Chapters (38)
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
- twenty-one
- twenty-two
- twenty-three
- twenty-four
- twenty-five
- twenty-six
- twenty-seven
- twenty-eight
- twenty-nine
- thirty
- thirty-one
- thirty-two
- thirty-three
- thirty-four
- thirty-five
- thirty-six
- thirty-seven
- epilogue
“Never mind.” I laughed and felt him watching me sashay out to the parking lot, getting my Violet on for the first time in my life.
twenty
VIOLET
1963
Violet struggled to open her eyes. The left one finally cooperated, allowing a glimpse of Tolly across the bed. He had his back to her, the phone pressed to an ear.
“Alice,” he said, “Violet is fine, but she’s been in a car accident. She’s bruised all over her upper body and face. Thank God, no broken bones.”
She watched him stiffen his spine and forge ahead. “It’s my fault. I should never have let her drive my new Corvette. It’s far too powerful for a woman.” Tolly tapped his foot as he listened. “No, she didn’t need to go to the hospital; she’s just a little banged up. I’m taking good care of her here. She can’t rest and recover very well at the house, though, because her friends keep calling and Beatrice makes all sorts of noise. When she is up for the trip, we were wondering if she might stay with you for a bit.” He paused. “That would be perfect, Alice. Thank you.” He turned to sweep his eyes over Violet’s body. “No, she’s sleeping right now, but I’ll give her your love. I’ll drive her over in a few days. Goodbye, now.”
Violet was trying to swim to the surface through a mixture of oil and cotton. There was no pain, but she couldn’t summon the energy to hold her eyelid in place. It fell like a curtain before she could remember what Tolly had said.
Her husband carried a tray into their bedroom, smiling as if he were delivering diamonds to her instead of chicken broth and water. “I’m so glad you’re awake, honey. Sit up and let’s get some nourishment into you.”
Violet tried to shake her head and found her neck wouldn’t cooperate. What had he given her this time?
“Oh,” Tolly said, “That will wear off soon. You’re still slightly groggy, but it will pass.” He pulled her eyelids up and shined a light into her pupils. “I’ll bring the tray back later, and you’ll want to eat then.” He set it on a table by the door and walked to the bed. “We’re taking you to your parents’ house in a few days, when the bruising has healed some.”
She struggled to form the words. “You’re insane. They’ll know you did this.”