Elizabeth would concoct the most outlandish excuses to defend Sandra.
Carrie simply replied, “Understood,” and made her way toward the dining room.
She had no desire to waste energy sparring over such futile arguments. The logic was crystal clear to everyone. Elijah wasn’t some naive dreamer; his achievements spoke volumes about his intellect. Yet when it came to Sandra, his stubbornness defied all reason.
Given this, Elizabeth could only bide her time, quietly gathering irrefutable proof of Sandra’s deceit. The day she presented it to Elijah, she intended to shatter his illusions beyond repair.
Not that she expected him to leap to her defense once the truth was laid bare. But every scrap of evidence she collected added weight to her position, strengthening her ability to keep his first love in check.
Willow walked into the dining room, placing the dishes carefully on the table. Skirting past Elizabeth, she headed toward Elijah, wiping her hands on a towel as she approached. “Mr. Norris, it’s Memorial Day this weekend. My hometown’s quite a trek, and I was hoping to take a few extra days off.”
Elizabeth’s fork hovered mid-air. Her mother’s memory flickered in her mind. She had been so consumed by work that she’d neglected visiting her mother’s grave. Without Willow’s mention, Memorial Day might have slipped her mind entirely.
Elijah glanced at Elizabeth. “You’re her caretaker. Consult her about such matters.”
With a calm demeanor, Elizabeth spoke softly. “Take a week off. Message me if you need to extend your leave.”
“Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Norris,” Willow said quickly.
Elizabeth’s gaze met Elijah’s. “I’m going to my hometown for Memorial Day to visit my mother. I won’t be returning with you.”
After Danna’s passing, Oliver had been preoccupied with his new wife, leaving funeral arrangements to Gracie, who had taken Danna’s ashes back to their hometown.
“I have a project there. I will accompany…” Elijah began, interrupted by his ringing phone.
He looked at Elizabeth, hesitation etched across his face.
Elizabeth recognized Sandra’s call instantly. She turned away and continued eating, savoring the fresh, crisp food with minimal seasoning—Willow’s light cooking catered precisely to Elijah’s preferences.
Elijah hesitated before answering the call. Sandra’s voice spilled through the receiver, sweet and tinged with expectation. “Elijah, I have no work on Memorial Day. How about a trip to Ofrubert?”
His response was measured, almost detached. “Sandra, the development in Foxfire County has spurred interest from neighboring areas. I need to evaluate their potential for renovations. I’ll send you a card—buy whatever catches your eye. I’ll arrange for someone to accompany you.”
Elizabeth stabbed at a shrimp with unnecessary force, biting into it as though it were Elijah himself.
As Willow passed by, she muttered just loud enough to be heard, “Mr. Norris is always so generous with Ms. Sandra. She must be swimming in money by now.”
Elizabeth caught the subtle barb in Willow’s tone, wondering if it was aimed at her.
Not that it mattered. Money wasn’t an issue; Elijah had always been lavish with her too. What stung was the disparity in how he treated her and Sandra. For Sandra, he offered detailed explanations and reassurances; for Elizabeth, only blank checks and cold indifference.
After two years of marriage, she remained in the dark about his business and movements.
“Elijah, you don’t care about me anymore,” Sandra’s voice whined from the phone. “You skipped my last check-up, and now you’re refusing to go to Ofrubert. What if I need heart transplant surgery again? Would you ignore me from then on?”
His tone turned sharp, almost scolding. “Don’t say things like that! You’re not going to need another transplant.”
Realizing her mistake, Sandra’s voice softened into a sugary pout. “Elijah, that’s not what I meant.”
Elizabeth froze mid-chew, Sandra’s words hitting her like a gust of icy wind. So, Sandra had undergone a heart transplant.
A vague memory stirred—Elijah once mentioned Sandra’s “good heart.” Could he have been referring to the literal organ?
And if so, what was the connection?
The pieces of the puzzle danced tantalizingly close, yet one crucial fragment remained missing.
Elijah’s voice dropped, his earlier harshness replaced with placating warmth. “Don’t overthink it. Transplants aren’t something you go through lightly. It’s not going to happen again. By the way, you liked that pink Porsche, didn’t you? I’ll have Oliver deliver it to you.”
After a few more exchanges, Sandra relented and hung up.
Elijah slipped his phone into his pocket and turned back to Elizabeth. “I’ll come with you to visit the grave.”
She blinked, his words pulling her back to the present. “No need,” she replied curtly. “I want to talk to my mom alone.”
“I’ll drive you,” he said, his tone brooking no argument.
“Fine,” Elizabeth muttered, her thoughts still swirling around Sandra’s heart.
Could Elijah’s relentless devotion to Sandra be tied to something deeper?
She cast a sideways glance at him, her lips parting as if to voice her thoughts. But in the end, she lowered her head and continued eating in silence.
What was the point of knowing? Would it soften the edges of her anger or simply become another excuse to forgive him?
