Chapter 1
Elise
“Tea or coffee?” my friend Gabrielle shouts from the kitchen of the Inn Boudreaux, her stunning old style home and business.
When I first returned to Louisiana, this was where I stayed for several months until I found a place both Izzy and I loved enough to purchase. My mama had offered to house us, but after everything we’d been through, I wanted more independence. Gabby and I became great friends during this time, and our friendship has continued since Izzy and I moved out.
Gabby had a tough time after she fell pregnant at a young age but is now happily married to Rhys O’Shaughnessy, a professional baseball player. They have two children, Sam and Ailish. Izzy loves them both. She and Ailish, who’s five, often play dolls together. Simon never allowed Izzy to have dolls when she was younger. He insisted she spent her playtimes engaged in some educational pursuit or another, so I think she secretly enjoys the freedom to do something she couldn’t before. But everything changes when Sam, who’s twelve, is around. She immediately tries to behave older than her ten years—I’m sure someone has a secret crush.
“Can I have a coffee, please?” I shout back to Gabby, and a few moments later, she appears with the refreshing nectar in a filter and a pair of antique cups. She has the best crockery of anyone I know.
“Thank you,” I express my gratitude as she pours.
Gabby loves being the hostess, and none of us would try to change that. It’s what she enjoys doing. Our children are currently at school, Rhys is working out in the gym, and all the guests have left for the day, so this is our chance to relax and catch up on the local gossip. Gabby just got back from a few weeks in Chicago where she and Rhys are based during his baseball season.
“So how was Chicago? Did you hit all the shops while you were there?” I ask.
“I may have visited one or two. I found this cute antique place. I spent hours in there and far too much money. You’re now drinking from one of my acquisitions.”
“I thought this was new.” I examine the coffee cup more carefully. It’s made from fine bone china with delicate flowers painted on it, most probably hand decorated. “Next time, I’ll have to get you to ship some back for me. I’ve only got regular mugs from Target.”
“Nothing wrong with a Target mug. I just prefer these.”
We both raise our drinks with our pinkie fingers held out, as if we’re upper-class English ladies from the Victorian era, and lightly chink the cups together.
“As long as the coffee inside is strong, it’s all I need.”
“Tell me about it. I’m exhausted.” Gabby rubs her hand over her face.
“Well you’ve been traveling all around America, supporting Rhys.”
“It’s fun, and it isn’t just the travel…you know how my husband can be.” Gabby sticks her tongue through her lips and winks at me. “Plus, I adore seeing Sam’s face every time he walks into one of the stadiums to watch Rhys play. He loves playing his own baseball games too, and I know he’s already got scouts watching him—Rhys has pointed them out to me. As long as it saves my windows, I’m more than happy for Sam to turn professional. He broke another one just before we left.”
“I sometimes wonder what Izzy will do when she’s older. I knew the entire time I was growing up I wanted to be an actress, but she’s not really showing a particular interest in anything at the moment. She’s good at sports, art, drama, maybe not math, but she doesn’t seem to want to specialize in anything yet.”
“She’s ten. She’ll figure something out. There’s plenty of time.”
“I know,” I muse into my coffee.
Since Izzy witnessed Simon attacking me, she hasn’t been the same happy-go-lucky girl she was before. I’d like to think she’s not been affected by it, but I know she has. What if she never settles on anything because she’s somehow broken inside.
“Miss Elise, I hope you’re not overthinking things. Izzy is happy. She’s doing really well. You’re a great mama, and you’re raising a wonderful child.”
“I know.” I nod my head and take another sip of my coffee.
It’s something that’s been worrying me for a while, though. I don’t need to work, but I wonder if Izzy thinks I’ve given up because I haven’t sorted out a new job.
“Tell me what’s worrying you.” Gabby places her coffee cup down on the table, and when I also put my cup down, she reaches out to take my hand and continues, “You’ve told me everything that happened to you. Don’t go silent on me now. You know I’m here to help you if you need me.”
“I do.” Pulling my hand away, I rub it over my face and bow my head. “I’m such an idiot.”
“No, you’ve been through a lot.”
“I just keep second guessing everything. I’ve had a few offers of work, but I’m scared to take them. What if Simon comes after me? What if I do something wrong, and I void the divorce agreement? I don’t want to risk losing Izzy. She hasn’t even asked to visit Simon. She saw him on the television the other day, doing an interview with his new girlfriend, and turned the television over to a different channel. I asked her later if she wanted to see her father, but she said no. I left it at that because I didn’t want to push the matter, but I wonder whether I should encourage her. Maybe he’s changed? Maybe he’s not abusive to his new girlfriend? Maybe it was just me? Maybe we rubbed each other up the wrong way? I don’t know. Everything is so confusing. And now I’m rambling and probably sounding completely crazy.”
“I’ve rambled many a time before. Ask Kate, my sister-in-law.”
I lean down beside me and lift my bag up onto the table. Then opening it, I dip my hand inside and retrieve the letter I singled out from my snail mail this morning. I hand it to Gabby, and she skim reads it.