Truth or Lies

by JA Johnston

  His grin broadens, “I think that can be arranged.” He takes my hand in his and we leave the restaurant. Our quiet walk along the waterfront ends as we enter my building. At the elevator Adam stops me, grasping both my hands in a warm embrace.

  “I had a wonderful time tonight Amelia. Would I be assuming too much that you did also?” He asks.

  “I had a wonderful time too. I hope there will be a next time that’s just as wonderful or more.” I say with a slight smile. Where did that come from?

  “That’s a date.” He smiles back at me and comes closer. “Amelia, I very much would like to kiss you.”

  “You would?” I take a shallow breath.

  “Yes.”

  “Okay.” I reply in a soft whisper.

  He puts his left arm around my waist and his right hand upon my cheek towards my ear. He leans down, his lips lightly brush mine. Then he lightly licks my lower lip. I gasp at his invitation. Our tongues are entwining, his full lips fit perfectly with mine. He pulls me closer, his hand moves towards the back of my head, lightly pulling my hair. It’s getting hotter in here. The kiss starts slow, then quickly speeds up. Now, we are slowing down again. Our lips lightly peck one another’s. He pulls his lips away, but his hands remain where they are.

  “Goodnight Amelia. Go get some rest. The next time, I may not want to bring you home if you don’t feel well.”

  Oh. No words come to mind. I just stare into his eyes, my mouth slightly open, I bite my lower lip, “Okay”. That’s all I can think of to say. I wish I had the nerve to ask him up and finish our kiss the way it should be.

  Adam smiles at me. “You better get in this elevator before I won’t let you go.” He finally releases me from his embrace.

  I don’t say anything. I continue to look at him and back up into the elevator. I push the button for my floor, “Goodnight Adam.” I say breathlessly. He just smiles at me as the doors close.

  What am I going to do? I bite my lower lip hard. I put my hands to my lips. Damn, he can kiss. His scent is lingering against me; I grin; “Old Spice.”

  Seventeen years, three months

  I’M ON CLOUD nine! Lucas and I have a secret that we’ve been keeping the last month. I bite my lip thinking about this morning at the Doctors’ office.

  “Good morning Mr. & Mrs. Bishop. How are you this morning?” Dr. Pfaffenbach asks as he comes into the room and sits down in the chair at my feet.

  “Good. Excited!” I say smiling.

  Dr. Pfaffenbach reads over my chart. My bloodwork came back excellent. We talked about morning sickness and how that should be easing some. This is the first time we’ve been able to see him, up to now, it’s just been, nurses.

  “Well, let’s see if this little one will let us take his/her first picture.” He grins at us.

  I’m positioned on my back. “We’ll go along the top of your belly since you should be around 12 weeks. If we don’t see anything, then we’ll go vaginally.” Dr. Pfaffenbach says.

  Once the jelly is on my stomach, Dr. Pfaffenbach begins. He’s quiet and focused on the screen in front of him. It’s not positioned for us to see. This is frustrating trying to read his face. He’s not giving anything away. Then he blinks and moves his hand again over my abdomen.

  Dr. Pfaffenbach clears his throat, “Well, everything is measuring very good.” He grins at us; his other hand is on the top of the monitor. As he turns the monitor toward us, he says; “twelve weeks, three days for Baby A and twelve weeks, two days for Baby B. You’re pregnant with twins Amelia.”

  Lucas left while I was making my follow up appointment. There’s a meeting he wanted to get ready for. Honestly, I know he was telling me about it, but I wasn’t focusing on it. My mind is elsewhere.

  I entered the LARBB building headed towards the elevators. My mind was still on this morning news as I approached the elevators, “Hold the doors please.” I quickly say when I notice the doors getting ready to close. A hand sticks out and holds open the door as I enter. I trip over my own two feet. I put my hands out and close my eyes waiting for the impact of my fall.

  It doesn’t come. Instead, my hands are on a chest, a man’s chest. He wraps his arms around my waist. I open my eyes staring at this man’s chest. He’s wearing a white shirt, yellow and blue check tie, black suit. I look up. Hazel eyes are staring at me. Gorgeous hazel eyes. He smiles at me. Damn, he has a gorgeous smile as well.

