Forgiveness
“It wasn’t an affair,” Will explained to his aunt and uncle defensively. The way his uncle put it made it sound like they had been involved in some seedy carnal relationship. “It wasn’t like that. Nothing physical happened, not really. We just. . . fell in love.” He looked from one face to the other, the looks of anger morphing into perplexed stares. “She told me that she never really loved him,” he explained as gently as he could. “She said she didn’t want to send him off to war that way, knowing that she never intended to be his wife. We were going to wait until the war was over and then....”
“And then what?” Margaret asked in an angry whisper. “Shatter his heart into a million pieces? After years of deception and lies?” She leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. “I never, ever thought I’d find a reason to say this, but I am almost glad he isn’t here to hear this. I just can’t imagine how he would have ever overcome such devastation.”
“I know,” Will said quietly. “I know exactly what you are saying, Aunt Margaret, believe me.”
The expression on his face made her realize his words were true. Even though Margaret was outraged at her nephew’s behavior, she couldn’t help but feel compassion for him, considering all that he had been through and how much she loved him. She realized just how much he was hurting. The same amount of anguish she had just envisioned for her son was now clearly staring back at her through the eyes of his cousin. She could tell by her husband’s expression that he was not feeling as forgiving as she was, however, and she realized, if this riff was to be repaired, she would have to be the one to mend it. After a few minutes of silence, she finally said, “It sounded to me like she was telling you that she doesn’t want to marry Carey, that she really wants to be with you.”
Will snickered, his head in his hands. “I don’t know what to think,” he replied. “I don’t know what to believe.”
Margaret nodded, understanding. If she would lie to Jaris, perhaps she would lie to Will as well. However, reflecting on Cordia’s disposition these past few months, and the history she had with Carey, she began to think that perhaps Cordia was telling Will the truth. “Well, there’s really only one way to find out,” she replied.
“How’s that?” Will asked, wondering if the change in conversation meant that his aunt wasn’t about to throw him out of her house and tell him never to come back.
“Go talk to her. If she intends to marry Carey, I’m sure she will let you know. If she doesn’t, well, then I think you have your answer,” she explained.
Will shook his head. “I just don’t understand why she would consent to marry him if she truly loved me,” he replied, a look of anguish on his face.
It was Arthur who responded this time, “Why do women do anything that they do?” he asked, ignoring the gasp from his own wife. “Honestly, Will, if you can figure that out, please, enlighten the rest of us.”
Margaret glared at her husband before chiming in. “Her mother has been so overjoyed about the wedding. It’s been all Jane can talk about. Maybe she felt as though she would be disappointing a lot of people if she didn’t say yes.”
Will just stared at her for a moment, wondering if she would realize the gravity of her words. He saw her expression shift a bit and recognized that she knew those words would apply to both Cordia’s situation with Carey and her relationship with Jaris.
Clearing her throat, Margaret said quietly, “Perhaps Cordia is more vulnerable than any of us have ever realized.”
After a moment, Will stated, “I don’t know what to do. I guess, I’ll give her a few days and then try to talk to her.”
“I wouldn’t wait too long,” Arthur replied. “If she really does love you, she’s probably over there crying her eyes out.”
Will considered that for a moment. Of course, he would hate to think of Cordia that upset, but at the same time, he couldn’t help but think perhaps she deserved it after putting him through such emotional turmoil these past several weeks. Still, if it had not been intentional, he wouldn’t want to see her suffer if he could prevent it. “I’m not sure she’d want to see me right now. I wasn’t exactly kind to her earlier today.”
“It’s never a bad time to apologize,” Margaret advised. “Besides, she left her coat here earlier, so you have a legitimate reason to stop by.”
Will considered her words, suddenly feeling the urge to run out the door. However, he also did not want to be too impulsive. “How do you think her parents will react to me showing up at this time of evening?”
“They aren’t home,” Arthur replied. “They’re having dinner with the Peltzers. Isaac mentioned it when I saw him at the bank this afternoon. I guess Cordia might have gone with them but probably not if she’s upset.”
Nodding his head, Will stood and began to clear the dinner table, still pondering whether or not he should pay Cordia a visit. As he continued to help his aunt and uncle remove the dirty dishes, something his aunt had said earlier came back to him. “I do want to say that I am very sorry for causing both of you any sorrow through my actions. I hope you know that it was never my intention, and I greatly apologize.”
Margaret sat the plate she was carrying in the sink and stretched open her arms to hug him. “Will, I love you like a son. I know that, I truly do. Though I can’t say I’m not thoroughly surprised, I do know that love causes us to do strange and sometimes terrible things. We forgive you.”
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