The Imposter by Marin Montgomery (ebooks online reader txt) 📕

“What’re you doing?” Deborah’s mouth gapes.

Sibley spins around and loses her balance. Grabbing the edge of the cabinet just in time, she manages to avoid a hard fall. “Jeez, Mother, you scared me!”

“I shouldn’t have to announce my presence in my own home.” Deborah tries for a tight smile, but it comes off as a grimace. “Do I need to put a bell on you so I know what you’re up to?”

“Of course not.” Sibley wipes her hands on the front of her shorts.

Deborah asks coldly, “What’re you looking for?”

“Tea.” Sibley shrugs. “It sounded good right now.” They both know this is bullshit, a flimsy excuse. Deborah thought she’d be more skilled at lying by now.

“I don’t remember you liking tea.” Deborah points to a glass container filled with various tea bags. “But if you did, it’s on the counter in front of you.”

“Of course it is. Right in front of my face.” Sibley’s cheeks turn ruddy. “I was looking up instead of ahead.” She yanks a couple of tea bags out. “Would you like some?”

Deborah shrugs. “I usually drink it at night, but why not? It’s not every day your daughter shows up unexpectedly.”

“Yeah, right?” Sibley raises an eyebrow. “Still like it hot, even in the summer?”

“Yes.” Deborah fixes Sibley with one last pointed stare. “I’m going to go sit in the living room and take a load off.”

Sibley manages a nod.

Deborah collapses into her chair, rubbing the drowsiness out of her eyes. Her daughter arrives out of nowhere and is already ransacking her cupboards? What could she possibly be looking for?

Considering all the options, mostly unpleasant, Deborah wonders if Sibley is trying to catch her doing something. Was she sent here to spy on her? Maybe she’s going to plant one of those miniature recording devices?

In distress, she doesn’t notice Sibley standing in front of her, a strange look on her face, tea in hand. Pressing a mug into Deborah’s palm, she sits down across from her on the couch.

Stifling a yawn, Deborah notices the dark circles underneath Sibley’s eyes. “You look exhausted. That earlier nap wasn’t enough.”

“I was driving almost nonstop for twenty-three hours.”

“You didn’t stop?” Her eyes widen in alarm. “You should’ve told me you were coming. I would’ve picked you up from the airport instead of you driving all this way.” Then Deborah could at least have known when she came and went. She wouldn’t have come home to her asleep on her couch.

“It’s okay.” Sibley stares into her mug, refusing to meet Deborah’s eyes. “I didn’t want to trouble you.”

Deborah lifts her chin. “Where’s that husband of yours?”

“He’s at home.” Sibley chews on a fingernail.

“Still have that nasty habit, I see.” Deborah frowns at Sibley’s hands. “Where’s your wedding ring?” Its absence is puzzling to her. Deborah doesn’t mention she noticed the enormous diamond in the engagement pictures she found online after she heard about the wedding announcement, but not from her daughter.

No, she had to find out from a neighbor who’d read it on her social media account.

She was peeved. It was the same with Sibley’s graduation from college and law school. She did receive a Hallmark card informing her she’d passed the bar and joined a law firm.

It hurt like hell, but she’d be lying if she said it had been unexpected. Deborah’s received sporadic high-level CliffsNotes along the way.

“At the jeweler. I decided to have it cleaned professionally. No need to wear it on the farm.”

“It would’ve been nice to finally meet my son-in-law.” Deborah knows his name starts with an H, but she can’t seem to pluck it from her memory.

“Holden had to work,” Sibley mumbles.

“Well, it would’ve been nice to meet Holden,” she says pointedly. “And you managed to make it.” Deborah chastens, “That seems dangerous, you coming alone in that metal trap with those tires.”

Sibley leans her head back against the couch, closing her eyes.

Getting nowhere, Deborah asks, “Is he still in education? A teacher, right?”

“He teaches poli-sci.”

Deborah stares at her blankly.

“Political science. Holden’s a professor at the university.” Sibley’s voice squeaks. “That’s why he couldn’t come. He got tenure, so he’s thrilled.”

“How wonderful!” Deborah says politely. “Good for him. And you, are you still a lawyer?”

“I am.”

“Was it hard to get time off?”

“I was able to juggle it.”

Deborah knows the farm’s condition has thrown Sibley for a loop, but she hardly owes her an apology. A lot of pressing matters have consumed her time as of late, and she’s so tired and bogged down.

And today, Sibley’s blue eyes wear the same guilty cloak Deborah’s have worn for the past sixteen years.

Maybe Deborah feels high strung because of the timing, skeptical, even, of her intentions. She hates to chew over the timing of Sibley’s visit, but she’d be remiss if she didn’t. It’s odd Sibley would show up around the same time she’s making a radical decision about the farm. Deborah didn’t expect her to come knocking at the door, certainly not without a phone call.

Eventually, she would’ve sent a card with a handwritten letter inside, pouring out the feelings she’s kept bottled up because Jonathan used to throttle her for having them. It’s a hard conversation to have with your child, even at an adult age.

And now Deborah’s moving on, tired of feeling exposed on the farm, a sitting duck, if you will. She’s ready to branch out in life. If Deborah didn’t have Robert, she’d lose her patience and will to live. Smiling gleefully to herself, she thinks that moving on with Robert has a nice ring to it.

Deborah’s biggest mistake was not fleeing all those years ago after the string of tragedies happened.

Blow after blow.

But she had a target on her back, and it was easier to grin and bear it. Deborah paid the price in silence with a backbone that was stronger than most.

Leaving would’ve been an admission of guilt and would’ve caused more damage than staying did, though she couldn’t possibly have known it at the time. She and Robert made a