All the Dark Places(77)
Collin and I have a second glass of wine and laugh about Mrs. Antonelli and her numerous extended family members. Nothing mean, but snarky enough to get us giggling like fools, just blowing off steam.
CHAPTER 59
Molly
SATURDAY AFTERNOON, WILLOW AND TWO OF HER OLDER COUSINS greet me at the door. I don’t want to be here. It’s difficult to look into my friend’s eyes, knowing what I know about her husband. Not to mention that everyone at the party, thanks to the media, knows who I am now. Knows Melinda Wright.
The girls are all smiles; the oldest, a middle schooler with long brown hair, offers to place my present on the table. I reluctantly give it up, feeling more exposed without the brightly wrapped box to hide behind. And I’d left Sadie at home since Willow is allergic, and that makes me feel exposed as well. Willow slips her small, sweaty hand into mine and peers up at me with Kim’s large brown eyes. It’s as if she knows my fears, as though we’re kindred souls; maybe we are. Her short life has been marked by challenges, and crowds are tough for her too, even if they are friends and relatives. I take a deep breath. If she can be brave, I can too.
The family room is alive with laughter and movement. Kim’s parents sit side by side on the sofa. I haven’t seen them since Jay’s funeral. So much has happened since then. Kim’s dad relates a story with arms waving, his audience captive. They’re a happy family. Growing up, I spent a lot of time at their house and always felt envious. The solid ordinariness of them. Strong, supportive, joking. There were no skeletons in their many closets. No therapy appointments noted on the kitchen calendar, no walking on eggshells while talking around the dinner table. They were the family I’d always wanted us to be.
Josh is rushing drinks to and from the kitchen. Kim jumps up from her chair and moves to my side. She looks beautiful, her long dark hair falling in waves over her shoulders, her eyes shining. She’s totally oblivious to her husband’s treachery, and I feel guilt throb in my stomach as she squeezes me in her arms and whispers in my ear.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” She takes me by the hand. “Let’s get you a glass of wine.”
I wave and nod to everyone as we head for the other room.
Cal and Hayes are sitting at the kitchen table drinking beer. They both look at me with unsure smiles, not knowing what to do or say, I guess, but I’m not going to talk about Melinda Wright. Not here, not now.
The wine is perfect, tangy and rich. I take another sip. “I need to run to the restroom.” I say, taking my glass with me. I walk down the hallway to the powder room and run into Josh.
He pastes a smile on his face. “Glad you’re here, Molly.”
I bet. I noticed that Laken and her boys weren’t among the throng in the family room. “Where’s Laken?” I can’t resist asking.
Josh frowns, lowers his voice. “Cal said she took the boys and went to her parents’ house on the Cape for the weekend.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Huh, well, I guess that makes today a little easier for you.”
Josh clears his throat. “I promise, okay? Let’s just enjoy Kim’s party.” He brushes past me, nearly spilling my wine. I take another big sip.
When I leave the powder room, Hayes is waiting just outside. “Hey,” I say. “Where’s Alice?”
“Um, upstairs with some of the kids.” He places a hand on my arm. “I’m so sorry, Molly. I wish you’d told me. Maybe I could’ve helped.”
People are na?ve, and I shake my head. “No, you couldn’t have, Hayes. It’s my business, and I didn’t want anyone to know, you understand?”
I see the hurt in his eyes and know I’m being an ass, but I can’t help it. The only thing I wanted from Graybridge, from my friends, was anonymity. I didn’t want to be defined by my victimhood. Now that’s over. I never wanted to be seen through that lens, yet I can’t seem to escape it. Confronting my abuser helped in some primal way, made me feel stronger, more in control, but now I’m faced with the other part of the equation, moving forward, facing my friends, and I’m not sure yet how to do that.
He drops his hand. “I care about you, Molly. I’m here like always.”
I take a breath and nod. “Thanks, Hayes. I don’t mean to be rude. Maybe we’ll talk about it someday. But right now, I’m just trying to figure things out.” I walk back down the hall and join the group in the family room. No time like the present to put on a brave face. I listen to Kim’s dad relate another story and laugh with the rest. I drain my wineglass and head to the kitchen for a refill.
Cal is standing before the open fridge, selecting another beer. He sees me out of the corner of his eye. “Hey, you want more wine?” He closes the door and picks up the bottle from the counter.
“Sure.” I hold out my glass, and he fills it nearly to the rim.
Scott walks in. “Got another beer in there?” he asks Cal, who hands him a colorful can. Elise appears behind him, a gold and silver gift bag in her hands. They must’ve just gotten here. She lays the present on the table. “Molly, glad you’re here. Corrine said you’d gone out of town for a couple days.”
“Yes. I had to get away.” Her eyes run over me, assessing. “It was just what I needed,” I add.