Chapter 4 -- "The Widow Grey"

Maria never liked black dresses, not even the strapless sequined variety. But since Edmund was murdered and everything in her life had begun falling apart, black had become her favorite color.

"It's all your fault, meeha," her Mother greeted her. "You've got to accept that."

"What's all my fault, Mama?" the former Mistress of Wildwind asked numbly.

"Everything," her Mother replied. "Meeha, can I borrow your blowdryer?"

Maria realized that her Mother's hair was soaking wet. Next she realized that her soaking wet Mother was dripping all over one of Wildwind's most expensive carpets. Next she realized that she didn't give a rat's –

"Maria! The Blowdryer!" her Mother commanded, as only she could.

Maria exited, grateful for an excuse to leave her Mother's dripping, disapproving presence. On her way to her bedroom, where she was sure she had last seen the blowdryer, she passed her daughter, Maddie, who was even angrier than her Mother.

"Sweetie, this can't go on! We have to talk!"

"Get stuffed," Maddie said sweetly.

Maria felt as if she had been slapped hard. "You can't talk that way to—"

"Sure I can. I just did."

Maddie had written off Maria when she learned she had been unfaithful with Zach, an old flame. And although actual adultery may not have happened, what was the difference? Betrayal was betrayal. Her Mother was in love with a man who wasn't her Father. And now her Father was gone forever. It was like Maddie had lost both parents. She had never felt so alone in her life. Even her brother Sam didn't help much. He was as bitter as she. "Orphans," she thought now. "She's turned us into orphans."

"Maddie, please! I never meant to hurt anybody! You and Sam have got to believe that!"

But it was too late. Her daughter was running down the stairs and out the door, nearly knocking down her still drenched, still furious Grandmother in the process.

Maria found the blowdryer where she'd left it and hurried down the stairs with it.

"Your daughter hates you," she was told as she handed over the appliance.

"You're welcome, Mama. Now if you don't mind, I'd better get to the hospital to check on Ryan. He's being released today."

"What was wrong with Ryan?" Isabella wanted to know.

"Shot, stabbed, strangled. You know, the usual."

Isabella shook her head. "Everybody in this town gets crazier and crazier. Opal threw me out of the Glamourama because she had to talk with Lily and her invisible friend."

Maria laughed. "What?"

Isabella nodded. "They think I didn't understand, but you know me, I don't miss much. She called it an apparition."

That was odd. "Well, Opal has always been out there. But I never heard of Lily seeing things or anything like that." She sighed. "Could have been a reaction to what she witnessed that awful night in the stable. Poor kid!"

"Poor Edmund, you mean," Isabella said sternly. "First crippled, then betrayed, then murdered. Did I mention he was betrayed, Maria?"

To Mrs. Santos her son-in-law was a martyred saint. Maria had no intention of ruining that image, no matter how far from the truth it was.

"So Opal saw an apparition," Maria said, hoping to change the subject.

"I heard Opal is in league with the devil," Isabella said matter-of-factly. "Fortune-telling and worse. It's been said that from time to time she's contacted the dead." She crossed herself.

Maria blinked. "Seances? She's held seances?" Maria held her breath. An idea was forming itself. An incredible, wonderful, miraculous idea.

Mama Santos went in search of an outlet for the blowdryer, while her daughter began to do something she hadn't allowed herself to do in an eternity. Maria began to hope.

What does Maria have in mind? Lots of chapters, lots of surprises still to come! Please read on! Your Review is welcome!