My First My Last My Only

by Denise Carbo

  Shivering dramatically, she groans. “You’re right.”

  “I have visions of that actress having a meltdown over wire hangers. I can see Mother yelling, ‘No plastic bottles!’”

  Lucinda snickers and cups a hand over her mouth.

  “Ladies.”

  My heart leaps.

  Mitch kisses each of our cheeks and then sits next to me. He’s wearing a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled back to his elbows and navy-blue shorts. We could be a matching couple.

  “How did you avoid my mother introducing you to everyone?”

  He winks at me. “I didn’t come in the front. I snuck around back.”

  “Brilliant.” Lucinda sinks into her chair and crosses her legs. “No offense Mitch, but I may have to sacrifice you if my mother tries to abscond with me again.”

  Mitch looks at me and raises his eyebrow.

  “Mother is telling everyone Lucinda is on Sabbatical,” I say.

  “I’m not. I quit, but that’s taboo.”

  Reaching over I squeeze my sister’s hand. “Only in her mind. You have nothing to apologize for or feel badly about.”

  She gives me a sad smile.

  “Why don’t I get us a round of drinks? What would you ladies like?”

  Mitch stands and gazes down at us.

  “I’ll have a water please, Luce stole mine.”

  “Me too.”

  “Coming right up.” Mitch strides to the door and, as he steps inside, the exclamations of surprise and greeting begin.

  “He doesn’t realize what he’s in for.”

  I have a feeling he did and that he did it to give Lucinda a break. He has a caring heart. If I wasn’t already madly in love with him, I’d fall again.

  The aphrodisiacs I cooked for last night’s dinner didn’t accomplish my goal. Mitch is not seduced.

  Yet.

  I blame that photographer. My battery died on my phone while I was at Mitch’s so I never got a chance to validate or refute whether Margeaux is claiming they’re back together. It’s been one thing after another today, rushing around at the bakery to prepare everything before I left and then dashing home to change for the party.

  I’ll find quiet time later and search until my mind stops worrying over it. I also need to come up with my next course of action to further along Mitch’s seduction.

  People wander on and off the patio, stopping to say hello to Lucinda and welcome her home. A server arrives with our waters and I glance towards the house.

  Poor Mitch will never escape my mother’s clutches. She’ll be in search of Lucinda soon to parade them around together planting the seed in everyone’s head they’re a couple.

  “I need to go use the bathroom.”

  “You’re coming back, aren’t you?”

  I pat her on the shoulder. “As much as I’d like to disappear, I won’t abandon you.”

  “Thank you. I’ll come look for you if you don’t.”

  Chuckling, I walk into the house and weave through the groups of people. Mitch is standing with my parents by the fireplace surrounded by a half-dozen people. He says something and they all laugh.

  I catch his eye and smile, and he winks at me.

  Avoiding the swinging door of the kitchen, I go through the foyer and up the stairs to use my bathroom.

  “Scurrying away to hide as usual, Fanny. I’m sure your parents and the rest of the guests can now relax and not worry you will do something to ruin the party.”

  Vanessa is standing outside the guest room.

  I look down the hall past her and then towards my room.

  I walk towards her and stop a few feet away. “This is my home. I don’t need to explain my purpose for being here to you. You, however, do not belong wandering around my parents’ house. What are you doing up here?”

  Her head rears back and a red tinge appears along her prominent cheek bones.

  I am done being bullied by this woman.

  “I was using the bathroom.”

  “There’s a bathroom downstairs for the guest’s use.”

  “It was occupied.”

  “Vanessa, I will give you the benefit of the doubt even though you certainly don’t deserve it. You have been nothing but rotten to me our entire lives and I’m sick of it. Fair warning, I’m ready to fight back.”

  I swivel and strut down the hallway to my room.

  A smile stretches across my face as I walk to the bathroom. My stomach is doing flip flops, but that felt good.

  What if she tells Mitch I was mooning over him?

