“Hi darling,” Theresa said, as she turned to greet Richard. She stepped forward to give him a kiss on the cheek, and he countered with a polite hug. “I have been very keen to return home to hear the plans that have been decided about our wedding. It has been all I could think about the entire summer.”
Richard and Margaret shared a look, and Allen opened and closed an ornate box nestled on the table within reach.
“Maybe we should all sit down and chat before tea is served.” Beatrice spoke up finally as she stood by, quietly watching from the corner. Theresa watched as Richard and Margaret resumed their seats on the couch. Confused, Theresa chose a chair opposite them.
Margaret smoothed down the baby blue dress that had layers of both white lace and a darker blue lace. Her chestnut brown hair hung in perfect ringlets around her face. Margaret’s lips came together to create the perfect pout and Theresa felt a surge of newfound jealousy toward her best friend.
Will there always be someone more beautiful than me?Theresa groaned internally as she watched Margaret finish messing with her dress and delicately place her hands together in her lap.
“What are you not telling me?” Theresa spoke before her parents were fully settled.
“Theresa, I wish there was an easy way to say this but—” Margaret paused and looked to Richard for reassurance before continuing. “Richard and I are married.”
Theresa let the words sink in. Her initial reaction came bubbling out before she could stop it. Her skin grew hot as embarrassment coursed through her. She didn’t love Richard, but she came here expecting to marry him and become fabulously wealthy. It was her chance to finally live comfortably without scheming or planning for anything.
“How can this be?” She wasn’t sure who the question was directed at. In all her talks with the old Theresa, there was no mention of the possibility that Margaret had feelings for Richard. Everyone stared at her, waiting for her to respond.
I need to play the part of upset Theresa.The memory of how Theresa acted during the robbery gave her the inspiration needed to feign her displeasure. Theresa forced her voice to shake.
“When I left at the beginning of summer, you were engaged to me.” Theresa spoke directly to Richard.
“You know Margaret and I have been friends for many years. We grew up together. While you and I have had a speedy chanceencounter and a whirlwind romance, it doesn’t feel the same as it does with Margaret.” Richard pulled Margaret closer to his body.
Theresa stood, her whole body shaking with anger. She didn’t want to live under the rules of a new mother and father. She didn’t want to have to go through the long process of courtship, having dull conversations with men, trying to get them to like her, or love her enough to marry her.
She wanted to be immediately settled with her own wealth and to set the rules of how she wanted to live. It was one of the top reasons she chose to switch with Theresa in the first place. Her entire plan to marry into wealth was ruined, and she wanted to rip both of their heads off.
“No, no, no, no!” Theresa paced as she yelled. “We were supposed to be wed upon my return, and you—” Theresa pointed at Margaret, “you were supposed to be my friend!”
Margaret sobbed as she nuzzled close to Richard’s arm for support, playing the victim of her own actions.
“Is this why you were my friend? To get close to him?” Theresa wasn’t too shocked that he would pick Margaret over the old Theresa. Margaret had an elevated air of grace about her that even old Theresa didn’t have.
“Please understand, Theresa,” Margaret said, now standing as well. “I have been in love with Richard for as long as I can remember.”
“So you wait until right before we are to be wed, and I am gone for the summer, to make your move to steal my fiancé? My future?” Theresa lowered her voice to a cool calm and collected tone.
I cannot let them know the true depths of my feelings. I need to stay in control.
“I know. I should have told him about my feelings earlier. But he confessed to me first,” Margaret managed to say through sobs.
“He did what?” Theresa whipped her head to stare at Richard.
“He did. He told me he loved me and wanted to be with me.” Margaret seemed to be collecting herself.
“He only did that because you encouraged him! How many times have you spent time together while I was away? How many flirtatious remarks were exchanged? How many foul words were said about me from your lips? Poisoning him against me?” Theresa spit the accusations in quick succession.
Margaret came undone again and rushed out of the room. Richard followed behind the inconsolable woman.
“You are downright cruel, Theresa; you know that, right,” he mumbled as he passed her.
“Do you even hear yourself? You betray me and you think I am the cruel one? Tell yourself what you need to make yourself feel better.” The door slammed behind him.
I don’t think he heard me,she thought miserably.What am I going to do now? Switch with Margaret? It would be complicated to pull off that kind of switch. It is laughable that he would accuse me of being cruel when I have done nothing wrong. I told the truth, which clearly his guilty conscience couldn’t handle.
The thoughts in her mind ran together as she tried to process what just happened and forgot that her new parents were still in the room.
“We are so sorry, darling!” Allen finally spoke up after the silence lingered for several minutes. Theresa glared at him.
