Page 10 of Trick of Light

“If you’re anything like me,” Amanda said, “you won’t know how to leave your children in daycare. I’ll tell you that right now.”

Bethany stiffened, and a horrible wrinkle formed between her eyebrows.

But before she could ask Amanda to clarify, Amanda continued, “I just can’t respect women who allow others to raise their children. Nick was meant to be a surgeon; he was born into it. But look at you, darling. You were born to raise those beautiful babies. You were born to be a surgeon’s wife. I know it because I was born to do that, too.”

Amanda beamed as though she’d just translated the most deliriously wonderful news. Bethany’s gut swam with fear. She felt as though she were on a cruise ship that tossed over waves.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Bethany said, drawing her skirts up and hurrying toward the bathroom. She pressed her forehead against the door in silence and shook with sorrow.

How many hundreds of thousands of hours had she studied to be a doctor? How much had she given up to be a surgeon? Didn’t Amanda understand that?

The answer was obvious. Amanda knew how much Bethany had given up but didn’t care. In her mind, Bethany was better off at home, raising grandchildren. She was better off supporting Nick. It was just the way things were done.

Bethany locked eyes with herself in the mirror and gave herself a silent pep talk—one that seemed all the more ridiculous due to the ostentatious wedding dress and the very thick makeup. Nothing and nobody would get in the way of her career. She hadn’t been put on this earth to carry the next generation of Waterstones. She hadn’t been born simply to love Nick. She was a complex and intellectual young woman. She’d been through hell. And people like Amanda Waterstone wouldn’t force her into any sort of life—no matter how much money they threw around in honor of “how things were supposed to be.”

Bethany knew entering the Waterstone family meant she would always be seen as second best. Nick would always be the surgeon; she would always be the “wannabe.” She had to get comfortable with that.

Oh, but she loved Nick. She loved the humor they shared, loved that he muttered in his sleep and held her tightly until dawn, loved that they could share tremendous scientific knowledge with one another and know that the other would understand. Hers was a unique Cinderella story; she knew not to take it for granted. But she also knew to be careful and protect her heart.

That afternoon, Bob Waterstone walked Bethany down the aisle to “Pachelbel’s Canon.” Four hundred and fifty remarkably intelligent and very rich guests watched as Bethany and Nick said their vows and pledged their lives to one another. It was the happiest day of Bethany’s adult life. And although Bethany resented it, she had to admit the cake was absolutely to die for. Amanda had selected perfectly.

Chapter Five

Present Day

Bethany was upstairs in her office, listening to her children down the hall as they played games and traded snacks. It was a Monday afternoon in July and horrifically humid—the sort of weather everyone hid themselves away from.

Her youngest, Phoebe, squealed, “That’s against the rules!”

Maddie giggled and said, “Prove it.”

But there was an air of goodwill between them. Ever since their toddler years, Maddie, Tommy, and Phoebe had been good friends. And now that Maddie and Tommy were thirteen and officially “teenagers,” Phoebe scampered after them, eager to keep up.

Bethany was prepping for this evening’s surgery. Like Phoebe, the patient was ten years old and obsessed with horses and Disney. Although she was tremendously pale due to her sick liver, the patient’s eyes were bright and happy, always dancing as Bethany asked her how she was feeling and explained in layman’s terms what was going on with her body. The patient’s mother was a shadow of her former self, practically falling apart every time Bethany spoke to her about the upcoming surgery. Bethany understood. She’d watched her parents fall apart years ago with Joel. And she wouldn’t have been half as strong as they were if something had ever happened to Maddie, Tommy, or Phoebe.

Bethany rubbed her temples and turned her cell phone back on, which she had on Airplane Mode so she could focus. A split second later, a text from Rebecca buzzed in.

REBECCA: Hey, sis! How is your week? Missing you here.

Rebecca shared a photograph of herself and Esme at the Sutton Book Club. They stood before a massive pile of dishes with their thumbs up. Clearly, the new restaurant was already a success. Bethany smiled to herself.

BETHANY: Wow! Look at those dishes. I don’t envy you.

REBECCA: We’ll save them for when you get back. Which is soon, I hope?

Bethany’s chest felt heavy with regret. She longed to pack up her car and drive her children to Nantucket. She longed to drive out of the thick humidity and breathe the fresh Atlantic air.

Phoebe scampered down the hall, calling back to Maddie and Tommy. “That’s one juice box, three fruit snacks, and three granola bars?”

“And a Coke, Pheebs!” Maddie reminded her.

“A Gatorade for me,” Tommy said.

“Got it!” Phoebe shot down the staircase, her little feet bouncing on the carpet.

Bethany stood, stretching her arms over her head so her spine cracked and popped. Maybe she could join her children for an hour or two, eat snacks, and laugh. Maybe then, she could find the strength to keep going.

Just then, downstairs, Phoebe let out a blood-curdling scream.

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