Chapter 2 - SIT DOWN, MRS. CARTER
Madison moved before anyone asked.
Evelyn lifted the serving tray.
Madison rushed forward.
“Oh, let me.”
She took the tray from Evelyn’s hands.
Then pulled out Evelyn’s chair.
“Sit down, Mrs. Carter. I’ll do everything.”
Evelyn smiled.
“Will you?”
Madison beamed.
Claire watched.
Ethan smirked into his drink.
This was performance.
Not dinner.
Madison poured tea for Evelyn.
Then leaned close enough to make sure Claire heard.
“Ethan says Claire’s just a useless freeloader.”
Claire’s fingers tightened around her cup.
Ethan said nothing.
That silence told Claire the line was real.
Madison added:
“He said she got comfortable.”
Evelyn slowly smiled.
Nodded.
“You’re absolutely right, sweetheart.”
Madison lit up.
Victory.
Claire looked at Evelyn.
Nothing in her expression explained the sentence.
Then Madison reached across the table to serve Evelyn again.
Evelyn took the porcelain pot.
Tilted it.
Steaming water spilled across the front of Madison’s dress and over her hands.
Not enough for graphic injury.
Enough to make Madison jerk backward in shock.
“AH! Mrs. Carter!”
Ethan stood.
“Mom!”
Evelyn calmly set the teapot down.
Then pushed a napkin toward Madison.
“Careful.”
Madison stared.
“Careful?”
Evelyn opened her purse.
Removed Ethan’s credit cards.
Then his car keys.
Slid them across the table toward Madison.
Ethan froze.
“What are you doing?”
Evelyn ignored him.
Looked at Madison.
“You wanted my son so badly, didn’t you?”
Madison’s confidence disappeared.
Then Evelyn reached for the leather folder.
Turned.
Placed it into Claire’s hands.
Ethan’s face changed.
“Mom.”
Claire felt the weight.
Documents.
Many.
Madison looked at Ethan’s empty hands.
Then at the folder.
Evelyn leaned back.
Completely calm.
“Then stay with him when he has nothing.”
Ethan lunged toward the folder.
Claire pulled it against her chest.
Evelyn said sharply:
“Sit.”
Ethan stopped.
May you like
Not because he obeyed easily.
Because for the first time in his life, he heard something in his mother’s voice that did not sound like protection.
