Winter

by Michelle Love

  Or the Sakura apartment, she thought with a grim smile. Olly pulled on his sweater and stood staring at her.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Inca pulled in a deep breath. “I’m fine. Look, Olly, like I said, I came over to apologize for last night. I should never have taken it out on you.”

  “Ssh.” He was suddenly beside her, his hand brushing away the hair that fell over her face, his mouth against her cheek. “I said, no need to apologize.”

  She was about to protest, but something in his eyes made her stop. A blankness.

  She changed the subject. “I hope I’m not interfering with your day.”

  “Quite the opposite.” He stood, reached for his sweater, and put it on, looking at her reflection in the mirror. “I was going to call you. How about hanging out with me for the day?”

  She swallowed. He bought the apartment; he bought the apartment. Anger and confusion were starting to replace the shock. Her eyes narrowed, but she kept her voice steady.

  “I can’t today, Olly. I have to work. Maybe some other time. I have to go.”

  She moved toward the door, but he stopped her, his face confused. “What’s wrong?”

  She made her smile neutral. “Nothing. I’ll see you later.”

  The tightness in her chest didn’t ease as she drove to work. She parked the car outside of the Sakura and sat for a while, trying to digest what she’d found. Olly had bought the apartment. An investment? She rubbed at her eyes, a headache starting to pound at the back of her head. She slid out of the car and went into work.

  This early, the Sakura was silent and dark. She stood for a while in the quiet, trying not see the bloodstains in the backroom or the police tape littered everywhere. For a moment, her chest felt tight, and she struggled to compose herself.

  Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

  She went to the sink and grabbed a bucket, filling it with soapy water. She cleaned the floor, a few tears escaping as she cleaned her friend’s blood from the floor.

  Oh, Scarlett, I’m sorry.

  After a couple of hours, Inca finished cleaning, went to pull the shades up, and unlocked the front door, moving around on auto-pilot. She flicked the coffee machines on, listening to their rhythmic hum, staring into the gloom of the teahouse. To distract herself, she thought again about the apartment above her head. Why the hell had Olly not told her he bought the place—and why hadn’t he moved in? The date of the letter threw her. Hadn’t she told him then that she wanted to buy it? An idea started to form in her mind, and she smiled grimly to herself.

  “Hey.” The sound of Luna’s stilted greeting made her turn. Her friend looked at her warily as she emerged from the backroom. Inca’s eyes filled with tears and she went to her friend.

  “I’m sorry about yesterday, truly.”

  Luna’s body slumped in relief. “Me too. I’m sorry I was such a bitch. I’m just worried about you and about Olly. My head’s a mess.”

  Inca laughed through her tears. “Right back at you.” She held onto Luna for a few moments. “Don’t let’s lose each other, okay?” She felt Luna nod and pulled back to smile at her. “And I promise, I will be more accepting.” She hated lying to Luna, but there was no reason to drag her into this thing with Olly.

  Luna wiped her own wet eyes with the back of her hand. “Sounds good to me. Look, I came to offer my services because … you know.”

  Inca smiled at her gratefully. “Thank you, babe. I appreciate it.”

  There was a knock at the teahouse door—customers waiting for their morning dose of caffeine. Inca went to let them in while Luna put her apron on. They dealt with the customers and got on with their day, the tension between them gone.

  As she worked, Inca again went through every reason why Olly would have bought the apartment. He certainly didn’t have the money, she knew, to offer the outrageous price that had knocked her out of the running. So how? Why?

  The idea came to her later in the morning, and she pulled Luna aside.

  “My head is about to split open. Mind if I step out for a half hour?”

  Inca went to the kitchen, pulling out the drawers until she found the flattest knife she could. Upstairs, she pressed her ear to the door to the apartment, listening for any movement inside. She knocked quietly, then, when there was no answer, she slid the knife into the gap between the door and the jamb, wiggling it to ease the lock open. She grinned to herself, wondering if Raff and Tommaso would be impressed by her lock picking skills.

