Both women were silent, thinking about all that had been said.
Kate spoke first. “What an extraordinary, truly fantastic...”
“Story?” Sara’s voice held the deep sadness she’d held inside for so many years.
“No. Coincidence,” Kate said firmly. “You and Cal graduated from high school, which I know that back then meant marriage age, and immediately, everything happened.”
“Are you again saying that it’s good I didn’t marry Cal so you and Jack aren’t related?”
“Not at all. I’m just looking at the facts. A car fell on Cal’s dad and crushed his legs. It didn’t kill him, just injured him enough that Cal had to stay home to run the business and support everyone. Thenon that same day, Walter Kirkwood was in a rage because he believedyouhad poisoned his girlfriend—your bestie—against him.”
“I didn’t do that. It wasn’t my business. Tayla knew I didn’t like Walter, but then, she thought Cal was a bore. We used to say that we were equal.” She looked at Kate. “What are you saying?”
“You’ve taught me this—if you want to know what happened, look at the result.”
Sara’s face was blank.
“What are the odds of this? Inone day, you lost everything, but who got it all?”
Sara’s eyes widened. “Donna. Cal ended up having to marry her. She’d always wanted him. In school, she made a fool of herself over him. Shehatedme. She—” Sara sat down on the window ledge. “She couldn’t have done that. Crushing a man? Setting up a rape? She wouldn’t.”
“Ha!” Kate said. “Haven’t you read Jane Austen? A woman will doanythingto get the man she wants. Donna didn’t have money or beauty or even brains. But she married the cream of the crop. All she had to do was kick over a car jack, tell a few lies to Walter, and wiggle up to a healthy young man who had been abandoned by the love of his life. Then Donna stood back and waited. She must have been joyous when she came up pregnant.”
Sara’s voice was low. “Cal said he didn’t remember sleeping with her. He woke up and there she was beside him in bed. He was embarrassed and apologized to her.”
“He had a foggy memory?” Kate said. “Didn’t your generation invent recreational drugs? Sounds like something was given to him. Slipped into a drink?”
Sara’s voice was a whisper. “Cal never loved her.”
“Neither does Jack. She wasn’t a grandmother to him.”
“Donna only loved her son, Roy, and she ruined him.”
“In the long run, you won. You kept Cal’s love. Always.”
“He and I met many times over the years. Somewhere in the world. We had our own life. It wasn’t conventional, but it was good.”
“I know you did. I listen. And now you have Jack and me. Who does Donna have?”
“No one.” Sara put her shoulders back. “I don’t know if any of this is true, but suddenly, I feel...different.” She looked around the beautiful cottage. “I’m not afraid of this place anymore. It’s almost as though Cal is here, but in a good way.” She paused. “I can feel... I don’t know what it is, but I’m lighter. Mind and body—and the past.” Her head came up. “I think I’m going to try to solve a murder. I’d like to ask Reid some questions.Didhe know he was to inherit this place? We assume he didn’t know, but we aren’t sure. And has Alish really been able to keep Greer’s nondeath a secret from him? And oh yeah, did he happen to know that his grandmother says she killed a man then cut his skull open? Wonder what she did with the turtle rug. I’ll see you later.” Sara hurried out of the cottage.
Sara may have felt better, but Kate felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. She’d felt her aunt’s pain as she told of the brutal rape. And later, Sara’d had no one she could tell because she knew she’d be blamed.
And there was Cal with his crippled father. Kate had never heard anyone say a good word about the man. Cal’s son, Roy, had grown up with a heart full of anger. He’d taken a lot of it out on his son Jack.
Kate sat down hard on the low window ledge. She had no doubt that all that pain had been caused by some girl who lusted after the captain of the high school football team. She wanted him no matter what it cost other people.
Kate had her phone in her pocket and she texted Heather, Jack’s mother.
What happened to Roy’s mother?
Heather answered right away.
She’s in the hospital. Dying. Cancer.
Does she have lots of visitors? With tears being shed?
Heather sent a line of laughing emojis.
