Convenient Lies

by Robin Patchen

  Rae was tempted to step out of the barn. What would it hurt to have a conversation? But then she thought of Julien. She had to maintain her distance. The last thing she wanted was to drag Sam or anyone else down with her.

  Samantha returned to her SUV, stopped near its hood, and looked toward the barn. Rae stepped into the shadows and watched as Samantha stared, then slid in the car. But she didn’t pull away. Rae couldn’t figure out what she was doing until, a moment later, Sam stepped out and carried an envelope to the front porch. Rae heard the storm door close before Samantha returned to the truck and drove away.

  When she was sure Sam was gone, Rae walked to the front door and grabbed the envelope stuck between the storm door and the jamb.

  * * *

  Dear Reagan,

  I don’t blame you for not wanting to talk to me. I’d probably avoid me, too, under the circumstances. But I would love to see you. Please call me. I miss you.

  Samantha

  * * *

  Beneath her name, Samantha had jotted her cell phone number and drawn a half a heart and three tiny letters. BFF.

  Best friends forever. After what Samantha and Brady had done, Rae had once wondered if she could ever think of Sam as a friend again. Yes, Rae’d forgiven them. And while she still felt a twinge of anger when she thought of it, their kiss was so far in the past, and so much had happened since then, that the way Rae had reacted now seemed over the top. She’d love to see Sam, but to rekindle the friendship could only bring her friend harm.

  Back in the barn, Rae shook off the sadness and crossed to the old metal desk, looking down at the rug beneath her feet. It reminded her of something she’d see in the medina in Tunis. She and Julien used to love to wander the old city and visit the stalls. He’d taken her to meet a rug maker once. Amazing the details that went into real Oriental rugs. She swept her foot across the one at her feet, kicking up a little cloud of dust. This one probably wasn’t authentic, but still, why would anybody unroll a nice piece like this in a dusty old barn? The thing was ruined now, the once bright reds and blues faded.

  She searched the desk and was just about to push the final drawer closed when she noticed something at the bottom. She reached past all the empty folders and grabbed a little red envelope. She unwound the thin string holding it closed, lifted the flap, and tipped it over. A key slid into her hand. Printed on the envelope were the words, Nutfield Bank and Trust. She could picture the building on the corner of Crystal and Baldwin.

  Maybe she’d find what she was looking for there.

  Rae glanced at her watch. Four-thirty. Bank was probably closed for the day. She’d go tomorrow. If she found Dad’s box, her plan would be back on track.

  Johnny whimpered. A good excuse to quit for the day.

  She stood and smiled at the baby. “You hungry?”

  He worked to stick his fist in his mouth, settled for two fingers, and sucked.

  “I’ll take that as a yes.” She wiped her hands on her jeans and lifted the bouncy seat with Johnny still inside. He’d grown attached to the thing. In the house, she set the baby on the counter and washed her hands before fixing him a bottle.

  He’d finished about half when she heard a tap on the back door. Her heart beat faster, but Julien wouldn’t knock. Cradling the baby in her arms, she stood and looked past the curtain to see Caro on the other side. Rae opened the door. “I’m glad you came back.”

  “Wow, your hair looks good.”

  Rae ran her hand over her light red hair. “Figured it was time to go back to my roots, so to speak.”

  “Why’d you dye it in the first place?”

  “I started dying it when I lived in Tunis, so I’d fit in better. Not a lot of redheads there.”

  “But standing out is good, right?” She ran a hand through her own unique hair.

  “Sometimes. But Tunis isn’t America, so standing out can be dangerous.”

  “Oh. Well, I love it.” Caro held out her hands to show two shiny apples. “You want one?”

  “Definitely. Right after I finish feeding Johnny.” She led the way into the kitchen, and they sat at the kitchen table. Caro set one of the apples down and took a bite of the other.

  “Good day at school?”

  “Except for geometry.”

