Page 55 of The Banned Books Club

“She cares, Edith.”

“How doyouknow?”

Because of the way she’d acted when she was at his house, for one. She hadn’t been gleeful or smug; she’d been afraid to trust him. If she were manipulating everyone, he would’ve gotten an entirely different vibe. At least, that was his take on it. And then she’d invited him to her meeting after. He was sure that was just a gesture of goodwill, but it was one she didn’t have to make. “Dad already had his day in court.”

“That doesn’t mean the judge got it right. It’s time we haveourday.”

“Edith—”

“Stop! I know where this is coming from. Louisa told me you’re growing sympathetic to her. She said you’ve always had a thing for her.”

“That’s not true,” he said. Then he realized it wasn’t that far off base. “Well, I mean... I wanted to date her in high school. But that’s not what’s informing this decision. Until recently, I was as angry as you are.”

“So what’s changed?”

“I stood back and started looking at the situation more objectively—taking in how Dad’s turned out, what Mom did and how she feels about what happened, what Gia’s done since then and how she acts these days. If she was lying, I feel like she would’ve admitted it by now.”

“You don’t know that.”

“What would be stopping her?”

“The hate she’d receive for lying about something like that in the first place!”

Because of what their father had done, she’d had to see a therapist. He doubted she would’ve thought to say something like that if she’d been lying. And there were so many other little things. The problem was they were subtle. Nothing he felt would convince his sisters. “Fine. If you want to approach her, do it privately. But don’t gang up on her in public.”

“We’ll take that under advisement.”

It sounded more like she was flipping him off than listening to what he’d said. “Edith—”

“You’ve said your piece,” she interrupted, cutting him off again. “We’ll either take your advice or we won’t. But that’s our decision. You may be our big brother, but you don’t get to tell us what to do. Not anymore.”

Cormac sighed as she gave him a curt goodbye and disconnected. Louisa and Edith were all worked up—too worked up to listen. And their husbands were standing behind them, supporting them in this fool’s errand. He could only hope that once Edith calmed down and had a chance to think about what he’d told her, she’d change her mind, especially because he tried calling Louisa next, and she wouldn’t even pick up.

15

Sheldon was leaving, after all. He’d pretended—until the very last minute—that he might not go. He liked keeping her unsettled and off-balance. But he’d really had her going this time. Margot had been afraid he was seriously considering missing the trip, not because he was worried about letting her spend time with Gia, as he claimed, but because he was so caught up in his clandestine relationship with Cece.

In the end, his friends had prevailed upon him not to cancel—they had their lodgings and everything else in place—and Margot had acted disappointed by the fact that he wouldn’t be around to “support” her while she was “going through so much with her mother.” That made him angry, of course.It’s just one week, Margot—for Chrissake! Why do you have to make me feel guilty about it?

At least he didn’t seem to realize how she really felt.

While he loaded the truck, she made chicken salad sandwiches for him and his buddies and cut vegetables for the ranch dip she’d made last night. It felt like she’d run the gauntlet to get to this point, as though she was nearing some sort of finish line. And yet...this was just the beginning. What happened from here would be anyone’s guess—where she’d end up, if she’d be able to get a job, whether Sheldon would come after her and what she’d do if he did. He was taking the shotgun with him, so if she didn’t take the Glock, and he ever found her and got violent with her, she’d only have pepper spray with which to protect herself.

But she didn’t want to have a handgun around the boys. She’d have to make do with less, even though she hadn’t even purchased the pepper spray yet. Sheldon often complained about what she was spending on basic household items and went over the receipts. She didn’t want a purchase like that one raising a red flag. From what she’d heard, it was widely available; she figured she’d just get some at one of her first stops. But when she imagined his rage once he realized she’d left him and taken the boys—not to mention the fact that she was about to drain their joint checking and savings accounts to be able to survive until she could establish an income—she didn’t feel pepper spray would be enough.

She could only hope he’d never find her...

“Mom, can we go to the park today?”

It was still very early, barely six o’clock, but when she glanced over her shoulder, she saw her oldest standing in the doorway, rubbing his eyes. All the commotion of Sheldon trying to get off on the trip must’ve awakened him. “It’s Saturday, so you don’t have school,” she replied. “I don’t see why not.”

She’d packed some of the items and clothing she felt they’d need and stored it under the house, filling boxes that’d once held holiday decorations—after secretly throwing away the decorations, bit by bit, in the school dumpster. She knew Sheldon would never go near that section of their storage. He was an absolute Scrooge when it came to Christmas. She could barely get him to help her drag out the tree. And once he did, she had to decorate it by herself—until the last couple of years, when the boys were finally old enough to help with the lower branches.

As soon as Sheldon left, she was going to grab those boxes, throw them in her Subaru and take off herself. She wouldn’t waste a single minute. She wished she could stop and say a final farewell to her family, especially her dear mother. Her heart ached at being unable to do that. But she knew she’d break down if she did. Or Gia would start in on her about Sheldon and the rumors of his affair with Cece. She didn’t have time for any of that. She had to think about her children, put them first, and get out while she could.

“Now?” Matthew asked excitedly.

She chuckled. “It’s too early for the park, honey. I’m going to help your father get on the road. Then I’ll make you some breakfast. Why don’t you watch a few cartoons while I finish up in here?” She figured she could make good on her park promise by pulling over somewhere once she felt they were far enough away. She’d been studying maps she’d taken from the closet in her mother’s house; she didn’t dare search the internet for fear Sheldon would be able to bring up her browsing history. The last thing she needed was to create a trail of breadcrumbs leading right to her. She was going to leave her cell phone behind with the computer. She’d seen too many true crime shows where a victim or suspect could be traced using cell towers.

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