The World's Greatest Spectacle - A novel Novel

But now that I’m older I understand that she was conflicted in so many ways.

As a mother she couldn’t let go of her responsibility to us, she was too afraid to leave my dad because she didn’t know how she would be able to provide for us, and she was too afraid to stay with my dad because of what he did to her.

I’m certain that she contacted my aunt shortly before she died and made the arrangements without my dad’s knowledge.”

“Anyway, I was a lead cheerleader in high school, senior prom queen, graduated with honors, and headed off to a prestigious university. During my junior year I met Garth at a nightclub. He was several years older than me and even though he was only two years out of law school, he had already played major roles in some large tort cases that had him rolling in the money. I was attracted to his looks, his charisma, and the money. I was young and stupid.

We lived the big city high life in a penthouse for a few years until Garth decided he wanted to move back to his roots. We built this house here, but I think it was his way of isolating me so he could philander without me around.

He works occasionally from home and travels a lot. I never graduated from college, and with all the money we had I didn’t want to work a menial job. I wanted so badly to be a mom but I let the money and the image-based lifestyle stand in my way. Three times I got pregnant. Three times I…” tears were starting to appear in Rachel’s eyes and she couldn’t get the words to form that would complete the sentence.

Cindee waited a few seconds to see if Rachel was going to find her composure, and when she knew that she wouldn’t, she switched couches to sit next to her. She put her arms around her shoulders and gently moved her head against her chest. Rachel cried continuously until the haunting memories were less poignant and she could gather in her emotions.

With her composure regained, Rachel straightened herself on the couch, put her hand on Cindee’s knee, and looking directly into her eyes continued, “Garth wouldn’t let me have the babies. Three times I told him I was not going down to the abortion clinic. Three times he yelled at me. Three times he pushed me around and slapped me. Three times he drove me down to the clinic, threatened me with doing the abortion himself if I didn’t go inside, and then waited outside the clinic until I came back sobbing and got back in the car. The third time I went inside the clinic and hid in a bathroom stall for several hours. I faked the emotions when I came back outside and got in the 74