  Finishing my business and washing my hands, I’m ready to run downstairs to intercept her.

  No, so what if she does? She has no proof.

  Would it be so horrible, anyway? I want him to see me in a different light.

  Granted, I want him to realize he has feelings for me on his own with a little sexy prodding from me.

  Opening the bedroom door, I shake my head. It doesn’t matter what she says or does. I stood up to her and I survived.

  Hell, I won that little battle. And I will win the war if she continues to wage one.

  Vanessa has disappeared when I go downstairs. Mitch is still surrounded, but my parents are absent.

  Stepping out on the patio, I glance over to where Lucinda was sitting. She’s still there wringing her hands together in her lap.

  My mother is standing next to her chair with a scowl on her face.

  Riding high from my victory with Vanessa, I stride over to the table and sit next to Lucinda.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Your sister is refusing to go mingle with Mitch.” Her voice hisses out in a harsh whisper. “Stop this nonsense at once, Lucinda.”

  “Have you ever heard the expression no means no?”

  My mother’s glacial glare snaps to me.

  “You may enjoy wallowing in that little hobby of yours, but your sister has the beauty and brains to accomplish great things. Stop trying to bring her down to your level. You’ve always been jealous of her. Is this how you get your revenge, ruining her life?”

  I flinch. Direct hit. Yes, I’ve always been envious of her and what I perceived to be perfection, but I never wanted her harmed.

  “Mother, that’s enough.”

  Tears are welling and I can’t look at my sister. She grabs my hand.

  “If anyone has been jealous, it’s me of Franny. She’s brave enough to stand up to you and choose her own career and she has done so brilliantly.”

  I bite my lip and stare out at the lake willing the tears not to fall. My mother will only make a nasty comment about my drama if they do. I love my sister for defending me, but she’s wasting her breath. Our mother will never see me as anything but a disappointment and a failure.

  “Brilliantly? She lives in our house rent free and throws her life away in that tiny little bakery of hers. She will never find a husband worth a damn. Is that the life you want?”

  Lucinda lunges to a stand. I reach for her hand to tug her back down. It’s a waste of breath to argue with my mother. My hands are shaking, and I miss.

  Mother’s words hurt, but that’s not why I’m shaking.

  It’s pure rage.

  Screw her and her expectations.

  I grasp Lucinda’s hand and tug on it. She glances down at me and I give her a wobbly smile.

  “You’ll never change her mind, Luce, and I no longer care to.”

  My mother snorts and Lucinda looks from me to our mother and then drops into the chair.

  “You’re right. We shouldn’t care.”

  “You’re ungrateful brats. I threw this impromptu party for you to save your reputation from the horrible mess you’ve made of your life and this is the thanks I get? And you, you’ve corrupted your sister out of hateful jealousy. You’re a disgrace to this family.”

  “Franny is a treasure and if you can’t see that, it’s you who are a disgrace.”

  Mitch’s soft-spoken growl precedes his arrival behin
d me. He places his hands on my shoulders.

  I cringe over what he may have heard.

  My mother gapes at him and then gathers herself together. “Mitch, I don’t know what you heard, but this is a private family discussion. It is a disagreement between us over Francine’s intentions and actions towards her sister. I apologize you had to witness her outbursts. Why don’t you take Lucinda inside for a drink?”

  Mitch rubs my shoulders. My mother’s gaze locks onto his hands.

  “Ladies, why don’t we find a friendlier location to enjoy the fireworks? I believe even a street corner would suffice.”

  “I would love to.” Lucinda jumps up and pulls me up with her.

  Mitch slides an arm around each of our shoulders.

  “Goodbye Mother. It should please you to hear I will be moving out by the end of the summer.”

  She spins away and marches into the house.

  The three of us walk around the side of the house and down the road to Mitch’s truck.

  Lucinda peeks over at me. “Did you mean it? Are you really moving out?”

