Beautiful Liar

by Natasha Knight

  “What?”

  “I guess it’s a good thing, ultimately. But that poor kid. How do you recover from hearing that your mother and father abandoned you? Even if it is the one unselfish thing Dinah or Nick did in their entire lives.”

  “Oh, God, Slater. I’m sorry.”

  “She gave me full custody of her.”

  “But—” I didn’t need to finish. He knew where I was headed.

  “The birth certificate states me as the father. Nick never made any public claims. Bright Futures is very conservative. He’d have lost everything, like me, if he had. And now, he’s lost everything anyway.”

  “He’s a bastard. And I feel sorry for Mel. But you’ll be better for her, Slater. You love her.”

  “I know. I’m just not sure how I’m going to explain it all to her. How are you and your sister doing? How’s Sadie?”

  I almost didn’t tell him about Bill, but then I did. Just told him everything, about how he’d shown up at the house, how he’d threatened Janey. How Zeus had tackled him. “She’s talking to the detectives in a couple of hours. She’s telling them everything. He’ll be extradited back to Pennsylvania to stand trial. Sheriff’s got him locked up tight.”

  “I should have been there to protect you both.”

  “You have so much going on. And we’re safe now. We’re good, actually.”

  “I don’t know when I’ll be able to come back.”

  “I understand.”

  “I miss you. I miss you so much.”

  “Me, too, Slater. But you need to take care of Mel right now. She needs you.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you.”

  The rest of the day passed, although the shop was busier than normal. Customers came and went, some giving me looks, some not noticing a thing, but either way, I found it didn’t matter. I didn’t care. I had everything I wanted. My sister was finally free of this darkness hanging over her head, over my head. I had Slater. I knew things would be hard with Mel, that she’d hurt, but I also knew that in the long run, it was good. Mel would be with Slater, who would give her love, give her everything she would need to have the best possible chance at life. They’d get through it together.

  We all would.

  AMELIA BROUGHT MEL home at the end of the day. She hadn’t taken her to preschool. We’d seen on the news how the reporters had already dotted the perimeter of the small school and had decided to keep her away. Amelia had taken her to her sister’s house instead. Her sister lived in a small apartment in the city, where she and Mel had spent the day out of the prying eyes of the media.

  I walked out to the garage and waved to them as Amelia parked her car beside Dinah’s abandoned SUV.

  “Hey, honey,” I said as I helped her unbuckle the seat belt. She smiled but searched my face, her eyes shadowed.

  “Hi, Uncle Slater. Is mommy home?”

  I noticed again, like I had since the first day I arrived, that she never asked about Nick.

  Amelia met my gaze. “Why don’t I start on dinner? We’ve only had junk food all day, haven’t we, Melody?”

  “Two bowls of ice cream for lunch!”

  I hugged her. “Is that right? How about two bowls of broccoli to counter the effect?” I teased, tickling her belly.

  “Blech.”

  I helped her out of the car. “Let’s go inside. I want to talk to you about something.”

  I knew where Nick and Dinah had gone. Or I suspected. Nick was a smart guy. He’d probably had passports made with new identities months, if not years, ago. Did he have one for Mel too? How had they left her behind? Had that always been their intention? How grateful was I that they had?

  Nick had stolen from my family’s charity. All the years of work, the lifetimes, and he’d destroyed it. All of it. Three generations devoted to a cause we Vaughns had believed in, now lay in a heap of rubble. Nick had all but taken a wrecking ball to it.

  It may have been selfish, not to mention illegal, for me to keep the information of his whereabouts to myself, but Mel’s well-being came first. He deserved to be punished, but I knew if the FBI ever found him, it would hurt Mel the most. I didn’t care about the FBI’s investigation, and I wasn’t protecting Nick or Dinah. Mel simply came first.

  “She wasn’t at a dinner, was she?” Mel asked, so intuitive, so wise.

  I settled next to her on the living-room couch.

  “No, honey, she wasn’t.”

  “Those men last night, who were they?”

