Silence Speaks

TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains death of a family member, corruption, references to murder, emotional abuse, classism, family conflict, betrayal, public humiliation, grief, and a power imbalance within a wealthy family. Read at your own discretion.

Out of all of the places that I could be, the last place I would want to go is to tonight’s ball. Every other year, my parents put together some extravagant gala type thing and basically half of the city shows up.

“It’s for the fundraisers and charity!” That’s what mom is always telling me.

“Don’t you want to help your community?” There’s Dad with the typical guilt trip.

Nine times out of ten, if it’s a Friday or a Saturday, there’s something going on in the area to raise funds for some poor soul, family, or new trial and, of course, I am required to attend Every. Single. One. At this point, I own so many gowns and heels I could fill a mansion with just them. Don’t get me started with how much jewelry I own.

If I’m being honest, I don’t want to go tonight. I want to make plans or stay in watching my favorite classic, Alice in Wonderland.

“Did you remember to write your speech?” We’re at the table eating lunch and mom’s question comes right on cue. “You know it has to be perfect.” She wipes the non-existent crumbs from her mouth and sets her napkin on her still nearly full plate. Ally comes to retrieve the salad dish moments later and disappears into the kitchen without a word. I swear that woman is a goddess of silence, if that even exists.

I don’t immediately reply to the question resting in the air. Instead, I take the biggest piece of chicken from my plate and shove it into my mouth, taking my time to make sure I chew it instead of choke. Answering her question will just spiral into another typical argument. I hate family lunches, but at least it’s just her and I. Dad supposedly had something come up at work and couldn’t take his normal lunch.

My distraction with my chicken failed miserably. She’s still sitting across from me and hasn’t moved an inch. The disapproving look is written on her face loud and clear. She wants an answer. I test her patience by picking up my crystal glass and taking a sip of wine.

Mom is done waiting. Her arms cross and she clears her throat. Unnecessary, but okay. “Are you going to answer me or continue to act like I’m not here?”

“Of course I wrote the speech,” my smile is wide enough I can feel the burning in my cheek muscles as I set down the glass. “Did you want me to choke on my lunch? Or maybe you expected me to be your little prodigy with my eating habits too.” One thing about me, I don’t back down from any challenge. She set the tone, I’m just following her lead at this point.

“Mallory Anne. Do not talk to me in that manner.” Mom scoffs, but it’s all bark.

“Do you ever get tired of having this same conversation? You get Ally to call me for what is supposed to be a family lunch, but really it’s to badger me and lecture me on the do’s and dont’s of the ball. I’ve been in the family long enough to be able to cross my T’s and dot my I’s, but yet you still do not believe that I can handle it.” I pick up my fork and stab into another piece of chicken, dreading the night to come, but also dreading dad’s lecture next.

Usually these lunches include his presence and I can get both lectures out of the way. Unfortunately, I will just have to go through this twice today. “That is not at all what these lunches are for! It is important for us to all sit down together to enjoy a meal regularly and you know it.” The skin on her neck and cheeks are becoming more rosy than her beach day tan. She continues, “Your father works long hours to provide for us. Show some grace.”

I take the next bite of chicken I’d been spinning on my fork for the last however long and leave her with no reply. After what feels like an eternity, she realizes I’m not taking her bait and excuses herself from the table. Dad will be fuming from whatever story she decides to fill him in on. I can’t wait to hear what I did but didn’t do now.

Three hours have passed since the fiasco with mom and I’m trying to decide what color scheme to go with tonight. I can either go all out and wear the one of a kind cerulean Louis Vuitton mermaid gown and matching heels that just came in or I have three other dresses from Sherri Hill that would go with the colors of the night. Mom would want me to stand out and shine, but tonight I have something else in mind. Our family may be the wealthiest, but that doesn’t mean we have to always show it off. This thought is exactly why I choose the most off the wall wardrobe. Two more hours until the reveal, I just have to stay out of mom’s way and hope that dad is at work long enough for it to be too late to do anything.

“Are you sure about this?” Ally’s voice is quiet. Her hesitation is understandable. I spent the last two hours curling her auburn hair and doing her make-up. As one of the family members of the hosts, I am allowed to bring guests of my choosing. Most of the time, I go alone. I don’t want to be there, so I assume no one else would want to either. Everything is in order. I made the calls necessary, now all I can do is wait with my guest.

“I have never been more sure of anything in my life as I am about this. It’s time to tell the world Al.” My reassurance settles her nerves and I can see her body relax. “We still have an hour until the speech and half an hour until the event starts. Do you want to eat an actual lunch instead of the leftovers for once?” Her blue eyes light up with excitement. It’s the only answer I need. She’s allergic to the nuts in mom’s salad and I usually just ask for her to make a simple chicken dish when we have family lunches because I know she can eat it.

Mom’s a hypocrite. Well, technically the entire family is a big hypocritical bunch. We love to fund and care for those in need, but when it’s someone under our roof, it’s a fend for yourself but don’t touch our stuff life. It’s almost Christmas and no one has even asked Ally what she might want or need. She’s my best friend but we keep our close bond quiet. If word got out to the family, she could lose everything. We aren’t supposed to bond with the service people. It doesn’t make sense to me. It’s just Ally and she does so much. I don’t think she ever gets the chance to make time for herself. It’ll all change soon though. Just a few more minutes.

“Thank you for the meal, Mallory. I’ve never had a burger so full of flavor before.” Ally hasn’t stopped smiling since we left the house. I made sure she could get her fill and paid for an extra cinnamon roll so she could enjoy more later. “I also don’t know how you’re pulling this off, but no matter what happens tonight, it’s the most thoughtful gift I could ask for this Christmas.” No matter what happens, this is a night of history. She leans in and interrupts my thought, “your mom is coming, and she doesn’t look happy.”

