“I said now.”
Lizzie flinched. She stood up automatically. She wanted to stay and understand what was happening. But Sarah’s face was completely closed off.
Defeated, she headed for the stairs. But instead of going to the office, she stopped at the second-floor landing where the windows overlooked the front entrance.
Down below, Sarah grabbed her mother by the arm. Not gently. She practically dragged her toward the front doors. Several late-night guests were returning from dinner. They stopped and stared as Sarah and her mother passed.
This was completely undignified. Completely unlike the composed GM Sarah always presented. Through the glass doors, Lizzie saw them on the front walkway. Sarah said something. Her mother responded. They were arguing but Lizzie couldn’t hear the words.
Isolde was gesturing wildly. Pleading. Her hands were pressed together as if she were praying, pleading with Sarah. Sarah stood rigid with her arms crossed.
Then Isolde’s hand moved and flew through the evening air. It connected with Sarah’s face. Hard. Sarah’s head snapped to the side. Lizzie gasped and pressed her hand over her mouth.
Her feet itched to intervene, but she didn’t have a chance. Sarah composed herself, said a few words and turned away from her mother. Her posture was straight but something about it looked brittle. Like she might shatter if you said another word to her.
Isolde stood there for a moment. Then she walked to the parking lot where a beat-up sedan was parked. She got in and drove away.
Movement caught Lizzie’s eye. Some of the late arrivals had witnessed the scene and were talking. Not a good look for the hotel. But outside, something far worse was happening.Cynthia had appeared. And she smiled. She’d clearly seen the whole thing.
Lizzie ran to the office and got there just before Sarah did. She sat in one of the chairs when Sarah walked in and closed the door.
They looked at each other. Sarah’s cheek was red where her mother had hit her.
Lizzie walked to her side. Despite the news she’d learned this evening, she wanted nothing more than to comfort Sarah.
“Don’t.”
“Are you ok? Your mom … she said…”
“Whatever she said, don’t believe her. She’s a liar. A professional liar.” Sarah’s shoulders shook. Lizzie realized with a shock that she was crying. Silently. Tears running down her face while she stared at the floor.
Lizzie attempted to put her hand on Sarah’s shoulder, but Sarah jerked away.
“Don’t touch me. Please. I can’t—if you touch me right now I’m going to fall apart and I can’t fall apart. Not here. Not now.”
“Then let’s go to your apartment. We can talk there.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Sarah, your mother just slapped you in front of guests. A bunch of people saw. And she told me you were in trouble in the past…that you crashed a car and…”
Sarah’s face went even paler. She sank into her desk chair and put her head in her hands. “This is a disaster. This is what Billy was trying to prevent by paying her off all these years.”
What? What strange soap opera had Lizzie walked in on here.
“Sarah, please explain what is going on. Paid her off for what? Where you in trouble or…”
Sarah jumped up. “Lizzie, I adore you but I can’t do this tonight. Please go home. To your place. I need to be alone.”
There was no argument to be made. Sarah’s voice was firm. She wasn’t going to tell Lizzie anything. And she wasn’t going to let her comfort her either. So, Lizzie did the only thing she could. She kissed Sarah’s cheek-and left her alone.
Chapter 23
Sarah
Sarah hadn’t slept. She’d stared at the ceiling of her apartment until the sky turned gray, then forced herself into the shower. The water scalded her skin, but she didn’t adjust it.
Her reflection showed what two hours of sleep looked like. Dark circles that concealer couldn’t quite hide. The faint bruise on her cheek where her mother had slapped her. She built up layers of foundation until the mark disappeared.
