I wasn’t quite finished with the story I was telling by the time 2025 ended and so decided to continue it until it reached an ending point. Then I will start a new one. Besides, I kind of want to see where Penelope ends up. And so we have…
Day 227: Penelope thought of the bank records she had to review.
Penelope thought of the bank records she had to review. She knew she should just hang up. She knew she should not engage in conversation but somehow knowing and doing were two different things.
“You did steal from me Trinity. So did the rest of the family. I haven’t talked to anyone but the legal proceedings are going through so I’m pretty sure anyone who knows learned from that.”
“That’s a lie,” Trinity said. “Mom told me you were just making things up because you were jealous.”
“Then she is the one lying. I made up nothing.”
“You think you can ruin my birthday party and take my place at the Merriweather’s Event?” Trinity said. “You think I am going to stand for that?”
“You can do whatever you want Trinity,” Penelope said. “It doesn’t change anything.”
“It will when I call the Merriweathers’ and tell them what you did.”
“What I did?” Penelope repeated. “As in change the address on the invitation or claimed you stole from me?”
“Both,” Trinity said. “I’m going to call them and tell them that you managed to convince someone that you were important and that’s how the address was changed. I bet they will even thank me for pointing out the breach in security,” Trinity said. Penelope noted the change in her voice and knew that Trinity’s anger was dimming as she reshaped the narrative in her mind. As people had always believed her over Penelope, she could see why she believed it would work this time.
“You feel free,” Penelope said. “Tell them everything that you know.”
“Oh I will and once they know they will tell everyone. Then they will all know that you are a liar and a thief. And that we were the ones wronged.”
Trinity ended the call and Penelope found herself listening to silence. “At least she will be happy that she got to have the last word,” Penelope said. She thought she heard the mail arrive and went downstairs to get it. She saw the letters sitting in the letter box. There were a few circulars but one was a cream colored envelope that had to be the invitation Lenore mentioned.
“I should probably warn her.”
Penelope picked up the envelope and went back up to the kitchen. She opened the envelope at the kitchen island. It was as Lenore told her, an invitation to the ball being hosed at her house. There was a note.
‘Apparently I have already RSVP’d.’ she read. The note also talked about going dress shopping once she felt a little better.
Penelope sighed and picked the phone back up, She dialed Lenore’s number. It was picked up on the second ring.
“I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon,” Lenore said.
“I just wanted to let you know I got the invitation,” Penelope said. She thought about the little tracking device and decided she needed to trust someone. “Also there is something I wanted to talk to you about but on the phone might not be a good idea.”
“How about I send a car around tomorrow,” Lenore said. “You can get out of the house if you are feeling better and we can talk in a secure environment.”
“That would be great,” Penelope said. “Also you are about to get a call from Trinity. Unless someone makes her rethink her plan she will be calling to inform you that I stole her invitation.”
“Ah,” Lenore said. “I rather expected something from that quarter. I will be waiting.”
Penelope nodded even though Lenore couldn’t see it.
Ten til Midnight 