“Do you want to tell me why mother and father aren’t here with you two?”
Her face fell. “Yes, that.”
“Rose, did something happen?”
She sighed, leaning on her elbows. “I suppose there's no point in putting it off.”
“I thought you said it wasn't that bad.”
“In some ways it isn’t. In some ways it upsets me all the more.”
“Please just tell me. I’m starting to get nervous.”
She sighed. “Well. They said where you live is too remote and out of the way to be worth visiting.”
Relife flooded Veronica. She couldn’t help but smile, letting out a small laugh. “Oh, is that all?”
“What do you mean is that all? They basically admitted they didn’t want to see you! It is terrible!”
“Perhaps, but if I’m honest, I didn’t want to see them either.”
“I don’t understand.”
“What’s not to understand? After the way they treated me on my wedding day, I was less than interested in facing them again.”
“I see,” her face fell slightly. “I suppose I can understand that,” she hesitated.
“What is it?” Veronica asked. “You know you can speak freely with me.”
“I know, I was just- was what they did really that bad?”
“I consider it unforgivable. They treated me as less than a daughter—nothing more than an asset to trade for financial security.”
She looked away. “I know they did, but you’re going to forgive them, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“Why not? You’re happy now, aren’t you?”
Veronica smiled. “I am happier than I would have expected. I think I’m really starting to build a life here.”
“Then what’s the problem? They didn’t really cause any harm, and they are our parents. No matter what they did or how we feel, there’s nothing we can do that will change that. They weredoing what they thought would be best for all of us, regardless of how misguided as it might have been.”
“How can you be so sure of that?”
Rose just gave a tight smiled. “Because I need to think that.”
She took a deep breath. “You’re right. They are our parents. Neither you nor I can change anything about that fact. That’s why what they did was so unforgivable. They were supposed to love and look after me. I’ve escaped being wedded to a lecher, but… Rose, am I so difficult to love? Am I only worth a bit of money?”
“I can understand why you feel that way, but-”
“Are you really going to look me in the eye and say it isn’t true?”
Rose shook her head. “I don’t want to believe it is.”
“But I lived through it. I don’t have a choice but to believe it.”
“I suppose I can understand that,” Rose said reluctantly.
