Sweet Little Lies ~ Abbi Glines

by Abbi Glines

  His gaze swung to me, and his expression softened. “Are you okay?” he asked his tone still harsh.

  I managed to nod because I wasn’t sure if I was okay, and I was afraid to tell him otherwise.

  “No, she’s very upset. She wasn’t even breathing. It’s all my fault. I let him in. I forgot. I thought he’d come to visit me,” Geraldine was upset and I had failed at keeping her calm. I’d forgotten about my determination to keep this easy and harmless for her sake when he’d said he wanted to test Heidi’s DNA.

  My breathing hitched again reminding me what could happen. How easily my world could be taken away. Heidi was all I had.

  “Jesus, you’ve gone white,” Stone said as he walked to me in three quick strides and studied me. His fierce expression wasn’t enough to stop my tears from welling in my eyes.

  “Out! Now! OUTSIDE!” Stone roared again as he turned toward Jasper. He advancing toward Jasper so swiftly I was afraid of what he was going to do.

  Jasper didn’t argue, but he met Stone’s glare with one of his own as he stalked past him and headed toward the front doors. Stone touched Geraldine’s shoulder. “Thank you for calling me. None of this is your fault. I’m sorry he brought this to your home.” His tone was tender.

  She shook her head and looked at me. “No, no, no, I should have remembered. I should have—”

  “You did exactly what you should have done,” he assured her then glanced at me. “Take Beulah and get her some tea. She’ll be okay. She’s tough.”

  It was as if he was talking to me instead of her. I even nodded in agreement. I would be okay. I could do this. I wasn’t going to crack.

  He must have needed that assurance. A slight nod confirmed he agreed, then he left us there and followed where Jasper had exited. I watched him go, each of his strides had purpose. Jasper wasn’t weak nor was he small. They were similar in size. But something about Stone was more intimidating. He was harder than Jasper and had darker thoughts. As if the survival instinct was stronger in him than other people. I wondered if his childhood had something to do with that.

  “Jasper should have expected that,” Geraldine said with a shake of her head like she was disappointed in his choices. “Come now, honey. Let’s have some tea. It’s good to calm the nerves. Your pretty complexion has gone pale.”

  I let Geraldine lead me back to the kitchen, but I felt guilty. This wasn’t Stone’s battle. “I should go out there and talk to them. He and Jasper are too close.”

  Geraldine laughed then. It was an amused sound, and she continued to chuckle as she walked into the kitchen. “Sit,” she ordered me with a point of her finger toward the table. “Stone can handle this. Jasper came to my home when he knew better. This is Stone’s issue to handle, not yours. You need some distance. From what I hear you’re dealing with family issues that are terribly upsetting. I imagine the Van Allans have done something awful. And from the conversation I overheard just now,” she paused and looked at me with the teapot in her hand, “that baby girl of theirs didn’t die.” She appeared to be waiting on my confirmation. I couldn’t respond. If Geraldine knew about Heidi’s real identity then who else remembered the baby the Van Allans buried?

  She frowned. “The worst kind. Only the worst could do something like that,” her voice was just above a whisper.

  “She’s the best person I know,” I blurted out suddenly needing Geraldine to know Heidi was nothing like her parents.

  “The way you love her is a testament of that. Tell me. What was it that they were displeased about to give the child away in such a deceptive way?”

  Stone trusted Geraldine. She obviously knew the Van Allans and had for a long time if she remembered Heidi’s birth. This was hopefully going to become my job. I’d be here for years to come with her.

  “Heidi has Down syndrome,” I said knowing eventually Geraldine would find out anyway.

  She nodded. “I should have guessed as much when you spoke about her before. That kind of beautiful soul quite often comes from such a child. I’m glad that the mother you loved so dearly was hers as well. Portia Van Allan is a,” she grimaced and said, “bad seed.”

  “She’s my mother’s sister,” I explained.

  Geraldine stared at me a moment before her expression softened. “Two sisters so completely opposite. The way I see it is God gave the world two beautiful girls and wanted them raised by a woman worthy for them to call mom. Heidi was meant to be with your mother. In your heart and Heidi’s, she always will be. No matter what the Van Allans choose to do or say.”

