Thursday, September 5, 2019 #2
It was a lazy Sunday afternoon, and her heart swelled at seeing the children having a chance to just be kids.
They’d cut back most of their activities since their father’s death to give them all time to grieve and process their family tragedy.
It had been awful, especially in those first days after she told them their dad was gone.
Faith had managed to keep them from finding out, even though by the time Mercy’s flight landed, the news had broken everywhere.
There were reporters camped outside of their house twenty-four hours a day, and Antonia offered up her home on Kauai for them to use as a refuge.
Faith had taken a leave from her job and had accompanied them.
It had been a trip filled with sorrow and tears, interspersed with the odd happy little moment that hinted at what lay ahead for them.
Mercy had arranged for the sale of their house, the purchase of the new one, and the move, all from their oceanfront hideaway.
She also found a therapist to work with herself and the children, and had Grace tested.
She was found to have ADHD, generalized anxiety, and high-functioning autism.
With lots of support and assistance, her daughter would learn how to find her way in the world.
She’d already come a long way in just a few months, and her big emotional moments (the new way the therapist had told Mercy to frame what she had called ‘meltdowns’) were getting less frequent by the week.
In the pool, the kids were working together to help a ladybug out of the water, the three of them content to be busy with such an important task.
“This is the life,” Faith said, having a sip of wine. She pulled the glass quickly away from her lips. “Sorry. I didn’t mean…you know.”
Mercy smiled over at her. “I know what you meant. And you’re right. This is the life. Right now. Right here. It’s been a hell of a hard year, but today feels like a gift.”
“It really does.”
“I finally feel like I can let my guard down. I can relax in my own home and just enjoy it all.”
Faith reached over and put her hand on Mercy’s. “You had nearly two decades of being on high alert.”
“Crazy to think that was my life,” she said, leaning her head on her sister’s shoulder. “I feel like I’ve lived in four completely different worlds so far. Our childhood, then my acting days, then my Mrs. Bishop days, and now this. This one’s the best.”
“You’re certainly happier than you were in the second two. You’re more like you were when we were growing up—self-assured, curious, and alive.”
Mercy smiled as her children high-fived each other, having finally managed to set the ladybug down on the pool deck. “Great job, you three!” she called. “I love that teamwork.”
“Thanks, Mom!” Grace said with a wide smile. “We sure saved her!”
“How do you know it’s a her?” Faith asked.
Grace furrowed her brow like her auntie had rocks in her head. “Because it’s a ladybug.”
The two women chuckled and exchanged a glance. “Makes sense,” Faith said.
“Oh yeah. Perfectly logical.” She had another sip of wine, then realizing she had no desire to cook the chicken breasts in the fridge, she said, “Who wants pizza?”
The kids started to cheer, then chant the word ‘pizza’ until Mercy yelled, “Okay! Pizza it is! Quiet down you three so I can order it.”
As she dialed the number, she said, “It really is the small things in life, isn’t it?”
Faith nodded. “Amen to that.”
ANTONIA
The better part of the last year had been pure hell, and it had only been a few weeks ago that Antonia felt like she had clawed her way back up to earth.
She had survived the public humiliation of being the butt of a dozen late-night talk show jokes, which Winslow had texted were dull at best and he was right.
She’d survived being dropped by the network, who put out a statement with words like ‘shocking’ and ‘breach of trust with both the network and the public.’ She had come to terms with the fact that her husband of twenty-eight years had nearly murdered her, which wasn’t something she would ever really get over, but rather had to learn to live with.
Antonia was still dealing with survivor’s guilt that her marriage, and her actions in the hours leading up to that moment, had cost a man his life.
Not exactly a man that the world would be better off having, but still, Travis was someone’s son, someone’s husband, and the father to three small someones.
She’d survived selling the compound in Seattle (which had been snapped up by their neighbor, a multi-billionaire who quickly leveled everything they built to build a private gym, including an Olympic-sized pool, a regulation basketball court, and four pickleball courts).
And she’d gotten through it all with the help of her children, who were far more capable than she had previously believed.
Quinn took care of preparing the Paris apartment to sell, and Xavier had helped by taking care of the sale of their Kauai home and being there for Antonia to go to all the many bank and real estate meetings.
He’d been there during the lonely late hours of the day, as the sun was setting and Antonia would start to feel as if this nightmare would never end.