Chapter 6 – "Meanwhile Back at Wildwind"
Maria tried calling the Glamourama four times that afternoon, but all she got was the machine. What she wanted from Opal was a bit more than a cut and curl, so she didn't go into specifics in her message. "Opal, this is Dr. Maria Santos Grey. Please call me when you get this." She felt more than slightly annoyed that Opal wasn't there. Some way to run a business! Where was she? At the sink, probably. Drowning another client.
"Maria, I'm dry finally. Take back your blow-dryer."
"She even manages to make that sound like a criticism," thought Maria. "Mama, your hair looks lovely," she said.
Isabella grimaced. "Opal puts in too much tin foil. Why do I need highlights anyway? I'm a brunette!"
"I did like your hairdo better before you were recast," Maria offered. She liked her personality better as well. In those days Mama Santos was strict yet somehow vulnerable. Now she was simply strict.
"Well, I wouldn't know about that," Isabella said truthfully. "But I know too much tin foil when I see it!" And saying nothing further, not even "have a nice day" or her more usual "Maria, you have ruined your life and the lives of all you love", Isabella Santos slammed out of Wildwind.
More than anything, Maria felt tired. Tired of her Mother's unyielding disapproval, tired of her children's' unyielding disrespect and tired of Zach's unyielding indifference. "I don't deserve this," she thought for the thousandth time. "I'm a Doctor. A Neurosurgeon yet. I deserve respect and understanding. One mistake, one almost-mistake, doesn't make me a bad wife or mother."
The Estate Sale was set for the next day and the thought of that left her beyond tired. She wasn't in charge of it, of course. That would be Brooke. According to Edmund's will, Brooke was in charge of his Estate (including his Mansion, clothes, plaques, prizes, scrapbooks, mementos, objects d'art, assorted doodads, and everything he had ever written). Also the future of his children. It seemed that with his death, Brooke had gotten everything that had been denied to her when he was alive. Except Edmund, of course. Maria would have pitied her almost as much as she hated her, if she weren't so tired.
The Estate Sale was to be held in Wildwind's Main Ballroom. How ironic it was that the Crystal Ball had taken place in that same Main Ballroom every year that Maria was presumed dead. The Crystal Ball had been Edmund's monument to her, created out of his bottomless grief at her senseless loss in a senseless plane crash. Monies raised at the Crystal Ball had gone directly into The Dr. Maria Santos Grey Foundation. "Edmund never stopped loving me when he thought I was dead," Maria thought now, bitter in spite of herself. "But when I returned, we never quite picked up where we left off." Of course that could have been because of Zach. Or Aidan. Or the bag-boy at Wal-Mart. But it couldn't have been about the bag boy, Edmund had never found out about him. Or the shoe salesman at Lacey's. Or Sam's soccer coach. Or Maddie's piano teacher, Mrs. Tilwiliger. But Opal could change everything, if only she'd call back. The phone was ringing!
It wasn't Opal.
It wasn't Opal? Then who was it? Whoever it was can they help Edmund, Maria and the rest of Pine Valley? Can anybody help Edmund, Maria and the rest of Pine Valley? Only time will tell! Lots of chapters, lots of surprises still to come! Please read on! Your Review is welcome!