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Chapter 10 - Sizzling Garlic
A long crevice began to open in Barbara and Michael’s relationship. They were no longer just friends and they were not lovers.
Barbara spent lunch in her room working on the letter to her Mother. Even if she finished it, it wouldn’t arrive before she got home from Athens. She thought she would hand the letter to her Mother, grab the kids and run. What a joke. There had only been one divorce in the family. It was never mentioned. Never. Barbara remembered her Mother’s flat, non-expression at Barbara and Chuck’s small wedding. Sitting in the front row, her Mother had stared at the white wall behind the alter and never glanced at her daughter, who, out of the corner of her eye, leaning towards Chuck for the kiss, had seen.
Mother, how did you know? You were right about Chuck and I was wrong. You are a genius and I am a fool. But I hate you for being jealous of my having Chuck after Dad died. Dad was an asshole anyway. You are a sick fool to miss him. I am the genius for keeping Chuck through everything.
Barbara pressed her pen through the stationary, held the upper corner of the stationary with her right hand, and slowly pulled the pen towards her until the paper split, leaving a thick, black scratch in the desktop.