  You can take the girl out of the trailer park … Inca smiled as the door popped open. She closed it behind her and padded slightly around the dark apartment. The drapes were closed, and she flicked the overhead light on. The apartment was dusty but tidy, almost too still. There was no furniture, no personal touches. Not lived in. She breathed in the smell of the place—there was a tang of abandonment in the air. She shook her head. If Olly had bought the apartment, why was he still living at his old place?

  Anger was starting to build in her. She moved about the apartment looking for anything she could use, anything that would tell her more about the man she thought she had known all her life, that would explain why he would have done this to her.

  Later, after a decent interval, she made her way back down to the coffeehouse. As she went out to the counter, she heard Tyler and Luna laughing. She smiled as she saw them, but as she moved close, Tyler moved to hug her, and she saw, seated behind him, watching her with careful, intense eyes, Olly. His eyes bored into hers, the slight smile on his face mocking.

  He knows you saw the papers.

  The thrill of adrenaline that coursed through her body and made her stomach drop was almost painful. She looked away from his gaze.

  “What are you kids joking around for?” she asked lightly, forcing herself to smile.

  Tyler nodded to Olly.

  “Olly’s been telling us about the surprise he’s got planned for you. Well, I say telling us, but he won’t let on what it is and Luna’s been trying to get it out of him.”

  Inca kept her face neutral as she looked at Olly. “Oh?”

  He nodded. “Good news. My lovely sister,” he nodded at a still smiling Luna, “has offered to cover your shift this afternoon, so you are free after all. Isn’t that great?”

  Inca’s heart sank. Tyler and Luna were looking at her expectantly. She tried to smile. “I suppose. I’ll get my stuff.”

  In the backroom, she took her time gathering her coat and purse. Luna followed her in a second later, frowning slightly.

  “Hey, it was all right to say yes to him, wasn’t it?”

  Inca laughed softly. “It’s fine.”

  Luna stared at her. “What’s wrong?”

  Inca hesitated then shook her head. “Nothing. Look, I need to call Tommaso. Can you give me a minute?”

  “Of course.”

  She called Tommaso and told him that she was spending time with Olly; Tommaso, to his credit, told her to have a great time. “I can’t be selfish with you now that I know we’ll be together in Italy soon.”

  Inca smiled. “I love you, Tommaso.”

  “And I love you. Call me later, Principessa.”

  Inca followed Olly out to his car and waited as he slid into the driver’s side and started the car. He turned the car towards the harbor and drove straight to the ferry terminal.

  “So where are we going?” She swallowed as her voice cracked. Olly didn’t notice.

  “Oh, no. I’m kidnapping you.” Olly grinned. “It’s a surprise.”

  She stared at him for a long moment, then tried to smile. “As all good kidnappings should be.”

  He laughed. “Exactly. You’re a very cooperative abductee.” He held out his hand and, reluctantly, she took it. He smiled widely. “Inca, I promise you, this will take your mind off everything.”

  On the mainland, Inca stared out of the window as Olly drove south of the city. Olly had chatted enthusiastically for a while but sensing her mood, he had lapsed int
o silence. She felt him glance over at her every few minutes, curious, wondering. She gazed out at the rain which was making everything hazy, the road slick, the sky dark.

  “Are you okay?” His voice broke through her reverie.

  “I’m fine.”

  Olly abruptly pulled the car onto the off ramp and onto a road Inca didn’t recognize. On the side of the road she started to see a few kids from one of the reservations.

  Olly put his hand on hers. “We’re almost there. I’ll let you in on the secret soon.” He laughed, his face open and friendly. He turned onto a small mud road. The car wound up a hill; the pines became denser, thicker as they climbed. The forest blocked out the light, the trees curving over the road. After a mile or so, Olly pointed. “Inca, look there.”

  There was a clearing in the trees to the left of them. Olly brought the car to a stop and they got out. Surrounded on three sides by the forest, the clearing fell away at a cliff at the far side. The view stretched for miles over lush, verdant pine forest; at the horizon, Inca could see the cobalt of Puget Sound, dark patches of the islands scattered across it. The low winter sun cast golden glints off the water. The Olympic mountain range rose out of the west. Inca turned to Olly, smiling but confused.

