Old Lace and Bittersweet Tea

What must it be like to look back on your life with nothing but regret?

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Narrated and produced by Nari   
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Written by Caroline Giammanco Find her on Twitter @giammancobook   
  
Editing and Music by Omenhawk Studios (formerly Flyboy Entertainment)   
Find them on Twitter @ghostanoid   
Soundcloud ghostanoid   
Theme music by Nico Rodriguez  
Find him Twitter @NicoRodDM  

Episode Transcript

(00:07):
Welcome to Endo the night. I'mNarri your guide on today's excursion down a
twisted path. Be careful not toget lost. Be it dark or light,
It's easy to lose your way.Are you ready, then let's begin,

(00:28):
Old Lace and bittersweet tea late afternoon, shadows spread across the room,
playing tricks with the old woman's eyes. She knew they were nothing more than
imagining's from her tired memory, butshe was drawn to watch them, as
though somehow they'd become real if onlyshe watched them more closely. She rubbed

(00:53):
herknobby hands together, anxiety from longago expressing itself even now. Time that
cruel, however, and nothing shedid would change the past. She knew
that fretting over the mistakes of heryouth achieved no rewards, but she found
herself spending countless hours doing just that. The sadness in her demanded that she

(01:14):
try to find some remedy, fruitlessas it may be. Lizzie turned toward
the window and stared at the hillsin the distance. This is home.
It will always be home. Itjust should have been so much more.

(01:36):
Years slipped away as she daydreamed aboutthe life she lived and the one she
wished she'd lived. All it wouldhave taken was a different step this way
or that way, and I wouldn'tbe where I am now, lonely and
feeble, with no one left toshare even my memories with. Her lashes

(01:59):
batted away teardrops, and her breathshuddered. In her mind, she saw
the young Lizzie, brash and fullof herself, indifferent to the consequences of
her actions. She never intended tohurt anyone, at least that's how she
would like to remember herself. Inmoments of clarity, however, she had

(02:20):
to accept that she was not akind person. Selfish and self absorbed.
She believed she was entitled to whatevershe wanted. Beauty and a deceitful mind
helped her achieve her desires. However, her efforts only brought what appeared to
be a perfect life. She knewbetter, and now she had nothing but

(02:46):
time and loneliness to contemplate her deeds. On the dresser sat a photograph of
herself for years gone by. Herviolet eyes studied the face within the ornate
metal frame. Her youthful chin cockedupwards slightly to reveal the arrogance. Lily
once possessed. Her hair was quaffedinto a bun, and the Victorian style

(03:09):
hat she wore upon her head lookedalmost too large for a girl of her
thin nature. Still she insisted onwearing it because, as she told her
mother, it made her look likea lady. I was all of twenty.
Then what would she think of me? Now? Would she be horrified

(03:32):
by my appearance? Now? Myhands are disfigured, and my back is
stooped, My hair is thin andgray, and if I turned heads at
all to day, it wouldn't befor my beauty. Pity maybe, but
not because of my beauty. Theyoung woman in the photograph already had her

(03:57):
plan in mind. She knew whatshe wanted, and she knew what she
had to do in order to getit. Was it jealousy or simply self
indulgence that led her to have theone man she, by all counts of
decency, shouldn't have sought. Evenafter all these years, Lizzie wasn't sure

(04:18):
of the answer. No one wouldargue that Thomas Granbury was a man to
be desired. Tall, handsome,and full of mischief and enthusiasm. He
was what they called a real catch, Lizzie was only mildly intrigued by him
at first. She had plenty ofsuitors, and as her mother's favorite,

(04:43):
she saw no reason to pursue aman who didn't pursue her first. After
all, as her mother said,Lizzie, you are a prize. Always
remember that any man would be luckyto have you. Lizzie's younger sister,
Minnie, was not so fortunate.Now. Minnie was as beautiful as her
sister, but she lacked the driveand confidence Lizzie carried. Perhaps that's why