  She turned to make our tea and I stared at her back feeling some peace from her words. Geraldine was a unique lady. I wanted to get up and hug her and thank her for saying that. For listening to me. For giving me this job.

  She spun around with a surprised look on her face. “The Christmas tree delivery should be today! I haven’t even made the cider yet. Do you think we can string some popcorn next? I don’t want to have an empty tree. Victor will need to get the ornaments from the attic. I have antiques you know—my mother had beautiful ornaments that are hand blown. Exquisite I tell you. Glorious. You’ll have to handle them with care. But you’ll see,” she continued to ramble on as she left the tea forgotten on the counter and went to begin looking in the pantry for cider supplies.

  “We have nothing! I’m not ready for the holidays at all! Claudia will need to take me to town. What is a tree without the smell of cranberry tart in the oven?” she sounded panicked as she ran from the kitchen.

  I jumped up and went after her unsure of where she was going next.

  The large front door swung open, and Stone came walking in with a scowl on his face. He stopped short when he saw Geraldine coming his way in a hurry. “Oh Stone! You’re here. Good, good, you can get the ornaments. They’re in the attic where we packed them away last year. The tree will be here soon. Claudia is taking me to get the cider and cranberry tart supplies in town. We will be festive in no time! Just you wait and see!” She clapped her hands and did a little hop.

  Stone’s eyes lifted from her to me. “It seems it’s December,” he drawled.

  I nodded.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Yes. I’ve got it together now. I’m sorry I cracked.”

  He didn’t appear pleased by my response. “Jasper won’t be back. There will be no DNA testing.”

  The sigh I released gave me great comfort. “Thank you.”

  “When you’re ready to talk to him, let me know.”

  “Okay.”

  “Come on Claudia, dear, we’ve got to get to town,” Geraldine said as she spun in circles looking for something. “Where is the coat rack? I had one just there by the door. We can’t go out in that weather without our coats, scarves, and hats.” She was getting distressed again.

  “Gerry, it’s the end of July and ninety degrees out there. You don’t need a coat, nor do you need to go to town for cider.”

  She looked confused. “Oh. I guess I should tell Claudia,” she muttered and turned to walk away. When she turned into the library, Stone shifted his gaze to me. “Claudia passed away of cancer in 1983. She was her younger sister.”

  I glanced back at the door she’d disappeared into. “Will she remember that?” I asked him.

  “Not until she comes back around. I never remind her that Claudia and Victor are gone when she’s in that state. There’s no point. She remembers a happier time, one she misses.”

  AFTER ALL THAT HAD HAPPENED today, I’d almost forgotten about my eavesdropping when I shouldn’t have been that morning. Making up all the excuses in the world for why I stood there and listened to the fight between Presley, Stone and the Wesley guy was pointless. I knew the truth. I had wanted to understand Stone and Presley’s relationship. I’d expected more than what the actual truth was. I shouldn’t have been so nosey but I had to admit I was relieved.

  Thinking too much about why I was relieved was uncomfortable though. I didn’t want to do that. Jasper was
enough to keep me upset and awake at night. I didn’t need to add more to it. I could ignore the curiosity I had with Stone.

  Stone’s vehicle was parked outside but Presley’s was now gone. Knowing I was going to walk into the apartment without her there was nice. She made me tense. I imagined she made most people tense, men and women alike. The girl was over the top.

  As I made it to the second floor the door to the apartment there opened, and a tall, willowy brunette stepped out. She was everything you saw on the face of beauty and fashion ads, commercials, and billboards. Exotic, perfectly placed features was the only way to describe her face. She yawned as if she was just waking up at seven in the evening. The tiny shorts and crop top she was wearing were the kind you’d see on a runner. Her hair was pulled up high in a ponytail. The unique color of her green eyes focused on me and she paused.

  “Thanks,” she said and then propped her incredibly long leg up on the wall and began to stretch.

  “Excuse me?” I replied completely confused.

