Cathy Lingstrom, whom he imagined had suffered the greatest betrayal on account of being their close family friend, made a public statement about it.
She began by saying:
Carson Cole called me last night to apologize and to take responsibility for his actions. Today I feel as if I have set down a weight that I have been carrying around for years. There is a reason it is called the burden of proof. I am thankful to be relieved of that burden.
As Amanda sat at her father’s kitchen table reading Cathy’s words, she wanted to put down that weight, too, but she still felt skeptical. Her father entered the kitchen and, as if reading her mind, said, “You read it, I see. Do you think he’s sincere?”
“Possibly. But he always acts remorseful for a period of time. I hate to say it, but it’s more likely a great big public manipulation.”
He kissed her on the top of her head. “I’m happy to hear you say that. The fact that you are questioning him and not taking him at his word, that makes me know you are going to be OK.”
“Thanks, Daddy. I am.”
The girls scampered into the kitchen. Amanda pulled them toward her and added, “We are.”
“We are what, Mommy?” Sadie asked with a smile.
“We are going home. What do you think about finishing up the semester here and heading back home before Christmas?” Amanda asked.
“I would love that,” Sadie said. Amanda knew she missed her room and her friends.
Pippa did as well, but added with a maturity that surprised Amanda, “If it’s OK for you, that would be nice.”
“It is. I miss home, too.” Amanda hugged them both and added, more for Sadie than Pippa, “Daddy won’t be living with us, but you will see him as much as you want. OK?”
“OK,” Sadie said, hugging her again.
* * *
—
The next day Amanda and Luke drove Eliza up to a residential treatment program specializing in overcoming trauma and anxiety. Eliza had found it herself and jumped when they said they had an empty bed. She knew it would take her longer than the twenty-eight days that insurance pays for to unpack thirty years of baggage, but she wanted to begin with an intense program. She couldn’t bear the fear she saw in the eyes of Luke and her kids and was determined to ease their burden. While a cloud had been lifted, the fog was still very much there. She was still filled with fear when attempting to leave the house—so the fact that she had left the house to get better was already a bigger step than she could have imagined taking just a week earlier.
Before leaving, Eliza asked Olivia to take over as moderator of the Hudson Valley Ladies’ Bulletin Board. Olivia protested.
“But it’s yours. I will just fill in until you come back.”
Eliza had other ideas for her future. “I’m hoping to be able to do something outside of the house, maybe catering.”
Olivia agreed. Actually, she happily agreed, but just for the time being. She knew she had a long healing process in front of her as well and would have to learn how to navigate dealing with Spencer and his family. Running the bulletin board would supply a much-needed distraction.
CHAPTER 46
Eliza & Amanda & Alison & Olivia
28 DAYS LATER
As the first snow dusted Hudson Valley, Eliza Hunt sat in the lobby of Crossroads Village, the treatment facility that had been her home for the past twenty-eight days, waiting for Luke to pick her up. He was due to arrive at eleven, but she was eager to go home and had been sitting there waiting since ten. She was excited to escape the monotony, the food, and the same faces day in and day out. She was also nervous—nervous to reconnect with Luke and deconstruct the wall that had grown between them. Thankfully, that process was well under way for both of them.
She had learned so much about herself over the past month. She learned why she was hyper vigilant and startled so easily that her kids nicknamed her Jumpy, why she tensed up if Luke looked at her a certain way and got nervous if she ever felt sexy. And of course, all of the reasons behind her cutting herself. It was mostly textbook stuff—she checked nearly every box on the checklist for survivors of sexual assault and trauma.
Luke had come to visit for four days during “family week” and it had been tough for them both.