As they walked to her car, Thorne broke the silence. "Are you free on Monday morning?"


    Charlene was about to say yes when he continued, "Minnie''s school is having a parent-teacher conference. They require both parents to be there."


    She paused. "Alright." Then she added, "I can take the afternoon off as well."


    "I have to be in Havencrest at one."


    Charlene frowned. "Can''t you reschedule?"


    "I''m sorry," Thorne said.


    Her lips tightened. Without another word, she turned and got into her car.


    Thorne watched her. "Drive sa—"


    Before he could finish, she mmed the car door shut, started the engine, and sped away.


    Thorne watched her car disappear down the road, a faint smile ying on his lips, before turning back into the house.


    It waste, and Irma had already gone to bed, but udia and Tiffany were still in the living room. Thorne gave them a nod and said he had to make a call before heading upstairs.


    udia watched him go, looking as if she wanted to stop him, but ultimately she said nothing.


    "What is it?" Tiffany asked.


    udia shook her head, remaining


    silent. If Thorne was divorcing


    Charlene just to marry Vesta, she would rather he didn''t divorce her at all. Say what you will about


    Charlene''s underhanded methods to marry Thorne in the past, she came from a respectable family inparison, udia intensely disliked Vesta. But she also knew that even if she voiced her opinion, Thorne wouldn''t listen. No one in the family, not even her husband Lloyd, could stop him from doing what he wanted.


    Tiffany saw the worry creasing her mother''s brow and understood. "From a man''s perspective," she offered, "I can see why Thorne would choose Vesta." Even as a woman, she had to admit Vesta had a certain charm that men would find irresistible.


    udia rubbed her temples,


    obed


    unconvinced. She and Thorne


    weren''t particrly close, but she had always felt he was someone


    incapable of truly loving another, person. And Vesta didn''t seem like his type at all. His feelings and behavior towards Vesta went against everything she thought she knew about her son.


    ...


    The next morning, Charlene and Helena Ross went to the hospital to visit Sybil Ross, who had been in good spiritstely.


    Just as she and Helena were leaving the hospital, Charlene got a call from Jasmine.


    "Mommy, where are you? Daddy and I are at great-grandma''s house, but you''re not here!"


    Jasmine hadn''t mentioned she wasing over that morning, but Charlene didn''t bring it up. "Is your dad with you?"


    "Yeah, but he just dropped me off. He has to go to a business lunch."


    Before Charlene could respond, Jasmine asked again, "Where are you, Mommy? When are youing back?"


    "I just left the hospital. I''m on my way back now, so just wait—"


    "What?" Jasmine gasped, her voice filled with concern. "You were at the hospital? Are you sick, Mommy?"


    "No, sweetie," Charlene reassured her. "I was visiting your grandma."


    They spoke for a few more moments before hanging up. Thorne, who had overheard the mention of the hospital, seemed to understand why she was there After


    Jasmine ended the call, he simply gave his daughter a few instructions before getting in his car and driving away.