  I took her little hands in mine and faced her. I’d practiced what I’d say all day, but how in the hell was I going to do this? How was I going to tell her her mother and father were probably not coming back? Or that if they did, they wouldn’t be coming home?

  “I want to be real honest with you here, kiddo. You’re a smart girl, and I owe you that.”

  She waited.

  “Those men last night were from the FBI. Do you know what that is?”

  “Like the police?”

  “Something like that. They need to talk to your dad about a few things, but your dad didn’t really want to talk to them.”

  She sat there silent, listening.

  “Your mom and dad left for a little while, but your mom asked if I could take care of you while they’re gone.”

  “They left?”

  I nodded.

  “They didn’t say good-bye.” Her big eyes filled with tears. Tears that broke my heart.

  “I don’t think they could,” I said, covering for them. Willing to do anything to make the hurt less.

  “Are they in trouble?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “How long do you think they’ll be gone?”

  “I don’t have an answer for that one either.”

  She pulled her hands back and looked at them on her lap. I watched her. She was so small, so vulnerable, just a child. How could they have done this to her?

  “I’m sorry, Mel. I’m so sorry.”

  The tears that had filled her eyes overflowed as she shifted her gaze to mine, and, before I could say anything, she threw her arms around my neck and cried quietly as I held her, crying too.

  “You’re going to be okay, baby. I’m going to take care of you.”

  “You’re not going to leave too?”

  “I promise I’m not. I cross my heart never, ever to leave you alone.”

  The next six days felt like the longest of my life. More meetings with the FBI, more agents searching through the house, tearing the place apart, until, one day, when they went through Mel’s room, an agent returned with a thumb drive.

  “Found it in a box of LEGO stuffed on the top shelf of her closet,” he said to Johnson, who always seemed to be there.

  Johnson took it. “Let’s get a laptop in here.”

  “On it,” another agent called out. He returned a few moments later with one.

  Johnson plugged the drive in. I wasn’t allowed in the living room but I watched from the kitchen where I sipped some coffee. Amelia had taken Mel away again. Something had to give.

  “Gotcha, Carlton.”

  And it sounded like it just did.

  Johnson handed the laptop over to one of his agents and dialed someone on his cell phone. I couldn’t hear what he said, but a few moments later when he finished, he walked toward me with a big grin on his face.

  “We need to lockdown the house, Mr. Vaughn. Take the little girl and go. Just make sure you leave a forwarding address. We may need to talk to you again.”

  “How long?”

  “Not sure yet.”

  “What did you find?”

  “I’m not at liberty to say. All I will say is that we are no longer seeking Mr. Carlton as a person of interest. An arrest warrant is being issued as we speak. A matching one for Mrs. Carlton. Your ex, I believe.”

  Fuck. Dinah was involved in whatever Nick had going on? “The charity, how will that be affected?”

  He shook his head. “It won’t survive, not thi
s time.”

  “My grandfather started that.”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Vaughn.” He started to walk away. “We’ll need you cleared out within the hour.

  “Can I at least pack up some things for Mel?”

  “Afraid not. Her room’s off-limits.” As he said it, men walked in carrying heavy equipment.

  “What the hell?”

  He came back toward me. “Look, you need to go. Trust me; you don’t want to be here. You don’t want to be a part of this. And you don’t want that little girl to see us tear this place apart.”

  I nodded, grabbed my coat and cell phone, and dialed Amelia. She answered right away.

  “Slater? What is it?”

  “FBI just seized the house. I’m coming to get Mel. I’m taking her to Bandon with me for a while until the dust settles and we see who and what is left standing. You’re welcome to come with us.”

  “Jesus. I don’t even know what to say.”

  “I’m on my way. Will you pack a bag for Mel? Is there anything to pack?”

  “She has pajamas and a change of clothes. A few books and toys, and I’ll give you her car seat from my car.”

  “All right, I’ll buy her what she needs once we’re out there. What about you? Will you come?”

