belong in the house but Maureen didn’t want around.
And, among them, her mother’s things, packed up after she died and before her dad remarried.
The boxes were dusty but Gina held her breath and moved on, the faint light from her bedroom spilling into the large closet area so she could see. She shifted boxes out of the way, frowning and growing more frantic as she didn’t see the labeled one she was looking for. The one with her mother’s clothes sealed—there was a dress there, simple but elegant in silver, kept zipped in plastic.
Box after box, tearing lids open, checking behind the trunks. There were other items missing too, photo albums, more clothes, knickknacks, but the dress...
Her heart thumping hard, eyes watering from dust, Gina spun and tore out of the closet, out of her room, down the stairs. The voices no longer came from the bedrooms but the lower level, front foyer—they were preparing to leave.
She ran down the hall and main stairs just as the front door creaked open. Gina paused in the middle of the steps, staring in horror at her stepmother.
Maureen, her hair severely pinned back and a mink stole over her shoulders, paused by the door to pull on long white gloves and looked up at Gina. “Yes?”
Tears fought with rage for dominance, and even Gina didn’t know what would win. “Where are my mother’s things?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Gina.”
She took three more steps down, her hand gripping the railing to keep herself upright. “Yes, you do. You’ve been in my room and you took the boxes with her dresses.”
Maureen watched her coldly for a moment and then flicked her hand over her shoulder; Tatum and Tamara had the sense to be silent and slipped outside without a word.
When they were gone, Maureen faced Gina fully, her shoulders pulled back and chin lifted, eyes unblinking. “Those dresses were damaged, Gina. Moth-eaten, moldy. Everything was thrown out ages ago.”
“That’s not true—”
“I can’t have things breeding disease and bugs in my home.”
Her home? Her home? Gina took a deep breath. “I looked at those clothes a month ago. They were fine. You did this so I couldn’t go to the party.”
“ Why would I do such a thing? Really, child.”
“Because you’re spiteful and evil.”
Of all things, Maureen smiled. “This obsession with me being the villain in your life will have to end at some point.” She clasped the door handle and started outside, casting one look over her shoulder. “See you at the party. If you can make it, that is.”
The door snapped shut, then the deadbolt followed. Gina sank down on the steps weakly, staring blankly ahead, not quite able to cry but certain she would soon. Everything, gone. Everything . Maureen had scrubbed each and every piece of Gina’s mother from the house, the business, from Gina’s own room. It wasn’t about the damn party, the dress. It was her history, her family, completely gone.
Like they never existed at all.
****
Gina wasn’t sure how long she sat there—she was in shock, still, that her entire evening had just unraveled, crushed that despite years of cruelty her stepmother could take meanness to an entirely new level—when the front door creaked open.
She sat up straight, nervous, and then an unfamiliar man peeked inside. It took a moment but she realized she did recognize him—he’d come in the bakery some weeks ago with Brennen. He would be the friend, Mike.
Damn it, how long have I been here?
Mike had his phone to his ear, met Gina’s eyes, and sighed. “Yeah, she’s here and she’s fine.” He let the door close behind him and walked to meet her on the stairs, offering his phone. “Brennen.”
Gina winced and answered. “I’m sorry.”
His warm voice filled her ear, easing some of her worry. “She showed up here and you hadn’t called yet. I thought something had happened.”
She thought of the dress and closed her eyes. “Just...an argument.
And, among them, her mother’s things, packed up after she died and before her dad remarried.
The boxes were dusty but Gina held her breath and moved on, the faint light from her bedroom spilling into the large closet area so she could see. She shifted boxes out of the way, frowning and growing more frantic as she didn’t see the labeled one she was looking for. The one with her mother’s clothes sealed—there was a dress there, simple but elegant in silver, kept zipped in plastic.
Box after box, tearing lids open, checking behind the trunks. There were other items missing too, photo albums, more clothes, knickknacks, but the dress...
Her heart thumping hard, eyes watering from dust, Gina spun and tore out of the closet, out of her room, down the stairs. The voices no longer came from the bedrooms but the lower level, front foyer—they were preparing to leave.
She ran down the hall and main stairs just as the front door creaked open. Gina paused in the middle of the steps, staring in horror at her stepmother.
Maureen, her hair severely pinned back and a mink stole over her shoulders, paused by the door to pull on long white gloves and looked up at Gina. “Yes?”
Tears fought with rage for dominance, and even Gina didn’t know what would win. “Where are my mother’s things?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Gina.”
She took three more steps down, her hand gripping the railing to keep herself upright. “Yes, you do. You’ve been in my room and you took the boxes with her dresses.”
Maureen watched her coldly for a moment and then flicked her hand over her shoulder; Tatum and Tamara had the sense to be silent and slipped outside without a word.
When they were gone, Maureen faced Gina fully, her shoulders pulled back and chin lifted, eyes unblinking. “Those dresses were damaged, Gina. Moth-eaten, moldy. Everything was thrown out ages ago.”
“That’s not true—”
“I can’t have things breeding disease and bugs in my home.”
Her home? Her home? Gina took a deep breath. “I looked at those clothes a month ago. They were fine. You did this so I couldn’t go to the party.”
“ Why would I do such a thing? Really, child.”
“Because you’re spiteful and evil.”
Of all things, Maureen smiled. “This obsession with me being the villain in your life will have to end at some point.” She clasped the door handle and started outside, casting one look over her shoulder. “See you at the party. If you can make it, that is.”
The door snapped shut, then the deadbolt followed. Gina sank down on the steps weakly, staring blankly ahead, not quite able to cry but certain she would soon. Everything, gone. Everything . Maureen had scrubbed each and every piece of Gina’s mother from the house, the business, from Gina’s own room. It wasn’t about the damn party, the dress. It was her history, her family, completely gone.
Like they never existed at all.
****
Gina wasn’t sure how long she sat there—she was in shock, still, that her entire evening had just unraveled, crushed that despite years of cruelty her stepmother could take meanness to an entirely new level—when the front door creaked open.
She sat up straight, nervous, and then an unfamiliar man peeked inside. It took a moment but she realized she did recognize him—he’d come in the bakery some weeks ago with Brennen. He would be the friend, Mike.
Damn it, how long have I been here?
Mike had his phone to his ear, met Gina’s eyes, and sighed. “Yeah, she’s here and she’s fine.” He let the door close behind him and walked to meet her on the stairs, offering his phone. “Brennen.”
Gina winced and answered. “I’m sorry.”
His warm voice filled her ear, easing some of her worry. “She showed up here and you hadn’t called yet. I thought something had happened.”
She thought of the dress and closed her eyes. “Just...an argument.
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