dith was found unconscious in the restroom by one of the hospital’s janitors.
When she finally came to, she was lying on a crisp, clean hospital bed. A nurse, expression cool and clinical, stood by with a chart in hand. “You’ll need to get in touch with your family,” she said. “Someone has to bring you a change of clothes- Staring up at the ceiling, Edith replied flatly, “My husband’s dead. My sister–in–law is pregnant, and the whole family’s fussing over her. No one has time for me.”
Only then did a flicker of pity cross the nurse’s face. She let out a sigh and said, “Wait, I’ll go get you something.”
When the nurse returned, she was chatting with a coworker, voices carrying gossip down the hall. “You won’t believe the mother–in–law I just met in the ER,” the other nurse was saying. “Her oldest son’s wife is pregnant, the younger son’s wife won’t pick up the phone and doesn’t even bother to check in–no manners at all. And the son? He’s hovering over his wife like she’s made of glass. He even tastes the water before letting her drink it, as if we don’t know how to do our jobs…”
Edith reached for her phone, only to find it dead–out of battery and powerless, just like she felt.
She could guess well enough: the “rude younger daughter–in–law” they were talking about was her.
After changing into the new trousers the nurse had bought, Edith handed over some cash and thanked her before making for the exit, eager to slip away from the hospital and the whole mess behind her.
But just as she left her room, she ran right into her mother–in–law, who was standing outside Salome’s room, phone in hand and clearly about to call Edith again.
Her mother–in–law’s face was thunderous with anger and accusation the moment she saw her. She grabbed Edith by the arm and marched her toward Salome’s room without so much as a greeting. “Where have you been? Not answering your phone! Your sister–in–law is pregnant–how could you not come check on her? You have no manners, no upbringing at all!”
Edith was scolded so thoroughly, it felt like she’d been doused with a bucket of cold water. Her mother–in–law had always been difficult, but she’d never before dropped the pretense of civility so completely. At least, she used to keep up appearances.
3/2
15:05
Why this time? What had changed to make her mother–in–law so blatant?
After enduring the tirade, Edith noticed Salome lying in bed, a smug little smile curling on her lips.
At first, Edith thought she must be imagining things, but when Salome deliberately sent both her mother–in–law and Beckett out on errands, Edith finally understood. She hadn’t imagined it–and she finally saw why her mother–in–law was acting so shamelessly this time.
Now it was just the two of them in the hospital room.
Salome arched an eyebrow, looking at Edith with open contempt. “Why did you call my husband when you had your period? You had him bring you pads to the ladies‘ restroom? Don’t think I don’t see through your little schemes!”
Edith’s forehead was beaded with sweat from the pain, but–the physical ache was nothing compared to the sharp, hollow twist in her chest.
Back when she had her period, Beckett would drop everything, fussing over her, even rolling up his sleeves to make her caramel pudding from scratch–this spoiled son of the family who rarely touched a dish. Now, all she’d wanted was for Beckett to help her in a pinch, but suddenly her intentions were being twisted into something ugly.
Salome let out a cold, derisive laugh. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re after! You’ve always had a thing for Beckett. Isn’t it just because my husband and Beckett look alike? Now that your husband’s dead, you’re after mine? Dream on!”
Edith didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Either way, it only left her feeling emptier.
She schooled her features into a blank mask and offered a cold, thin smile. “If you have time to fret about whether someone’s going to steal your husband, maybe you should worry more about keeping your baby safe. By the way, it was only thanks to the strings I pulled with Dr. White that you got this pregnancy in the first place. Shouldn’t you be thanking me?”
Salome sneered. “Thank you? Why would I thank you? My husband and you made some deal, and you only helped out because you had no choice.”
Edith couldn’t be bothered to argue. There was no point in reasoning with someone so willfully rude..
Besides, none of this had been out of kindness; she’d been forced by the Vance family–mother and son both–trapped by their moral expectations. Salome’s gratitude was never the point.
2/3
15:05
She turned to leave, but Salome’s shrill voice stopped her. “Edith! Don’t you walk away from me! When your sister–in–law speaks, you listen! I’m warning you–I know exactly what kind of skanky tricks you’re up to. Don’t think you can pull anything just because I’m pregnant. My husband may look like Beckett, but he’ll never be yours. If you dare ruin my happiness, I’ll haunt you to my gravel”
Edith shot Salome a cool, dismissive glance, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t want
Beckett, or Bennett, or any of you. Frankly, you all make me sick.”
