Chapter 3 - The First Lie Was About Thanksgiving
Robert started with something Claire remembered clearly.
Four years earlier, Claire and Ethan had missed Thanksgiving at the Whitmore house.
Margaret told the family Claire refused to attend because she “wanted Ethan to herself.”
Claire had never understood why several relatives treated her coldly afterward.
The truth was simple.
Ethan had pneumonia.
Claire asked Margaret if Thanksgiving dinner could be moved from Thursday to Saturday so Ethan could rest and still see everyone.
Margaret told Claire:
“Don’t worry. I’ll explain.”
Then she told everyone else:
“Claire says they won’t be coming. She thinks Ethan needs distance from us.”
Ethan frowned.
“That’s not what happened.”
“I know,” Robert said.
“How do you know?”
Robert pulled out a printed email.
A cousin had sent it to him two months earlier after an argument.
The message was from Margaret.
Claire has decided they will be spending Thanksgiving alone from now on. Please respect Ethan’s situation.
Claire stared at it.
“I never said that.”
Robert nodded.
“I know.”
Margaret folded her arms.
“It was obvious what you wanted.”
Claire looked at her.
“So you decided my intentions for me?”
Margaret did not answer.
Robert opened the folder again.
May you like
“Thanksgiving was only the beginning.”
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