Chapter 10 Amelia Ridley #3
In the front of the store, Amelia held up a charm bracelet she thought all the sisters should have. The sales associate perked up when he saw her looking at it.
“We can also provide any gemstone you’d like. I think it would add some character.”
She nodded to the man. “That sounds quite incredible. I shall take your advice. What gem should I use?”
A voice came from behind Amelia. “I think something red . . . A ruby would be enchanting for a special trio like you girls.”
Amelia cocked her head to the side as her mouth flung open. Mother had come into the store.
“Mother, how did you find us?” Amelia questioned her.
Caroline clicked her tongue in amusement.
“Because I raised you girls! I remember our cute little shopping days. Now you have forgotten about little ole me.” Mother paused before looking at the gems. She passed them all, pointing directly to the rubies.
“Did you know that rubies have so many beautiful meanings, such as nurturing and the spirit of knowledge?”
She paused for a brief moment before continuing.
“I think the most important meaning is love. I think that’s something my beautiful three daughters share.”
Amelia nodded in agreement, almost taken aback by how blunt Mother was with her thoughts.
Over the years, her bright light had dimmed.
Between Father’s own scandalous doings and her word not being taken into consideration, she had slowly stopped speaking to the girls.
She would only offer curt nods or replies that added no value to the conversation.
The mother Amelia knew was gone, and that was why they no longer invited her to outings like this.
She’d once been a fierce woman who had some control over the family company, until Father pushed her out, saying she should stick to philanthropy work.
It was the beginning of her being in her shell at the estate.
Mother’s brothers and sisters would tell Amelia how she’d had a plethora of men running after her, but she’d chosen the boy who had no family or money.
She’d taken a risk because she thought Father would always protect her, unlike the rest of the men, who just wanted their own empire to become grander with her on board.
She’d seen their father as a humble man, but Amelia knew how quickly money changed everything.
“I didn’t know that, Mother. You know, I have missed having you around for outings like this. I figured we were bothering you, so we just didn’t say anything,” Amelia mumbled.
Mother chuckled as she walked, glancing at the cases. She ushered the salesman over to box up a beautiful choker necklace and anything Amelia and Kavita wanted.
“It was only a matter of time, my sweet girl. I want to say how proud I am of you. I know I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but you are truly what I wanted to be growing up.
I see so much of myself in you, Mellie. I just don’t want that sweet girl from Paris with the brightest smile to disappear from dealing with your father, okay?
” She said this as if it were a warning.
Amelia went silent. Maybe Mother no longer came out due to her shame over Father and how often they found themselves in the gossip columns.
She was never fond of people knowing what she did and where she went.
Before her children, she said she could go places and people wouldn’t have any idea of who she was.
Since they’d come along, she hadn’t had a moment of peace.
She was amused by it and didn’t think it outlandish to have seven children.
To Mother, it was completely normal. Amelia started to feel insecure and rubbed the side of her arm self-consciously.
She knew that she had grown colder over the years, becoming more like her father.
Being the eldest daughter and looking after her siblings for what felt like every second of the day would make anyone feel like their youth and innocence and enjoyment were gone.
It was expectation after expectation with Father.
Even though he would wave Mother off, insisting she was crazy for telling him that he was being too hard on them, Amelia saw, clear as day, that Mother was always right.
“I am trying my best, Mother, to do what Father expects of me, but me doing small stuff like this for Dusie and Kavi is my only way of being that young girl again. I just find that whenever we are happy, misery slowly finds its way to us,” Amelia whispered as she walked around the store.
“Doesn’t it always, my darling,” Mother responded, almost as if her heart was heavy with regret.
Something in Amelia’s spirit felt that Mother also knew all too well how hard it was to try to do what Father expected of them.
Amelia watched Mother turn to the salesperson as she paid for everything, then walked out of the store without saying another word, because silence was the only answer at that moment.
Something about her was so timid and beautiful.
It was as if she wanted to be a fly on the wall, to be there but not be seen.
Those few moments meant more to Amelia than Mother could know.
Amelia wanted to be more like that. To somehow be able to do her duties at the Ridley Line and also honor her passion for becoming a writer.
She would read and occasionally discuss her thoughts on books with Wei and Adesua.
She knew she needed to get out of her comfort zone. Amelia looked at the salesman.
“I’ll take three charm bracelets with a ruby attached. It reminds me of roses.”
Kavita came up from the back, smiling, with a dainty pair of diamond-drop earrings.
Amelia smiled at her, waving for her to rush while looking at the clock.
It had been more than an hour since they’d arrived, which was far longer than expected.
As the sisters walked out, they ran into an elated Adesua, who was walking out of their usual deli with a glass of egg cream.
Kavita shook her head, laughing. “Dusie, did they give you the whole glass?”
Adesua chuckled back. “Well, I wanted to enjoy the last bit of sunshine! I knew you would be in there until sunset!”
Amelia shook her head. She knew she was right. “All right, well, let us go home before Father sends out our brothers to retrieve us like little puppies.”
In the taxi, Amelia, Adesua, and Kavita laughed almost nonstop until Kavita slowly drooled herself into a deep sleep.
As they drove out of the city, Amelia looked back; deep down, she wanted to live in the city one day.
They passed the orchards, spotting two girls close to their age heading inside after a long day, just like them.
Adesua gazed out the window, deep in thought.
“Amelia, you remember that hidden closet we found under the stairs when we were younger?” she asked.
Amelia smiled while putting a finger on her lip. “I do, Dusie. That was our little secret place to hide from the boys. They never could find us no matter how hard they tried.”
Adesua covered her eyes, thinking about all the times they had played.
“And when Wei started crying, telling Father he lost us, but we’d truly fallen asleep in there from hiding too long?”
Amelia slapped Adesua’s leg.
“That was the first and only time I heard Wei cry.”
They both gazed out the window, feeling little specks of happiness in the chaos.
They approached their estate, the winding road lined by grand trees.
Amelia walked happily to her room, which was her peace and solitude.
She lay on the bed, noticing a red envelope. She picked it up quickly and opened it.
Dearest Amelia Ridley,
We know what your family did, even if you fail to believe it was one of you who killed Dale. You knew deep down in your soulless heart it was your family. If the Ridleys don’t admit their transgressions soon, I assure you your family will reap sorrow and be haunted like no other.