Page 53 of Seized by Love at Seaside
Lizzie leveled her most serious big-sister stare at her.
Maddie gasped. “For real? Why? I thought you made enough money with the flower shop to help.”
Lizzie shook her head, shame burning her cheeks. She told Maddy the whole sordid story, and when she was done, they sat in silence for so long Lizzie felt sick to her stomach.
“Do you hate me?” she finally asked.
“Hate you? No. I just can’t believe you would do that. Not that there’s something wrong with it, but there kinda is.” Maddy’s gaze softened apologetically. “Do Mom and Dad know?”
Lizzie shook her head.
“Please don’t tell them. They can’t take this, Lizzie. I guess I’ve always known that you would do anything for me, and now that the initial shock has worn off, I get it. Buttheywon’t be okay with this. Gosh, I can’t even picture you doing something like this. Mom and Dad will have a stroke.”
“Hey, I make a great blonde, and my legs aren’t bad.”
Maddy rolled her eyes. “You’re gorgeous all over, but…” She reached for Lizzie’s hand. “Thank you for doing all that, but maybe you shouldn’t do it anymore. I feel responsible. Iamresponsible. Oh no. This is my fault. I’ve turned my sister into an online ho!”
“Wow, Mad, don’t soften the blow or anything.” Lizzie looked out the window, caught between laughter and dismay.
“I didn’t mean that. I just…Lizzie, now that I know what you’re doing, I can’t keep taking your money.”
“You can and you will.” Lizzie started the car. “And I have to tell Mom and Dad. I can’t keep lying to everyone.”
“They won’t understand, and then I’ll be to blame for that, too.”
“Mad, I’m a grown-up. This has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me and my choices. No matter how Mom and Dad take it, it’s not your fault.”
An hour later, Lizzie wished she’d listened to Maddy’s advice. Her parents sat at either side of their dining room table with pained looks on their faces. Her mother’s trembling hand covered her mouth; her thin brows were pinched together, and her father scowled, his eyes flaming with disappointment.
“Dad, say something. Anything,” Lizzie pleaded.
“You’re not the girl I raised.” Vernon Barber pushed from the table, avoiding eye contact with Lizzie. He bent and kissed the top of Maddy’s head. “Madison, thank you for coming home for dinner.”
It might have been the condescending way he made the proclamation about her or the emotions of the last few days getting the better of her. Lizzie wasn’t sure what tipped her over the edge, but she threw her napkin on the table and pushed to her feet.
“I’m paying for the education you couldn’t afford. How about saying something like,Thank you. We may not think it’s the best way to go about it, but good job.”
“Lizzie!” Maddy snapped.
Lizzie had never raised her voice to their father before, and she knew she was skirting a dangerous line, but she was too angry to stop.
Her father waited until she was done, then silently left the room.
“Vernon,” their mother said in a harsh whisper. Margaret Barber watched her husband walk upstairs; then she picked up her fork and, without looking at Lizzie or Maddy, said, “Shall we finish our meal?”
Maddy gave Lizzie a stern look that clearly said,I told you so!
“Mom, I want to talk about this. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you and Dad sooner.” Lizzie’s stomach ached, but it wasn’t sadness that had her pushing her mother to talk. It was anger. Anger at feeling like she’d needed to keep the whole darn thing a secret in the first place, anger for putting herself in this position. Anger at her father for walking away.
When her mother didn’t respond, she pushed harder. “Talk to me, please?” Lizzie pleaded.
Her mother placed her fork beside her plate and folded her hands in her lap. Her eyes were sad and confused at once, but there was no mistaking the sheen of love hovering above the other emotions. “Elizabeth, I know you did this for your sister. And before that, for yourself, but that doesn’t make it right.”
“It doesn’t make it wrong, either,” Madison said, surprising them all.
Their mother exhaled a long breath. “This will take your father some time to get over.”
“And you?” Lizzie asked, bracing herself with the table to keep from running from the room.
