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  Once Sarah arrived home, Teddy unloaded the packages.

  Soon after, his mother entered the kitchen. “I'm settled. The room looks lovely. Did you purchase a new quilt for the bed? I don't remember the magnolia pattern.” Olivia's disinterested voice filled the air.

  Sarah smiled. “No, it was my momma's. I found it in the closet the other day when I was fixin' to clean out the spare bedroom and thought it would look nice.”

  Olivia attempted to hide her frustrations with her daughter-in-law. She'd never been close with Sarah and thought the woman was beneath Teddy. She was a nice girl, a little too direct and a bit too boring. “It's such a pretty color, and I've always said it's good to have a treasure handed down from older generations.”

  “Yes, I agree, Olivia. Would you care to sit in the living room? Teddy and I have a few items we ought to talk about with you.”

  “I have an issue I ought to talk to you and Theodore about as well.” You little tramp.

  Teddy led the way to the living room where he and Sarah sat on a mustard-colored leather sofa.

  Olivia chose the single chair sitting across from them. She sat with her back held high, shoulders arched, and head poised to command. “Perhaps I will start?”

  “It would seem to me I should to go first. I've made a decision about the practice,” said Teddy.

  Olivia waited, her feet tapping the carpet as she swallowed several times. Oh, they don't want to tell me Sarah's pregnant yet.

  “Dad has built a respected, well-organized, highly-praised and remarkable practice. He and his partners have spent significant time mentoring me these last few months on the ins and outs of its administration. I enjoyed spending time with Dad each day watching how brilliantly he managed his career. When I consider everything that he's accomplished and all he's done for our family, I couldn't be prouder to be his son.”

  Sarah's lips curled upward, and she rested one hand on her belly, even though the fetus was only a tiny speck growing inside her. She'd pulled a blanket around her, spread her arms out around her on the sofa, immersing herself the comforting nest she'd built.

  Olivia loved hearing about Ben's strengths and admirable character. Her blue eyes danced with excitement at her son's words. She ignored the hint of concern beginning to grow over his tone and word choice.

  Teddy paused, relaxing his clenched jaw. “Dad taught me many skills over the years, but he taught me the greatest lesson in his death.” Perspiration gathered under his arms and in the creases of his elbows. He clasped his hands, his knuckles a translucent white.

  Her son's every word, blink, and breath impacted Olivia. Despite his profuse sweating, she hadn't seen this type of confidence from him in a long time. As much as she rooted for him to be his own man, she feared what he was about to tell her. “Your father was a good man, Theodore. His death taught us all a valuable lesson.” She looked away, chastising herself for letting her emotions dominate her, inconsolable over how much she missed Ben.

  Sarah leaned in closer to her husband and gave him a light peck on the cheek. Rubbing his arm, hovering near him, she focused her eyes across the room at Olivia. “I didn't know Ben as well as you both did, but I respected him these last few years. I reckon he was proud of Teddy for all of his accomplishments.”

  Olivia's stare plunged deep into her daughter-in-law's eyes. Sarah was never after the family money. It was apparent Sarah loved Theodore, though obviously not as much as Olivia loved him. She couldn't understand how Sarah could sleep with Zachary and hurt Theodore in such a sickening way. Olivia needed time alone with Sarah to comprehend what had been going through her daughter-in-law's mind when she dragged Zachary into the mix.

  Teddy grabbed his wife's hand and dropped the bombshell. “I've decided to sell the law practice.” His shoulders relaxed as the words left his mouth.

  Olivia struggled to find words as she grasped the arm of the chair, her right thumbnail leaving a permanent indentation in the leather. Losing Ben proved hard enough, but to accept their son would choose to sell off his father's legacy. She barely mumbled a “why?” and sunk into the back of the chair, sensing defeat creep throughout her nervous system.

  Sarah's eyes darted away from Olivia and focused on a few loose carpet threads. She held onto Teddy's hand with a few steady pulsing grips. “Go ahead.”

