Carrie knew that Hillary’d had little contact with her dad since the divorce. Her uncle had made several attempts to break through, with no success.
“I’m not telling him, Mom.”
“It’s been six years. It’s time to let all this anger go. The only one it’s hurting is you. Your dad loves you and he’d—”
“Mom, please, don’t bring Dad into this. He made it clear who he loves. When he left you, he walked out on us, too.”
“He didn’t walk away from you. He never would; you’re his children, his precious daughters. You need your dad, and I know you might not think it, but this separation has been just as hard on him as it has been on you.”
“Not likely,” Hillary insisted, her back as stiff as a broom handle. “I don’t believe he cares about us the least bit.”
“He misses you.”
“Good. I hope he’s miserable and that this new wife of his makes him suffer.”
“Listen,” her mother said, her expression one of regret and anxiety. “If you believe having a relationship with your father is somehow being disloyal to me, then you’re wrong.”
“Mom,” Marie butted in, coming to Hillary’s defense. “It isn’t that. Dad is the one who is making any kind of relationship impossible. He refuses to see us unless Laura comes with him. Neither of us wants anything to do with her.”
“He’s trying to force that parasite he married on us,” Hillary added, and shuddered as if she’d bitten into a lemon. “If seeing Dad means I have to deal with Laura, then I refuse.”
“Has Laura reached out?” Carrie asked. She knew her uncle had at least tried, and she wondered about his new wife.
Hillary snickered. “The only time I’ve spoken to her was the day her son and I had it out. She stood between us and shouted at Marie and me to leave, which we were more than happy to do. She was rude and horrible. I have no intention of speaking to her ever.”
“Honey,” Julia said, as if looking to interject reason into this discussion. “Laura was standing up for her son. Had the situation been reversed, I would have leaped to your defense.”
Carrie knew her cousins’ actions had been less than civil. It was shortly after the Lake Sammamish incident that her aunt had finalized the divorce. Whatever had happened that day had deeply impacted her cousins. It was from that point forward that Hillary and Marie refused to have anything more to do with their father.
“You should be able to talk to your father without Laura,” Julia suggested gently. “He’ll want to know you’re engaged.”
“Not doing it,” Hillary said, and shook her head for emphasis.
“You say Dad misses us?” Marie scoffed. “Mom, I think it’s best if we drop the subject. Dad made his choice and so have Hillary and I. As far as we’re concerned, he can live with the consequences.”
Julia slowly shook her head, as if disappointed by their unwillingness to bend. “Oh girls, you’re as stubborn as your father.”
“At least we come by it honestly,” Hillary said, as if making a joke.
In a blatant effort to change the subject, her cousin walked over to where Julia had arranged the appetizers. “I have always loved these dumplings.”
“Okay,” Julia said, sighing loudly. “Message received. I won’t bring up your father again, although someone needs to let him know the news.”
Hillary paused from loading a second dumpling onto her small plate. “You can tell him if you want. You appear to be the only one in this family willing to talk to him.”
Marie shrugged. “Yeah, Mom, you tell him.”
“And while you’re at it,” Hillary added, “you can remind him that he isn’t invited to the wedding if he plans on bringing Laura.”
“Hillary!” Julia protested. “She’s his wife!”
“I’m serious, Mom. I have no intention of letting her ruin my special day. As far as I’m concerned, when he walked out that door, he made his choice. I no longer consider him my father.”
Perhaps she shouldn’t have asked, but Carrie was curious. “Who will walk you down the aisle?”
“I haven’t thought that far ahead. Maybe I’ll just walk myself. Daddy gave up the privilege a long time ago.”
Julia’s face fell. “You need to seriously think about this, Hillary. You might regret this decision down the road.”
“No, I won’t. I’m the bride-to-be, and if Dad wants to be part of my wedding, I’m willing to let him, with one small stipulation. I don’t want Laura there. If he can agree to that, then he, and he alone, will receive an invitation.”
“I shouldn’t have said anything,” Carrie murmured, regretting asking the question.
“It’s better to get this out now,” Hillary said, “so there’s no misunderstanding.”
“And if your father refuses?” Julia asked.
“Then so be it. What was it that Gramps always said?”
Carrie and the two cousins recited it together: “It’s better this way.”
* * *
—
After her cousins left, Carrie headed back to her desk to complete the list she’d been working on earlier. When a meal delivery came for Eric Hudson, Carrie saw this as the perfect opportunity to meet the elusive resident. Seeing that the meal had already been paid for, she decided to deliver it herself.
Standing in the hallway outside his door, she waited for him to answer.
“Give me a minute,” he shouted from the other side.
“No problem,” she said. If he didn’t care that his dinner was growing cold, then she wouldn’t worry about it, either.
The door opened a couple minutes later. He grabbed the sack from her hands and was ready to close the door when she stopped him.
“Eric?” she said, making it more of a question than a statement. She hadn’t expected him to be so young. He had to be around her age, perhaps a year or two older. She couldn’t help but notice he was easy on the eyes. His hair was badly in need of a cut and it didn’t look like he’d taken the time to comb it. He was dressed in sloppy jeans and a T-shirt and had bare feet.
He glanced up as if noticing her for the first time in her pencil skirt and silk blouse. His eyes widened, as if he was as surprised as she was. “Yes. I’m Eric. Is there a problem?”
“No, not at all. I wanted to introduce myself. I’m Carrie, the new concierge. I’m here to do whatever I can to make life easier for you. If you need me to collect packages, or book a reservation, or if anything needs repairs, don’t hesitate to ask.” She bit her lip to keep from suggesting an appointment with the barber.