Page 48 of Heartless
“It is, when you’re marrying a wealthy man like him.”
“We are not getting married,” I laughed bitterly. “We just started dating.”
I was pretty sure I was never getting married. I wasn’t wedding material. What was the point in binding your life with someone when independence meant more to you than connection?
“You wouldn’t be the first woman to get married after a few months of dating. At your age…” She started again but I couldn’t stand hearing another lecture about my dying eggs.
“What is that obsession you have with marriage? It’s not like you held on to yours when push came to shove. You chose yourself instead of fighting to keep your family.”
I knew it wasn’t fair, but that didn’t stop the words from coming out of my mouth. Besides I was in my twenties when they divorced, already living in New York. Clementine got hit the hardest. She was the one that stayed with Mom and had to suffer through her depressions and moods.
Dead silence followed my outburst, but I refused to speak first. Sylvia Hartley invaded my personal life without an ounce of remorse or guilt. Why should I spare her the uncomfortable questions?
“I should go,” she said after a few beats. “I have an AA meeting today.”
“Enjoy,” I said and hung up on her before she could hang up on me.
Chapter Sixteen
Madison
Somehow I ended up in front of my sister’s bakery after that phone call with our mother. The sweet aroma of freshly baked goods enveloped me as soon as I walked through the door. The place was small but cozy. Bright. It matched Clem’s personality. The new one that is. The wife. The mother. I still couldn't believe how much she had changed from the time she was a grumpy, spiteful teenage girl that hated everyone.
I didn’t exactly miss her dark teen years, but I also didn’t know how to be a sister to this new version. And I think I envied her a little. She looked at peace with herself and with her life. Did I have that peace in my life? Didn’t thinkso.
I looked behind the counter and saw an unfamiliar face. I didn’t know what I came for, but not finding Clem here disappointed me. Just as I was about to leave, I heard her voice calling.
“Madison?”
I turned around and found my sister and Hannah sitting at a table in the back with Daphne perched on my sister’s best friend’s lap. I waved and walked over to them.
“What are you doing here?” Clem asked, surprised.
I didn’t feel a bad vibe to her question but it stung either way.
“I decided to come check your place out. Since I’ve never been.”
The day of the opening I had a wedding in a chateau in the south of France. I came back home on rare occasions and for short periods of time. Oh, and I didn’t eat carbs, so I never really cared to visit.
Clem’s face morphed from happy to see me to blank. “Check my place out? You mean judge it.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.” I sent her a stern look.
“Do you want to join us?” Hannah interrupted what would probably become a fight with her sweet and calm voice.
“I don’t want to intrude,” I answered with a smile.
“You’re not intruding. It’s just girl talk. In fact,” her eyes flashed with interest. “I have like a ton of questions about you and Parker.”
“Good luck with making her share anything with you,” Clem murmured and stood up. “Do you want anything?”
“Just water,” I said and Clem rolled her eyes. “Is there something wrong with water now?”
“Nothing. I’ll be right back.”
When did I become my sister’s enemy again? I thought we were past our issues and lately she was acting like a brat.
“Do you want to hold her?” Hannah asked as I sat down.