  “I want to paint. I need a break. And it would seem to me I should choose my own destiny.” Teddy developed a fully-risen self-assurance in his voice replacing his previously demanding tone with a careful, but determined, poise.

  Olivia excused herself after Teddy's revelation claiming to have a migraine. She stumbled against the bookshelf and knocked a delicate glass swan figurine off the shelf as she tried to leave. She never even noticed it fall before shutting the door to her room.

  “After that display, I couldn't tell her about the baby. It would send her over the edge,” Teddy said.

  “It was the easiest excuse your mother could conjure rather than stay and have a real discussion about the future. She's incapable of caring about others.” Sarah's voice was full of angst as she moved to the floor and stretched her legs.

  “You don't have to be mean.”

  “That's the truth. It ain't mean. I'm proud of you for finally telling your mother what you want to do. It's long overdue.” She moved to a squatting position, balanced on one leg, and rotated her arms in giant circles about her sides. Exercising calmed her.

  “I suppose.” Teddy's jaw shifted as he looked down the hall at the room where his mother slept.

  They ordered dinner, but Olivia stayed in her bedroom and only came out for a glass of water. When Teddy attempted to have a conversation, she held her head and said it needed to wait until her migraine disappeared.

  * * *

  On the morning of July 4th, Teddy drove to the store to buy propane for the barbecue. While out at the store, Matt texted mentioning he couldn't attend the party as two of his daughters ran a fever. Teddy was at first annoyed because he wanted to ask his brother why he kept pestering Ira Rattenbury, but then felt at ease, realizing it would give him more time to talk with his mother about the baby and selling the law firm, especially before he had to tell his brother he may soon be out of job. While driving home from the gas station, Teddy thought back to a conversation with his father right after graduating from college…

  “My first-born entering law school. I'm proud of you,” Ben said.

  “Yes, I'm following in your footsteps, as you've always planned, Dad,” said Teddy.

  “Someday you'll take over the family practice, and hopefully your brothers will be alongside supporting you to the top. I know you're ready to handle it all, but you need to do something about your attitude, Teddy. You're always angry. You never relax, and you need to learn how to build an intimate connection with someone.”

  “That's not important to me right now. I want to get through law school and get on with my life.”

  “But you need friends to guide you along the way. You need to empathize with your clients to earn their trust.”

  “Hey, Dad… do you ever get a break from the office? You seem pretty involved in every decision. Don't you get bored or tired?”

  “Certainly, but you only get to the top by working hard. I knew ever since I was a young kid I wanted to have my own law practice. I never wanted to work for someone else being subjected to their every whim and fancy. You'll desire the same once you observe the intricacies of the legal system working by my side. Once you're ready, I'll retire and pursue my passions, and so will you when you have children in the future.”

  “Did you ever consider working in something other than law? Something more creative?”

  “No. Law has always been my passion, Teddy. Just like you.”

  The driver of the car behind Teddy beeped its horn jarring Teddy back to reality. “Wait a damn minute, I'm moving.” Teddy crunched together his fingers as he turned the steering wheel with brutal force, causing the tires to screech. Not
like me, Dad… not like me…

  While Teddy was out, Sarah set up the furniture on the back lawn and hung a few decorations.

  Olivia surprised Sarah when she walked toward the house to get plates and napkins. Dressed in sassy blue dress pants, a red and white chiffon dress shirt, and an American flag silk scarf tied around her neck, Olivia blocked Sarah's entrance. “Did you encourage him to sell Ben's practice?”

  The scowl on Olivia's face, looking as though she had stepped out of a catalog for bitchy mothers-in-law ready to pounce on their victims, irritated Sarah. “Are you feeling better, Olivia?”

  “Please answer the question, Sarah. I want to know if this was my son's idea or if you pushed him into it.” Olivia kept her arm on the doorframe to ensure Sarah couldn't get by.

