Page 42 of Ever's Last
“I’ve been teaching myself,” she says as she sets a bowl in front of me.
I take a small bite, not knowing if they’re going to be good. It’s sweet bliss of heaven in my mouth. I even moan.
“It’s good?”
“It’s good.”
“When you’re done, come sit on the porch.”
She leaves me to eat in silence, wondering why she’s being so nice.
When I’m done, I wash my bowl and set it in the dishwasher, grab a beer, and head outside. The house is like my old home, sitting back in the trees. It’s beautiful, quiet. I can hear the noises of the woods and the trees rustling. Peaceful.
We sit in silence for a few and then she starts talking.
“I was a horrible monster to you,” she starts.
I can’t take any more truths, so I start to get up.
“Ever, you need to hear this.”
I sit back down.
“I met your dad and I thought he was my knight in shining apron armor.”
I chuckle.
She continues, “And I thought he was going to take me away from my dull life. And then I met Ashley Bourdrex, the queen of the South, so she thinks. When I was around her, I met all these women that had these exciting lives and pretty things. And I wanted that. I wanted to fit into that society. And your dad wanted to give me that, but then you showed up. And then his attention was elsewhere— on you. I was selfish and wanted his attention more. I was young and dumb. I mean, I was jealous of a child. I guess that’s why I ignored you. And then I became a monster after all your surgeries. I saw you as my way in. I still wanted to fit in and be liked by women who wouldn’t wipe their shoes with me. I entered you in all those pageants and I pushed you to win. And you did. Do you know why?”
“Because you slept with the judges?” I tried to make it sound like a joke, but it didn’t come out that way.
Anne chuckles. “No, though I’m sure that was the rumor. You won because you were a genuine person. Some of those girls can be so mean, and you still smiled and hugged them when they won. You would encourage others. You’re still like that. You could have gone off to college, and yet you stayed because of your dad. You care more about others than you do yourself. One night in the hospital, you were so out of it and Skye came in to see you. I knew then that she was involved and I said nothing. But you told her everything would be okay, that she shouldn’t worry about it and go live her dream life. You cared more about her happiness even though she treated you like shit. You always ask people what they want, how you can help, but we’ve never asked you that. I know I never did. I signed you up, told you we were going, and you graciously would go, all to make me and your dad happy. Even though we weren’t, I wasn’t, he wasn’t.
“The day he came to talk about a divorce, I welcomed it with open arms. He’s a good guy and deserves happiness. People can change. I learned a lot about my life that day. I learned that Ashley wasn’t a friend. I learned that I never really had skills because I was looking for a man to take care of me. I grew up with a silver spoon in my mouth and I wanted to keep it. That should have been my way into Ashley’s world, but because I was from California, I knew nothing of the South. I was stupid and selfish, and talking to the love of your life about divorce makes you see things differently. I started learning to cook. I’m even taking over the mortgage on this house. And I’ve been job hunting. I finally asked myself what I wanted and I realize I just want to be happy. What do you want, Ever?”
I am speechless. This is the most Anne has ever spoken to me. I don’t even know what to say. She’s changed.
“I don’t know.”
“Well, while you’re here, we can figure it out. You’re welcome as long as you want.”
I don’t even know how to process this.
“I know this is a lot to take in. But maybe Skye decided to come clean because peoplecanchange.”
“Just this morning she was razing me about him.”
“Guilt can eat at a person,” she says. “Come on. I’ll make you some tea.”
I was wrong about Anne. Did I break up a marriage, too? What have I done? I was selfish and didn’t want to let Memphis go. I broke up my dad’s marriage because I didn’t want to do pageants. I’m such a bitch.
“You didn’t.”
“Huh?”
“You didn’t break up our marriage. I did that.”
I must have said that out loud.