  “Olly, it’s beautiful. But I don’t understand …”

  He smiled and nodded behind them. “Look there.” He pointed into the trees and she turned to look. A house, a large Richardsonian-Romanesque style building, stood out against the dark green of the forest.

  No, not a house, a mansion, Inca thought. A behemoth.

  “I thought you might appreciate the architecture … have you ever seen something like this here?”

  She shook her head, staying silent. The windows of the house were blank and dark and she shivered. It wasn’t a welcoming home; it was a statement. Incongruous in this landscape, it simply didn’t fit in this beautiful natural place. She looked at Olly’s face and read the pride and excitement in his expression—and something else. Triumph.

  Inca frowned, confused. “Olly, I—”

  “So, do you like it?”

  No.

  But she nodded, smiling slightly, and he beamed.

  “Good. Because I bought it.”

  She turned and looked at him, studying his face. After a moment, teeth gritted, her voice hard, she asked him the question she’d been holding back.

  “So you didn’t want to buy anything in Willowbrook? Nothing there that caught your eye?”

  “What do you think?”

  She felt a ball of tension lodge in her chest as he stared at her, his eyes searching but a mocking smile on his face.

  “You’re right.” She made her tone soothing.

  Keep him sweet.

  She had no idea where that idea had come from, but suddenly she knew it was the right thing to do.

  He pulled her into his arms, surprising her. She resisted for a moment, and his grip tightened. His gaze was intense as he gazed down at her. “It’s a new start, Inca. A new start for you and me. It’s our new home.”

  Inca stared at him, her heart thumping unpleasantly against her chest. “Olly … I don’t understand.” She pulled away from his embrace and moved away from him, putting distance between them. She studied his face. He was smiling, and his expression was victorious.

  Inca felt irritation flood through her. “What do you mean for ‘us’? Olly … we’re not … I live in Willowbrook, Olly. I have a home.”

  “I know that.” He reached for her hand. “But it’s time we planned for our future. Come on. I’ll show you around.” He started towards the house, his hand gripping hers so that she was forced to follow him. “I got it for a steal, as well. For some reason, it had been on the market for over a year.”

  She pulled her hand away from his. “Olly, stop. What do you think you’re doing?”

  He turned, and the expression on his face made her heart stop. Anger.

  “Inca, don’t spoil this.” He stepped towards her, and she felt her breath quicken. He towered over her, his hand on her arm, fingers biting into her skin. Inca stared up at him, searching his expression. She was alone with this man and no one, noone, knew where they were.

  She could feel her skin start to prickle, her legs like cotton wool. His grip was too tight, fingers pressing deep into her skin, bruising, constricting the blood flow. Her hand started to numb. She tried to pull away, but Olly’s hold was unyielding. Trapped.

  “Olly … please …” Her voice broke.

  He put his finger over her mouth and smiled, but his eyes were that flat gray steel again. “Just listen. You need somewhere to go, away from the town, away from Winter.” Olly spat his name. “Being around him is destroying you; I can see that. Everyone can see that.” He cupped her chin with his fingers. “This is what’s best for you, Inca. Somewhere you can get away from him. Where I can look after you.”

  She could feel icy needles of fear creeping up her spine. “Olly, I’d like you to take me home, please.” Her voice broke and faded. He stepped toward her, seeming to grow bigger, stronger. His eyes were locked on hers.

  Even if you run, you won’t stand a chance.

  Inca swallowed, not taking her eyes from him.

  “Olly … please. I want to go.”

  He laughed and took her hand. “Later. We’ve only just arrived.” He unlocked the front door and pulled her into the house. “You know, for what it’s worth, Nancy and Tyler agree with me; they think you should get some distance from Winter too. Clear your head. Isn’t that what you wanted?” He didn’t wait for an answer and, heart thudding, Inca stepped into the house after him.

  The entire inside was painted white. Everything.