  “I never liked math.” Rae lifted Johnny to burp him. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

  Caro’s pale skin turned a little pink. “Kinda. Yeah. We started seeing each other this summer.”

  “Is it serious?”

  The girl shrugged. When Caro didn’t say anything, Rae changed the subject. “So you said you don’t like school. Are you in any clubs?”

  “Not clubs, but I do love drama.”

  Rae should’ve guessed. “Have you been in any plays?”

  “Nope. They’re having auditions for Once Upon a Mattress, but I can’t do it.”

  “Why not?”

  Caro bit her lip. “My grandparents won’t let me walk in the dark, and Nana doesn’t like to drive at night. And Papa doesn’t like to leave the house at all.”

  “Couldn’t you get a ride with someone else?”

  “Nobody lives in my neighborhood. I asked my sister, but she can’t be bothered.” She pasted on a smile. “It doesn’t matter. I get to practice acting in class, and that’s fun.”

  Rae studied the girl’s forced expression. Even without a mom and dad at home, Rae’d never missed out on anything. Gram had seen to that. She had the fleeting thought that she could offer to drive the girl. But Rae wouldn’t be there long enough for that.

  Johnny burped.

  “Good baby.” Rae rubbed his back and cradled him closer. His skin was so soft against her neck. “Are you a good actor?”

  Caro’s fake smile morphed into a real one. “Actually, Mrs. Mathison says I’m a natural.”

  Rae carried Johnny into the living room, where she changed his diaper on the sofa. When she finished, she saw Caro’s hopeful expression. “You want to hold him?”

  “Could I?”

  “Sure. Would you mind washing your hands?”

  Caro did, then sat on the couch, and Rae gently laid the baby in her arms. She waited, wondered if he’d scream, but Johnny simply studied the girl’s joyful face.

  “He likes you.”

  She grabbed his tiny hand. “I like him too.”

  “Can I get you something to drink?”

  Caro brightened. “Sure, if you don’t mind.”

  Rae filled two glasses with iced tea and returned to the living room. She’d started to sit when another knock came, this one from the front door. Her heartbeat raced once again, and once again she reminded herself.

  Julien wouldn’t knock.

  Thirteen

  Brady knocked again, louder this time. “Rae, I’m not leaving. You might as well open the door.”

  He saw a shadow shift in the window beside the door. She was right there. He pounded on the wood. “Open up. Police.”

  Seemed unlikely, but he could swear he heard her sigh through the thick door before it swung open. “Really?”

  Whoa, she’d colored her hair. It wasn’t exactly the right color, but it was close enough to stop his breath. That was the girl he’d fallen in love with.

  And that was a thought he needed to banish, immediately.

  He offered what he hoped was a conciliatory smile. “Hi there.”

  She stepped back, and he couldn’t miss the sigh this time. “Come on in.”

  He stepped inside, heard little Johnny cooing, and followed the sound to the living room. He stopped in the entry and regarded the red-headed girl sitting on the sofa.

  “Detective Thomas,” the girl said. She was holding Johnny and looking at him with a nervous smile. “What happened yesterday? In Miami, no less? How could you lose to the Dolphins?”

  He scowled at her while Rae laughed. “Still?” she asked. “It’s been how many years?”

  Brady took in Rae’s rare smile. “Too many.”

  �
�You have to admit,” the girl said, “it’s pretty funny.” She tilted her head to the side. “You look a lot like him too. Especially with that five o’clock shadow. It could be worse. You could be named after a terrible quarterback. And who doesn’t love the Patriots?”

  “Fans of every other NFL team in America.”

  The girl shrugged. “Who cares about them?”

  “It’s Carolyn, right?”

  Her smile faded. “I prefer Caro.”

  Caro. Carolyn Nolan. Fifteen. She’d been caught shoplifting a bottle of nail polish from the drug store a few months before. He’d thought she was the girl from Saturday night’s bust. The face was right, and the eye color. But she looked too young. And there was something else. “Didn’t you used to be blond? How long has your hair been that color?”

