Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
I inhaled deeply to steel myself. “Congratulations you two,” I said to a room so hushed, I could hear myself breathing. I caught the loving look Steven gave Tiffany and pain funneled into my heart at the stark reminder that he’d picked her over me, but I smiled like a proud older sister. “I wish you happiness and all the good things life has to offer.” Then I leaned forward as if the next bit was only meant for Tiffany’s ears.
“I hope you appreciate what an act of generosity giving you my leftovers was,” I said and laughed conspiratorially.
“That’s enough, Willow,” Caroline said, standing up and facing me as if daring me to continue.
“It was a joke,” I protested. “Seriously though, I wish you all the best.” I turned to Rex. “You got the best part of me.”
I sat down before Caroline could ask me to.
I didn’t have to look at everyone’s faces at the table to know they were fuming. As soon as I sat down, the euphoria I’d been riding on subsided, leaving me cold and more than a little shaken by my own behavior. The words I’d said repeated in my brain like a bad recording. That had been downright nasty.
Sure, Tiffany had hurt me badly, but I’d just humiliated her in front of everyone.
As things went back to normal, Greg, Steven’s best man, announced that it was time for the introductions. Steven and Tiffany went first. He shot me a worried glance, probably worried that I would say something inappropriate. He had no reason to worry. I was done.
I felt spent and oddly empty.
My chest squeezed painfully when I realized that Tiffany was actually lapping it all up by looking embarrassed and scared, while Steven stroked her hair and whispered something in her ear. She’d been playing the part of the victim her whole life and all I had done with my childish performance was put myself in the position of the bad guy again and given her another opportunity to play the old default role of ‘poor Tiffany’.
Nicole and my half-sister stood and started to introduce themselves. I didn’t, figuring everyone knew who Rex and I were by then. The strangers at Greg’s table stood up and as they introduced themselves, I realized with horror that they were giving Tiffany looks of encouragement and comfort. They knew her well, and liked her. Steven had never once suggested I meet a member of his family. He must have always known we had no future.
I was glad when the introductions were over and everyone was invited to socialize. Nicole stood up and came to my side of the table.
“Can I speak to you for a moment?” she asked, a tight smile on her face.
“Sure,” I said cheerfully, and kissing Rex full on the mouth, followed her out of the restaurant to a room off the hallway. Here there was no chance of anyone overhearing our conversation.
We stood facing each other without talking.
“I’d hoped that you girls would have let bygones be bygones by now,” she said quietly.
What was she trying to do? Make me feel sorry for Tiffany. She had hurt me dammit!
“Why do you pretend that everything is okay? That this is a normal marriage?” I asked angrily. I was tired of pretending. “It’s not. Tiffany stole him from me,” I hissed. “And you made her think that it was okay. You all did.”
I hated the tears that filled my eyes. The last thing I wanted was to show weakness, but I couldn’t seem to control my emotions.
“It wouldn’t have made a difference what I thought of their relationship. They were still going to go ahead with it.”
She made sense, but I didn’t want to be sensible. I folded my arms across my chest stubbornly. I was not going to let her gaslight me into thinking I was the one being unreasonable.
“There’s something else I want to say to you,” she added.
“What?”
“A human being cannot be stolen. Steven made a choice to have an affair behind your back and leave you for another woman who, unfortunately happens to be your sister.”
“What?” I nearly yelled, consumed by fresh anger. “You think that’s helping?”
Her face hardened. “I think it’s a truth you need to understand.”
“I’ve had enough,” I said. “I’d hoped you would apologize on her behalf. Instead, you’re insinuating that my anger is pure churlishness.”
Fuming, I whirled on my heel, and returned to the restaurant. I plastered a smile and entered, spotting Rex speaking to my Uncle Fred. He looked like he was having a good time. I made a beeline for him, but before I reached him, Steven intercepted me.
“Hey,” he said.
“I can’t believe you’ve the nerve to come and speak to me after what you did. It’s only a matter of time before my sister finds out just what kind of a man you really are. Oh, and I’m using the word ‘man’ loosely.”