Page 16 of The Banned Books Club
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but—” Venice lifted her arm to indicate her watch “—I need to be back at work in fifteen minutes. Are we going to have to reschedule?”
“No,” Louisa said. “I’m sorry for the wait. We...we ran into an issue, but Dr. Hart can see you and Trixie now.”
“Thank you,” Venice said, and his sister cast him a final worried glance that indicated they’d have to finish their Gia Rossi conversation later.
5
Once she was parked at the grocery store, Gia called Sammie for moral support. “I’m at Higgleston’s and there isn’t a Hart in sight,” she said as she got out of her father’s SUV, dropped the keys in her purse and gazed furtively around the parking lot. She had a list of items she wanted to pick up for the meals she’d planned last night, but she could wait if she happened to spot someone she’d rather not see. According to Sammie, Mr. Hart—Evan, she reminded herself, even though he’d only ever been Mr. Hart to her—still lived in town. So did Sharon, the woman he’d been married to when she was in high school, and all three of his children, two of whom were married. She didn’t want to bump into any of them.
“I told you I’d pick up what you need,” Sammie said.
Gia hitched her purse higher. “You’re at work.”
“I get off at five.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I hope to be making dinner by then.” Gia paused to let a vehicle cross in front of her. “I can’t hide in my parents’ house all winter. Even if I could, I refuse to. I’m just...trying to ease into life here in Wakefield without making too many waves.”
“Considering how fast gossip travels in this town, that’ll be impossible,” her friend responded.
Gia feared Sammie was right, but she was still raw from seeing her mother in such feeble condition. Knowing she was losing Ida—and in one of the worst ways—was bad enough. She didn’t need anything else to upset her. “You said I probably know one of Mr. Hart’s sons-in-law,” she said as she approached the entrance.
“Victor. He was two years behind us in school. He’s married to Louisa.”
“I don’t remember a Victor.”
“Your parents would know him. He worked for your dad after high school—until he saved up enough to start college.”
“Running the office?” She’d almost always had sports after school, so Margot had been the one to help their father with the paperwork at his small agency on a regular basis. Victor must’ve stepped in after Margot left.
“I think he was selling insurance, but you’ll have to ask your father.”
She wasn’t going to mention the Harts to Leo or Ida. Her parents didn’t even like to be reminded of what’d happened during her senior year. It was partly how they’d reacted, as if she should’ve somehow expected—and avoided—what Mr. Hart had done that’d cut her so deeply. She’d felt as though she’d had to convince them she’d been victimized, that they’d been tempted to believe their wild daughter must’ve been culpable in some way. “Doesn’t matter. I was just wondering why I couldn’t remember him.”
“He was a bit of a nerd—a gamer. These days he does computer programming, builds websites, that sort of thing.”
“And yet he once sold insurance for my father?”
“I think he was trying to get enough money to start college. Or his parents were tired of having him hole away in his bedroom and made him get a regular job. I don’t know. Anyway, he works out of the house and takes care of the kids while Louisa runs the veterinary office for her brother.”
Gia grabbed the closest shopping cart. After a few steps she realized it had a wonky wheel, but she didn’t bother going back to get a different one. She was hoping to make this as quick as possible. “How many kids do they have?”
“Two. A boy and a girl. They’re both in elementary school.”
The automatic doors whooshed open as she entered the store. “And Edith?”
“Edith married Dan Mudrak and they have one little boy.”
“Dan Mudrak,” she repeated, searching her memory.
“He moved here after you left,” Sammie said.
“What does he do?”
“Sells farm equipment.”
“And Edith?”
“She edits out of her home.”
