Violetta was tempted to throw the glass of water at Carlotta but decided against it, remembering the black eye she had given her when they were still children.
‘What do you want me to do?’ she asked her sister as she left the kitchen to sit next to Grace in the lounge.
‘I want you to take it seriously. I want both of you to take it seriously,’ yelled Carlotta, her face red.
‘I am the only one turning up. Grace, you are still between two jobs and we need you in the marketing department. It’s bad you aren’t there – everyday people are prepped for you and you don’t turn up. It makes you and us look like spoilt brats.’
Carlotta turned her attention to Violetta. ‘You are worse,’ she accused her.
‘Why? I turn up,’ said Violetta, looking at her feet and thinking she needed a pedicure.
‘I know, but you don’t do anything. You go on Facebook or look at that stupid socialite ranking website. I know – the staff tell Chris. They think you are hilarious, and not in a flattering way.’
Violetta crossed her arms as Carlotta went on with her tirade.
‘You are possibly the most stylish and knowledgeable person I know when it comes to fashion. You are so fucking smart and you are throwing it all away because Dad said you were useless or a slut or something. Well, guess what, he said shitty things to us also. I was ugly, that’s why only horses loved me.’
Violetta and Grace looked shocked at their sister’s admission and then Violetta started to laugh. She laughed until she was crying. Carlotta stared at her, tears falling down her cheeks. ‘It’s not funny,’ she cried.
‘It is. It’s so funny. Not about what he said but the fact that he would say that to someone, his own daughter. Man, he’s truly the worst person in the world. He’s a cunt.’
Grace gasped and put her hand over her mouth.
‘He is a cunt,’ said Carlotta, and she started to laugh a little.
‘He once told me I wasn’t smart enough to work in a Pajaro store,’ said Violetta.
‘He told me I should marry a horse, because that was the only thing that would ever like me.’
Then she and Violetta were crying and laughing at the same time.
Then they heard Grace’s quiet voice.
‘He told me I was his favourite.’ she said. ‘It was such a huge burden. I hated it.’
Carlotta laughed hysterically and so did Violetta.
‘What?’ Grace asked, seemingly confused.
‘He said I was his favourite, said Carlotta.
‘Me also,’ said Violetta. ‘I used to think if this is how he spoke to his favourite then I can’t imagine how life was for you two.’
Grace started laughing at them and then crying, as Violetta sat between her sisters on the sofa.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said quietly. ‘I know I’m doing this stupid show, I am trying to get out of it. I feel so scattered. I will step up, I promise.’
‘Me too,’ said Grace. ‘I will be at Pajero, on time every day. I promise.’
Carlotta sat for a while. ‘It’s not about the money, it’s about the company. Mom started this and then Dad took it off her. Now she is in a coma and so, it seems, is Pajaro. I want to honour her and return it to what it once was, what makes it what Mom wanted it to be.’
Violetta and Grace listened.
Carlotta turned to them. ‘Grace, you are the most like Mom and you have the elegance to bring it back to what she would like, underneath all the crap that Leon and their lifestyle forced upon her. You are genius at marketing. Come on,’ she implored.
Grace smiled at her older sister. ‘I’m there, you can count on me.’
‘Me too,’ said Violetta. ‘I promise.’