  She glanced at me then touched her nose to her knee. “I’m thanking you. You are Beulah Edwards correct?”

  I paused. Then nodded before realizing she wasn’t looking at me to see my response. “Yes,” I verbalized.

  She switched legs and continued the stretching. “You got the crazy bitch out of here. We all owe you thanks. I’m just giving you mine.”

  I didn’t know if this was Chantel or Fiona, but I knew they were the two that leased this apartment from Stone. I was good at remembering names. I’d just never met either of them. I’d also assumed they were friends with Presley the way she had talked about them the first day I arrived.

  “I didn’t do anything, it was Stone. They argued,” I explained deciding if it was rude to ask who she was since she obviously knew who I was.

  The girl dropped her leg and then began bending her waist with her hands over her head. This time looking directly at me. “They had arguments, fights, fucking loud ass screaming many times. But this is the first time she packed her shit and left. You’re here. That makes this your doing. Claim it as a victory. We all credit you.”

  I didn’t know who “all” referred to. I also didn’t have a thing to do with Presley’s leaving. Unless you take into account that she thought I was sleeping with Stone. But lots of women had slept with Stone. I shouldn’t have been the one that sent her packing. Especially since I had not, in fact, slept with Stone.

  The door behind her swung open and a familiar face that took me a moment to place appeared. “Do you have tampons?” she asked her gaze swinging from the girl to me. She straightened and took a step out the door as the recognition slowly came on her face. She pointed. “Jasper’s maid,” she said her eyes wide.

  “Jesus, Shay. Fucking rude,” the girl muttered. “This is the one who got rid of Presley.”

  Shay’s eyes began to smile as her mouth joined in. “No shit! I knew I liked you. Not that we talked very much. I had on no pants, it was early, and I was hungover and late for work. Great party though.”

  “Ignore my little sister. She’s not the best with words,” the girl tossed her ponytail back over her shoulder and gave me a bored look that I imagined made her money. “I’m Fiona. This is Shay my sister and a regular house crasher.”

  Shay rolled her eyes. “Not that I like crashing here. The two of you don’t eat actual food. I’d starve if it weren’t for Marty and Mack.”

  “Whatever. I need to run,” Fiona’s tone was slightly annoyed.

  “Why? Did you eat too many carrots today? God knows you need to run that shit off.”

  “Stop being a dick. Wouldn’t hurt you to get in a run. The cookies and chips you’ve been eating aren’t doing you any favors,” Fiona called out as she ran down the stairs.

  Shay flicked her middle finger up. “Skinny bitch!”

  I stayed paused. Unsure if it was polite to leave now.

  Shay smirked at me. “Same dad. Not the same mom. My mother was a farm girl from Virginia. Fiona’s mother, on the other hand, was an heiress from Spain. Our father likes them beautiful. And young. Once they hit thirty-five he shops for a new one. Anyway, that’s why she looks like that and I look like this,” she said waving her hand over her body. “Oh, and the cookies and chips. She’s right about those.”

  This world I was now involved in seemed to be overrun with fathers who married often and young. I was starting to understand more and more why my mother didn’t marry. She was smart.

  “I’d offer you food, but they seriously have nothing unless you consider kale, lemon, and quinoa food. And I haven’t got a clue how to cook that quinoa shit. But I was about to go down to Mack and Marty’s. They have the best snacks. Marty brings home fresh donuts from the place by the fire station he works at.”

  A fireman. Interesting. I hadn’t met Marty, but I had met Mack. If Marty was a fireman, then Mack had to do something that made money. I didn’t imagine a fireman could afford the lease on this place with his salary.

  “I ate before I left work, thank you. It was nice to see you again,” I replied.

  She nodded. “Yeah. Same. Thanks for getting rid of the bitch. She was insane. I don’t live here, but I’m here enough to dread seeing her. I caught her with Dan in his study one afternoon when I first started working for the Elswoods. I never said anything, but I haven’t been a fan of hers since. Claire isn’t the warmest or most likable woman on the earth or in a room of ten people, but no one deserves to be cheated on. I keep my distance from Dan,” she grinned. “Anyway, too much info I’m sure. Have a good night. I need to get sustenance before I pass out.”

