006 Margot Drops a Bomb

(Serena)

SH is for Savannah Hale. 

Margot says it like she’s discussing swapping out paper napkins. Not detonating the ground under my feet. 

“I’m not sure I understand…”

She looks at me like she knows I understand very well. 

“Their wedding was only 3 months away. People had already chosen and paid for their gifts. Does it really matter who the gift goes to in the end?”

Does it matter? Is she serious? 

Does it matter that all my wedding gifts are regifted? Of course!

The robe I’ve worn every day.

The towels folded and used daily. 

The reason James assumed I’d been, at least partially, accepted. 

All regifted.

All for Savannah.

They were hers. 

SH is for Savannah Hale. Not Serena Hale.

They were always Savannah’s.

I clench my hands in my lap. 

“Are you telling me the reception we had was the reception you planned for James when he married Savannah?”

“The dates were so close, what else could I do? You have to understand, dear.”

I’m not sure what to say. 

All I know is this hurts far more than it should. 

I see her out and my mind is reeling. Why would she even tell me this? 

I know why, because she wants James and Savannah together again.

I go into the bedroom and rip off the monogrammed robe and wrap. 

I get dressed and gather up everything that belongs to that set and march it outside to the firepit.

I drop them in there. 

I don’t want them in my bathroom anymore. 

I don’t want them in my home. 

I jump when Margot’s voice sounds from behind me. I thought she’d left.

“Nice performance. You think I care about your dramatics? I don’t. I care about my son and about the empire that’s rightfully his.”

Why am I so upset or even surprised at what Margot did?

I know who she really is and what she’s like. I’ve never been scared of her though. But right now… the look in her eyes and on her face is scaring the crap out of me.

“I think you should leave.”

She takes a step forward. “I’ll leave when I’m ready. I want to make one thing perfectly clear… you got pregnant to him once; you won’t be doing that again.”

My heart beats fast and I step back. “What do you mean?”

She steps closer again and I can’t get away, I have a stone wall pressed to my back.

“Serena, dear… another pregnancy could be quite dangerous for you, and for your unborn baby. Once you’ve had one miscarriage… well, the chance of another is strong…” Her eyes lock onto mine, “I mean, anything can happen... A fall. Ingesting the wrong medication. A car accident. Mental health issues. Why tempt fate?”

“Are you threatening me?” I’m trying to sound confident, but my voice quivers.

Her smile is cold and manic. “I don’t make threats, Serena. I make promises.”

“You have no right to tell me what to do. If we want to try for another child, we will. I’m James’s wife and I’m not going anywhere,” I say bravely.

Margot gives a cold laugh. “You’re delusional. You’ve seen how he is with Savannah. He still loves her.”

“That’s not true,” I protest, but inside I’m scared she is right.

Then she steps back.

“And… James isn’t ready to be a father.”

I step sideways so she can’t corner me again. “That’s what you think. He wants to be a father.”

I just want her out of here. 

I walk back towards the French doors leading inside.

But she is not finished.

“Stop fooling yourself. I’m always right about James. I know him better than he knows himself. Better than you could ever know him.

I hear Margot’s footsteps closing in and she stops in front of me, blocking my path.

“James never wanted the first baby. My son was just doing what was right, so he married the bakery girl he knocked up. Savannah leaving him left him desperate not to be abandoned again. He told me so.”

My steps slow. 

No, that’s not true. 

We eloped because he wanted me and the baby.

Right?

“He was on the rebound from Savannah. He thought he was ready, he wasn't. He told me it was a blessing in disguise that you lost the baby.”

“You’re lying. He would never say that. He was hurt over our loss but he’s ready.”

“Ask him then.”  Margot shot me a cold smile.