Forever Hold Your Peace by Liz Fenton

Author:Liz Fenton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CROOKED LANE BOOKS

* * *

When Olivia returned from the bathroom, Chloe nudged her. “Amy’s here.”

Olivia’s grandmother, Eileen, also arrived as Amy walked into the room. Eileen’s gray hair was pulled tight into a low bun, and she was wearing her signature strand of pearls and a full-skirted dress that was tight in the torso and looked to Olivia like it was from the fifties. Olivia and Zach had FaceTimed Eileen to tell her they had decided to get married in Santa Barbara. Eileen had been thrilled and asked to come on the tour of the Four Seasons—she only lived a few miles away. Olivia had asked her grandmother if she was sure she wanted to do that, reminding her that Amy would be there.

Remember her? The woman who broke your daughter’s heart? she wanted to say. Eileen had pursed her lips and twisted her pearls. Surely her grandmother would come back with something sharp witted, something protective of June, Olivia thought. But instead, Eileen offered something cavalier, and Olivia’s heart broke a little for her mom.

“Oh, honey, that was decades ago. Even your mother seems to be over it.”

Olivia had nodded, but thought, If only you could see the text thread I’m on.

Olivia slid her phone into her back pocket and greeted Amy.

“I’m sorry I’m just getting here,” Amy said as she hugged Olivia.

“You’re ten minutes early.” Olivia breathed in Amy’s perfume. It was strong and musky—not surprisingly, the opposite of what her mom wore, soft and floral.

“I’m a wrinkly mess from being in the car for so long.” Amy smoothed the nonexistent wrinkles in her chic black ankle-length dress.

Olivia watched her grandmother approach Amy, her face hard to read. “Amy, it’s been a long time,” she said as she gave her a once-over. “How are you?”

Olivia wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw Amy stand up a little taller. “I’m well, you know, considering, you know, everything,” she said, her voice catching.

Olivia knew her grandmother could be intimidating, but so could Amy. She’d never seen her future mother-in-law act nervous.

Eileen didn’t respond. Instead, she stared at Amy. Olivia remembered reading something in undergrad about how this was an interrogation tactic of the CIA or FBI or some government organization.

Amy’s chest expanded as she sucked in a deep breath. “I want to say I’m sorry … for everything.”

“Sorry?” Eileen’s blue eyes popped. “My dear, you don’t need to apologize to me. You did me a favor. You are aware I didn’t want my daughter to marry that man—well, he was a boy back then. When I found out what the two of you did, I was relieved. And it turns out I was right about him, clearly.”

Olivia watched Amy’s face go slack. Olivia wanted to say something, but what? If she defended her mother, she would be going against Amy. If she defended Amy, she would be going against her grandmother and maybe her mother too.

June walked over. “Why is everyone so quiet?”

“Just catching up.” Eileen’s eyes flashed, and then she smiled.

A tall, rail-thin woman with a pinched expression and a tight grip on an iPad hurried into the room.

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