(05:10):
their mother favored her older daughter.Minnie is just too much like your father,
and she will never achieve the greatlife you have in store for you,
Lizzie's mother crooned, whenever Lizzie neededreassurance. Your father dotes on Minnie
because he sees himself and her,but you are my crowning achievement. Lizzie,

(05:35):
following the advice of her mother,behaved as though she was superior to
all others, including her sister.The damage that inflicted on their relationship rippled
throughout the rest of their lives.It's true Mini stayed in the shadows and
seldom wanted attention drawn to her.I, on the other hand, thrived

(05:58):
on being the girl everyone noticed.Mother thrived on making sure I was in
the spotlight. Looking back, now, I know that Mother must have suffered
her own pains and losses. Otherwiseshe wouldn't have clung to me so tightly.

(06:18):
I was her baby doll from thetime I was born, and she
wanted me to fulfill all her expectations. I hated her for that for years,
but now I know she was doingthe best she could. Whatever was

(06:42):
lacking inside her brought many destructive consequences. Lizzie, usually too busy with her
own social life, remembered the dayMinnie rushed through the door, breathless with
excitement. What has you so emotional, Lizzie, Promise me you won't say
a word to anyone, Not yetanyway. I promise Thomas is asking Papa

(07:08):
from my hand in marriage. I'mgoing to be missus Thomas Granbury. Oh
well, isn't that a little sudden? No, silly, Thomas and I
have dated for nearly a year.Has it been that long already it has?

(07:29):
I've dreamed of this day happening.I see Thomas is going to ask
Papa right now. I have awedding to plan. I do hope you'll
help me, won't you? Certainly, of course I will. Minnie ran
from the room and went upstairs tolook through her hope chest. In her

(07:50):
excitement, she missed the look onLizzie's face that she'd only poorly disguised.
Minnie had every reason to be wrappedup in her own happiness. I couldn't
stand the fact that everyone suddenly thoughtshe was special. It was then that

(08:11):
Lizzie knew what she had to do. That evening, having received Minnie's father's
blessing, Thomas Granbury came to dinnerfor the first time. Lizzie took notice
of the attractive young man, toher chagrin. Despite her best efforts,
Thomas only saw Minnie. How darehe? No matter what I say or

(08:35):
do, he ignores me. Lizziedesperately tried to hide her anger. She
knew that wasn't the way she wouldwheedle her way between Thomas and her sister.
She needed to pretend to be assweet as her sister, and that
was a task in and of itself, regardless of how interested she seemed in

(08:58):
conversation with Thomas, How I hetreated her with nothing but cordial regard.
That evening ended with Thomas and Minnietaking a ride through the countryside. I'm
not sure how to say this,Minnie, but your sister seemed like she
was trying a little too hard tobe noticed tonight. Is this how she

(09:22):
is all the time? Oh?Yes, She's always been the center of
every social gathering, and mother encouragesit. I've always known that my place
wasn't in the limelight. Thomas leanedback and looked at her. Don't ever
say something like that again, Minnie. You are the center of my world

(09:43):
and nothing will ever change that.You're wonderful and it's a shame that your
mother doesn't see that. Focusing onLizzie alone does nothing but hurt both of
you, hurt both of us.How is Lizzie hurt by mother's behavior?
She gets everything she ever wants.That might be, But do you think

(10:05):
that in the end Lizzie is becominga better person because of your mother's favoritism,
because she's not. That kind oflopsided parenting only leads to heartache.
Just watch and see. He pausedand looked at the stars. Tonight,
however, is about you and us? And we aren't going to spend another

(10:30):
minute talking about your sister or anyoneelse. The next several months, Minnie
and Thomas were happier than they'd everbeen, and Lizzie became angrier than she'd
ever been. The local tailor madeMinnie's wedding gown, and it was a
work of art, airy, flowing, chaste and lacy. It was the

