Chapter 6 - The Silence Caroline Needed
Caroline arrived after dark without the children. She parked curbside and stayed in the car until Margaret opened her door but did not invite her in. Rain darkened Caroline's sweatshirt at the shoulders. "Wade says you'll ruin us over money you always planned to give me," she said. Margaret answered, "Then why did he borrow it in my name?" Caroline looked toward the kitchen when the kettle clicked on. She had done that since childhood whenever she wanted Margaret to fill silence for her. This time Margaret waited. Caroline finally said the loan covered "a bad month" and begged her to tell the bank it was authorized. Margaret asked whether Wade had threatened her. Caroline laughed once. "He doesn't threaten. He explains what happens if I don't cooperate." She refused to say more, but before leaving she asked whether Margaret still had Royce's green file. When Margaret said yes, Caroline looked relieved. The file could shame her. Unless shame was exactly what she wanted Margaret to feel.
