“Well, seeing how sad you’ve been feeling ever since you came here, I thought it might be lovely for all the sisters to be together again.”
All the sisters?The words echoed in Phyllis’ mind.
“Does that mean—” Phyllis started, but she wasn’t allowed to finish her question, because Joyce exclaimed loudly, interrupting her.
“Yes! Charlotte is coming here as well, and we will be all together again, just like before! Won’t it be ever so wonderful, Phyllis?”
Phyllis, though grateful for her sister’s concern, couldn’t help but feel a pang of reluctance. She hesitated, a mixture of emotions playing across her face. The mention of Charlotte, her elder sister, invoked memories of the very fears and uncertainties that had led her to make the decision to leave the Woldaves estate. At a moment like this, she did not need any more doubt and suspicion, and that was what she believed Charlotte would bring.
Joyce, unaware of the internal struggle of her sister, continued, “She could stay with us for a while, and we could reminisce about the old times, create new memories together. It might be just what you need to find solace and comfort in familiar bonds.”
Phyllis managed a small smile, attempting to mask the deeper turmoil within. While the prospect of seeing Charlotte again held the promise of familial warmth, it also threatened to unravel the carefully woven fabric of her decision to distance herself from the life she had once feared.
Phyllis, ever mindful of her sister’s good intentions, managed to summon a more genuine smile, nodding in agreement with Joyce’s proposal. “Yes, Joyce, inviting Charlotte sounds like a delightful idea. It’s been far too long since we’ve all been together. I look forward to catching up and seeing what she has been up to.”
Joyce’s eyes sparkled with satisfaction, believing that this sisterly reunion would be the antidote to Phyllis’ somber demeanor. “I am so glad that you like the idea!”
“How could I not?” Phyllis wondered, unable to not be infected with her sister’s enthusiasm.
She gazed at Joyce with such tenderness. She envied her for that naivety, for her good fortune to find the man who loved her as much as she loved him. That was a rare thing, a very precious thing. Phyllis could see it now. She thought she would never fall in love. She thought it was a conscious effort one had to take, an act of rebellion against the norms that dictated life as they knew it.
But she knew better now. She knew that love was not something she could plan, and certainly not something she could avoid. She had no idea when it happened, when was the moment that she truly fell in love with the man she now called her husband. Now, but not for long. It was a sad reminder that her life would not go down the path she had chosen, nor down the path others had chosen for her. This annulment would forge a completely new path, one wrought with uncertainties, a path she would walk alone, with a broken heart. She didn’t even dare to think how this would affect their father and his own demeanor towards her. But, she would cross that bridge when she got to it. There was no point in thinking about it beforehand.
“Are you all right, Phyllis?” Her sister’s voice brought her back to the present moment.
Phyllis smiled. Despite everything, she still had someone by her side, someone who loved her unconditionally. “I am, Joyce. I really am. It’s just that sometimes… sadness washes over me. Life didn’t turn out the way I thought it would. I’m not where I thought I would be at this point in my life. It surprised me so many times, and now, once again.”
Joyce quickly took her by the hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “I know life can be unpredictable, that we don’t know what to expect, but there is one thing that is constant. Do you know what that is?”
“What?” Phylis smiled, sensing something sweet to come.
“I will always be by your side, Phyllis, no matter what. Always.”
“I know,” Phyllis gushed, feeling overwhelmed. “I am so grateful to have you.”
“No,” Joyce shook her head. “It is I who am the grateful one. I owe my happiness to you. I will be forever in your debt because of it. I will be here for you for whatever you need. You will always be able to count on me.”
Phyllis squeezed her hand back, and together, they walked in the direction of the house. In the days that followed, as plans were set in motion to welcome Charlotte, Phyllis found herself wrestling with the conflicting desires to reconnect with her family and to shield herself from the painful reminders of the life she had left behind.
Yet, with each passing moment, she resolved to face whatever challenges lay ahead, determined to navigate the complex dance of family ties and personal fears.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
As the appointed hour for Charlotte’s arrival drew near, Joyce gathered by Phyllis at the entrance, anticipation tugging at her heart. Phyllis, however, stood slightly apart, her demeanor a mix of politeness and an underlying reserve. The days passed by so quickly that Phyllis had barely noticed them, in the flurry of preparing for Charlotte’s arrival.
Joyce, radiant with excitement, kept glancing toward the winding road, eager for the first glimpse of the approaching carriage. “Oh, Phyllis, I can hardly contain my joy at the thought of having all three sisters together again. I can’t even remember how long it has been! I feel like a little girl about to receive the best present ever!”
Phyllis managed a faint smile, concealing the internal struggle beneath her polite facade. The sound of approaching hooves resonated through the air, drawing everyone’s attention to the entrance gate. The carriage, lacking any clear markings of a crest, rolled to a graceful halt.
As the door swung open, Charlotte emerged, a vision of regal elegance. Her eyes lit up with delight at the sight of her sisters, and she hurried toward them with open arms. Joyce enveloped her in a warm embrace, and even Phyllis extended a reserved but courteous greeting.
“It is so lovely to see you both!” Charlotte exclaimed, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her sisters.
Charlotte, though bearing the weight of her life’s trials, carried herself with a graceful dignity that spoke of resilience. Her once-vibrant eyes, weathered by the passage of time and the challenges faced, retained a spark of enduring warmth. Fine lines etched themselves around her eyes and mouth, testaments to the hardships that she had endured in her life.
“Why don’t we all go inside, and I’ll immediately send for some tea,” Joyce suggested, as she locked arms with Charlotte on one hand and Phyllis on the other. Even those who did not know them, could have easily guessed who was the youngest of the sisters, for Joyce still had that childlike exuberance and merriment which seemed to infuse all those around her.
Just as Charlotte was about to say something, Phyllis interfered. “Joyce, I know you are ecstatic to speak to Charlotte and spend time with her, but her trip from Scotland has been a rather long one. I do believe that we ought to give her some time to freshen up and maybe even rest, and once she has done that, we can have all the tea in the world while we catch up.”
