Carolina sighed, realizing she was going to have to face her former mother-in-law alone.
She stepped inside, grateful for the warmth. Janice was aiming a remote at the fireplace.
“This thing doesn’t work.”
“That’s because it’s a TV remote.” Carolina headed into the kitchen.
Janice looked around, “I don’t see a TV.”
“That’s because the renters stole it along with the dryer and other items.”
“Why did you let that happen?” Janice demanded.
“I didn’t let anything happen. I had no idea who Chris was renting the lake house to. Apparently, they were causing trouble on the lake because one of them ran over someone’s mailbox and was disturbing the peace.”
Janice arched her brow. “You should have had a better handle on who you rented it to.”
All the emotions she had been storing up deep inside rose like a rolling boil into the back of her throat. She slammed her coffee mug down on the kitchen counter and spun around.
“Like everything else in my life I didn’t know what was going on because Chris kept me in the dark. I had no idea who was renting the lake house because every time I asked, he told me it was none of my business. And I had no idea that he was cheating on me for over a year because he said he was working extra hours at the hospital. And I had no idea he’d gotten his twenty-two-year old mistress pregnant until she showed up at a neighbor’s party and announced it. I didn’t ask for any of these things, yet here I am dealing with the fallout. All my life you have done nothing but criticize me and tell me I wasn’t enough. Well congratulations, you don’t have to concern yourself any longer. You are done with me. You now have a new daughter-in-law that I’m sure will please you in every way. Now if you don’t mind I’ve got to get ready.”
Janice stared at her like she’d grown a third head. “Where are you going?”
“I’ve got to go into town to try and find a job so I can pay back the loan for this roof I’m having put on.” She didn’t wait around to hear anymore of what Janice had to say.
With adrenaline pumping through her veins, she stormed into the bathroom.
Chapter 22
When Carolina came out dressed in tan slacks and a white button-down shirt, Janice was nowhere to be seen.
She let out a sigh of relief. She felt bad about speaking to her former mother-in-law that way, but it had been a long time coming. Frankly, it felt good to put her in her place.
She had read the story of Ruth in the Bible and wondered what it would be like to have a mother-in-law who truly loved you. Ruth had been willing to give up everything to follow her mother-in-law and in the end she’d been blessed.
Carolina never had that kind of relationship with Janice. Even from the get-go the woman made it clear that she didn’t think Carolina was good enough for her son.
Janice’s husband had died before Carolina came into the picture. From what Chris had told her the couple had been married almost fifty years before he had a massive heart attack.
She’d always thought that Janice was jealous of Carolina for taking Chris away. Instead of seeing it as gaining a daughter she saw it as losing a son.
No matter. It wasn’t her problem now. She bet Janice would get on well with Kylie. She was young enough, thin enough, and now soon to be mother of Chris’s baby.
The thought cut through her like a knife.
Something inside her wasn’t surprised though. All her life there was some tiny voice in the back of her head that told her she wasn’t worthy of the life she led.
And now it had come true.
She shook her head and slid into her jeep. As she drove into town, she took time to notice all the trees changing colors.
It felt more beautiful here, even with all the issues she was having.
Her stomach rumbled reminding her she had been so eager to get away from Janice that she’d forgotten to eat.
She spotted the diner and found an empty spot in front and parked. She could get a quick breakfast and maybe talk to Getty about some job opportunities.
She walked in and saw that someone had left a copy of the newspaper on top of the garbage can. She grabbed it and and located an empty table in the corner of the room. She sat and pulled out her notebook and pen.