  “Are you okay?” he asks in a modulated tone.

  It’s awfully warm in this elevator. I open my mouth, but no words come out. I clear my throat and shake my head slightly trying to clear it. Wow, I can’t believe the affect this man is having on me. I’m feeling warm. “I’m fine. Thank you.” I finally say, very softly.

  He’s still holding me; I’m still leaning against his chest looking into his eyes. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to let you go if you’re going to fall again.” He’s smiling down at me.

  I’ve been focusing on his mouth as he talks to me, he has full lips. I wonder how he kisses? “I’m okay, really. And if not, you’re still here to catch me.” I say breathlessly.

  He beams, “Yes, I am and I will.”

  Someone clears their throat beside us. Another gentleman is on the elevator with us. I look at him, “What floor Miss?” he asks.

  “Twenty-three.” I say. He pushes the button. I notice that twenty-six is already lit up. Lucas’ floor. Lucas, my husband. The man I love. I finally come to my senses and push myself off of the hazel eyed man. “Thank you again.” I say.

  “My pleasure. It’s not often that a beautiful woman falls into my arms.” He winks at me while his hands slowly graze my forearms.

  I blush. It’s getting even warmer on this elevator. I bite my lower lip trying to think of something to say when the doors open for my floor. My assistant it waiting in front of me; “Thank god you’re here. I can’t find the paperwork for the contract.” Chloe says frantically looking at me. “I’ve searched your desk. I can’t find it.”

  “Calm down” I say as I approach her. “I filed it yesterday so it wouldn’t get lost.” I remind her. I turn in time, “Have a good day.” I smile to the hazel eyed man and his companion. “You too!” They both say in unison as the doors close.

  I enter my office, put my purse down, and sit down behind my desk to breathe. What the hell was that? Why did I just flirt with another man? Why the hell am I all hot and bothered now? Shit! My elbows are on my desk; my hands are cradling my head. Breathe!

  What’s that smell? I take another breath.

  Old Spice, I realize and smile. He wears Old Spice.

  I don’t know who he is, I don’t know who they were, they don’t know who I am. Everything is fine, it was temporary insanity. Maybe there is something to “baby brain” that I’ve read somewhere.

  Lunch time finally arrives; I’ve been so engrossed in re-reading this contract and making notes that I hadn’t realized the time. As I stand on my toes, stretching my arms over my head with my eyes closed, I feel the stretch in my legs. I focus on my breathing when I’m interrupted.

  “Damn! Is this how you greet guests into your office?” I look to see Alex looking at me.

  I quickly lower my arms and tug my blouse down. “I wasn’t expecting anyone. And if I was, I wouldn’t be stretching in front of them.”

  “Such a pity. You really look quite delectable in that pose.” He pauses, his smile falters. What is wrong with him?

  “Are you okay, Alex?” He honestly doesn’t look well.

  Alex looks taken back. He opens his mouth to say something, then closes his mouth again.

  “You looked uncomfortable when I was standing there.” He takes a step inside my office. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” He looks confused. “What did…”

  “Alex, please stop.” I cut him off, I look down and close my eyes, take a deep breath. I look up into his eyes; “Yes, you make me feel uncomfortable. The things you say and the way you look at me.” I sigh, “I’m tire
d of it, and Lucas is tired of it.” I stare at him contemplating my next words.

  He opens and closes his mouth. “He seems to handle it.” He sits down on the chair opposite my desk. He looks at me and watches me shake my head.

  I sit down in my chair and look at Alex. “Think about the last time he caught you flirting with me. His response to you, his clipped tone. He’s had enough of it also, but you’re his uncle. He loves you. And he loves me.”

  He leans his head forward and holds it in his hands.

  Alex looks up at me. “I love him more than anything. Lucas and Grace, are all I have left.”

  “I know. You need to open your eyes and see how your constant flirting is affecting those you love.”

  Alex takes a deep sigh; “I think I’ve known for a while how my flirting made you feel.” He looks down, “And yet, I continued even though I willed myself not to.” He’s looking at me with warmth, not desire, which is very different. “I promise you, my behavior towards you will not be how it’s been. I do love you, as my nephew’s wife.” He stretches his arm across my desk, he takes my hand. “Is it too late? Too late to ask for forgiveness and to fix my behavior towards you.” He looks up with a hopeful expression.

