They were topics she could focus on rather than constantly thinking about how this woman had mistreated her favorite person.Thatwas not a safe topic.
Charlotte peered around the living areas she was being guided through, noting that the home—much like the outside—was well appointed. Painted and decorated in neutral tones, brightly lit, with nothing out of place. None of Lucy’s items littered the floor or were stuffed in little hiding places, unlike in Sutton’s home.
As they walked by a home office that was decorated with a multitude of framed graduate degrees, Layla slowed to a pause and asked, “Where did you attend college again?”
Charlotte slowly turned to face Layla, who was staring at her intently. Almost… competitively? Charlotte understood that look very well; she gave it to people she was professionally contending with.
It seemed Laylawasn’tusing their time tonight to build a politely civil communication with Charlotte. Charlotte found that she welcomed it, feeling the same anticipation she got before a debate pushing through her. Amping her up.
If Layla wanted to stand toe to toe with Charlotte and size her up, Charlotte had no concerns. She tilted her head up at Layla. “Yale undergrad, with degrees in political science and pre-law, followed up by a Columbia law degree. Why do you ask?”
Ah, there it was. The spark in Layla’s eyes grew brighter as she shrugged. “Just… curious. Are you close to your parents? They live around here, correct? I mean, you grew up around here.”
Likehellwould Charlotte delve into anything regarding her relationship with her parents with this woman.
She maintained her own nonplussed smile. “I did grow up around here, less than an hour away in Virginia. They no longer live there, though; they retired to Florida several years ago. The Keys. Lovely area, right on the beach. I’m certain Lucy would have a blast visiting sometime.”
Layla pursed her lips, humming quietly. “Right. Speaking of Lucy, I’d like to tell you, personally, how much Iappreciateyou being able to step in for me at the last minute for show-and-tell. I’m sure Sutton was very pleased.”
“She was,” Charlotte agreed, though she could read Layla’s tone like a book.
It said that Layla was very much displeased with Charlotte having filled in for her at Lucy’s school. It said that while Sutton may have been pleased, Layla was not.
“Being able to show up for her as the hero from time to time is amazing. And the way Sutton makes you feel about it feels… great,” Layla settled on, crossing her arms as she lowered her voice. “I know that. But if you’re thinking that you’re going to continue down this road with Sutton, you should know that it’s not all as wonderful as you think. Maintaining that standard, trying to constantly show up and play the hero, for women like us—who are busy and ambitious—is impossible.”
Charlotte held her hand up, stopping Layla from continuing, as she stared at her incredulously. “I’m sorry, but… are you taking this time to try to warn me away from Sutton?”
Layla clearly bristled. “Of course not. I’m telling you the reality of the situation you’re trying to walk into. A situation that my daughter is very much settled in.”
“Great. I’m glad to hear that you’re not trying to give me relationship advice around how to be with Sutton. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten, but we’vebothbeen here with her before. I don’t need you to tell me who Sutton is or what she’s looking for. Because it’s not someone who can swoop in and save the day.” God, Charlotte was seeing red at the implication.
“Sutton didn’t need me to come andsave herat Lucy’s school or in any other way. She never has. In case you’re unaware of the person you were once married to, Sutton Spencer has more internal fortitude and the ability to carry on in spades. More than you or I do. And I didn’t show up to that school just for Sutton.”
That was the wildest truth of all, when Charlotte said it aloud.
She hadn’t put much conscious thought into the decision to take the afternoon off at the last minute; she’d simply heard Sutton’s frustration and disappointment and had started moving her schedule around.
Because she could picture exactly what Sutton would be seeing when she went to Lucy’s school and Layla didn’t show up. Lucy, with her big, excited blue eyes—the same hue as Sutton’s—and the exact moment that excitement in them was completely dashed, replaced with the disappointment and sadness that Charlotte had briefly witnessed before Lucy had seen her.
It had felt sogoodto show up for both of them, and even though being present for an activity at a kindergarten was far from the most prestigious or professionally impactful event Charlotte had engaged in, it had made her feel happier and more satisfied than anything in recent memory had done.
With that in mind, Charlotte stared Layla down. “You aren’t going to scare me off; nothing you say is going to change my mind. And no matter what you might say to yourself to justify having initiated this conversation, I know people like you. I’m surrounded by you all of the time.”
Layla’s face flushed, her expression soured, and she rolled her shoulders back defensively. “I imagine you’re surrounded less by medical doctors trying to save lives and more by those who are playing around with human rights.”
“It’s all mere mortals trying to play god, isn’t it?” she challenged before shrugging—becausethatwas not the discussion right now. “Regardless, it’s not the profession I’m talking about; it’s theperson.”
She could hear Lucy’s pattering footsteps upstairs starting down a hallway, and she made sure to keep her voice down as she narrowed her eyes at Layla. “Seeing me with Sutton makes you wonder about what you did in your relationship. It was easier for you to feel justified in having left her when she was still single. While her only priority was raising your daughter. In a way, Sutton beingavailablewas easier to swallow.”
Layla reeled back, clearly speechless and offended. “Excuse you; Ilovemy wife?—”
“I’m not saying you don’t,” Charlotte interrupted her swiftly. “I’m not even saying you wish you hadn’t left Sutton. What I am saying is that you having an affair rather than simply leaving Sutton back in the day meant you got to have the best of both worlds. You didn’t have to choose until Sutton found out and the choice was made for you. And perhaps you are happy in your life now, but seeing someone who’s also successful and attractive and accomplished see the value Sutton has makes you wonder. And a part of me is happy about it.”
Layla’s mouth gaped, her cheeks darkening further, in either embarrassment or self-righteous anger or a combination which Charlotte couldn’t assess so easily. What shedidknow was that she had hit the nail right on the head.
She made a point of keeping her voice low as she could now dimly hear Sutton and Lucy’s voices as they walked down the stairs.
“I lost Sutton once, too. But some of the many differences between you and me? I never did anything behind her back, and breaking her heart destroyed me just as much.” Maybe—likely—even more.
