Chapter 4 - OWEN’S VERSION
I confronted Owen that night.
Not aggressively.
At first.
“What happened at the fitting?”
He took too long.
“Cecily fell.”
“She says Vanessa pushed her.”
His expression changed.
“Who told you?”
“She did.”
“Why is she calling you?”
“That is your concern?”
“Bianca.”
“Did Vanessa push her?”
Silence.
Then:
“They were arguing.”
“That is not an answer.”
“Vanessa grabbed the gown.”
“Cecily?”
“No. The gown.”
“Did she touch Cecily?”
“I don't know.”
“You were there.”
“It happened fast.”
“What did you tell insurance?”
He looked at me.
That was when I understood he had given a formal statement.
“What did you tell them?”
“That Cecily stepped backward.”
“Did she?”
“Yes.”
“Because Vanessa moved into her?”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“Bella, please.”
I hated that nickname suddenly.
“Did Vanessa push her?”
“I don’t know if it counts as a push.”
People become very creative with verbs when accountability enters a room.
“What did her hands do?”
Owen whispered:
“She put both hands on Cecily’s shoulders.”
“And?”
“Cecily stepped back.”
“From force?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did she fall?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell that part?”
“No.”
There.
“Why?”
Owen looked exhausted.
“Because Daniel will leave.”
Not:
because Vanessa is innocent.
May you like
Daniel will leave.
That was our first real fracture.
