by Lan LLP
The Bradley home is a contemporary mansion, contrary to what I envisioned in my mind. I pictured a dark brick colonial style mansion with black wooden shutters and an English garden full of roses and sculpted boxwood bushes. But instead, it’s constructed of steel and glass with clean straight lines and minimal landscaping, making it luxuriously contemporary.
Carson parks his new sports car in the circle driveway of his parent’s home. His father runs out immediately to greet us briefly and then eagerly inspects his son’s new toy. Why am I not surprised that he’s completely blown away with excitement from the sight of this vehicle? “Son, I’ll have to take this speed contraption for a test spin after dinner.” His excited tone and expression tells me that he’s ready to take off now.
“Of course Dad, you’ll have to take Mom with you,” Carson suggests.
After realizing that he’s been obsessing over the car and failing to be a gracious host, he turns his attention to me, “Lillian, sweetheart, it’s a pleasure to see you again. We’re glad you’re able to join us for dinner. Kathryn has been cooking up a feast of Carson’s favorites.” He puts his welcoming arms around me and guides me towards the house while Carson follows behind us. I turn my head around to see a beaming smile on his face.
Carson’s mother has exquisite taste for interior design details. The flow from room to room is perfectly smooth with complementing colors and furniture. The unique glass and stainless steel staircase that leads up to the upper level is very impressive and so is the ceiling to floor hearth. It’s made of black mosaic stones, bordered with black granite. The rooms are all spacious and open. I especially enjoy the delicious smell of baked goods and a roast of some sort that fills the house as I curiously look around.
Mr. Bradley graciously shows me to a sitting area, “Sweetheart, make yourself at home. May I get you a drink? Do you have a preference, my dear?”
“Dad, Lil doesn’t drink much. We better stick to non-alcoholic beverages for her.” Carson looks over to me and gives me a sympathetic grin. “But I’ll have my usual, Dad.”
Carson must be anxious for me to meet his mother again. He steals me from his father before getting his drink and leads me into the kitchen. My heart thuds harder and faster as I follow Carson’s lead. My palms are sweating like crazy. I’m glad he’s not holding onto them right now or else he’d know what a flippin’ hot mess I am. As soon as we crossed the kitchen threshold, Carson quietly walks over to his mother, wraps his arms around her waist, and gives her a kiss on her cheek.
“Carson, honey, you startled me,” she replies while staggering slightly.
“Mom, you don’t need to go through all this trouble for us.”
She pivots her body around and caresses Carson’s face with tenderness. I envy their affection. My mother loves me distantly, meaning she expresses her affection through what she does for me rather than with hugs or kisses. “Honey, your visit is a treat for us since your busy schedule consumes most of your time.”
He cups her hands with his. “I’m hoping to change all of that in the near future.” A hopeful smile spreads across her face. This gives me a tiny sense of false hope. As I continue to admire their mother-son interaction, I notice how amazingly youthful Kathryn looks for her age. She has beautiful bluish gray eyes with the faintest aged lines around the corners of them. Her hair is stylishly short and surprisingly blonde. She’s elegantly dressed in a semiformal dress. Her trim body tells me she works out frequently.
She reluctantly breaks away from Carson, looks in my direction and acknowledges me, “Lillian, I’m glad that you’re able to join us this evening.” Her tone is balanced and controlled.
“Thank you for having me, Mrs. Bradley. You have a beautiful home,” I reply nervously with a dumb compliment for her home. It’s pretty obvious that she knows her place is beautiful. I’ve never been this timid, trying to impress someone. My damn hands are sweating again. I hate this uneasy feeling inside my chest.
“Sweetheart, just call me Kat.” She’s shorter with me now than last night. I can see the barely disguised disgust in her eyes as she scans me from head to toe, nitpicking my outfit and tearing it apart. I should’ve followed my intuition and changed my clothes. Why did I listen to Carson? I’ve got my work cut out for me this evening, and I’m not convinced that Kat can be persuaded to like me.