  “I’d move out today if I could. Mitch agreed to sell me the building so I’ll be moving into the apartment when his house is ready.”

  “I’ll move the process along. You can move in by the end of the week, I promise.”

  I can’t decide whether to hug him, kiss him, or both. He stood up to my mother for me and is willing to get me into the apartment quicker.

  I wrap my arm around his waist and lean into his side. He kisses the top of my head.

  “Can I come to?” Lucinda leans her head forward to peek at me.

  I smile. “It’s only a one bedroom, but we can get a fold out couch if you’re serious.”

  “Oh, I’m serious, and it won’t be for too long. I’ll get my own place when I figure out what the hell I’m going to do with the rest of my life.”

  “The two of you should move into my house and I’ll stay in the apartment. The kitchen isn’t functioning, but a couple bedrooms and bathrooms can be ready by the end of the week.”

  “Luce, you should see his house. It’s spectacular. But, Mitch, we’re not taking over your house. The apartment will be perfect for us.”

  Mitch opens the passenger side of his truck and holds it open for us. “The offer still stands.”

  Getting into the truck, I slide into the middle.

  Mitch shuts the door once Lucinda climbs in and walks around to the driver’s side. My thigh brushes up against his once he is settled.

  “So, ladies, where are we going?”

  I shrug. “You told Mother any street corner would do.”

  A snicker escapes me and then laughter rings in the truck as Lucinda collapses against me.

  “It may have been a poor choice of words on my part. It was in the heat of the moment.”

  “We should go stand on a street corner and take a picture to send her. Won’t she be proud of her daughters then?”

  Lucinda shakes her head and straightens. “No, you were right, she’ll never accept us making our own choices.”

  “Listen Luce, about what she said. I have been jealous of you, but I would never wish you any harm. I only want good things for you.”

  “Franny, I’ve been jealous of you too and I know what she said isn’t true. She was deliberately cruel and hateful. I’ve never seen that side of her.”

  Welcome to my world.

  “I’m sorry you had to witness it.”

  Mitch takes my hand in his and starts the truck.

  Luce takes my other hand and squeezes.

  My mother’s words can’t hurt me anymore.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  The fondant drapes over the layers of cake smooth and shiny, finally. I’ve redone it twice because of cracks and wrinkles that refused to cooperate. I carry the cake over to the cooler to set. It’s already past five o’clock. I’ll have to stop by tomorrow on my day off to finish up the decorations. It’s a special order which needs to be delivered tomorrow afternoon.

  Mitch texted me earlier and asked me to come up to the apartment after work. I’m guessing he wants to talk about the apartment and Lucinda and I moving in.

  My mother is treating Luce and I to the silent treatment so there were no more outbursts when we went home last night. I was half afraid she would wait to ambush us.

  I finish cleaning up the kitchen then use the bathroom to remove my hair from its bun and add makeup. My plan to seduce Mitch is still up and running after all.

  Right after I show him the posts his ex has plastered all over the internet about their reconcile.

  I finally found a few moments to do a search and the photographer hadn’t been lying.

  Mitch would have told me if it were true. I must believe that. So, it must be some sort of publicity stunt she is pulling. I just need him to confirm. He might not even be aware of what she is doing.

  Staring into the mirror at my reflection, I whisper “I am beautiful—in my own way.”

  I squeeze my eyes closed and then try again. This is part of my new plan. No more negativity and insecurity.

  Huffing out a breath, I try again. “I am beautiful. I am a great match for Mitch.”

  Okay, saying that a few hundred more times might make me believe it.

  I walk out of the bathroom, grab my things, and lock the back door behind me. As I climb the stairs to Mitch’s apartment, soon to be mine, he opens the door and leans against the jamb waiting for me with a smile.

  “You’re running late. I was just about to text you when I heard you on the stairs. Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, I just had some work to finish up.”