We wrap each other in a tight hug and she thanks me again for today. I think she’s thanked me at least seven times, but I don’t mind. “MALLORY ANNE PARKER, WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?” Mom is approaching quickly and her tone catches the attention of more than a few guests. She doesn’t seem to notice, caught in the moment of her picture perfect family image being shattered by ripped jeans, a cerulean blue crop top, a jean jacket, and a pair of black combat boots.

The nonchalant shrug I give sets a multitude of emotions off. She’s lucky smoke isn’t emitting out of her ears and off of her head, even so, I know she’s fuming. Her pupils are dilated, her jaw is set, and her posture is stiff. If I thought dad was going to be mad after lunch, he’s going to rip me a new one now.

“Go home and change, now. Maybe I didn’t make it clear earlier when I said this needs to be –” Mom had been so focused on me, but her gaze has now locked on a Louis Vuitton that only she and I would know seam for seam. She doesn’t say a word as her eyes scan Ally from head to toe. The diamond encrusted hair clip that holds her curls out of her face, her sapphire earrings and matching necklace that hangs gracefully above the neckline of a one of a kind masterpiece, the diamond bracelet that fits her small framed wrist perfectly, she doesn’t miss a single detail.

While she is taking in the scene, I realize that I still have yet to catch sight of dad. This could be a good thing considering the circumstances, however, it’s not like him to disappear for the entire day. “Where’s dad?” Mom looks at me startled. Time seems to have frozen from the moment she caught sight of Ally. I recognize her posture is the same as it was at lunch, but something seems different. I wait for her normal snarky retort, but it doesn’t come. She isn’t responding which sends a chill down my spine and bile settles in my throat. “Mother dearest, are you going to answer me or stand there looking as if you’ve seen a ghost?” Ally rests her hand on the small of my back.

“T-they’re going to be c-c-calling you up a-any moment. I’ll s-see you after,” the fear in mom’s voice has me unsettled. She would never let this slide and she’s just walking away. I’m wearing exactly the thing that would turn her world upside down. Where is dad? Maybe I should call him, but I don’t have the time now. She’s right. Any minute now, I will be called to do my speech. Something doesn’t feel right, I just can’t think of what it could be.

“... with all of that being said, I wish you all a wonderful Christmas! Thank you for your support in going above and beyond to raise these funds! Here is Mallory Parker with her always inspiring words of wisdom!” Everyone is clapping respectfully, waiting for me to make my appearance on the stage. When I don’t immediately appear in all of my glamour and shine, heads begin to turn. One by one, three by three, I can hear the gasps surfing through the audience once their gaze lands on me. “Are you ready for this?” Ally is shifting nervously in her heels. I take her hand and my answer is full of more confidence than I expected.

“Ready as ever. The truth will always set you free, no matter how much it can hurt.” I take her hand and we make our way up to the stage, the crowd parting on our way up. Some young girls look at me as their hero while their mothers seem absolutely mortified. I can hear some of them shifting, but other than that, it’s almost completely silent in the room.

The original speaker, I can’t remember his name, passes me the microphone when Ally and I reach the steps. I will not be the only center of attention tonight. Ally takes the microphone out of my hand with her newfound confidence and speaks with a volume I’ve never heard before. The goddess of silence finally finds her voice. That should be tomorrow’s newscast.

“Thank you all for attending this very beautifully put together gala,” she takes a step onto the platform, leaving my side for the first time tonight. “As you all probably know, Mallory can set the tone for a perrrfect night,” she elongates the word as she looks straight at mom in the crowd. “However, I will have to do for tonight. Some of you have met me, but wouldn’t remember. During the holiday events I would clear your turkey and ham off the table when you finished your meal. I would take your coats for you and hang them neatly in the closet by the door. I would wish you farewell and safe travels for those coming from out of town.” She steps down off the stage without using the stairs and enters the crowd. No one says a word. The only movement I can see is that of their heads following her as she speaks.

“Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Allison Jane Parker. My brother, Dalton Alexander Parker, died seven years ago in what my parents would say was a car accident, but I know the truth.” Heads begin to turn towards my mother. The Parker name is falling into ash around her and I swear there’s a green tint to her skin tone, like she’s ready to projectile vomit all over the ballroom. “My sister,” Ally continues, “Mallory Anne Parker, is the most beautiful and strong-willed human that I know. The Parker family secrets come to light tonight. Dalton fell off of this very building and mother dearest paid big money to have it covered up. The news followed with the story of an accident that never happened, and with me being his twin, she couldn’t stand to even look at me. My sister however, only learned the truth recently.”

Ally is making her way through the ballroom, being sure to look every guest in the face. She occasionally steals glances in my direction, but her focus never sets there. The slow click clack of her heels is the only sound in the building. Maybe she really is the goddess of silence still. “The Parker name means nothing to me. The money is as dirty as the morals.” Now she looks in my direction and something in my gut twists at these new words. This is not part of the speech.

“The truth will always set you free, no matter how much it can hurt.” Is she crying? “Dad will not be joining us tonight, or tomorrow, or next week. He lays with Dalton beneath the weeping willow on the hill and I was the one to put him there. Mother dearest, don’t come looking for me, and my loving sister and best friend, I am truly sorry. They didn’t want you to know about Dalton and they were very angry for you to learn about my identity. You were overseas when it happened. You shouldn’t have come home.” I don’t know what to say, but she doesn’t give me the chance to say anything. She leaves the microphone with a guest and exits the building.

My one of a kind best friend has left me with a confused crowd, an embarrassed mother, and a broken heart.