(10:52):
type of dress every girl dreams offor her wedding day. I must do
something to stop this. This waningis in a matter of weeks. Even
mother has been paying more attention toManny than she has me. Lizzie paced
the floor of her bedroom as thelate afternoon shadows gave way to the glowing
hues of sunset that streamed through thewindow. Those very same shadows landed on

(11:16):
the very dress she had been thinkingof. It hung in the corner of
the room, a constant reminder ofthat fateful night. A pang of melancholy
washed over her, but she knewthat no amount of tears could undo the
devastation she caused in all their lives. I was foolish and terrible. Looking

(11:37):
back, I not only destroyed theirlives, but I can find myself to
a life of misery too. Thatnight was a blur of emotions and regret.
The lie she told Thomas that sheneeded his help began the chain of
events that she set in motion.She offered him a drink of sweet tea

(12:00):
with a generous dose of alcohol added, just to thank him, of course,
for his help. Thomas Granbury,however, was not known to hold
his liquor well. Within an houror two of Lizzie plying him with endless
drinks, he reached the blackout point. Her plan was working perfectly. She
guided him into bed. Thank you, Minnie, I've missed you tonight.

(12:26):
I'm so glad you're here with menow. Of course, my love,
I'm here to take care of you. From there, she continued to pretend
she was Minnie. Lizzie used toher advantage the many similarities that they shared.
The next morning, Thomas awoke inbed next to Lizzie. Oh God,

(12:48):
no, this can't be happening.But Thomas, it's true. You
took advantage of me last night.I wasn't able to fight you off.
I'm ruined. My reputation is ruined. Thomas wretched both from the alcohol and
from the realization of what had occurred. You've ruined me, Thomas. I

(13:13):
only hope that you will do thehonorable thing and marry me. She looked
at him resolutely, as though hehad no other option. Within an hour,
her mother made the same demand.Looking at Minnie's wedding dress. Their
mother said, at least you're thesame size as your sister, so you
will still have a beautiful dress.Even under these circumstances. Minnie was inconsolable.

(13:41):
Lizzie stared at the dress in thecorner as the sunset faded and only
darkness remained outside. Minnie never married, and I'm to blame for that.
Yes, Thomas was my husband,and yes we had two daughters, but
we did not have a happy marriage. I stole the possibility of happiness from

(14:07):
all of us. Perhaps there wasa man I was supposed to meet,
but instead I was trapped in ashell of a life. She wept for
all of them. I can't blameMinnie and Thomas. They were always in
love with each other. Did theycommit a sin, the sin of continuing

(14:31):
their affair in later years, Yesthey did, but it's understandable. I
kept them apart, but their lovedrew them together. Sweet little Addie was
the product of that affair. Iknow Thomas and Minnie faced scorn for what

(14:52):
they did, but I was theone to blame. They should have been
married, not me. Lizzie wept. No one heard her cries, and
if they did, they chalked itup to creaking stairs or the settling of
an old home filled with history.The lives of three people were destroyed in

(15:16):
that house. In death, however, only one remained trapped in the past.
Thomas and Minnie were reunited and theyhad eternity together now. But Lizzie
faced a different fate. She wasforever trapped in the house, or her
jealousy and self centered ways destroyed thevery people she should have protected. Lizzie

(15:39):
stood at the window and watched themoonlight pouring down. Its glow made her
ethereal body even more translucent. Inlife, she may have had Thomas Granbury,
but in death Lizzie Granbury had noone. Now she was nothing more
than a lonely spirit left in thisrealm to relive her heartaches and trespasses.

(16:18):
Thank you for joining me for thisepisode of the Into the Night Anthology podcast.
Written by Caroline Giamanco, narrated byNari Quak, theme music by Nico
Rodriguez, all other original music,sound design and editing by Omenhawk Studios.
You can find our links in theshow notes. Into the Night is on
your favorite podcatcher, so make sureto like, subscribe and leave a five

(16:41):
star review to help other excursionists tojoin us. I'll see you next time,
and remember, whether in the shadowsor in the daylight, all twisted
paths lead you into the night.Into the Night Anthology is a Creative Typo
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