10
I hadn’t bothered. “Good,” I said, flipping
through the luggage. Nothing of value. Just a
petty display of resentment. Men were strange.
They wanted me to stop loving them, but when I
did, they couldn’t handle it.
I was too busy to care. My Van Cliburn success
had made me a minor celebrity. Invitations to
perform poured in. I declined most, but I
couldn’t refuse my alma mater’s invitation to
perform at their centennial celebration. Peter
came with me.
As we strolled across campus, Peter gazing around in awe, I recounted my college days. Then I saw them: Mark, Ethan, and Amelia. They were walking together, Mark holding forth,
Amelia clinging to his arm. I steered Peter away.
<
As they drew closer, I heard Mark’s voice.
“I’m only doing this alumni speech as a favor. A
chance to connect with the younger
generation.” He sounded pompous, desperate
to feel important.
“Marky, you’re so amazing! Your alma mater
still remembers you!” Amelia gushed.
Mark preened. “Of course. They invite me every
year. I only agreed because you wanted to
come.”
“You’re the best!” Amelia squeezed his arm.
Mark sighed dramatically. “If only Lily had an
ounce of your understanding, Amelia. You can
be a handful, but you appreciate me. That’s
what a man needs.”
“Really? Then you have to promise to love me forever, and never yell at me!” Amelia chirped.
<
Mark chuckled, agreeing readily. Amelia knew
how to play him. Mrs. Davis had confided that
Amelia was a nightmare, causing friction
between Mark and Ethan. Yet, here they were,
acting like a happy family. The mistress’s magic
touch.
“Dad, stand under that tree with Amelia. I’ll
take a picture and send it to Lily,” Ethan said
suddenly.
Mark frowned. “Why?”
“I heard she won some award. Big deal. What
good is it? Her son and husband don’t love
her.” Ethan’s voice dripped with venom. He
snapped a photo of a beaming Amelia and a
stiff–smiling Mark before sending it to me. He
hadn’t deleted me on social media, but he’d
never contacted me. Until now.
A voice message followed. “Lily, see? This is
who we are now. You’re not welcome back.
<
Dad doesn’t want you. I don’t want you. Go play
mommy with your adopted son.” The
resentment and jealousy were palpable.
I shook my head and blocked him. I was here
for a celebration, not a drama.
