Minnie stumbles into her arms, hearing Marlin driving away. The floodgates come forth, spilling down her face as she hugs her sister. A sob is strangled in her throat. “Ariel. It was awful. It was just like that day, it felt just like when I was held hostage-”
“Whoa, slow down, come on, let’s get you sitting down somewhere.” Ariel is turning lights on and pulling her towards one of the fancy sitting rooms that no one ever uses. Everything is pristine, white, and marble. Not a speck of dust to be seen. “Your mousey crying is going to wake up the whole house. You don’t want to have Mother-”
Too late. “Minerva!” A cry of worry spills down the grand white staircase. “Oh, my darling, you look dreadful! Oh, simplyghastly!” Their mother slinks down the stairs, her royal blue silken robe catching every light. There are pearls at her neck, good lord, did she put those on to answer the door?! At this hour?!
“Mom!” Ariel scoffs, clutching Minnie to herself. “Why are youthe worst? Can’t you see she already feels bad enough? Stop insulting her.”
Within moments, Marla Fray is cooing over Minnie, kissing the air by her tear-stained cheeks. “I’m not insulting her; she should know how she appears is giving me a fright!” Ariel makes a face at their mother, which Marla ignores as she gets Minnie situated. “Come, come, let’s get you some tea, my dove.”
She soon has a steaming cup of chamomile in Minnie’s trembling hands in the sitting room. The three of them sit, the teapot on the fine glass table between them as Minnie recounts her tale.
“I was at Gage’s place and the-” a violent hiccup interrupts Minnie’s story. “The police showed up! They took down the front door and swarmed the place, turning it upside down. Yelling and shouting, tossing everything. There was no warning at all.”
Her mother fans herself with her manicured hand, saying, “Goodness gracious, they stormed in?Unannounced?How impeccably rude, how terrifying!”
Minnie goes to add to the tale when a deeper voice pierces the room.
“The only terrifying thing this evening is the sound of wailing women in my house,” Minnie’s father says as he enters the room, quite put out, taken from his rest. He looks pointedly to his wife for explanation. “What is going on here, Marla?”
Clasping her hands, Marla replies with no short amount of angst, “Reginald, it wasterrible!”
Ariel makes another face, “Mom, you weren’t even there! Stop talking for Minnie!”
Disregarding her youngest daughter’s words, Marla continues on as if Ariel said nothing. “Poor Minnie’s boyfriend got taken by the cops tonight! She was with him at his home when this happened. The dear thing is terrorized after all the wanton violence.”
Reginald Fray remains scowling with displeasure in his fluffy nightrobe, but walks over to where Minnie sits and leans over her just enough to bestow a gentle kiss on the crown of her head. He makes his way over to the ornate chair that was once his grandfather’s, sitting as a lord in his own home. “That is most unfortunate, Minerva. Perhaps you will consider who you put your trust in after such an event.”
Minnie looks to him, trying to understand his emotions. He is disappointed with her still for being with Gage, she can tell by the tightness around his eyes. However, the kiss on her head was full of his fatherly care for her. She imagines he is struggling with her new relationship, but his wording about trust rings wrong in her ears.
“I went to the station,” Minnie admits to her family, clutching her teacup in her hands. It isn’t warm anymore, so her mother pours her some more.
“Youwhat?!” Her father sounds appalled. “Minerva, you shouldn’t get involved in police business. You know better.” Her mother nods in sage agreement.
Drinking more tea to try and put an end to her hiccups, Minnie says petulantly, “Well, I went. I wasn’t about to sit around and donothing. Everyone calls mea mouse,and I’m tired of it. I want to be more than some timid, fragile girl.” She inhales deep, steadying her breath. Her parents both look shocked by her declaration. “I spoke with Captain Noweth. He refused to let Gage go tonight, even though nothing was found. It’s not right. That can’t be legal.”
Ariel nods along with her supportively, red hair all mussed from sleep.
Their mother looks to their father, and she says reasonably, “Honey, can we not call Captain Noweth and maybe make him see reason? You’ve done it before. It’s so simple an ask and if Minnie’s boyfriend hasn’t done anything-”
Reginald stands up from his grand chair with a sharp movement. “Hasn’tdoneanything? Don’t make me laugh,” he says darkly, a brooding look crossing his face. He paces the room, agitated. The very air around him seems to crackle with anger. His demeanor unsettles.
Minnie watches him helplessly. She knew he didn’t like Gage on sight, but to this extent? What is going on? This is beyond a simple dislike. This is something elseentirely.
“You won’t help her because you don’t like him, Daddy?” Ariel asks, looking disgruntled. She scoffs. “That’s low of you. You’re always telling us to becharitable people!”
“It doesn’t matter if I like the man or not. And this has absolutely nothing to do with being charitable, Ariel; do not spit those words at me. It would be in Minerva’s best interest if herfriendwent back behind bars where he belongs,” her father says spitefully, no regret displayed whatsoever. He turns his back to them, staring at the fancy furniture that serves as one of his hidden file cabinets.
For a moment, all three women stare at him, trying to unpuzzle his abrasive tone and his words.
“You don’t even know him,” Minnie says tightly, feeling her eyes burn with indignation. It doesn’t make sense; the pieces aren’t lining up! “How can you just say someone deserves to be behind bars again, just from seeing him once?”
Without turning to look at her, her father replies, “I know enough. More than you, unfortunately. If you knew, we wouldn’t be in this situation.” His hands are fisted at his sides, head bowed.
Minnie’s eyes narrow, brow furrowed deep.What is he talking about?!It’s almost as if he’s having a conversation layered under another conversation!
The amount of botox in Marla’s forehead prevents it from creasing in confusion, but her tone makes it clear enough. “I’d like to invite us all to walk this conversation back a step or two. Minnie’s boyfriend was behind bars before? What am I missing?” She turns to stare at her daughter, eyes wide. “Minerva Fray, you arenotdating a criminal, are you?”
Ariel twiddles her thumbs, mouth zipped tight as she looks downward.
