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
If she only knew. I was losing my sanity to meet an impossible deadline in order to inherit money and garner attention I wasn’t sure I deserved or even wanted. Trying not to tear my hair out was my real hobby.
I was out of words and energy for this conversational swordfight. “I need to get back to work, okay? I’ll meet you at Mr. Ratliff’s office tomorrow.” I stood to leave.
She pressed her fuchsia-stained lips together and cleared her throat. “Ronni, I’m concerned your attention isn’t on your job. You’re past due on reports and clocking in late every other day.
Frankly, you look tired.”
Touché, Donna. I’m staying awake early into every morning trying to write a book, and I have no idea if I’m doing it right. I’m worried sick about losing the nicest man I’ve ever met. I recently found out my long lost mother is in jail. My apartment looks like I invited a few hoarder families to move in.
“I’ll try to do better,” I said. And Donna, your dress looks like it’s from the Sears Polyester Doubleknit I’ve Officially Given Up Collection.
twelve
VIOLET
The lobby was deserted except for an old man reading a newspaper in the corner. Violet saw Mr. Wilson at the ticket window’s desk and turned her back to him, praying he wouldn’t recognize her.
Violet sighed, wishing her future husband were as punctual as he was handsome. Their train was scheduled to depart in fifteen minutes and there was no sign of him. She watched the seconds tick away on a huge wall clock as she fanned herself with a movie magazine against the stifling heat. A family with three children arrived on the 7:20 from Atlanta and stumbled wearily through the station to embrace the old man, who suddenly came to life and jumped to greet them, sweeping a tiny girl into his arms. Violet tracked them from behind her magazine as they made their way to a battered DeSoto and piled in.
She leapt to her feet as Sam’s car pulled into the lot, then sank onto the bench when she saw Mr. Davidson heading for the station door. He spotted her and crossed the lobby to sit down, clasping his hands as if in prayer.
“Hello, Violet,” he began.
“What has happened to Sam? Where is he?” Violet tried to shove her thudding heart back down into its cage.
Philip Davidson sighed, exhaling days of exhaustion and worry. “Sam’s mother and I have arranged for a career for him in New York City, Violet. We’re opening a flagship store there soon, and he’s going to run it. An excellent opportunity for Sam and our family’s business.” He paused for breath and met her eyes for the first time. “Sam left with Deborah and her parents last night.”
“No. No, you can’t...”