“Kat, may I help you with anything?” I sincerely offer her my assistance, but she immediately turns me down.
“No dear, there’s nothing you can do to help me,” she replies tersely.
I glance over at Carson with a subtle wearisome look. He picks up on my negative vibe and excuses us, “Mother, I’d like to show Lil the rest of the house if you don’t need our help.”
“Okay dear, but dinner will be ready soon, so don’t be too long,” she warns us with in exasperation. Carson nods his head and leads me out of the kitchen.
“Carson, I don’t think your mom likes me. In fact, I know she doesn’t.” My spirit is almost defeated, making me want to speed away in his sports car.
“Lil, relax, you’re jumping to conclusions. How can you be so sure she doesn’t like you from just three brief sentences? Give her a chance to warm up,” he attempts to smother my concerns. I trust that Carson knows his mother better than I do, so I give him the benefit of the doubt and try to settle my jittery nerves.
We wait in the living room for the ribeye roast to rest before it can properly be carved for dinner. Carson picks up a beautiful etched glass with dark liquor and ice cubes that his father prepared for him. As I watch him savor his drink, I find myself reminiscing about our lustful night that left me completely satisfied. Slowly, I undress him with my eyes, paying extra attention to his full lips.
Carson looks over to me and says, “I know that look on your beautiful face. Let’s make a quick getaway in my fast, new car. I’ll have you in my bed in no time,” he slyly persuades me to abandon dinner for the second time. Why is he so dang observant, especially with me? Nothing gets past him.
“I’ll definitely be on top of your mother’s shit list if we do,” I sigh.
“But you’re on top of my best sex list,” he playfully counters, hoping to loosen me up. I crinkle my nose at his dirty teasing comment and pretend to give him a disgusted look. He leans into my lips and gives me a tiny bourbon kiss. It’s his enticing way of sharing a kiss laced with liquor. I find it very sexy.
His mother witnesses us lip locked in her living room, and it’s another ding on my not-so-perfect record. I’ll have to work overtime to impress her tonight. Clearing her throat to interrupt our kiss, she invites us to the dining room. Her obvious irritation is demonstrated through her quick stride and clenched fists as she hastily stomps away. How much more awkward can this evening get?
“No more public displays of affection in front of your mother, Carson. It’s not helping me.” I’m terribly annoyed that I’m incapable of pleasing this woman.
Carson grabs ahold of my waist to keep me captive as soon as his mother disappears into the dining room and kisses along the side of my neck. “You’re asking the impossible of me, but I’ll try my best, just for you.” His touches drive my body crazy with desire, but I have to shut him out. I wish I knew why I can’t seem to get enough of him.
Dinner is elegantly laid out with ornate china and silverware on a dark wood table. Mr. Bradley and Kat sit opposite ends of each other while Carson and I are side by side. After I settle into my seat, I find myself admiring this lavishly decorated room. The delicate crystal chandelier above us is extravagantly unique. The hanging crystals are like icicles reflecting off gleaming sunlight. I lower my eyes from the ceiling to the far walls opposite me. Kat must be a fan of abstract modern art. There are two large original pieces occupying those walls. As I continue to admire her tasteful décor, I see a duplicate picture of Bianca and Carson from the penthouse that immediately shatters my emotion to pieces. Kat has it purposefully sitting on an easel in front of me, making sure I completely under
stand her intentions. I think it’s her shrewd way of saying I’m not the right woman for her son. If her goal is to pulverize the remaining fragments of my feelings, she just succeeded. I don’t understand what she has against me. She doesn’t know a thing about me nor does she care to find out. At this point, I should wave my white flag to surrender. She’s already given her loyalty to the opposing side, and will not easily be swayed.
