Thomas Manor Dining Room, 2010
The dining room still felt like a stage. Crystal chandeliers glittered over the long mahogany table set with the good china—the ones with delicate gold edges Jenny always feared she'd chip. She sat between her twin brother Harry and her… sister? Yes, sister. Evelyn.
At sixteen, their differences had crystallized.
Evelyn was Thomas elegance—tall, with their father's dark eyes and rich auburn hair she'd inherited from a ghost. She wore it smooth, catching light, like the portrait of Jade that disappeared from upstairs when Jenny was eight.
Jenny was smaller, finer-boned, with her mother's blonde hair in a practical braid, blue eyes people called "kind" never "striking." Where Evelyn commanded rooms, Jenny blended into wallpaper. A cultivated skill.
"So, Evelyn," father Jonas said, pouring wine. "Tell us about the art showcase. I heard your piece was the talk."
Evelyn smiled, practiced charm. "Nothing, really. Small acrylic. Mr. Laurent said it showed 'unusual emotional depth.' He offered summer mentorship."
Anna beamed. "Marvelous. Laurent connection excellent. We must have him to dinner."
Hailey nodded. "Your grandmother's right. Real opportunity."
Jenny pushed peas around her plate. News sat in her pocket, folded certificate. *First Place, State Debate Championship.* Waited three days for someone to ask. Notice she'd been gone all weekend. Come home with trophy.
No one had.
Harry nudged her under table, sympathetic look. He knew. Texted congrats when she won. But Harry was boy, heir. His successes expected, celebrated. Hers… incidental.
"And Harry," Jonas turned, "headmaster called. Top of class again. Well done."
Harry shrugged, uncomfortable spotlight knowing Jenny sat there unseen. "Thanks, Dad. But Jenny actually—"
"We should discuss summer," Anna cut smoothly. "Evelyn with Laurent. Harry starts internship. And Jenny…"
All eyes turned. Rare, unnerving.
"Yes, Grandmother?"
"Grangers invited you to lake house July. Linda thought you'd enjoy."
Grangers. Mother's family. Visited twice yearly, always looking with peculiar pitying softness. Lake house nice. Quiet. Also banishment. While Evelyn networked with artists, Harry learned family business, she'd swim, read novels.
"Sounds lovely," she said, voice carefully pleasant. Right answer.
"Good." Anna nodded satisfied. "Settled."
But something brittle in Jenny snapped. Decade of being settled. Arranged. Afterthought.
Took breath. "Actually, have plans July."
Silence. Utensils stilled.
Jonas frowned. "Plans?"
"National debate finals. Boston. Qualified." Pulled certificate from pocket, laid on table beside bread plate. Looked small. Silly. "Won state championship weekend."
Long moment no one spoke. Clock ticked.
Hailey's face flickered—surprise, then something like guilt, quickly masked. "Jenny, that's… wonderful. Why didn't you say?"
"Did. Friday. Before left."
Faint blush colored Hailey's cheeks. Didn't remember. Of course.
Jonas picked up certificate, squinting. "Nationals. Quite accomplishment."
But voice lacked warmth held for Evelyn's art, Harry's grades. Tone for pleasant surprise, not expected triumph.
Evelyn leaned over, expensive floral perfume washing over Jenny. "Boston July sweltering. Competition… heard brutally intense. Sure ready for that pressure?"
Question, framed concern, was dart. You're not like us. Can't handle real competition.
"Ready," Jenny said, meeting eyes. "Coach thinks have real shot."
Anna's gaze assessing. Calculating costs, appearances. "Grangers will be disappointed. Linda particularly looking forward having you."
Linda feels sorry. We send you to people who pity so we don't have to.
"Can go lake house August," Jenny offered, weak compromise.
"National finals honor, Mother," Jonas said finally, setting certificate down. "Should support."
Should. Not will.
"Of course," Anna said, but mouth thin line. "See to travel arrangements. Though short notice."
Conversation moved on. Stocks. Charity gala. Evelyn's possible Florence trip.
Jenny's victory brief ripple, already smoothed.
Looked at father, willing him say more. Ask about argument. Opponent. Feel proud.
He laughed at something Harry said, pouring more wine.
Cold space inside, opened at six, expanded. Frost spreading.
Then, down table, Evelyn said lightly, "Impressive, Jenny, really. All that arguing. Suppose someone has to."
Condescension velvet glove over steel.
Harry kicked Evelyn under table. She shot glare.
Jenny stood. Chair legs scraped loud on floor.
"May excused? Have homework."
Hailey looked relieved escape. "Yes, dear."
Jonas barely glanced up. "Don't stay up late."
Walked out, certificate left behind on table. Forgotten prop.
Hallway, leaned against cool wall, closing eyes. Heard murmur voices, clink glasses. Normal family dinner.
Servant passed, giving swift sympathetic glance before hurrying on.
That was it. Servants saw more than family. Knew where love wasn't.
Two Weeks Later – Unraveling
Another dinner. Grangers there—Grandmother Linda, stern but kind eyes, second husband Henry, quiet man watching everything.
Talk of futures. Alliances. Marriages benefiting families like theirs.