  She sighed heavily. “I’m too old for this, Slater. My sister too. I think I’ll spend some time with her, at least a few weeks. Maybe then.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’ll talk it up, okay? Tell her you’re taking her on a vacation.”

  “She’s a smart girl. Hope she buys it.”

  “She won’t, but we can try. She doesn’t deserve to go through this.”

  “I know.” I shook my head. “Believe me, I know.”

  We hung up, and I called the airline to book the next flight to Bandon for two. It wouldn’t leave for a few hours, but I’d go get Mel and head to the airport anyway. I then called MacKayla.

  “Well, FBI found something they were apparently looking for,” I said when she picked up. “Looks like Mel and I will be flying to Bandon in a few hours.”

  “Oh! That’s great!” She paused, “God, I feel so selfish! How is she?”

  “I haven’t told her yet. I’m on my way to pick her up now.”

  “What time do you get in?”

  “Around dinnertime.”

  “You want to eat with us?”

  “I’m thinking she’s going to be pretty tired, and the change is going to take some time. I’ll pass tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”

  “Okay.”

  She sounded deflated, but I knew she understood.

  “I’ll get your house stocked with fresh groceries. I’ll take Sadie with me to pick out her favorites.”

  I smiled, glad I’d left my keys with her in case she had needed anything. “Thanks, MacKayla.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Mel slept for part of the flight. She lay her head on my lap and just slept, clutching her little teddy bear, Bear Bear. Amelia had stuffed her backpack with toys and snacks, but all she did from the moment I picked her up was hold that little bear to her chest. It was her first stuffed animal. Dinah and I had bought it for her before she was even born. She’d had it all her life. The ears were worn, the eyes dulled, and most of his stuffing had settled in his bottom, but she loved him. Never left home without it, as far as I remembered.

  We flew via Portland International and landed in North Bend’s regional airport late in the evening. Leaving my motorcycle at the airport, I rented a car and drove us home, a very tired Mel in the backseat, trying her hardest to keep her eyes open.

  “I left Bear Bear at the library once,” she said after twenty minutes of silence.

  “You did?”

  “Yep. After story time. I had so many books to carry and forgot to go back and get him. Amelia called them, though, and the lady at the desk said she’d take him home with her to spend the night. She said she’d give him dinner too, which is silly, since he can’t eat.”

  I smiled.

  “Where do you live, Uncle Slater?”

  “Just another half hour from here in a place called Bandon in Oregon. We’re all the way on the other side of the country now.”

  “Wow. I’m excited to see your house.”

  “Well, there’s a little girl next door who’s about two years old. Her name is Sadie.”

  “Two? She’s little. I’ll probably have to babysit her.”

  Her expression in the rearview mirror told me how serious she was. I had to smile. “Probably.”

  It got quiet again, and by the time I pulled into the driveway, Mel was out, her little head resting on the side of her car seat. MacKayla’s lights were on. Her front door opened as soon as we arrived. I got out. She came to me and, without a single word, melted into me, holding me, letting me hold her.

  She sighed a big sigh, and we pulled back.

  “Welcome home.”

  I smiled and leaned down to kiss her. “It’s good to be home.”

  Home.

  “She’s sleeping?” MacKayla said as she peeked into the backseat.

  “Has been for about twenty minutes. I’ll let her sleep in my bed. I didn’t make the guest room up.”

  “We did. Come on, I’ll give you a hand.”

  I lifted Mel out of the backseat, managing not to wake her, and followed MacKayla into the house and up the stairs. She’d not only made up the guest room, but she’d apparently bought some books from the store too. She pulled back the purple comforter to reveal a hot-pink pillow and soft pink sheets.

  “I wasn’t sure if she preferred pink or purple,” she whispered.

  “Thank you.” I lay Mel down and slipped off her shoes, then tucked her into bed and kissed her forehead. When I left the room, I heard MacKayla at the bottom of the stairs. I followed.

  “Your refrigerator is stocked, and if you want, you can come over for pancakes in the morning. Only if she’s up for it, though.” She made her way to the door. “I’ll go.”

