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The truth is, I believed some children were born evil. The bad seeds that grow up to be rapists, murderers, and serial killers. No matter what parents did to help them, it was in their genetic makeup. I didn’t want to debate this with her, so I was happy when Marjorie checked her watch and said she should get going.
My eyes followed her as she stood and spilled the remains of her coffee into the sink. She opened the dishwasher and placed the empty mug inside it. Then turned to face me, her eyes locking on mine.
“Natalie, I know we’ve had our differences, but you must spend more time with Paige. That questionable exchange student is taking up too much of your time. Your daughter comes first.”
With that, she called for an Uber, and when it came time to say goodnight, she pecked me on the cheek as if I tasted like poison.
I watched outside as the car disappeared down the street. Inhaling the crisp fall air, I folded my arms around my chest and thought about her words.
Your daughter comes first.
In the distance, a coyote howled. A fierce chill gripped me.
Maybe I’d failed my daughters as a mother. One had died and the other had shut me out.
I hugged myself tighter to ward off a shiver. Paige was a precious gift. I’d lost one daughter. I couldn’t bear to lose another.
Hadn’t I been punished enough for my sins?
SIXTEEN
PAIGE
I was dreading tonight. My mom’s black-tie gala.
While I’d heard about this event ad nauseam over the past few months, nothing had prepared me for the spectacle that awaited me.
The yard was dazzling. The trees and shrubs were glittering with fairy lights and surrounded by candlelit tables with shimmery white linens and tall crystal vases overflowing with beautiful blue flowers. Forget-me-nots, I’d been told. The money raised from tonight’s event would go to giving an arts education to abused children. Not every child was as lucky and privileged as me to have wealthy parents who could afford to put them in a private school where art and music were part of the curriculum; I even had my own sculpting studio. I felt a connection to this organization and was proud my mom supported it. A prickle of guilt gave me pause. I should have helped her with the gala. It was for a good cause, after all.
While a harpist played Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, I worked myself into the crowd, the men all in tuxes and blue bow ties, and the women dripping in diamonds and dressed in shimmering gowns in either chiffon white or blue jewel tones. I suddenly felt a little underdressed in my simple navy sheath, and I wasn’t wearing any jewelry except for Lance’s gold heart necklace and a pair of sapphire stud earrings, a birthday present from my grandma. The earrings were beautiful, and they used to be hers.
Having lost Will to his one friend who was here to keep him occupied, I looked for Lance and found him standing near the pool, which was lit with floating tea candles and water lilies, with his back to me.
“Hey,” I said, tapping him on the shoulder.
With a start, he spun around.
“Hey!” He gave me a quick once-over with the smallest of smiles. “You look nice.”
My heart sank a bit. Scratch that, it sank like the Titanic. Is that all he could say to me? Nice? To please my mother, I’d worked hard to make myself look attractive. Fixed my wild hair into a neat bun. Cleaned the clay out of my fingernails and buffed them. And honestly, my toned, svelte body looked hot in my slinky gown. Before I could say a word, a tart voice pierced my ears.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the Devil Wears Target.”
Tanya. Drop-dead-beautiful Tanya! Made up to perfection with her blonder-than-ever hair swept up, she looked movie star stunning in a strapless, body-hugging turquoise gown, strappy silver stilettos, and glittery diamond teardrop earrings that looked familiar. In one hand was a half-filled flute of champagne.
“Wow! You look amazing,” gushed Lance. Looking her up and down, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. It was as if he’d just discovered Cinderella at the ball.
She shot him a seductive smile. “Thanks. You clean up well yourself, Lance-man.” Pursing her frosted pink lips, she gave me a once-over. “Paige, on second thought, did you find that rag in a thrift store?”
I wanted to slap her. “Actually, it’s a Marc Jacobs original.” Truth, it was some unknown designer dress I’d found on a recycled clothing site for practically nothing.
“Could have fooled me.” She took a swig of her champagne. “Did you notice my earrings?” As if I hadn’t, she flicked one of the dangling diamonds with a finger. “Your mother gave them to me.”
“That was nice of her to lend them to you.”
A smug smile snaked across her face. “Actually, Paige, she’s letting me keep them. A little thank-you present for helping her out with the gala.”
Her limited-edition Tiffany treasures? An anniversary gift from my dad! I was so fuming mad I wanted to rip off the earrings from her lobes and throw them as far as I could. Now, I was really sorry I hadn’t helped my mom out.
