Chapter 4 - Vanessa Had Told The Lie Before
The next morning Carol ate breakfast alone.
She expected to feel lonely.
Instead, she felt strangely peaceful.
Then a woman approached her table.
“Are you Carol?”
Carol looked up.
The woman introduced herself as Jenna Brooks.
She and her husband had been the couple originally planning to travel
with Michael and Vanessa.
They canceled because Jenna’s mother needed surgery.
Carol recognized the name.
“Vanessa said you invited yourself.”
Carol put down her coffee.
“When?”
“Before we canceled.”
Jenna looked uncomfortable.
“She told us Michael surprised her with this huge anniversary trip.”
Carol felt something inside her settle.
Not anger.
Clarity.
“How long ago?”
“About two months.”
That was before Carol decided to join them.
Vanessa’s airport lie had not been improvised because she was
embarrassed.
It was part of a story she had already been telling.
Jenna continued.
“She said Michael got a big work bonus.”
“He didn’t.”
“I know that now.”
“How?”
“Michael called us last night.”
Carol looked toward the ocean.
Her son had started correcting the story.
Late.
But he had started.
Jenna hesitated.
“There’s more.”
Vanessa had posted photographs of the resort confirmation in a private
group chat.
She described the vacation as something she and Michael had “worked hard
for.”
One friend asked how they could afford it.
Vanessa replied:
We finally stopped letting family treat us like children.
May you like
Carol almost laughed at the absurdity.
Her credit card had apparently financed their independence.
