Chapter 126 Back under the same roof - Caroline
I walk around the table, making sure every fork, every knife is perfectly polished.
I like perfection. Especially in my home, and in my appearance.
I also like keeping everyone happy.
I've kept my family happy forever, making sure that each and every one of them gets exactly what they want and need to become the best versions of themselves.
Even if they don't see it.
My fingers linger on the chair I know Miguel will sit on tonight. I can't believe he accepted the dinner invitation. He never does. He only pitches up when his father forces him to at charity events.
I miss him here.
Sometimes I go into his old bedroom and lie on his bed. His scent is long gone, but if I close my eyes, I can imagine his smell all over him.
I will make sure to hug him tonight so his perfume can linger on me. I've always loved the way he smells. He chose that brand when he was a teenager, and he's been wearing it ever since.
Samuel enters the dining room, his eyes always so patronising. I hate Samuel, but Benedict loves and trusts him, and there's nothing I can do about it.
"Mrs.Cargill." Even the way he says my name is patronising. "Is everything not in order?"
"Everything is fine." I smile stiffly.
I leave the dining room, Samuel's eyes burning on my back.
Samuel always intervened when I was raising the kids, never allowing me to be alone with them for too long. I was raising men, he just didn't see it.
I take a long shower, shave, and look at myself in the mirror afterwards. I know I still look good, even though my husband hardly gives me any attention.
He didn't marry me for love. He married me out of obligation to his father who chose me himself. We grew up in the same circles, our fate has been decided before we could make our own choices.
Benedict was acting foolish for a while, conceiving a child out of wedlock and class.
But I've come to love that child. I loved having him in the house, especially when he grew up and became so helpful to me. If he wasn't here, I probably would have gone into a deep depression from lack of attention.
I choose my outfit carefully, showing more cleavage than usual, hoping that all the boys would appreciate it.
I'm applying my makeup when Benedict enter my dressing room, a grim look on his face.
"There's an emergency in the office, I'm going to have to skip dinner." He states, no remorse in his expression as usual.
"That is a pity." I put my brush down, keeping my emotions steady, just like I was trained to do. "You can't make it back before the boys leave?"
"I don't know how long I will be Caroline, enjoy the dinner."
He leaves, leaving no apologies like I don't deserve them.
Well, the night must go on.
I go downstairs at five-forty-five, just in time for the front door to open and Ben waltzing in with a girl.
I freeze momentarily before putting on my smile.
My son doesn't have a good sense of judgement. First he brought that Smith girl, who he believed was going to be his wife. I didn't mind her, she was timid and soft spoken, and came from a very wealthy family. Even though the family has no class whatsoever, I tolerated her, until she left him and left my baby broken.
I still haven't even taken revenge on her, but it seems like she's gone off the grid lately.
"Mother, I would like you to meet Sarah McDowell, you remember her cousin that was in school with Miguel, right?" Ben takes her coat from her shoulders, handing it to Samuel.
My smile doesn't slip. It never does. What is Ben thinking bringing a McDowell into this house after what happened to Katherine?
Sarah looks like a lovely girl though, she's dressed in a modest black dress and her makeup is subtle and suitable for an Upper Side New York lady.
Something Madison Smith could never be.
"How lovely to meet you, Sarah." I take her hand in mine. "I am so sorry about your cousin. She had such a bright future ahead of her."
She also didn't deserve to be alive, not after I caught her in Miguel's room over summer before their senior year. She rubbed me the wrong way, but Ben knew just what to do to put her in her place.
"It's such a pleasure." She smiles demurely.
I like this girl, and I give a subtle nod to Ben who beams at my approval.
The doorbell rings again, and Samuel rushes to open it, Miguel entering with his moody aura, making my heart skip a few beats.
"Miguel." I clap my hands together, glee going all the way down to my toes. "Just in time. Your father had to leave due to an emergency, maybe he will be back later."
Ben introduces him to Sarah, but Miguel remains stiff, I can just imagine how tense his muscles must be underneath his clothes.
Perhaps he needs something to relax a little.
"Let's have a drink before dinner." I suggest.
"I have already prepared the sunroom." Samuel says, showing the way for Sarah, and working on my last nerve.
This is supposed to be my house, I am the woman here, yet Samuel constantly oversteps my boundaries.
I wanted to prepare Miguel a special drink, something that would make him stay the night.
Just a little something so he doesn't look so stressed all the time.
If Samuel is going to stand in my way, I'm going to need to think of a way to get Miguel alone tonight.
All on my own.