Page 86 of Second Chances
Beth was really hoping her sister would have offered more information, but she should know Jane better than that by now.
“Jane, I know I’ve laid so much on you, and asked so much of you already, but I have to ask, do you know why Caroline is back?”
Jane’s face shuttered away for a moment before she responded, “I…I’m not sure.”
“I know what I’m asking of you. I know that these are your future in-laws and it’s their family business whatever is going on, but I’m begging you; you know what she has done to Darcy, what she has done and threatened to do to me, we’re just trying to end this with the least amount of damage possible. Please. If you know why she is here, please, tell me.”
Jane let out a deep sigh, her face falling momentarily into her hands, “I’m sorry. I understand why you are asking and I… I want to help. I don’t know everything though; Charles never finished telling me the other night. All I know is that yes, she is back because she couldn’t afford to stay in Italy any longer.”
“Did her parents cut her off?”
“No, it wasn’t like that. When they refused to back her art all those years ago, she left and they haven’t given her any money since then. I think Charles’ grandmother was supporting her, and then left her money, I’m assuming after she died. I don’t know what happened though if the money ran out or what, but I do know that Caro came back because her art, while popular over there, wasn’t making enough to support her lifestyle.”
“So, she came back to ask her parents to support her?”
“That’s what I don't know. It certainly makes sense, but it’s just not the impression I got from what information Charles did tell me; it didn’t seem like she was back to ask them for money, or that she had asked them for money,” Jane responded, perplexed.
Interesting.
There had to be more going on. Granted, Jane didn’t know everything, but at least she’d been able to give her confirmation that Caro was, indeed, back looking for money.
“So, maybe she wants Darcy back so that she has access to his money…” Beth surmised.
“Maybe,” Jane agreed.
“I’m so sorry, Jane. I know this is hard for you, how much you liked Caro and were looking forward to gaining her as a sister. I hate to have ruined that,” Beth lamented, guilt washing over her for putting Jane in this position.
“It’s not your fault, Beth.Youare my sister, and as much as I’m angry and disappointed to lose that connection to Charles’ family, I’m thankful that you told me; I don’t want to grow close to someone who has been so deceitful and cruel.”
“I know, but I’ve still put you in a difficult place,” Beth continued, “and I’m going to ask even more of you.”
Jane’s eyes widened, wondering what else there could possibly be.
“I want you to try to find out from Charles what Caroline’s plan is; I need to know why she is after Darcy for his money instead of just asking her parents. Unless she’s assuming that they will refuse again, which is a legitimate thought, but if that’s the case, clearly, her lifestyle is more important than her art, so why not just change her subject matter to something that her parents are more comfortable with? I just have this feeling that there is a layer that we are missing, that you have access to.”
Beth watched Jane bite her lip at the request. She knew she was asking a lot - to keep this from Charles, to share family secrets with her, to investigate into their family problems for the sole purpose of informing on her fiancé’s sister.
God, she was a terrible sister.
No, Caroline is a terrible sister. You are doing what you have to do.
“Please, Jane. I know it’s a lot, but it’s the only way we can think of to put an end to this. If we can figure out what she really wants, then we can find some other way for her to get it,” Beth pleaded. “Of course, we’ve thought of other options, from going to the police, which would estrange either her or me from you and Charles, to explaining the situation to Charles and asking for his help. But, if money from their parents could solve her problems, she would have just asked them by now, don’t you think?” Beth paused, taking in a deep breath before finishing her thought. “Knowing Caroline, knowing what she has done to get her own way, I don’t want to make decisions or involve people before we truly understand what her plan is; I’m afraid of what will happen, what she will do, if we act based only on our assumptions.”
It was true. Based on what Darcy had told her, what she had experienced with Caroline, she was devious. If they acted on an unconfirmed assumption, who knows what the response might be? No, they needed to be sure of what exactly was going on; they needed to be just as calculating as she. Unfortunately.
“No, I understand,” Jane responded, grabbing her sister’s hand again, “I don’t want you to think that I feel bad for Caroline or feel guilty for helping you. I’m just still shocked that it washer.I know that you haven’t even told me all the details of what happened between her and Darcy, and I’m sure I don’t know the details of the things she has said to you, but until now, that ex-girlfriend has been almost like a concept in my mind, but now, to have that kind of person attached to reality, attached as my future sister-in-law, is overwhelming.”
“I’m sorry, Jane.” She didn’t know what else to say.
“Don’t apologize, Beth!” Jane replied with a self-deprecating laugh. “I can’t even imagine how you feel, having all of this happen to you and the person that you love; having someone try to come between you two, and then to find out that someone is going to be related to you… I just can’t imagine.”
“We’re going to get through this. Now, I just need to figure out how I’m going to survive the rest of this week and Saturday in Caroline’s presence without strangling her,” Beth said, semi in jest to try to lighten the conversation.
“I’ll try to find out from Charles before then. Monday is usually our night together until Friday, so it might not be until then. I don’t want to have to lie to him, so I don’t want to just call him up and ask because he’ll wonder why. I figured he might tell me more about the situation tonight, but then I canceled on him because you needed to come over, so hopefully Friday night I’ll find out,” Jane said, biting her lip nervously.
“Ok,” Beth said, relieved to finally have some semblance of control over this situation. “If you don’t feel comfortable, or if you don’t find out anything, don’t stress over it, ok? We have other options. After the exhibit, Darcy can always talk to Charles and try to deal with Caroline that way; we’ll figure it out.”
“Ok.” Jane replied with a semblance of a smile. “But, Beth… just please be careful until then, ok? Knowing now what I do… I don’t trust Caroline. I know you don’t either, but I’ve been in closer contact with her than you and I’ve heard more about her from Charles than you - things that aren’t relevant to this situation, but… just be careful, ok?”
