Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Dinner that evening was an education for Lucas. The Lowes made no attempt to hide their amazement at the food, the wine, the service. Josh photographed each course with his outdated phone, narrating enthusiastically.

“This here’s some kind of steak with sauce I can’t pronounce! Costs more than our monthly electric bill, I bet! And the wine, Marie, what was it called?”

“Something French, dear. From nineteen ninety–something”

“Chateau Lafite, Marco supplied. “It’s a good year.”

“Good? It’s miracle juice!” Josh held his glass up to the light. “And to think our Margaret drinks this stuff every day now. Our girl who grew up on powdered drink mix and tap water!”

Margaret winced visibly. “Daddy, please.”

“What? I’m proud of you, princess! You set your sights high and you got exactly what you wanted.” Josh winked at Marco. “She always said she’d marry successful. Had it planned from age twelve. Cut pictures of fancy houses out of magazines and put them on her wall.”

Marie nodded enthusiastically. “Vision boards, she called them. Had one for the house she’d live in, the car she’d drive, even the kind of man she’d marry.” She smiled at Marco. “Handsome businessman with his own company. Just like you!”

Lucas watched Margaret’s knuckles whiten around her fork. His father looked uncomfortable. Monica and Ria sat at the other end of the table, barely paying attention.

“It’s impressive,” Marco said, though something in his voice sounded strained.

“Impressive? It’s brilliant!” Josh declared. “My girl’s smarter than all those college types. Knew exactly what she wanted and went after it.” He raised his glass. “To Margaret! The Lowe family’s ticket to the good life!”

Lucas took a sip of his water. Kept his face neutral. The way Josh talked about Margaret made it sound like a business deal. Not love. Not a relationship.

Just. A transaction.

“So,” Josh said, turning his attention to the kids. “You three must be happy your dad found someone like Margaret. After your mom. You know. Left.”

Left. The word hung in the air.

Ria spoke first. “Margaret’s been amazing. Way better than Mom ever was.”

Lucas’s fork stopped halfway to his mouth.

“Oh?” Marie leaned forward, interested. “How so?”

“She actually pays attention to us,” Ria said. “Mom was always in her own world. Cooking and cleaning like that’s all that mattered. Margaret treats us like adults.”

“That’s so important,” Marie agreed. “Young people need to feel heard.”

Monica nodded. “Mom never wanted to talk about anything real. Just the same boring stuff. School. Homework. What we ate for lunch. Margaret actually asks about our lives.”

Lucas set down his fork. Something cold settling in his stomach.

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O

14:21 Sat, May 30

Chapter 15

“Your mother sounds. Traditional.” Marie said carefully.

“She was stuck in the past,” Ria said. Her voice sharp. Certain. “No ambition. No interests outside the house. Margaret has her own life. Her own style. She’s modern.”

Josh chuckled. “Well, Margaret’s definitely got style. Always did, even when we couldn’t afford much. Had to work three jobs to buy her fancy clothes, but she knew presentation was important.”

“Exactly.” Ria said. “Mom wore the same boring cardigans for years. Margaret actually cares about how she looks.”

Lucas stared at his sister. At the certainty in her face. The complete dismissal of everything their mother had been.

“What about you, son?” Josh asked Lucas directly. “You happy with the new arrangement?”

Lucas looked up. Met his father’s eyes. Saw the warning there. The expectation.

“Margaret’s been very welcoming,” Lucas said. Careful. Neutral.

“That’s it?” Josh laughed. “Come on, you can be more enthusiastic than that! Your dad here snagged himself a real catch!”

“Josh,” Marie said softly. “Maybe the boy’s still adjusting.”

“Adjusting? To what? Living in a nicer house? Having someone around who actually smiles?” Josh shook his head. “Kids these days don’t know how good they got it.”

Marco cleared his throat. “The kids have been very supportive. All of them.”

The emphasis on “all” wasn’t lost on Lucas.

“Of course they have,” Margaret said smoothly. “We’re a family now. Aren’t we?”

She looked at each of them. Lucas. Ria. Monica.

“Absolutely,” Ria said quickly.

“Definitely,” Monica echoed.

Lucas nodded. Said nothing.

After dinner, as the adults moved to the living room, Lucas started to slip away.

“Lucas, honey,” Margaret called. “Don’t you want to join us? Your father’s going to show my parents the pool house.”

“I have homework,” Lucas said. “Big assignment due Monday.”

“On a Saturday night?” Josh boomed. “Come on, son! Live a little!”

“He’s very dedicated to his studies,” Marco said. There was pride in his voice. But also. Something else. Relief maybe. That Lucas had an excuse.

“Well, alright then,” Josh said. “But you’re missing out! Your dad says the pool house has its own kitchen! A kitchen! In a pool house!”

Lucas climbed the stairs. Heard Josh’s voice continuing below. Loud. Enthusiastic. Talking about square footage and property values.

He closed his bedroom door. Leaned against it.

The silence felt like medicine.

30

O

14:21 Sat, May 30

Chapter 15

His laptop sat on his desk. The screensaver glowing in the dim room.

He sat down. Moved the mouse. The screen came to life.

His email inbox showed forty–two unread messages. Most of them junk. Some from teammates. A few from teachers.

And one. From Coach Davidson.