  “What is it you need forgiveness for, Uncle?” Lucas says in a clipped tone from the doorway.

  We both turn our heads to look at him. Lucas is focusing in on his Uncle. His arms are crossed, feet spread apart.

  “I’m asking Amelia for forgiveness on my behavior towards her. But I am also going to ask you to forgive me, I should never have continued to flirt with your wife.” Alex states.

  Lucas looks at his uncle, then at his hand holding mine. Finally, he meets my eyes. There’s so much admiration and love that I see; “It’s about damn time!” he states as he brings his arms down to his side.

  Lucas walks up to his Uncle as Alex stands. They embrace one another. “Don’t fall back on that promise, Uncle.”

  “I won’t. The two of you mean the world to me.” Alex says looking at Lucas with so much love.

  “Good. I love you, but I love Amelia a whole lot more. She’s my wife and the mother of my children. So, they’ll come first.” Lucas says.

  “I know. Wait! What? Children?” Alex sounds so confused. He’s looking at Lucas then me questionably.

  Lucas looks at me smiling. I return his smile and nod my head. “Amelia and I are going to be parents.”

  Alex is silent. He’s shocked. Just the way we were. I clear my throat. “We’re pregnant with twins, Alex.”

  Alex is now looking at me as if I have two heads. “Pregnant. Twins.” Still questioning; “What? How? When?”

  Lucas and I are chuckling. Finally, my husband walks towards me and wraps his arms around me. “It’s about time you finally put him in his place.” Lucas is smiling down at me. He kisses my forehead. “I don’t know how much longer I was going to hold out for you to handle it.”

  “What? For me?” I just stare at my husband. “You’ve been waiting on me all this time and I’ve been waiting for you to handle your uncle.”

  “It wouldn’t have meant anything to you or him if I was the one who said anything.” He still has his arms wrapped around me. “There’s something about you, Amelia. Everyone who meets you falls in love with you. So, you see, it had to be you to speak up and put Uncle Alex in his place.”

  We both finally turn out attention to Uncle Alex who’s beaming at us. “Babies.” He looks at me; “I guess I really do need to clean up my behavior.”

  “Yes, you do.” I say in the authoritative tone.

  Now they both chuckle at me. “Come on you two, let’s go to lunch. My treat.” Alex says. “Then you can tell me all about the babies.”

  “Oh! You can not and I mean CAN NOT tell anyone.” I look at him very seriously. I’ll murder him if he tells another soul. “No one else knows. You are the first to know. We’re going to let everyone else know tonight.”

  “I promise to not tell anyone.” He says honestly towards the both of us. He has a huge grin and smiling eyes on me. “I’m still invited to dinner tonight, though, right?” He grins widely, “I promise to not give anything away.”

  Seventeen years, three months

  THESE PAST TWO months have been a blessing and a curse. I am enjoying running the business after I finally decided to not have any customers for myself. It was too much to focus on them when I was focusing in on the girls and guys.

  Financially, I’m great. The money I have saved and invested since I began working for Piper is really paying off.

  But my personal life… I’m not certain about Adam. I finally told him about my running an escort service. He listened to how I began as an employee then moved into a soon to be owner. He was very quiet, asked questions, but then turned to me and said; “I need time.” He walked away that night without a kiss or a goodbye.

  That’s been two weeks ago.

  Since I haven’t heard from him, I’ve had time to reflect on him and my feelings. I’m falling in love or am already in love with Adam Hunter. I’m not completely certain since he hasn’t been around. But I finally realized that the warm feeling I have, whenever I am with him, is love. It’s the way my mother made me feel and Grams. Pops too, when he was alive.

  I’ve called him and left him messages, but still no response from him. So, it’s been a week now since I left my last message, “I am assuming since there has been no communication from you since I last saw you, that your goodbye truly was ‘goodbye’.” I pause and sigh. “I wish you the best Adam.” My voice cracks as I say that. “Goodbye.”