  “Yeah you too,” I replied awkwardly as she jogged down the stairs toward the guy’s apartment.

  This place was like living in a television drama.

  I KNEW I COULD COME and go as I pleased at the apartment. It was my temporary home for now. It was difficult to get comfortable because it felt like I was intruding on Stone’s personal space. I decided I’d walk inside quietly and go to my room. After all, he needed to enjoy the peace he could with Presley gone.

  What I didn’t expect was for the place to smell like garlic, butter, and heaven as I stepped inside. Closing the door softly behind me, I glanced toward the kitchen and heard classic rock on the sound system and noise that could only mean someone was cooking. I wasn’t shocked that Stone could cook. Jasper had mentioned his culinary talent once. However, witnessing him doing something so domestic was surprising. As curious as I was, I wasn’t going to walk in there to see him in action for myself. He needed personal space, especially after the day he’d had.

  I turned and headed down the hallway just as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” started playing. I liked his taste in music. If the entire house was going to have this music playing, it was an enjoyable choice.

  As my hand touched the knob on the door and I was just about to turn it to make my escape into my room, his voice stopped me. “It’s rude not to say hello. Especially when someone is cooking dinner for you.”

  I released the door handle and glanced back at him. He was standing at the end of the hallway wearing a white apron tied around his waist, a black cotton short-sleeved shirt, and jeans. His tanned bare feet completed the image. My words faltered as I stared at him. He didn’t seem upset, and his expression wasn’t as dark as it normally was. The tension in his shoulders was absent. He was relaxed, and that was as out of place as it was attractive. Maybe attractive wasn’t a strong enough word. He was striking, breathtaking, much like Fiona had been in her running gear. The difference was my heart hadn’t stuttered at the sight of her. If it had, I might be in less of a predicament.

  “I didn’t know you were cooking for me. I thought . . . you were celebrating your peaceful house tonight.”

  His laugh was short and he sounded amused. “Oh, I am. But I don’t bother to cook pierogi for myself. That shit’s too damn hard.”

  I had no idea what pierogi was, but it smelled delicious. I’d made a tomato mozza
rella salad with grilled chicken for dinner at Geraldine’s. We’d sat on the back patio and enjoyed our meal while she told me stories of Stone and Jasper’s childhood. The happy kind of stories. The ones that made us laugh. She had also given me some ideas for Stone’s birthday.

  However, I wasn’t going to tell him I’d eaten. This week alone, Stone had helped me and saved me over and over again. I could eat a second dinner if that’s what he wanted. Heck, if he asked me to walk a tightrope from this building to the next I would have a hard time telling him no. I would of course tell him no because I had a recurring dream of falling from a tightrope to my death. The recurring dream started after watching a news report when I was a child about that exact thing happening to a lady at the local circus.

  “Thank you. I should be the one cooking you dinner though. You had a rough morning then you had to deal with the situation at Geraldine’s. I am causing problems for you. I don’t want to do that.”

  He wiped his right hand on the apron that hung on his waist. “Jasper is my best friend. I’ve been pulling him out of shit since we were kids. I’m the harder one. He’s emotional, and I’m not. Today wasn’t about you, it was about him. This . . . is about him,” Stone said staring at me. His gaze locked on mine. “Don’t feel as if you owe me anything. Except to eat the meal I slaved over.” He finished his last sentence with a softer almost teasing lilt to his voice.

  I didn’t want to think about the seriousness of his words. I’d come to expect Stone’s brutal honesty. But allowing myself to give in to his attractive qualities—the way his eyes lit when he smiled, or the security I felt with him—was dangerous. He was protecting Jasper. Believing any of this was for me would only hurt me in the end.

  Right now, I was weak, broken, and my heart was longing for a way to heal. Stone was not offering open arms nor should I be leaning his direction for sympathy. Even if this was all for Jasper, I was thankful for his help and I owed him my gratitude. Eating dinner twice was a small price to pay.