His finger hovered over the mouse.

The email had arrived hours ago. He’d seen the notification during dinner. But couldn’t check it then.

He clicked it.

Lucas,

Wanted to let you know you’ve been selected for the varsity traveling squad for the regional tournament next month. Three days in Columbus. Hotel. All expenses covered. Your performance this season has been outstanding. You’ve earned this.

We leave Friday after school. Permission slip attached. Get your dad to sign it.

Proud of you, kid.

Coach D

Lucas read the words three times.

Varsity traveling squad.

Regional tournament.

He should feel excited. Thrilled. This is what he’d worked for. Two years on JV. Hours of practice. Summer camps. Training.

His shot at varsity as a sophomore. His chance to prove himself.

But all he felt was. Relief.

Not because of the achievement.

Because it meant three days away.

Three days where he wouldn’t have to watch his father pretend everything was fine. Wouldn’t have to listen to his sisters rewrite history. Wouldn’t have to sit through dinners where people praised Margaret for rescuing them from their mother.

He looked around his room. Expensive furniture. Latest electronics. Everything a fifteen–year–old could want.

Except it wasn’t home anymore.

Not since his mother disappeared.

His phone buzzed. Text from Ria.

“Stop being weird at dinner. Margaret’s family now. Get over it.”

Lucas stared at the message.

Get over it.

Like their mother was just. Something to get over. A phase. A problem solved

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14:21 Sat, May 30

Chapter 15

Another text. This time from Monica.

“Dad says you need to be more welcoming to the Lowes. They’re nice people.”

Nice people who talked about Margaret like she’d won the lottery. Who praised her for “catching” their father. Who celebrated her calculated plan to marry wealth.

Who didn’t think it was strange that a woman had vision boards of rich husbands since she was twelve.

Lucas set down his phone.

Looked back at Coach’s email.

Columbus. Three days. Hotel rooms with his teammates. Far enough.

Far enough that he wouldn’t have to pretend. Wouldn’t have to smile on command. Wouldn’t have to watch his father with Margaret and act like it was normal.

Their mother who’d made breakfast every morning for fifteen years. Who’d helped with homework. Who’d attended every game, every concert, every parent–teacher conference.

Who’d apparently been so terrible that everyone was better off without her.

Lucas closed his eyes.

He remembered things his father said. Over the years. Little comments. Mostly when he thought the kids weren’t listening.

“Your mother doesn’t understand business.”

“She’s too emotional about everything.”

“She doesn’t have ambition.”

“She’s content with mediocrity.”

Little cuts. Small dismissals. Building up over time.

Making it easier. When Margaret came along. To believe she was the upgrade. The improvement. The solution to a problem- they didn’t know they had.

Lucas opened his eyes. Looked at the email again.

Next month. Three days in Columbus.

Not long. But long enough.

Long enough to breathe without his father’s expectations. Without his sisters‘ certainty. Without Margaret’s careful smiles.

Long enough to think clearly. To remember honestly.

To figure out why everything felt wrong.

His phone buzzed again. This time his father.

“Come downstairs. The Lowes want to take a family photo.”

Family photo.

Lucas stood. Walked to his mirror.

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14:21 Sat, May 30

Chapter 15

Looked at himself. At the expensive clothes his father bought. The haircut Margaret insisted was more sophisticated. The face that learned to smile on command.

He barely recognized the person staring back.

But he knew how to play the part. He’d been practicing for months.

Polite. Agreeable. Supportive.

The good son who didn’t cause problems.

He walked downstairs. Found everyone gathered by the pool. Josh had his phone out. Ready to document

“There he is!” Josh called. “Come on, son! Get in here!”

Marco stood in the center. Margaret beside him. Glowing. Happy.

Ria and Monica flanked them. Perfect smiles.

Lucas took his place. At the edge. Where he always stood now.

“Say cheese!” Josh called.

“Cheese!” everyone chorused.

The flash went off. Capturing them. Frozen. A family.

“One more!” Josh said. “Just to be sure!”

They posed again. Smiled again. Pretended again.

Lucas wondered if his mother ever looked at old family photos. If she wondered what they were doing. If she missed them.

If she knew they’d replaced her. So easily. So completely.

The flash went off again.

“Perfect!” Josh declared. “This is going on the mantle at home. Our Margaret with her new family.”

New family.

Lucas felt something crack inside his chest. Small. Quiet. But real.

After the photos, after Josh and Marie finally went to bed still marveling at the heated floors in the guest bathroom, after his sisters retreated to their rooms, Lucas found his father in the study.

“I made varsity traveling squad,” Lucas said.

Marco looked up from his laptop. His face brightened. “That’s wonderful! Coach called me about it last week. I meant to tell you.”

“He sent the email tonight. Regional tournament next month. Columbus.”

“This calls for a celebration.” Marco stood. Came around the desk. “I’m proud of you, son. Very proud.”

He pulled Lucas into a hug. Stiff. Formal. The way he always hugged.

“Thanks,” Lucas said.

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14:21 Sat, May 30

Chapter 15

Marco stepped back. Studied him. “You don’t seem excited.”

“I am. Just. Processing.”

“Of course. It’s a big accomplishment. Varsity as a sophomore. That’s rare.”

“Yeah.”