  Inca swallowed. For some reason, the starkness of the décor scared her and made her uneasy. The outside walls were dark, stone and wood, giving no clue to this blankness inside. Olly was talking, leading her around the place. There was very little furniture, the few pieces there were, were covered in white sheets. Inca started to feel disconnected to the world outside.

  She walked to one of the windows and looked out at the view. The windows felt thick and unbreakable; the view seemed a long way away as if she were looking at it through a telescope even though the perspective was all wrong.

  “Inca? I thought you wanted to get away—after all, that’s what you told Luna, isn’t it? That’s why you were looking at apartments in the city—you remember when you were attacked? Reminds me, did Tommaso ever explain himself about that?”

  She gaped at him. “What has Tommaso got anything to do with that? It happened before I even met him.”

  Olly rolled his eyes. “You really are blinkered when it comes to that waste of space, you know? Anyway,” he interrupted whatever she was about to say. “Let’s go upstairs. I want to show you the master bedroom.”

  He made her walk up the stairs in front of him, motioning to a door to the left of the staircase. The master bedroom was huge, with a dressing room and walk in closet, an ensuite bathroom, and a bed. A huge bed, made up with white sheets, white pillows. And on the nightstand, a picture frame. Inca walked over and picked it up. A photo of her, smiling, looking away from the camera. She recognized the photo; it had been taken by Nancy on her last birthday.

  “You took this from my home?” She held up the frame, her eyes filling with tears. Olly smiled, seeming oblivious to her distress.

  “Just to help make it homey. Hey, look at this.” He walked out of the room to another down the long hallway. He threw open the door—another white, blank room. He wrapped his arms around her, tightening his hold as she tried to pull away. “And next door, Inca, don’t you think, it’s the perfect space for a nursery? For when we have kids.”

  Inca wriggled violently out of his embrace, trembling so badly she stumbled a little as she pushed her way out into the hallway. Olly caught her up, grabbing her arm and turning her to face him. His expression was confused.

  “Inca, what’s wrong?”

  Inca felt anger
roil up inside her. “Olly … are you kidding me? You’re talking as if we’re together … I’m not moving here, Olly. I’m not moving in with you.” She started down the stairs but Olly grabbed her arm.

  “Why do you always have to do this? I try to do something nice for us and …”

  “Olly, you’re hurting me.”

  “I don’t care. I want to know what your problem is.”

  She twisted her arm from his grip and turned to face him. “My problem is you, Olly, telling me how to live my life, buying a freaking house ‘for us to live in.' We are not a couple anymore, Olly; do you understand that?”

  His face twisted in anger. “I understand that you can’t make up your mind, but I won’t wait forever, Inca. Either you want this, or you don’t.”

  She shook her head. “Fuck you, Olly. You were the one who ended things between us. You. And now, I am grateful for it because this is crazy. You are out of your mind.”

  “I’m out of my mind? Me? I’m not the one fucking two brothers, Inca.” His voice was granite. She swallowed the shame, flushing. Luna had told him—was that the reason for this insanity?

  “It’s none of your business who I fuck.” Her voice was bitter now. “I’m just glad it’s no longer you.” Her voice shook on the word, and she clenched her fists up to calm herself. “God, is this why you bought the Sakura apartment out from under me? To leave me homeless so I would have no choice but to move in with you?”

  He smiled. “You found out.”

  She wanted to slap the grin off his smug face. “Who are you, Olly? You are not the man I’ve known my whole life. Who the fuck are you?”

  Olly moved so quickly she didn’t have time to react. He pulled her into his arms, holding her as she struggled, grinding his mouth onto hers. Inca was breathless, and terrified. Olly scooped her into his arms and carried her back to the master bedroom. He dropped her onto the vast bed and as she struggled against him, he put his whole weight on top of her, kissing her with a ferocity she found terrifying. It was only when he stood and started to unbuckle his belt that she could move.

  Inca rolled to the other side of the bed, kicking his hand away when he reached for her leg. She managed to get off the bed and tried to sprint for the door but he caught her. Petrified, she waited for his next assault.