  I reached out and touched a handful of her hair, letting the silky wisps run through my fingers. I shook my head and tugged her closer to me. “Stay.” I kissed her. I meant for it to be softer, I meant to be gentle, but when our lips connected, when I felt hers open to me, felt her surrender, her need, I couldn’t be gentle. I needed her. I needed to be inside her, to hold her, crush her against me. I needed to fuck her. I tore at her shirt, buttons flying through the living room as I pulled it apart while her hands worked to free my button-down from my jeans. In a frenzy, I walked us backward to the couch, grateful she’d worn a skirt as I tore her panties from her. She abandoned my shirt and undid my belt instead, gripping my cock in her hand as I shoved her backward and pushed her legs apart, taking one moment to look down at her, her face, her partially exposed breasts, her spread legs, her cunt pink and wet and inviting.

  I thrust hard inside her, knowing I should prepare her to take me, but unable to wait, wanting this—needing it—too badly.

  “Fuck.”

  Nails dug into the back of my neck as I lifted her hips, adjusting her position to better fuck her, take more of her, bury myself inside her.

  “I’m not going to last long,” I said, pumping hard and fast, feeling the beginnings of her cunt tightening around my cock just before she squeezed her thighs around me and made that sound she made when she came, one I’d memorized.

  “Slater,” she whispered. Her walls throbbed around my cock, squeezing it tighter, harder, sucking me deeper inside her until I exploded, my eyes closing while I filled her, my mouth claiming hers as I emptied, finally, and we lay on the sofa, holding each other, clutching each other, unwilling to separate.

  HAVING A TODDLER in the house meant I woke up early even on days I didn’t have to work, but I didn’t mind. I loved having little Sadie around, and this morning, the one following Slater and Mel’s return, Sadie’s excitement was contagious.

  “Now?”

  She asked for what had to
be the twentieth time. She kept opening the front door to peek across at Slater’s house.

  I flipped a pancake onto the already tall stack. Honestly, I had one eye on his house too. “She might be too tired to come for pancakes, but if she is, we’ll see them later, okay?”

  Sadie ignored me and checked again until finally, she let out an excited scream with a big smile.

  I wiped my hands and looked outside to see Slater walking over with Mel’s hand in his. The little girl looked cautious, curious. I couldn’t imagine what was going on inside her head.

  “Mommy!” Sadie called up the stairs, jumping up and down.

  Slater had a big smile on his face as they climbed the porch stairs and he saw, and heard, Sadie. Sadie stared at Mel, and she stared at Sadie.

  “Well, hey there, Sadie,” Slater said. “It’s nice to see you again.”

  “Hi.” She didn’t spare him a glance but walked straight to Mel. “I’m Sadie.”

  I stood behind her and watched Mel glance up at Slater before returning her attention to Sadie.

  “Hi, Sadie, I’m Melody. You can call me Mel.”

  “Mel,” Sadie repeated with a proud smile.

  “Come in. We made pancakes,” I said.

  Slater and Mel walked inside. “How many did you think we’d eat?” Slater asked when he saw the stacks on the counter.

  I shrugged. “Sadie and I didn’t want to run out.” Truly, Sadie had insisted on stacks upon stacks, and I’d found it sweet, so I gave in. Janey had given me a look too, but I ignored it.

  “Mel, this is my…girlfriend, MacKayla. People call her Mac.”

  Slater and I locked eyes. I bit my lip and shifted my gaze to smile at the little girl.

  “Hi, Mel. It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot of wonderful things about you.”

  “Hi, Mac. It’s nice to meet you.”

  Sadie walked over with a pancake clutched in both hands, a little syrup on her chin. “Here.” She held it out to Mel.

  Mel looked up at Slater, and I would have sworn she raised an eyebrow. “Maybe we should get a plate,” she said, letting go of Slater’s hand and taking Sadie’s wrist to lead her back to the kitchen.

  “Sadie’s real excited,” I said.