I hear Carson’s voice, but I can’t filter what he’s saying through my rage and disappointment. He follows my gaze to the source of my unyielding attention and sees why. His fist hits the edge of the table, and anger spurts out of his mouth, “Mother, why is that picture in here?” His tone is acerbic as he points to it. Kat’s expression is obstinate, refusing to answer him. I jerk from his loud outburst. Being stuck in the middle of this tension makes me more uncomfortable and nauseous. His father offers peace by excusing his mother for her forgetfulness. She returns his peace with a spiteful glare. The growing strain in this room is impenetrable. I squeeze Carson’s thigh under the table to stop him from anymore quarreling. I want this awkwardness to end. Releasing a heavy sigh, he draws his hand beneath the table and laces his fingers through mine. Why does time always seem to freeze when life is twisted and full of distress? Unfortunately, this dreadful evening is being drawn out in slow motion.
An older lady in a serving uniform enters the room and everyone drops their guards instantly. She begins to serve our entrees. Kat is an excellent cook. The ribeye roast presentation could easily be featured in a Bon Appetit magazine. The food smells so good, but unfortunately, the thought of me actually eating it makes my stomach churn. I can’t understand why I have such an aversion to food today, first, at the restaurant and now, in front of Kat’s unbelievable spread of food. The butterflies in my stomach are bouncing around hysterically, trying to find a means of escape. I must be more nervous about impressing Kat than I’ve led myself to believe. I have to make an impressive effort to eat as much as I can or the consequences will be far too grave if I fail.
Unexpectedly, the doorbell rings. Kat surprisingly makes a run for the door instead of allowing the maid to get it. I’m thankful for the brief interruption because I’m praying my stomach will settle down in the interim. Ugh, the rare cut of ribeye displayed in front of me is visually difficult to handle. The thought of biting into it is unthinkable, but at the same time, I’m panicking of what will happen if I don’t eat it.
As soon as Kat escorts the guest in, I knew there and then that Kat is my adversary. It’s Bianca, modestly dressed in a fitted ebony suit. I get it. This is her good girl look for Carson’s parents. Since I’ve encountered her, she’s never had more than a few shreds of material covering her provocative body. Damn she’s more beautiful than I remembered from last night. I don’t have the slightest chance of hope for this evening now. I have no idea what game they’re playing, but I hate it already because I know who’s going to lose in the end.
“Bianca stopped by to drop off a couple of things for me while visiting her parents. I invited her to join us for dinner,” Kat explains with her supporting arms around Bianca’s shoulders. She fails to convince me that Bianca’s visit is unplanned. Automatically, I try to pull my hand away from Carson’s, but he refuses to let go. He gives me an imploring look. Again, I know he has nothing to do with her unexpected appearance, but anger makes me terribly irrational. I want nothing to do with him or his family right now.
“Hello everyone, I hope I’m not intruding on your lovely dinner.” Whatever. I can see right through her fakeness. She looks at no one but Carson, dead in the eyes with enticing lust. I’m sure that come-do-me look has melted his soul many times in the past, and honestly, who could resist her obvious sex appeal. She’s the wet in every man’s dream. She’s confidently sexy and knows how to use it to her advantage. He irritably looks away from her and burns a hole in his mother’s direction with his heated glare. It’s a relief for me to see Carson unaffected by her beauty and sensuality.
I have this awful urge to get up and walk out the door, which is exactly what I think Bianca is hoping for, but why give her this satisfaction? Instead, I try my best to remain unruffled. “Bianca, there’s plenty of food here for everyone. Kat has graciously cooked for all of us.” I can’t help stretching the word ‘all’ to let her and Kat know that I’m onto them. My tone is razor sharp as I fight back the fury inside me. Carson remains quiet and hardened. His impassive expression is intimidating even though I know it’s not meant for me. He refuses to give Bianca or his mother any attention at all.
His father, who’s remained neutral this entire time, encourages everyone to begin eating after the server sets an extra plate for Bianca. “Let’s enjoy this delicious food while it’s still warm. Shall we?”
I pick up my fork and knife to cut into the meat. The warm, bloody juice smells unbearably raw to me as I stare at it with my repulsed eyes. I push my food strategically around to make it appear as if I’ve been eating. Carson looks over at my plate several times and perceptibly knows what I’m doing. He keeps my secret by not drawing any attention to me with questions about how the food tastes.