  He steps back so I can enter. I inhale as I brush past him. The man always smells so damn good. I wonder if someone could somehow capture his unique scent and make it into a candle or something so I could light it and fill whatever room I’m in with eau de Mitch.

  “Can I get you anything to drink?”

  I shake my head and smile. “No thanks.”

  “I’ll be ready to move out of here before Friday. Unless you need it sooner. How did it go last night with your mother?”

  “Friday is great, really. I can’t thank you enough. Mother seems to be punishing us with her silence. Little does she know it’s a reward.”

  His mouth quirks to the side.

  “Listen, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”

  That sounds ominous.

  And it’s not about the apartment, he already mentioned that.

  “Is this about Margeaux?”

  He frowns.

  “I saw some stuff she’s been posting online. The photographer was telling the truth.”

  Mitch rubs the back of his neck. He doesn’t look surprised.

  I finger my necklace and wait for him to say something.

  “It’s hard to explain.”

  “Doesn’t seem too hard, it’s either true or not.”

  “It’s not, she’s impulsive.”

  I take a deep breath. It’s not true.

  “What about your crush?”

  My back stiffens. “My crush?”

  “Yeah, Bobby remember?”

  “Oh, that.”

  He raises one eyebrow and continues to stare at me.

  I swallow hard. “I never had a crush on Bobby.”

  Shit! I said it out loud.

  I slam my eyes closed only to pop them back open. I pace the living area.

  It’s time for a full confession.

  I rub my hand across my forehead and continue to pace.

  “See, I panicked when you asked for a name and Bobby was driving by so that’s why I said him. And then it snowballed from there and I didn’t know how to explain what had happened.”

  I swing around to start another lap and ram into Mitch standing in my path. He grabs my shoulders to steady me.

  Staring at the open buttons of his black polo shirt, my cheeks burning, and shallow breaths tightening my chest, I wait for him t
o say something, anything.

  “Then who was that woman referring to?”

  A part of me rejoices he doesn’t remember Vanessa’s name. Sheer terror drenches the rest of me knowing my day of reckoning has arrived.

  Swallowing hard, I whisper, “You.”

  “So, all this time you were crushing on me? No one else?”

  Still staring at his chest peeking through his open shirt, I nod.

  The world tilts upside down as Mitch tosses me over his shoulder and strides toward the bedroom.

  For a split second I marvel at his strength and then the terror returns and my mind spins wondering what he plans to do with me. I don’t have long to imagine because he drops me in the center of the bed, and I bounce on the mattress and stare up as he looms over me and captures my lips in a devastating kiss.

  There is no softness. No hesitancy. His mouth devours mine.

  I fear I might melt right through the mattress as desire burns through every pore of my body.

  One of his hands delves underneath the back of my shirt and clutches me closer to his aroused body. The other cups and shapes my breast, dragging his thumb back and forth across my pointed nipple.

  Wrapping my arms around his waist, I yank his shirt up to touch his skin. The taut, hot muscles of his back bunch under my fingertips.

  He wrenches his shirt over his head, baring his chest for my delighted gaze.

  Instead of returning his lips to mine, he blazes a scorching path along my neck and shoulder. He lifts my shirt over my head and unfastens the front closure of my bra with a deft twist of his hand.

  Embarrassment doesn’t have a chance to encroach because his eyes worship me and his mouth and hands follow suit.

  I comb my fingers through his hair and hold him close as the pleasure drenches me in sensation.

  Mitch removes my skirt and panties in one quick tug.

  My breath catches and holds when the rest of his clothes disappear. He really is a perfect specimen of man.

  He kisses me deeply. Our tongues and breaths entwine. My fingers map every ridge of his abs and chest.

  Mitch nips my bottom lip and kisses his way down my neck and shoulder. His hands cup and shape all my curves.

  Heat races along my nerve endings. Perspiration dots my skin.

  His mouth and tongue worship my breasts while his hands roam lower to open my legs. He slides down using his legs to open my body to him while his fingers work their magic.