eat mostly in silence, apart from the odd question here or there. No one asks about Eli or what I’ve been doing. Good. I don’t want to answer those questions yet, and when Olive gets here, I’m sure they’ll ask those and plenty more.
Once we finish, we all sit around the large table. Harley and Hudson chat about the horse sales tomorrow, and Tally clears the table with Mabel helping her. Odette is engrossed in her iPad. Devon comes in a little late but takes a seat next to Odette. They’re so cute. It’s as though they understand each other and respect one another. It’s beautiful. I’m so glad she’s been able to find someone who makes her happy.
“Dee is coming with me tomorrow to the yards,” Harley announces.
Hudson’s head turns in my direction, and he cocks his eyebrow. “The horse whisperer, you mean. I’m interested in seeing what she comes back with. They’re usually the ones that need the most work.”
“Yeah, are you going to be around long enough to help with that, Dee?” Tally sneers as she loudly places plates in the sink.
“Enough, Tally.” Sybil sighs.
“It’s okay, she’s entitled to her remarks. I’m not dignifying you with a response. I’ve apologized to you. Do with it what you want. Continue to hate me, I don’t care. I’m going to my room.” As I rise from my chair, it scrapes on the floor. I turn to Harley. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“The usual time,” he says.
I nod and escape the room knowing full well they’ll be having a heated conversation once I leave. I hope Odette and Devon aren’t there for that. They don’t need their happy spirits squashed. When I get to the bottom of the stairs leading back to my room, Odette’s voice booms.
“Why you so mean, Tally?” She genuinely sounds hurt.
I don’t hear anything else as I escape upstairs, taking two steps at a time.
This family will need some time to mend, and it’s all because I fell in love with the farmhand, and Dad didn’t approve. There’s no stopping love, even when that love hurts so much, it leaves bruises, and that’s what Eli did. He left many colors on my skin in various places.
I couldn’t leave, though.
I loved him as much as I did when I’d first left with him.
No one would or could understand.
Things are different now—I’m different. I see Eli for what he really was and still is—the monster who haunts my dreams.
“MAKE SURE YOU TAKE Asmall first-aid kit and lots of warm clothes.” Mom gives me my list of what to pack for the girls while we’re away.
“I know, Mom. I know how to pack for my kids.” I sigh. She does this all the time. I should be used to it, but with Mom, no matter how many times I tell her I know, it’s never enough. She’ll continue to be the overbearing grandmother. It’s good for them to have a strong female figure in their life to look up to. I couldn’t ask for a better role model, though. Sandra King is Momma King to many of the closest people in my life. She’d take my friends in and feed them like they were strays living on the street.
“Honey, you haven’t gone away for any length of time with them. Perhaps I should come with you.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got it.” I remove the phone from my ear and put it on speaker, placing it on the bed so I can get these last few things packed.
“You might need some help with them,” she pushes.
“Mom, I love you, but let me learn on my own. It’s been almost a year. I’m sure I can manage. Ihavebeen managing just fine.”
“Are you running away because it’s the first anniversary of Anna-Beth’s death?”
Loss slams into me once again. Her name is a punch to the stomach, winding me.
“I’ve got to go, Mom. I’ll talk to you later.” I throw a shirt in the suitcase and pause, rubbing my forehead.
