by Autumn Skye
“Don’t be like that, Danni. Let’s all have a drink and you can tell me what you’ve been up to since you’ve been away.”
“Thanks. I wish we could, but Lily and I were just leaving,” I said.
“Off to spend more of Jared’s money?” she baited me, letting her true agenda shine.
“What if I am? It’s my money now and if you feel the need to run to him and tell him I’m in town, you go right ahead. I doubt he’ll care. He’s too busy trying to keep up with his mistress.”
“You’re wrong about that. He misses you.” She gave me an expectant look, as if she thought I’d ditch Lily and go running off to find my ex at the first hint that he might take me back. Maybe that’s what a gold digger would do, run back to the money.
“I can’t say the same about him. I’m sorry. Anyway, Lily and I are leaving.”
“Yes, so you said. Going home to cuddle?”
“I meant we’re leaving town. We’re only here for two days.”
“Why bother coming home at all, in that case?”
“I can come and go as I please. You don’t own this town, Marissa.”
“No, but Jared does. He really does, when you stop to think about it. How many people does he employ here? I can’t imagine you have many friends left in this city. You might be better off selling the house and making a fresh start somewhere else. I’m just saying.”
“And I’m just saying that you’re a nosy cunt.”
“Wow, you never had a lot of class, did you, Danni?”
“I never pretended to,” I shrugged. “Are you ready to go, Lily?”
It was a question that didn’t need answering. Her face was so red I could feel the burn. She appeared not just uncomfortable, but horrified. She looked like a girl who’d never witnessed a real confrontation in her life, not even pig tail pulling in grade school. I gave Marissa a smoldering glare and led Lily away. We drove half the way home in complete silence.
Finally, I had to ask. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, but was all that necessary? Couldn’t you have just walked away?”
“And miss the opportunity to call Marissa a cunt to her face? No, I’ve wanted to do that for years.”
“You mean that actually made you feel better?”
“Yes,” I said stubbornly. I caught her expression out of the corner of my eye. She wasn’t buying it. “All right, no. I don’t feel better. The whole scene made my stomach queasy, to be honest. Next time I’ll walk away, or I’ll be smart and get out of this town before the next time. It was stupid of me to bring you here.”
“It’s home for you.”
“Not anymore.”
“I don’t get it. Why does that woman hate you so much?”
“I broke away from the pack. You should understand.”
“But like I was saying before, my mother still calls me. In her own, smothering, strange way, she loves me.”
“Marissa isn’t my mother. She’s a-a
“Cunt?”
“See how it rolls off the tongue? It really is the perfect word to describe her.”
“You don’t take a lot of shit, do you, Danielle?”
“I used to. My fuse is much shorter these days. I could do to take more shit. You, however, could learn to take less. Maybe we can balance each other out. You do have a calming effect on me.”
“I’m flattered,” she chuckled, breaking the tension.
“You should be. No one else has ever done that for me. That’s why I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep you around.”
“If you’re referring to the full-time job offer, I’ve had enough serious talk for one evening.”
“When I get you home I’ll see if I can find a way to lift the mood,” I said.
Of course, that was easy. There was nothing she couldn’t make me forget about with the promise of falling into her arms and exploring her amazing body yet again. I never tired of her. We went into the kitchen to make drinks, but never got the chance. She hopped up on the island and I stood between her legs which dangled over the side, letting her nuzzle my neck with her moist lips as I ardently tugged at the straps of her dress until her breasts popped free. Already, I could feel her body trembling as I sucked one of her nipples into my mouth. For however much she hesitated, it was clear she craved my touch as much as I did hers. It was plain to see. Her eyes were practically glazed over with lust as she looked at me.
“Fooling around is all we seem to do these days,” she said.
“Are you complaining?”
“No, not in the least,” she giggled. “I just thought maybe we should grab the bottle of wine and head on up to bed.”
“That’s a plan I can get on board with,” I said.
“I figured you might.”
And that’s how the evening should have ended, with us going upstairs, sharing a bottle of wine, and making love until dawn. There was only one person who could have ruined that night. Unfortunately, I hadn’t heard him come in. There was no reason I should have listened for him. He didn’t live there anymore, but there he was, standing right behind me. The shocked expression on Lily’s face as she hurriedly pulled the straps of her dress back into place and her gasp of shock told me it was him even before I heard his hateful voice.
“Isn’t this too fucking cute?”
I whirled around to face him. I was more than thrown off guard. I was scared, because he didn’t live here anymore and that made him an intruder. He’d gone over the edge to just waltz in here as if he still owned the place. I didn’t let my unease show, though. That was the worst way to handle Jared. If he thought for a second he had the advantage he’d use it and bully his way over me.
“What are doing here?” I asked in a manner that suggested I was already bored as well as disgusted by whatever he had to say.
“I got a phone call from Brandon.”
Brandon was Marissa’s husband. “There’s a big surprise. That didn’t take long at all.”
“This is the new love, the one you’re running around town with, making a fool out of both you and me?” He nodded at Lily. “What’s your name?”
