Page 23 of The Banned Books Club
Not like this one. Death was approaching—slowly but inexorably—and Margot considered knowing that time was running out to be both a blessing and a curse. Ida’s diagnosis had given them the chance to get prepared before it was too late. But watching her suffer wasn’t worth the trade-off.
Margot wondered, again, if she should wait to leave Sheldon—stick it out in Wakefield for a few more months.
Could she survive mentally and emotionally if she did? Would she have the willpower to start over somewhere else after Ida was gone?
She was afraid that if she didn’t have such a good reason for visiting her family so often, he would only clamp down on her that much harder and she’d have even less freedom.
“You hungry?” Gia tossed the question over her shoulder as she cracked an egg.
“Not really,” Margot said.
Gia turned to look at her. “Have you eaten? Because from what I can see, you’ve lost almost as much weight as Mom.”
Margot shook her head. “I haven’t lost nearly that much,” she said, but during the past few months, the pounds had been melting off. It was the anxiety. Living with someone like Sheldon kept her constantly agitated. And since she’d decided to leave, she was always stewing about how she was going to get away from him, where she’d go and what she’d do once she left—and how she was going to protect herself and her children if he came after her legally or physically. “He’s demeaning” wasn’t a strong defense. Not nearly as strong as if she could claim physical abuse. He’d been careful not to go that far, and yet what he did was equally bruising, especially to someone as sensitive as she was. Just because no one could see those bruises didn’t make them any less real. “I’ve been eating healthy, trying to cut out all the junk,” she said, but she’d made no such concerted effort.
Fortunately, since most of the attention was focused on Ida these days, her own weight loss hadn’t become a focal point, and she didn’t want that to change.
“Well, sit down and have some eggs and toast, at least,” Gia insisted. “Unless regular food is ‘junk’ to you now.”
Margot figured it’d be wiser to try to choke down some breakfast than argue. She slid into the other side of the booth and all the way around to be able to take her mother’s hand.
Ida smiled at the gesture. “How’re the boys?”
“They’re doing great.”
“And Sheldon?”
She could no longer meet her mother’s eye. Because of him, she was about to walk away without an explanation or a forwarding address. But she’d spent countless hours thinking it over and couldn’t see a better way. Drawing them into her confidence would only make matters worse. She would not start a feud between the two families and have her parents try to defend her in the middle of all they were going through. “He’s...busy.”
“He works too hard,” Ida said matter-of-factly.
“He’s quite a guy.” Margot had been saying such things for so long—without her parents picking up on the sarcasm belying those statements—that she felt a stab of alarm when her sister sent her a curious look.
“Was that sincere?” Gia asked, eyebrows knitted in confusion.
Margot conjured up an innocent expression. “Of course,” she replied, but knew with Gia around, she’d have to be more careful. Her sister would quickly pick up on the clues her parents missed.
“I guess Sheldon didn’t hearIwas back in town,” Gia said. “Or he would’ve made arrangements to be here this morning.”
There was no missinghersarcasm. But then... Gia had never been subtle. She usually said what she felt—or her feelings were written all over her face.
“Gia...” their father gently chided.
No doubt Leo was hoping to get ahead of anything that might distress Ida. But their mother didn’t react. She suddenly seemed so deep in her own thoughts Margot wasn’t even sure she was listening to the exchange.
After a quick glance at their father, Gia returned to cooking. For once, her sister had chosen to back down. Margot was happy to see that. It meant she was finally learning some restraint.
Maybe, just maybe, Margot would be able to trust Leo and Ida to her sister’s care. After her recent indecision, all the second-guessing, she decided that her plans were most definitely back on.
If Gia could learn to keep the peace, Margot thoughtshecould learn to stand up and fight.
7
Gia was just reaching for the door handle of the bedroom, holding the green tea she was about to carry in, when she heard her mother answer a call that stopped her in her tracks. The surprise in Ida’s voice tipped her off that something was up, which was what initially made her pause. It wasn’t until she heard a bit more of the conversation that she realized the caller had to be connected to her former English teacher.
Instantly angry that anyone, especially someone from the Hart camp, would contact Ida about what happened seventeen years ago, Gia was tempted to barge in and grab the phone. But she was hesitant to give herself away so soon. She was keen to learn who it could be, what the person wanted—and to see how Ida would respond.
Although her mother’s voice came through the wooden panel, it was muffled enough that Gia found herself leaning closer. “It’s in the past...We didn’t decide his fate, the judge did...I’m not sure what to tell you, Louisa. Your father had the chance to give his side...That isn’t an easy thing to prove—it’s darn near impossible...She wouldn’t lie. Not for a grade...I’m not taking offense...Of course I appreciate the care you and your brother have given our cat. But there’s nothing I can do for you when it comes to your father...You’ll have to talk to Gia. But I can’t guarantee you’ll like how she responds. My oldest daughter speaks her mind...You, too...Thanks for calling.”