"Evelyn nineteen soon," Anna said. "Andersons have son, Steve. Good match. Strong family. Well-connected."
Evelyn preened. Steve Anderson handsome, wealthy, catch of social set.
"And Jenny?" Linda asked, voice deceptively mild. "Same age."
Beat uncomfortable silence.
"Jenny… still finding path," Hailey said quickly. "University, perhaps."
"Perhaps?" Linda's eyebrow arched. "Top of class. Debate coach says could get any school wants."
Jonas shifted. "Of course. Support whatever chooses."
Whatever chooses. Meaning: On your own. Won't guide like others.
Jenny kept eyes plate. Applied five universities already, using scholarship fund. No one asked see applications.
"Actually," she said, room stilled again. Habit now—breaking silences with truths no one wanted. "Offered full debate scholarship Stanford. And Yale. Deciding."
Shock genuine.
"Stanford?" Jonas blinked. "That's… far."
"Across country," Anna said, disapproval palpable. "Why want go so far?"
To breathe. Exist where no one compares to ghost. Be someone not 'other' daughter.
"Top program," she said simply.
"But family here," Hailey said, note panic voice. Not miss you, but what people say?
"Andersons," Evelyn cut sweetly, "have connections Columbia. Right here. Sure Steve could help get in, Jenny. Then both New York."
Stay where keep eye. Stay shadow.
Jenny looked father. "Missed final debate. State championship. Said be there."
Words dropped like stones.
Jonas face pale. "I… board meeting ran late. Traffic…"
"Were Evelyn's gallery opening same night," Jenny said quietly. "Saw pictures society pages. Looked happy."
Truth laid bare dinner table. Ugly.
Linda Granger put down fork sharp clink. "Jonas. True?"
"Not looks like," Hailey tried, voice wavered.
"Looks," Linda said, voice rising, "like three children but acknowledge two. Looks like granddaughter begging scraps attention house sixteen years while dote on—" Stopped, but word hung. Bastard. Other one.
"Mother," Hailey whispered horrified.
"No," Linda stood. Chair fell backward crash. "Watched years. Held tongue Hailey's sake. Peace. Not watch treat Jenny guest own home longer."
Henry stood beside, silent pillar support.
Anna's face marble. "Linda, out line. Family business."
"Jenny *is* family!" Linda voice shook fury. "Forgotten? Hailey's daughter. Your blood. Not charity case took in!"
Secret, big open secret everyone pretended wasn't there, exploded center room.
Evelyn looked stricken. Harry stared plate shame-faced.
Jonas stood. "Enough."
"Not enough!" Linda turned Jenny, eyes filled pain so deep stole breath. "Pack bag, darling. Coming home us. Tonight."
"Can't just take," Anna snapped.
"Watch me."
Room erupted—voices overlapping, accusations flying. Perfect Thomas family dinner shattered thousand jagged pieces.
Middle, Jenny sat, strangely calm. Watched father try reason, mother cry, grandmother Anna coldly defend indefensible.
Watched Evelyn's face, saw not malice, dawning horror. Realization privileged position built someone else's neglect.
Jenny stood. Room quiet.
"Go pack," she said, voice eerily steady.
"Jenny, please," Hailey reached, tears streaming. "Don't go. Fix."
Jenny looked mother. Really looked. Saw woman chosen easier child love. Looked saw rival's ghost.
"Had sixteen years fix, Mother," she said, words not angry. Final. "Done waiting."
Walked out. Up grand staircase, past portrait used be Jade, replaced bland landscape.
Room—smaller, facing garden, not larger balcony Evelyn had—packed single suitcase. Not designer luggage hall closet. Old duffel back own closet.
Took practical clothes. Books. Debate trophy. Photograph Jade secretly kept years, tucked poetry book.
Door, paused, looking back. Pink walls hated. Stuffed animals outgrown kept because no one ever suggested changing decor. Room child. Child no one saw.
Closed door.
Downstairs, argument still raged dining room. Slipped front door instead, cool night air. Linda's car idling curb, Henry wheel.
Linda opened back door. Jenny threw duffel, slid inside.
Car pulled away house—grand, beautiful, cold—Jenny didn't look back.
Linda reached over, took hand. Warm. Real.
"Sorry, Jenny," whispered, own tears falling. "Should done years ago."
Jenny squeezed hand. "Where going?"
"Somewhere breathe," Linda said. "Somewhere be Jenny. Just Jenny."
Car turned highway, lights city streaming past windows.
Backseat, Jenny let head fall cool glass. Cold space inside didn't disappear. But first time, didn't feel freezing inside out.
Felt like protection.
Shield built survive house never wanted.
Thomas Manor disappeared behind, swallowed night, Jenny made promise:
*Never beg love again. Never wait someone see. Build life belong myself first. Always.*
Vow born sixteen years neglect.
Vow shape every choice made night forward.
Including, one day, choice say yes fake marriage friend's baby.
And choice, years later, walk away discovered built lies.
But story another night.
Tonight, just girl back car, leaving house never home, heading lake house where, first time, might learn felt wanted.