Chapter 6 - DANIEL’S ABSENCE
Daniel’s business trip looked terrible afterward.
His daughter was six weeks old.
Why was he in Denver?
Because Marlow Architectural Products was negotiating an acquisition.
He had planned one overnight.
Tessa agreed.
No secret abandonment.
No affair.
No convenient absence created by Eudora.
His flight home was delayed five hours.
That was all.
What mattered was what his mother did with the absence.
Eudora messaged Tessa:
Daniel agrees you should stay here tonight.
He did not.
Tessa replied:
He didn’t tell me that.
Eudora:
He doesn’t want to upset you.
Tessa called Daniel.
No answer.
He was in the air.
Then Brielle:
We already moved the bassinet upstairs.
Tessa:
Move it back.
Brielle:
Stop fighting everyone helping you.
The baby shower continued around them.
Guests eating cake that would later end up on Eudora’s gown.
A string quartet playing.
May you like
People smiling.
Control often grows best when a room is too polite to call it by name.