Kat and Bianca chat back and forth like two close friends, excluding the rest of us from their conversation. I’m only human, so of course I’m jealous of their tight bond. It would make my life much easier if Carson’s mother would just accept me. I finally gather enough courage to take my first bite of the meat, only to wish I hadn’t done it. The bloody taste is much more intense as the raw juice runs down my throat. My nausea kicks in tenfold, and I make a beeline for the bathroom.
“Excuse me,” I fumble my words and panic. Everyone, including Bianca, is in complete disarray as they watch me dart away frantically with a napkin across my face.
My body is shamefully hovering over the toilet when Carson walks in from behind to rub my back soothingly. Everything is completely emptied out of me. My eyes are watering, and the awful smell of vomit drives me to dry heave several more times. Carson gathers my hair and holds it back for me while maintaining a caring stance. Finally, I’m able to shift from kneeling on my knees over the toilet to sitting on top of my heels away from the toilet. I still feel like crap, but thank goodness the nausea has subsided.
“Lil, what’s going on? I noticed you were struggling to eat your lunch earlier and now you’re vomiting the little dinner you attempted to eat.” His face is full of concern as he struggles to remain calm. Grabbing a fancy washcloth out of a stainless steel container, he wets it, kneels down beside me and gently dabs my mouth clean. “I hate seeing you suffer like this.” His touch is tender and so is his voice.
“I’m not sure either. I might’ve caught a stubborn flu bug. My symptoms are indicative of it.” I avoid telling him what I think it really is. Given his overprotective nature, he would find a way to keep me as far away from my training hospital as possible.
“Let’s get you home, so you can rest. We have an early flight to catch tomorrow. And by the way, we’ll be taking my jet there, so no arguments from you,” he states with an unbending tone. I hate to dispute an argument I have no chance of winning. I reach out for his hands, and he gently lifts my trembling body up with him.
“I’ll let my mother know that we’re leaving and then I’ll meet you at the front door.” I can sense a little disappointment in his tone. I feel terrible for ruining his evening, especially when he doesn’t get to do this very often with his parents.
“Carson, I should at least thank your parents for inviting me. After all, your mother went through a great length to make us that amazing meal.” He appears thankful that I’m still willing to speak to her even after that stunt she and Bianca pulled. We walk back into the dining room together with his bracing arms around my shoulders.
“Lillian, dear, how are you feeling?” his dad considerately asks me while Kat and Bianca stare me down. It seems like they’re both at a loss for words.
“I’ll be fine, Mr. Bradley. It’s prime flu season. I t
hink I might have contracted a strand that wasn’t included in my flu shot. That always seems to be the case.” I hate to be dishonest to Carson’s father, but it’s necessary just this one time. What choice do I have? “Thank you for inviting me for dinner. I’m sorry to cut this short.” I inhale a huge breath and bravely offer a few kind words to my new source of irritation, fighting back the urge to roll my eyes and glare at her. “Bianca, it’s a nice surprise to run into you as well,” I blatantly lie through my teeth because I never want to run into her again. I’ve seen enough of her ugly side to last me a lifetime. The flagrant contempt in Bianca’s eyes is evident as she watches Carson embrace me closely in his arms. I know I should be more understanding of her emotions, but I can’t help feeling the way I do about her. She was especially abrasive with me yesterday. Plus, I have this sick feeling she’s not willing to give Carson up. She wants him back, and she has Kat’s support. Nevertheless, I’m not giving him up either, unless he decides to leave on his own.
Kat leaves Bianca’s side, walks up to us and requests, “Carson, darling, I’d like a word with you in private?” The displeased look on her face only tells me that she’ll be casting more negative votes in my direction. Most men favor their mother’s opinions. Carson seems to respect and love her dearly, so my future with him may already be doomed thanks to her. He insists that I follow them, but I assure him that I’ll be fine with his father and Bianca. Of course I’m lying through my teeth again. I’ll never be fine in the same room with his ex-fiancée. He’s hesitant about leaving me with the other woman, and he should be.