Page 100 of Antagonist

“They’re quite dreadful, aren’t they?” Stella says, inspecting her short nails.

Karina smiles and takes Stella’s hand. “They don’t look too bad. I think a pastel would look lovely on you. What a stunning ring you have.”

“Oh, thank you, dear. I have it thanks to my ex-husband.”

“He gave you a ring after you divorced?” Stella shrugs, and Karina looks like she’d be less shocked if a piano dropped from the ceiling.

“Sounds like he’s a good man. Why did you divorce, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Stella smiles.

Fletcher touches my arm to ask me what’s going on. I just shake my head and point at Stella.

“My husband and I had the most beautiful relationship, but it wasn’t to be,” Stella says.

“At least he got you that ring.”

Stella puts her hand on Karina’s and laughs. “He didn’t give it to me.”

“But you said…”

“My daughter was an unexpected gift from God. I had another year of college to go when I got pregnant. I had to drop out to look after my little princess. My husband worked hard to establish himself at work while I stayed home.”

Karina laughs. “I still don’t get why you divorced him.”

“You see, Karina, my husband made me a promise. As soon as we had a solid income and our daughter was in school, I could go back to college. I finished my degree with honors. I’m a nurse.”

“That’s a wonderful profession,” Karina says.

“My husband thinks so too. When I got my first job, he told me to keep the first year of my salary to buy something that would be just mine, that no one could take away.”

“You bought the ring.”

Stella raises her hand. The diamonds sparkle as she moves her fingers.

“I did. And still kept some change. I wanted to buy something that represented our relationship. Not our marriage, but how we felt about each other.”

Karina looks really confused right now. Stella holds both her hands.

“I knew we were going to be best friends from the moment we met. Our relationship is strong, everlasting, and we share the best thing in the whole world. Our daughter. She’s the sparkle in our eyes.”

A lump forms in my throat. Fletcher stands closer to me and holds my hand.

“Your ex sounds like a wonderful person. I hope he knows how you feel about him.” Karina looks down. Her expression changes slightly before she looks up again, patting Stella’s hands and sitting back.

“He’s standing right there. He knows.”

Karina follows Stella’s gaze to me, and I raise my hand.

“Karina, let’s get real for a moment here,” Stella says.

“Here we go,” I mutter under my breath.

“Every child has the right to be what they want to be. Our job as parents is to enable their learning and give them unconditional love. We are all different. I don’t agree with your Mothers and Daughters Club. It’s not my thing, and it’s not my daughter’s thing…well, not unless becoming a lady suddenly includes hunting for bugs in the backyard and holding snakes.”

Fletcher snorts.

“But I would never criticize or do anything to damage what you do. You know why? Because there will be a little girl whose parents love their social status more than they love her, and that little girl might find your club the one place she can be herself. She will learn how to move in those high society circles so easily that no one will ever see her coming when she takes over her daddy’s business like a bitch.” Stella covers her mouth. “Oops, pardon me.”