  The girl ran her fingers through her dark red, shoulder-length hair and pulled a bit in front of her face. “A month or so. Why?”

  He studied her. Might’ve thought she was lying, but he could see the blond roots.

  Rae cleared her throat. “Did you want something?”

  He kept his eyes trained on the girl. “Do you have a sister?”

  Caro’s eyes narrowed. He was sure she’d have crossed her arms if she hadn’t been holding the baby. “Why?”

  “You live near here, don’t you?” He’d driven her home from the store that day and talked to her grandparents. Their last name was Allen. Didn’t seem the nurturing types. “I’ll just call your grandparents and ask them.”

  She blew out a long-suffering breath. “Yes, I have a sister.”

  “How old?”

  She glared at him. “Nineteen.”

  “Name?”

  “Laurie.”

  “Where does she work?”

  “She just started at that new copy shop near the highway.”

  “Is she—?”

  “Um, Brady?” Rae stepped between them. “What are you doing?”

  He looked at Rae and relaxed. “I’m sorry.” He side-stepped Rae and looked back at Caro. “I saw a girl who looked like you the other night, but her hair color was different. And she seemed older. I’m just trying to put the pieces together.”

  “Did she do something wrong?” Caro asked.

  Rae looked from Caro to him, and he shook his head. He was sure the girl at that drug bust had just been really unlucky, and he didn’t want to make a scene. “Of course not.”

  Caro shrugged. “Whatever.”

  “Are you done?” Rae asked.

  He turned to her. “Yes. Sorry. I didn’t... It just surprised me to see Caro here.” He took in Rae’s appearance. She was wearing a T-shirt with what looked like dirt across the shoulder over a pair of dusty blue jeans. Her newly-restored strawberry-blond hair was a mess. He reached for it and pulled out a paper clip.

  She pulled away and glared at him. “What are you...?”

  The paper clip he held out silenced her. “Did you want this in there?”

  She patted the top of her head. “I have no idea where that came from.”

  “Been going through stuff?”

  She grabbed the paper clip, tossed it on the coffee table, and dusted off her T-shirt. “What do you want?”

  He eyed the two glasses on the coffee table. “Sure,” he said, “I’d love a drink.”

  He caught her scowl as he settled in the club chair in front of the fireplace.

  “I don’t remember inviting you to sit,” Rae said.

  “Your grandmother would be appalled.” He turned to Caro. “Did you know Mrs. McAdams?”

  The girl looked from him to Rae and back. “Uh huh.”

  “She was so polite, wasn’t she? Always had a smile and a snack for guests.”

  “Fine.” Rae disappeared into the kitchen. She slammed a cabinet door, then returned a moment later with a full glass. She handed it to him—should he check for arsenic? He decided to live dangerously and took a sip.

  “Sweet. You make this yourself?”

  “It’s from a can.” She sat on the chair opposite him. “What do you want, Brady?”

  He set the tea on the table. “Did you call Gordon?”

  She shifted in her seat. “I was busy.”

  “I told him you’re here. He might’ve tried to call you on the house phone.”

  “It rang a few times, but I didn’t pick it up.”

  “Right,” he continued. “And then there was Samantha.”

  “Look, I’m only going to be home a few days, and there’s no reason for me to see her. Or you, really. I just need to take care of stuff around here and go.”

  “You’re in such a hurry you couldn’t even answer the door when she came by.” At Rae’s lifted eyebrows, he nodded. “Yeah, she told me.”

  “You two are pretty close, huh?”

  “We’re friends, Rae. Have been since forever, as you might recall.”

  She glared. “I recall you were more than friends.”

  He glared right back.

  Rae crossed her arms and looked at Caro. “Would you like me to take Johnny so you don’t have to witness this?”

  Caro held the baby a little tighter. “Are you kidding? This is the most fun I’ve had all day.”

  Reagan looked at the girl a moment longer before shifting her gaze back to him. “I don’t have time to visit with her or you.”