“This is my friend, Lily, not that it should matter to you. I’m not your wife anymore. Nothing I do is any reflection on you. Anything that suggest otherwise is only inside your narcissistic head. And speaking of making a fool of yourself, how’s Katie?”
“You’re going to blame me for this, Danni? This is your idea of getting even, flaunting whatever this is in my face?”
“Again, with the narcissism. Not everything I do is about you. In fact, nothing I do is about you. I have divorce papers to prove it.”
“You also still have my last name.”
“I’m considering changing it back to my maiden name. Will that help?”
“Listen, I get it. Really, I do. This girl looks like a ripe cherry, but like it or not, you have a reputation to protect. My reputation. I deserve better than this after all I’ve given you. This house has been declared a landmark. You live in a fucking landmark thanks to me. Do you know what that means? I’ll tell you. It means you’ll always be tied to me, whether either of us like it or not.”
Lily moved off the island to stand beside me. A sideways glance at her told me she looked about ready to run hide somewhere, poor thing. For a girl who hated conflict, she’d seen her share this evening. Rationally, I should have been far more disturbed that my ex was here uninvited, harassing me, but I was most concerned with putting Lily at ease if that were even possible. I wasn’t all that fond of drama myself and my biggest fear right then was that Jared would send her running as far from me as she could get. What if she decided I wasn’t worth all this? I certainly hadn’t intended for the evening to work out this way. I hadn’t even expected the prick to be in town.
“This discussion is finished. Leave, Jared, or I’m calling the police. You’re trespassing. I wonder what an arrest will do for your reputation?”
“The last time we spoke I said I believed we could wor
k things out. I still do, Danielle.”
“Yes, and I made it clear that you were very wrong. If I’d have known you were in town I wouldn’t have come. Go back to your girlfriend.”
“Why, so you can have some more fun with yours?”
“Yes,” I answered with a blunt tone and a cold stare.
“I’d burn this place to the ground before I’d let you move her into my bed,” he said, shaking a finger at Lily, who flinched and moved closer to me.
“I can almost believe you mean that. Careful what you say. A restraining order against you from your estranged ex-wife would probably make the tabloids.”
He took a step back and opened his mouth, moving his lips with no sound. He obviously had a lot more to say to me, none of it sweet, but wisely reconsidered. I was willing to follow through on my threat and call the police, too. He must have realized it because he turned and stalked out of the kitchen. I followed him to the front door and closed and latched it with the dead bolt behind him. If I hadn’t been so frazzled by the scene I’d have insisted he give me the key he’d used to enter. In all the time since he’d moved out Jared had never once come back to the estate so far as I knew. That’s why I’d never felt an urgent need to change the locks. Of course, I’d be gone a lot lately. It wouldn’t have shocked me if the damned maid hadn’t let him in a time or two. I had no doubt the two of them still had the occasional rendezvous.
“I vote that we should head back to the cabin tonight. Please, Danni, I don’t feel right about sleeping here after that,” Lily said.
“First, don’t call me Danni. I hate it. Secondly, Jared’s bark is worse than his bite, if that helps.”
“It doesn’t.”
I could understand where she was coming from since I didn’t have a lot of confidence in my words, either. “If you want to go back to the lake we can. Whatever you need. I feel awful about this. Some break we took, huh?”
“It’s not your fault, but it’s been a rotten evening all the way around.”
“Yes, it has. Let’s get our stuff gathered up and we’ll hit the road. If we get tired we can always find a motel.”
I thought of asking her if any of what had happened would weigh in on her decision to work with me or not. I decided against it. I was afraid if I pressed her for an answer just then I wouldn’t like the one I got. I was probably right about that. I wished I could tell her that was the last time we’d ever hear from my ex-husband, but I’m not that great of a liar and having no clue what it would take to get Jared to go away for good, I didn’t want to make a promise I couldn’t keep.
Chapter Twelve
Lily
We had precious little time left with each other before I had to return to my real life. We spent it making plans for the house and we made love once more the night before I left. Our last morning, we ate a lazy Sunday breakfast surrounded by depressing silence with intervals of unenthusiastic conversation, none of which centered on her lunatic ex-husband. I was determined not to dwell on him. I didn’t want the possibility of his presence to influence my commitment to taking my place in her life. If there was one thing I knew beyond all certainty, it was that I would see her again. I’d had a taste of what it was not to be alone and I wasn’t letting go of that anytime soon. It might not have been the smartest choice, but I’d made it.
Still, I couldn’t completely ignore the fact that Danielle was being stalked. She’d never eluded that she saw it just that way, but a threat to burn down a house was a serious one.
“Are you going to be okay?” I asked when she saw me out to my car.
“I’m going to miss you, but you’ll be back before you know it.”
“That isn’t what I’m talking about. I know you were just bluffing when you told Jared you’d get a restraining order, but maybe it’s not a bad idea.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“Danielle, he said he’d set your home on fire. The man threatened to commit arson.”
