Chapter 14
"Well," said Margaret. "You accuse me of not understanding family, when, in truth, I understand it better than you could ever imagine. Family is the most common cause of discord in anyone's life. Losing Christopher was the single most destructive event in my existence. How someone who had loved me with such passion could leave me so coldly was more than I could endure. He was there physically, but there was no passion. I never forgave myself for being pregnant."
"Margaret," said Louisa. "Your pain has made Martin into what he is today. He is socially inept, intolerant and totally removed from anything he experiences emotionally. I love him because I can see the man he is inside...actually sensitive and caring, as well as generous. All I want is to take that clock back to him to pass down to our son, and the baby I am carrying now."
Margaret shifted in her chair. "So you're pregnant again, young woman? I find it disgusting that you would have carnal relations with my monstrosity of a son. The thought of it makes me nauseated."
At that moment, Louisa decided the discussion was over. It was time to get the clock. "Margaret," Louisa demanded. "Give me that clock, now...and I will be gone."
Margaret picked up the clock with sure hands. "If you really want this clock, then here it is for you!"
With that declaration she took the clock into both hands and with all her strength, smashed it onto the floor, sending broken glass and random springs all over. She followed that with a foot into the center of the mechanism...destroying it even more.
Louisa could hold back no longer. "I...truly I can't believe you did that. Did you really do that? That is the most hateful thing I've ever seen. You deserve to live with that shriveled old man in this hell forever. Martin is alive...despite what you did to him he is alive. He has a wife and a son, and another one on the way. You will never hurt him anymore, though. I believe the destruction of this clock will make him unhappy, but that will make you glad. Give me a few minutes to pick up these pieces, but please leave while I do it. Being with you is making me sick. You won't hurt us again."
"What I have just done is to destroy cousin Gilbert, and destroy anything that Christopher and his family has done to me. It also is to destroy that loveless son that I gave birth to...after he came nothing was the same again." Margaret looked in pain at what she had done. Louisa almost noticed a hint of regret.
Margaret exited the parlor dramatically, and Franklin came in to help her gather the pieces into her tote. "I'm sorry ma'am," he said. "I was hoping this wouldn't happen." I'm sorry too," Louisa replied, gathering broken fragments. "I hope you can make a decision about where you want to work in the future." "I am considering it m'lady, believe me, I am" he replied.
Louisa left the house with devastated spirits and a broken, fragmented clock in her tote bag. She wept mightily while walking for a number of blocks and finally flagged a taxi, back to the Hilton. She had failed. Grandfather Henry's clock was in pieces. Margaret Ellingham was even more alienated from the family she had created and all that Martin had held in esteem was destroyed.