Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
What I didn’t expect to learn as I listened and pieced together information from her outbursts was that her maternal grandmother has been filling her head with absolute lies. I found out that Rosemund has been visiting Sylvie at the bus stop after I told her that she would be spending more time at the barn and needed to get appropriate clothing. In a fit of anger, Sylvie said, “One day I’m going to get in Rosemund’s car and drive away and she’s going to hide me away from you forever.”
That could’ve simply been a child’s bluster fueled by the inability to handle the massive emotions she’s grappling with on a daily basis, or it could be the Mardraggons plotting to take Sylvie away and hide her from me.
I watch Sylvie talking to her grandmother through the open window. She doesn’t get in the car and Rosemund doesn’t step out to give her a hug. It appears they are carrying on a serious conversation and every once in a while Sylvie will gesture with her hands to indicate she is upset about something. At other times, she merely nods with a stoic expression. I let this go on for a minute or two before I put the Gator into gear and drive out of the woods onto the side of the road, straight for the Porsche.
I see Rosemund in the driver’s seat with her head turned away from Sylvie when she catches the motion of me approaching. Sylvie also turns, her eyes widening as she sees me bearing down on them. I don’t park the Gator nose to nose with the Porsche but rather at the edge of the driveway. I casually get off and walk over to where Sylvie stands. She at least has the grace to flush with embarrassment that she’s been caught. I don’t spare her a glance but instead bend at the waist to peer into the open window. “Good afternoon, Rosemund. Strange seeing you here.”
She waves a hand, the lie falling from her mouth with pure ease. “I just happened to be driving by and saw that Sylvie had gotten off the bus. Thought I would say hello.”
“That’s a lie.” I decide to call her on it, and I don’t care if it sounds harsh to Sylvie. “I know the two of you have been meeting out here and I just wanted to use this opportunity to see you face-to-face and tell you that this stops as of now.”
Rosemund’s expression tightens as she bristles. “You have no right to stop me from communicating with my granddaughter.”
“Nor do I intend to. I gave her a phone and I gave her your phone number. She can call or text you any time. But from this moment on, you are not allowed to see her unless you expressly ask my permission.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Rosemund sputters.
“So unfair,” Sylvie mutters.
I don’t look at her, keeping my gaze on Rosemund because she’s the one to blame. “I’m tired of you filling her head with lies about my family.”
Rosemund’s mouth drops open. “I would never.”
She totally would.
I use this opportunity to educate Sylvie on my feelings and although I keep my eyes on Rosemund, my words are only for Sylvie’s benefit. “I know enough from listening to my daughter that you are telling her things that are patently untrue. You are trying to poison her against me, and I am not going to let that happen. So, if you cannot stick to the truth, I will prohibit all contact with her.”
“How could you know that?” Sylvie asks. “Are you listening in on my phone conversations?”
I turn to my daughter, pinning her with my gaze for the first time since I revealed myself. I shake my head. “No. I haven’t listened in on a single phone conversation you’ve had. And as you know, I haven’t asked to see your phone or your texts. But I have recorded some of our conversations, focusing mostly on the way you love to speak French to me. Turns out there’s a handy little app that translates your words and I know everything that you’ve said to me since the second day you arrived.”
Sylvie’s face pales before her cheeks turn a bright red. “That’s an invasion of my privacy.”
I chuckle, and I know I shouldn’t take as much pleasure from her shock as I do. “No, it’s not, little girl. Those are words you threw out into the open air at me and I have a right to know what you’re saying. Don’t be mad because I outfoxed you. I also hope this will encourage you to speak English with me, because I’ll know what you’re saying either way.”
I point down the long driveway where our home sits in the distance. “Go on and start your homework. Miranda will have a snack for you.”