“Meh, Jared’s a good bluffer, too. He’s not going to go that far. Prisons don’t have golf courses. Until they do, he’s not going to do anything to jeopardize his freedom.”
“Nevertheless, call me every day or I’ll be worried sick.”
“I was going to do that anyway. I’m too used to your company. I can’t go very long without talking to you. Has anyone ever told you that you’re addictive? You’re my new vice and you’re so much more satisfying than a cigarette,” she joked.
“Thank you. I’m flattered that you’d pick me over nicotine,” I rolled my eyes.
I didn’t dare give her more than a peck on the cheek. One kiss would have been enough to lure me back into the cabin. It felt good in an odd way, caring so much about someone that I missed her before I was even gone.
“Be careful,” I said again before climbing into my car.
“I’m fine. You remember the credit card I gave you and the list of things to bring back with you?”
“I have them.” Kinley didn’t have a home improvement store. We’d have had to drive to Victoria to buy supplies not ordered online, so I agreed to do some shopping before my return.
“Next time is the fun part. We’ll actually get to work,” she said.
“Can’t wait. See you next weekend.”
I arrived back in Sugarland in time to invite Farah out to a late lunch. She didn’t even bother saying hello before she proceeded to tell me off when she answered the phone.
“Oh, God, I’ve called you a hundred times. What the hell have you been up to? I was worried sick. I almost sent the police out to the cabin to make sure you hadn’t drowned in the lake or something. I kept checking the news online to see if an unidentified body had washed to shore.”
“Wow, you can’t get any more morbid than that,” I said.
“Can you blame me. Ms. Responsible doesn’t call for two weeks after she swore she would. It’s out of character for you.”
“To be fair to me, you are the one who insisted I relax and leave my responsibilities behind.”
“You can’t relax and make one lousy phone call?”
“I’m sorry, I’ve been super busy.”
“Busy having fun? That’d be out of character, too.”
“I had plenty of fun.”
“Yeah, what’d you do?”
I sighed, not sure why I was hesitating. I had to tell her about Danielle. She was my best friend. There was no reason to hide it. I couldn’t hide it, since I’d be spending the weekends working on the house. “I sort of met someone.”
“Sort of? You aren’t sure?”
“All right, I did meet someone. Her name is Danielle and-well-it’s a hell of a story. Are you free for lunch?”
“Let’s make it dinner, my treat,” she replied. “And we won’t rush, because I have to hear all about this person who kept you so preoccupied. Danielle, you say?”
“That’s her name.”
“You had a torrid affair with lots of juicy details?”
“It was a lot more than that.”
“Really? I didn’t think you had it in you. I’m so proud of you. Are you going to see her again?”
“Yes, that’s the best part of the story. You aren’t going to believe it. I’ve stumbled across an opportunity, maybe the opportunity of my lifetime.”
“That’s heavy. My curiosity is piqued. Meet me at the Mexican place around the corner from you at six?”
“Mexican works for me. You know it’s my favorite.”
“See you then. Be prepared to spill everything.”
After we hung up I took a deep breath and called my mother. Before she could tear into me with a verbal tirade I apologized for not getting back to her sooner and immediately assured her I’d be at Anne’s baby shower. She was so pissed it was the only way to appease her.
“You’re absolutely sure you won’t beg out of it at the last minute? That would be so like you.”
She knew me so well. “I’m sure. I’m coming, Mom. I haven’t seen you or A
nn in a while.”
“Whose fault is that? Ann is in Dallas, but I’m right here. You’re what, a ten or fifteen-minute drive away?”
“In Houston traffic? More like an hour. I could walk faster than my car would get me there.”
“Then maybe you should. We have our differences, it’s true, but I’m your mother and you act like you’ve been orphaned.”
“You’re right. I should visit more.”
“Your father misses you,” she said in a softer tone, the perfect tone to lie down a guilt trip. She was good.
“I miss you both. Maybe I could drop by next Friday after work.”
“He’d like that.”
“Would you like that, Mom?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course, I would. Have we really come to a place where you have to ask, Lily?”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll be there.”
I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of spending an evening with my parents, but they were, alas, my parents. What made me anxious was how they would respond if I told them of my new business venture with Danielle. The fact that I was cut off from my trust fund until further notice didn’t bother me at all. It had been four years since I moved out of the house and I’d never asked them for a dime, even though I was sure my father would have gladly given me a helping hand behind my mother’s back. My new job was another step towards independence. I feared my mother would be anything but happy for me. I had no trouble believing she wanted what was best for me, but we strongly disagreed on what that might be and she’d do her best to talk me down. Anything that kept me from going back to college was bad, period.
I tried not to sulk over it as I unpacked. It wasn’t easy. The apartment was too quiet, too empty. I’d grown more attached to Danielle’s company than I’d realized. Living alone seemed a gloomy prospect, this coming from a girl who’d valued her privacy above all else until a couple weeks ago. I had an urge to call her every five minutes, but fought it. I was not going to become one of those clingy women and make a mockery of that hard won independence I’d only moments before felt the need to shield from my mother’s interference.