  He tried to keep the hurt from his eyes but figured he’d failed when he saw Caro’s pitying expression. When had he gotten so pathetic that a teenager living with her crotchety grandparents felt sorry for him?

  Rae took a sip of her tea. “I just need to take care of stuff and get out of... Get home.”

  “If you’re in such a hurry to get home, then why didn’t you call Gordon today?”

  She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut.

  Something was very wrong. He needed to speak with Rae, and not with this girl as a witness.

  Brady turned to Caro. “You’re a sophomore this year?”

  She nodded.

  “You like it?”

  “She likes drama,” Rae offered. “In fact, she wants to audition for a play, but she doesn’t have a ride home from rehearsals. You know anybody who could help her?”

  “You’ll be around for a while.”

  She set her glass on the table. “Not that long.”

  He could tell Rae was hiding something by the look in her eyes, the way her gaze flicked to the ceiling. And the used car in the driveway.

  He turned back to Caro. “When are auditions?”

  “Tomorrow after school.”

  “What time will they be done?”

  “Probably about seven.”

  He turned back to Rae. “Why don’t you plan to pick her up after the auditions?” He turned to Caro. “If you get a part, I’ll arrange for rides after that.”

  “You’d do that?” Caro’s gaze shifted from him to Rae and back. Her eyes were bright and hopeful, and his heart melted just a little.

  He turned to Rae. “And you’ll still be here for a couple weeks, so you can help for a little while. It’ll take at least until then to manage the estate.”

  “I don’t know.” A little sheen of sweat broke out on her forehead. She wasn’t just hiding something.

  She was scared.

  She looked at Caro, then at him, and nodded. “Sure.”

  He stood and approached Caro and the baby. “Can I hold him?”

  The girl relinquished the baby.

  “Thanks. Would you mind if I spoke with Rae alone for a couple of minutes? Maybe you could just wait outside or—”

  “I gotta go, anyway.” The girl peered beyond him at Rae. “Thanks for the tea. And for the ride. I can’t wait to tell Finn I can audition.”

  Rae smiled, but the corners of her mouth were tight. “Great. See you tomorrow.”

  As soon as the door closed, Rae glared at him. “What is wrong with you?”

  He sat and breathed in the baby’s scent, enjoying the feel of that fine hair against hi
s cheek. “Offering to help her seemed like the right thing to do. Caro seemed happy, and—”

  “That’s not what I meant. Just...you barge in here, interrogate her like that.”

  He settled the baby on his shoulder and patted the tiny back.

  She put her hands on her hips. “Well?”

  “Are you still mad at Samantha and me? I thought you forgave us.”

  Her jaw dropped, but he continued before she could speak. “It’s been twelve years, Rae. And from where I sit, you’ve got everything you ever wanted. You moved overseas, a dream of yours. You’re married, you have an adorable baby. According to Dorothy, you’re enjoying a very successful career. Samantha and I are both still alone, but it seems you’ve found your happily-ever-after.”

  “You don’t know anything about me.”

  “I know you ignored Sam when she came over today.”

  Rae grabbed Caro’s half-glass of iced tea and stomped into the kitchen. He waited until she returned, waited while she stood over him, glaring. Finally, she sat in the chair across from him. “What do you want from me?”

  He leaned forward to better see those hazel eyes. They always seemed nearly gold when she was angry, and sure enough, right now Yukon Cornelius would fall in love. “I want you to forgive me.”

  “I told you, I already did. I just don’t see any reason to rehash the past. I’m not going to be here very long, and I don’t have any time to reminisce with you two.”

  “She just wants to talk to you. Is that too much to ask?”

  Rae blinked and turned away.

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  She turned back to him. “There’s all sorts of stuff I’m not telling you, Brady. My life is none of your business.”

  He absorbed that blow, tucked it away. “There was a time you trusted me.”

  “I said I forgave you. That’ll have to be enough.”