The Black Sheep Has Arrived — Episode 10

My mother's voice pulled me back. She was frowning, apparently annoyed that I hadn't immediately agreed. I stood up. That's alright. I already booked a hotel.

Her face darkened. What is that supposed to mean? You'd rather stay in a hotel than at home? Is the couch beneath you now?

I picked up my coat and started toward the door. I sleep better in my own bed. Behind me, I heard my mother mutter to my father. Ten years away and her attitude's out of control.

Every single thing has to be a fight. The door closed behind me. Ten years ago, the girl who spent that night on the couch would have fried into her pillow, unable to understand why her mother was kinder to other people's daughters than to her own.

The Hazel of ten years later doesn't cry over that. The deposits kept coming in. Patent licensing fees, equity distributions, royalty payments. Each one trailed by so many zeros I'd stopped counting.

She'd stopped needing anyone else to be good to her. She was good to herself, generously. The next day, the most famous wedding venue in Newport, the Chandler at Cliff My parents kept glancing anxiously toward the entrance.

Elia, Ethan, and Melanie huddled together, strategizing in low, urgent voices about how to approach the Ashfords, which conversation topics to lead with, which family members to prioritize. Every word out of their mouths was calibrated to impress. Halfway through the toasts, Serena stood up from the head table, walked onto the platform, and picked up the