Chapter 9
Sabella returned with Elowen three days later.
Elowen refused to stay in my mansion.
Good.
She rented a small apartment with Sabella nearby.
Her choice.
Before leaving, she asked to see Althea.
Sabella said:
“You don’t have to.”
Elowen answered:
“I know.”
Important.
They met in the blue sitting room.
I remained outside until invited.
Eventually Elowen called:
“Gareth.”
I entered.
Althea had been crying.
Elowen had not.
The photograph sat between them.
Elowen asked:
“Why did you use this tonight?”
Althea whispered:
“I was angry.”
“At whom?”
“Sabella.”
“Why?”
Silence.
Then the truth:
Because Sabella had asked Althea that morning whether she knew anything about Willow House.
A florist working the birthday dinner had mentioned seeing Althea’s car there months earlier.
Sabella connected nothing yet.
Just asked.
Althea panicked.
Then became cruel.
The birthday photo was meant to reassert control.
You want your mother?
Here.
Hold the cake.
Make a wish.
I decide whether hope is funny.
Elowen listened.
Then said:
“You were always cruelest when frightened.”
Althea flinched.
History.
Elowen continued.
“At twelve, you broke your cousin’s doll after she caught you lying.”
“At sixteen, you spread a rumor about a girl who saw you cheating on an exam.”
“At twenty-two, you told everyone Calder was weak because you were ashamed you had stopped loving him.”
No dramatization.
Pattern.
Althea covered her face.
Elowen did not soften.
“You don’t erase the mistake.”
“You erase the witness.”
That sentence stayed with me.
Because it explained everything.
Calder.
Elowen.
Sabella.
Even the birthday photograph.
Althea did not fear bad actions as much as being seen doing them.
That kind of fear can become endless.
May you like
Every witness creates another problem.
Until the whole life becomes maintenance.