  Sarah backed away a few steps and motioned to Olivia to sit on the porch chairs. “I know you don't care for me as much as the day is long, and you never thought I was good enough for your Theodore or for your family. What I don't know… is why.” Sarah stood with arms set on her side as she rattled off each complaint—an eagle spreading its wings as wide as possible, swooping down on its prey. “What have I ever done to you besides love your son and want the best for him? Is this because I'm not a good ole' Northern girl? Or because I'm older than him?”

  Olivia listened. The grimace receded as she sat on the wicker chair, but her eyes blazed harder on Sarah. “Don't be silly. Keep talking… quite a little rant you've started.”

  Sarah exploded. “For the last six years, you've tolerated me, acting perfectly civil when we're together. You've never said a bad word to me, but your anger seethes beneath the surface, infuriated as you suffer through Teddy's choice to marry me. I don't understand it. I love him. He loves me. We make each other happy. I reckon I'm the one who's helping him realize there's more to life than working eighty hours a week. I've given him hope for a different future. One where he has a chance at being happy and enjoying life. Don't you want that for your son? Or do you want him to turn into his father and drop dead from all the stress you've put on him.”

  Olivia stared at her daughter-in-law as bullets shot from her eyes with no chance of missing the intended target.

  Sarah lost all her breath upon finishing the release of all the pressure building up inside. Even a steam pipe blows the cover off a manhole at times. The color drained from Sarah's face, stunned at her own words, not expecting them to leave her mouth. “Oh, I'm sorry, Olivia. I didn't mean to say that about Ben.” She reached for her mother-in-law's hand, but rejection, as though the hand of the Satan himself had offered assistance, shot back with all-too-familiar ease.

  Olivia nodded at her daughter-in-law and stood, while clapping, one hand half cupped around the other, as though she wore her good satin theatre gloves. “Quite a performance, Sarah. You should have been an actress. Have you gotten that all out of your system?” Olivia's rage amped up another notch. She knew Sarah didn't hold all blame, but her daughter-in-law had tempted Olivia with a direct bullseye to aim her fury. And her patience waned from the whirlpool forming around her, its gravity more than she could fight.

  Sarah leaned back against the wall. “Is that what you really believe about me?”

  Olivia shrugged one shoulder and wrinkled her nose. “I don't know anymore. Should I believe you're a doting wife as you say? Or are you a trollop who sleeps with her brother-in-law to get pregnant?” Olivia snarled, as she fought back tears forming in her eyes.

  Sarah's face whitened, her eyes turned dark and beady. As her legs grew weak, she gripped the door frame. “How do you know?”

  “Does it matter how I know? Isn't it enough to simply know?” The tears won cascading her face. “If you want to be part of this family and you love my son, help me understand what the devil could possess you to do such a heinous thing. Lying about a baby, dear God.”

  Sarah revealed to her mother-in-law all the events that had transpired the last few years. She explained how much she and Teddy wanted to have children, but so much time had passed without it happening. Sarah talked about Teddy's low sperm count and his bouts with depression over the terror of disappointing his father throughout the years. She challenged her mother-in-law over not recognizing how assuming a larger role in the law practice pushed Teddy to lose weight when he had none to lose. She highlighted his pallor and skin growing duller, the heavy bags under his eyes, and premature gray hair aging him at least another ten years. And she exposed his hidden talents and dreams to paint, noting how it was the only time Sarah had ever seen him happy and excited.

  Olivia listened to Sarah's pleading, telling her daughter-in-law she found it hard to accept. “As his mother, I would have known if he had any of those wishes or problems. He's just foolishly daydreaming. All men do it.” She crossed her arms and looked down the bridge of her nose at her daughter-in-law.

  “I'm not sure you would know, Olivia. I reckon you don't recognize a lot of things going on right in front of you. I screwed up when I slept with Zach, but if I tell Teddy now, he will be heartbroken, and I don't know what he'll do. I didn't sleep with Zach because I was attracted to him or I wanted to cheat on Teddy. I wanted to make Teddy a father. And yes, I encouraged him to sell the practice because I reckon it's what he desires. I only want to give him what he deserves. I love him.”

  It took her a minute, but Olivia acknowledged Sarah had made a valid point. She opened her mouth to respond, then noticed Teddy had returned from the store and was walking up the back path to the porch.

