“I am. He’s wonderful, Roman. I’m going back to him tonight.”
Roman’s eyes got glassy and gave her the response she so deeply needed. “Who is the lucky man? Is it Taylor Barrett?”
His concern for her, his care over her made her want to tell him everything. “It is,” she replied surprised he knew. “How’d you know?”
“Nadia. She told me about him leaving that morning.”
“Oh God! Did she tell my parents?”
“No. Only the two of us know.”
Jude relaxed knowing she wouldn’t have to explain that as well. “Thank you.” Maybe Nadia wasn’t as bad as she once thought, or perhaps she was changing. Either way, she felt grateful. “Thank her for me.”
“I will. Now, you should probably go inside. Your parents are wrapping up their tea. Good luck, Hummingbird.”
She nodded. Whether she was ready to face them didn’t matter. It was going to happen whether she was or not. She followed Roman inside and walked to the wooden archway that led to the living room.
The tray of sandwiches and pastries, cookies, and biscuits was empty, only crumbs remaining. The teapot was discarded to the side, the warm brew now cold. The four of them—her mother, stepfather, aunt, and cousin—talked idly as if nothing had changed at all. It didn’t look like her mother had been crying for two weeks. The house of opulence they wanted everyone to see stood strong before her as if she had never disappeared. Jude’s loyalties had long been betrayed, so standing before them now, she felt nothing of the love that one should for her family.
Suddenly her aunt’s mouth dropped open when she saw her. “Judith?”
The other three followed in succession gawking at the girl in the lavender dress like she was an ugly duckling among swans. Isla smiled, but Jude struggled to distinguish where her alliances lay. Isla sat back in her chair, as if getting comfortable for the ensuing fireworks.
Aunt Leslie broke the silence. “Well. Well. Welllll.”
Jude’s feet moved back, the attention overbearing. Then her thumb felt the metal bands on her finger, which enabled her to gather strength. “I guess we should talk.”
Isla tutted and said, “You think?”
Guess she’s on their side. “Isla, I know you’re upset and I’m sorry. But I’m not sorry for anything that happened today.”
Her family turned to Isla. Jude’s stepfather asked her, “What is she talking about? You saw her and didn’t tell us?”
Standing up, Isla declared, “She’s here. Judith is back. That’s all that matters. That’s all that has ever mattered to you people.”
Isla’s mother stood. “Isla, shut your mouth.”
Isla’s arms went wide. “I can’t do this anymore. I’m tired of her getting everything. She’s crazy. You all said so yourselves. It’s always about Judith.”
Her mother went to her daughter and gritted her teeth. “Get hold of yourself, dear daughter, before you ruin everything.”
Jude stood there, flabbergasted. “Ruin what?”
Isla shook free from her mother and asked the same, “Yeah, ruin what exactly?”
Her aunt smiled, but it wasn’t authentic. “Nothing, Judith. Everything is fine. Isla’s not feeling well. That happens to spoiled brats when they don’t get everything they want.”
Isla didn’t calm down. She got more riled. “I don’t know what is going on with you, but Judith has something to tell you. Tell them, Judith.”
Jude didn’t have to. Aunt Leslie grabbed at her chest and stumbled back to the chair. Jude’s mother jumped up to help her. “Leslie, are you okay?”
Leslie pointed at Jude and Jude covered her mouth to avoid screaming. She had no idea what was happening, but she started fearing for her life. Her feet stayed in place as her eyes went wide. Isla stormed passed her, barely missing her shoulder.
The other three were staring at her in horror. Her stepfather said, “What have you done?”
Her mother burst into tears, lowering her head into her lap. Jude took a step back, and then another.
Her aunt growled, “What have you done, child?”
Jude had tried to prepare herself for any reaction they would have upon hearing the news of her marriage, but she hadn’t expected this. She felt like a lamb standing in a den of lions. She backed up again, but her stepfather rushed her, grabbing her, and shaking her as he yelled, “What did you do? Judith. Judith. What have you done?”
Tears streaked down her cheeks as her hair fell free around her face. “What?” she cried. “What are you talking about?”
He let her go with a devastating push and she fell. She had never seen her stepfather break down but that was what he was doing. He was covering his face in agony as he walked to the couch and sat down next to his sobbing wife. “Shut up, woman!” he shouted at her mother.
Confused, Jude continued to cry, and asked, “What is wrong?”
Her aunt glared with no feeling left to give. “You got married. We know what you’re doing, you manipulative little bitch.”
The rings were turned over deftly, the diamond sticking into her palm as she fisted her hand. “I did. I got married.” She found herself bartering the best part of her life—Hazel—for their forgiveness. “He’s wonderful and so good. So, so good. He’s—”
Leslie stood up again, her composure back in place. “How could you do this without asking us?”
“Because it had nothing to do with you.”
“You didn’t tell us, Judith, because you knew we would say no. Now you’ve gone and ruined your life on a whim and we are left to clean up your mess. As usual.” She turned to Jude’s stepfather and said, “Handle this.” She walked out with regained poise without looking twice at Jude.
“What is ruined? Nothing is ruined. I’m in love. He loves me. This is good. This is good for me. I’m happy.”
“Judith, go to your room.” Any affection he’d felt for the girl he’d help raise had disappeared years ago, but judging by his antipathy now, she wasn’t even worthy of his anger, much less his approval.
“Don’t you want to know who I marr—”
He stood, meaning business. “Go to your room. We need to talk. I’ll be with you shortly.”
Remaining where she was, she wondered if they would ever treat her as the adult she was. “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t either,” he added. Her mother still sobbed at his side.
Jude would go because she needed to resolve this tonight. Lowering her head, she turned and went to the foyer. She caught a glimpse of Roman and Nadia down the hall and their expression spoke of defeat, similar to how she felt. Taking the stairs one at a time, she retraced her tracks, each step representing another time she had disappointed her family.
When Ryan died, her saving grace died with him. Until she met a hazel-eyed man who made her breath stop short while she basked in the glow of his kindness and beauty. She stuck her hand in her pocket and her fingers settled around his phone. She wanted to call him. But when she walked into her room, she decided it was best if she didn’t. There was no need to upset him needlessly. I’ll be quick and get out of here even faster.
Setting the phone on her vanity next to the photo of her brother, she went to her closet and grabbed a suitcase. This would no longer be her life. She refused to remain in this room any longer. It was time. Time to pack up her life from and leave this pink-walled prison. Opening it on the floor, she started gathering her clothes.
She had filled the suitcase, but the rest of her stuff didn’t matter. There wasn’t much she wanted from this room, this house, this life. Not much she wanted to take into her new life really. After tucking the photo of her brother between some clothes, she shut the suitcase and stood it up, placing it by the door.
Going back for the phone, the door opened and she looked back, stilling.
Her mother stood there, her face red and her eyes swollen, making her blue eyes even icier. She quietly closed the door behind her, seeming to question the act. This was not the composed woman she knew her mother to be. This version of her mother’s voice shook like her trembling body. “I love you, Judith. Remember that. Okay?” Jude didn’t reply. Instead she stared at her mother, watching her like one would watch a caged tiger. “I didn’t want to do it, but I understood the need. I’m a victim like you. Blackmailed into sacrifice.”