  Tonight, I’m going out with two of my new employees, Rory Clark and Stephanie Adams. I like trying to mix personalities with clients because it makes for better repeats. So, here I am listening to Stephanie’s southern drawl and Rory’s sexy Scottish accent.

  “Where are you from, Rory? I can barely understand you.” Stephanie asks.

  “Yoo can’t teel whaur i’m frae? Serioosly, wi' a burst shaw oan tv that’s bein' filmed in th' coontry 'at Ah am frae, ye ask me 'at?” He says with humor and a twinkle in his eye.

  Now, I am the one staring at him with my mouth wide open; “What the hell?” I’ve never heard him talk like that, yes, he’s got a Scottish accent, but not like that.

  Now he’s laughing. And you just can’t help but laugh along with him.

  “I got you both! No, my accent isn’t that thick, I’ve been in the United States for many a year now. But to answer you, Stephanie, I am from Scotland, Glenrothes to be exact.” He adds with a smile and another wink. My god, he is a huge flirt. I think that’s what made me think he’d be good at being an escort. He’s also funny and charming.

  “What TV show?” Stephanie says.

  Now I’m staring at Stephanie. I’m ready to tell her when Rory says, “Outlander” of course. Are you going to tell me you haven’t watched it?”

  “Um, no, I haven’t.” Stephanie responds. “I don’t have a TV. Well, I do, but no cable. So, I just watch free local channels and rent movies.” She looks down.

  “Hey, there’s nothin’ wrong with tha’. I’ve done that plenty of times.” Rory says as he takes Stephanie’s hand. “I tell you what, I’ll loan you the first season on DVD.” He smiles at her.

  “You would? Thank you!” Stephanie smiles at him.

  “I’m sure you’ll fall in love with Jamie Frasier just as much as all the other lassies.” He jokes.

  “I love the show, but the books are way better.” I finally add. “Now, if you want to read the books, I have all eight at home on my bookshelf.”

  “You read?” Stephanie says looking at me.

  Rory says at the same time; “I haven’t read the books. But that’s what I’ve heard from my sisters.”

  “Yes, I read.” I chuckle at that, “When I have the time to. And as far as Jamie Frasier goes, yes, you will fall in love with him. I’m more in love with the book, though. Don’t get me wrong, the guy who plays him is hot, but
there’s something about the way Diana Gabaldon wrote him.” I pause and sigh, “He’s just so, so…I can’t think of the word.” I bite my lower lip while trying to think of the right word.

  “Manly?” Rory asks with a laugh.

  “No.” I smirk at him. “I’m not sure that there is one word to describe him. He’s passionate in many ways, he’s strong, hard headed, a leader. There’s more, so not just one word.” I’m still in thought when Rory laughs.

  “Are you looking for a Jamie Frasier?”

  I glare at him. “As a matter of fact, no I am not.” I stand after having signed the receipt. “Phillip is waiting out front, come on you two.”

  “I didn’t mean to upset you, Amelia.” Rory states in a concerned tone as we walk.

  “I’m not upset Rory. I was just thinking, lost in my thoughts.” As I say this my eyes turn towards the door as it opens and in walks a beautiful brunette. Right behind her, with his hand on her lower back, is Adam. I’m frozen in my spot.

  I cannot take my eyes off of them. Adam is looking down at her when she says something and he’s smiling at her. He responds to whatever she said, then looks up. His eyes meet mine. His smile fades.

  I can not believe what I am seeing. I guess I know what his answer is now. There’s no us, no future us. He could have at least said something to me. But there’s been no communication from him. This would have been easier. No, it wouldn’t have made it easier even if I had known we were completely through. My eyes are beginning to water as I look at Adam and his date.

  “Amelia, are you alright?” Rory asks as he touches my elbow. Stephanie’s on the other side of me.

  I look at him, “Yes, let’s go.” I move past him and walk a wide path away from Adam towards the door. I make it to the car with Rory and Stephanie behind me when I hear; “Amelia wait!”

  I scamper into the car as fast as I can. I tell Phillip to go as soon as Rory closes the door and I force myself not to look back. I can’t look into those hazel eyes ever again. Tears begin to wet my face. Stephanie places a tissue in my hand, “What’s wrong, Amelia?”