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Back The Favorite Daughter Save as PDF
Chapters (57)
  1. Cover
  2. Back Cover Text
  3. Booklist
  4. Dedication
  5. Quote
  6. SUNDAY
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. MONDAY
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. 5
  13. 6
  14. 7
  15. TUESDAY
  16. 8
  17. 9
  18. 10
  19. 11
  20. 12
  21. 13
  22. 14
  23. 15
  24. WEDNESDAY
  25. 16
  26. 17
  27. 18
  28. 19
  29. 20
  30. 21
  31. 22
  32. 23
  33. 24
  34. 25
  35. 26
  36. 27
  37. 28
  38. 29
  39. 30
  40. 31
  41. 32
  42. 33
  43. 34
  44. THURSDAY
  45. 35
  46. 36
  47. 37
  48. 38
  49. 39
  50. 40
  51. 41
  52. 42
  53. EPILOGUE
  54. DEAR READER LETTER
  55. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  56. READERS GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
  57. Best Day Ever

In my bathroom I stop in front of my mini-shrine to Mary. I stare into her dark brown eyes. I try to understand again why she would go against my wishes. The one thing she promised never to do. My red dress wasn’t the problem. Taking it and wearing it without my permission was wrong, but not the betrayal I couldn’t forgive. Mary was ungrateful and unyielding in her betrayal; David smug and condescending in his. Together, they were moving Mary to LA to be with Elizabeth. Unacceptable.

I feel my pulse race and take a deep breath. That’s the past. Mary is gone. I need to focus on now. If David had continued to keep his silly romance quiet, that would be one thing. I could allow him a dalliance, a way to blow off some steam. I mean, it’s not easy losing a child and I was busy with my own pharmaceutical escape. But purchasing a home, promising to start a new life. That’s unforgivable.

I’m certain Betsy, my dear little girl, has been in on all of the secrets, first Mary’s and now David’s. And now I discover she has a big secret of her own. Did she really think she could hide Bo from me, leave me for him?

They are all traitors. I pick up the picture frame of smiling college Mary and drop it on its face on the bathroom counter and punch the back until I hear the satisfying sound of breaking glass. Then I walk to the closet and change clothes.

Maybe I’ll wait in the courtyard tonight, wrapped in a blanket. I don’t expect either of them to be home too late. It’s a big day tomorrow. A day of celebration and a day filled with so many surprises.

33

9:45 p.m.

As I sit outside under the stars, enjoying the warmth of the firepit and the absence of killer palm trees, I wonder about other dangers around me, what other tragic accidents could happen out here in the courtyard. The palm trees could kill, sure, but they’re gone now. What else? I check my phone. Before I do a Google search, I open the tracking app.

Betsy’s car is heading this direction on Coast Highway from the high school. Despite the fact she has outsmarted my spyware, she hasn’t found the physical tracking device on her car yet. So take that, Betsy. I guess her art class is finished for the evening? Or was it a tutoring session. Or should we just call it what it is: a date with Bo, a guy old enough to know better. Wherever she’s been, she’s coming home. David’s car is still parked at Kylie’s new house. Charming.