The chilly spring and the soak in the bath of ice water gave Carrie a cold. With her temperature running high in the middle of the night, Mrs. Newman was quick to notify the family doctor. The doctor examined Carrie and prescribed her medication. Mrs. Newman fed her daughter the medication and stayed by her daughter’s side.

Mrs. Newman only left her daughter’s bedroom when Carrie’s fever subsided.

“Where’s Camryn? Didn’t she come back last night?”

The mention of her elder daughter turned Mrs. Newman’s tenderness into a scowl. “That blind girl got Ms. Stone’s help through some dumb luck. That country bumpkin was on her side too.

“That country bumpkin with no parents thinks she’s all that after marrying into a wealthy family. Carrie would’ve been fine if she stayed out of our business. The country bumpkin struck fast. She must work out in the gym a lot.”

The couple talked about last night’s incident while walking down the stairs.

Mrs. Newman hated Serenity’s guts. Her daughter