  “It seems to be looking good out here, ladies. Nice work! Unfortunately, Matt's girls are sick, so he canceled. It'll be the three of us, Aunt Diane, and Anastasia. It would seem Zach disappeared to Brooklyn, working again.” He smiled as he dropped the propane tank next to the grill.

  Sarah walked inside to splash cold water on her face hoping to hide the obvious impact of her mother-in-law's inquisition.

  “Did I say something wrong?” replied Teddy.

  Olivia walked over to Teddy and grabbed his arm, her own shaking with each word. “Theodore, you do know how proud your father was of you, don't you?”

  “I suppose so. He never told me he was proud. Are you okay, mom? What's wrong with Sarah?”

  “And do you really want to be a painter, Theodore?”

  “Yes. It's important to me. Why are you asking these questions?”

  “And you're excited about this baby with Sarah?” A mascara-stained tear trailed the slope of Olivia's left cheek.

  Teddy's heart sank as his mother peeled away layers from his usually impenetrable coating. “Sarah told you about the baby?”

  Olivia nodded.

  Teddy's teeth shifted across one another, clicking and grinding, and his hand rested on his chest as he closed his eyes with careful ease. “She and I have been trying to conceive a baby forever. It finally happened this time.”

  Olivia attempted to kiss his cheek, but he pulled away and cocked his head to the side, unwilling to let her pierce the thick Teflon coating covering his body. “I'm going to check on Sarah. What did you say to her?”

  “I'm proud of you, Theodore. I'm proud of my son.”

  Teddy peeled her grip off his body and walked into the house to find his wife.

  Olivia stood, ignoring his rejection, questioning for how long she could continue to call him her son, fearing this all led to a painful and dramatic conclusion. It hadn't stopped with losing her husband, but with each visit to the sons she thought she knew so well, the stakes grew in spades. The tiny fractures surrounding her family, ones she expected fixable without even lifting a finger, were deeper crevices and dangerous fissures about to unleash huge consequences for the entire family.

  When will this drama end, Ben? How dare you leave me?

  Chapter 13 – Matt & Olivia

  Matt and Margaret owned a three-bedroom starter house that the prior owners had converted from a bungalow. They lived a few neighborhoods away from Matt's parents but in a well-established block with a
few acres of property including plenty of room to expand in the coming years. They'd paid more for the house than they wanted to at the time because living on the right side of town held a necessary prominence for Margaret.

  Shortly after Olivia arrived, Margaret said, “I'm glad you had a nice time at Teddy's. Matt should be home in thirty minutes. He texted me when he left the office. You'll be sleeping in Melanie's bed, and she'll sleep on an air mattress in our room.”

  “I hope it's no trouble, Margaret. It was imperative I spent quality time with you and Matt this week, and I didn't want to drive back and forth each day from my house. Perhaps it would have been better if you all came to stay with me for the week.” Olivia had tried that tactic once before, but Margaret fussed over packing the girls' clothes and toys as they had tons of games, books, and videos to keep them occupied during the day.

  After everything that had occurred the last few weeks, Olivia anticipated a few quiet days with Matthew and his family hoping he'd provide her strength and ways to better handle the situations with Caleb, Zachary, and Theodore. Matthew was generally the most practical of her children, which assured her this trip would put everything back on a proper course.

  “It's no trouble at all, Olivia. It'll be cozy and give us more time to talk about the plans Matt and I have to build an extension on the house. We're going to need more space soon.” Margaret pushed away an American Girl coloring book and juice bottle to the side.

  “May I assist with dinner?” Olivia noticed the glow shining on her daughter-in-law's face.

  Matt pulled off the highway in his blue Volkswagen Jetta turning into the apartment complex behind a gas station. Billy Joel's “We Didn't Start the Fire” blasted on the radio, and Matt crooned the chorus each time it came on. After arriving in the lot, he parked in the back corner, pulling out his phone to send a text. While typing, a relentless knock persisted at the window.