Truth and Circumstances

by Myrna Parks

  With a condescending smile, Beverly replied, “I’m sorry, but this particular conference has been sold out for several months.”

  Beth had a funny taste in her mouth, as if she had just swallowed a box of matches. She drew herself upright, every inch of her five-foot-seven-inch frame a study of indignation, and raised her voice to an insistent shriek. “Look, you’ve made a mistake. I didn’t fly two thousand miles to be patted on the backside and told, ‘Sorry, madam, but we have no seats available.’”

  The hall grew still, the air silent. Every head turned in Beth’s direction.

  Beverly’s eyes darted sideways. People in line began to shuffle impatiently. The attendant firmly but politely suggested, “If you’ll step aside, please, and find a seat. I’ll call Ms. Huxley, the manager. I feel certain she will be able to assist you.”

  Beth hesitated, reluctant to give up her post.

  With an irritated glance in Beth’s direction, Beverly picked up the phone.

  Frustrated, Beth turned aside. Ignoring her throbbing feet, she moved swiftly through the crowd without acknowledging the curious stares around her. She seated herself on a bench beneath a giant weeping palm that seemed to be growing out of a dark metal container about the size of a bathtub. She tried to reassure herself that all would be well and took several calming breaths as she watched Beverly speak into the telephone. No doubt to summon her resident sergeant-at-arms.

  Beth lifted her cell phone from her purse to check her email. Maybe she could retrieve the confirmation number. Right or wrong, by crook or schnook, she was determined she wouldn’t leaving Sacramento without meeting Adrian Adams.

  Five minutes later, after receiving nothing other than error messages and insufficient data signals from her cell phone, Beth remained as motionless as the palm in the pot. This could not be happening. She swallowed the golf-ball-sized lump in her throat and tried to think. I know I filled out a registration form, but I don’t remember receiving a confirmation. What can I do if they won’t allow me in? She gazed into space, shifted in her seat, and waited for a flash of inspiration to shoot through her brain.

  Beth caught sight of a familiar male face ambling toward the elevator. Her attention did a flip from fast-forward to instant rewind when she recognized the man. With a name badge that bore a special insignia signifying he was one of the instructors involved in the conference, there appeared before her none other than the handsome face of the man she could never forget. Carter Phillips!

  Before Beth could fully wrap her wits around the notion that Carter Phillips was not only present at the conference but also appeared to be part of the lecturing staff, she became aware of a fierce-looking woman marching toward her.

  With a heavy black clipboard cradled inside the crook of one arm, she moved with all of the grace of a military matron on her first commando mission. The stout, dark-haired, rigid-looking woman, whose mouth looked as if she had just guzzled a pint of vinegar, stopped in front of Beth. With a curt, condescending nod, Henrietta Huxley said, “What seems to be the problem, Miss Ashton?”

  Beth lifted her chin, squared her shoulders, and lied like a convict facing the first interrogation. “There’s been a mistake! My husband is Carter Phillips! I registered for this conference nearly six months ago using the pen name Bethany Ashton.”

  Perhaps she was reacting like a fickle and frantic female, resembling one of those desperate heroines who, far too often, made an appearance upon the pages of her fictional stories, but it was worth the lie just to see the deep ravine forming between Henrietta Huxley’s heavy, dark eyebrows. As soon as I have the clearance badge, I’ll find Carter Phillips and confess. He’s a nice man. He’ll understand. He knows how important this is to me. He’ll probably think it’s funny.

  Before the woman could spot the flaw in her falsehood, Beth stated coldly, “If you check your roster, I feel certain you will discover my husband’s name listed among your lecturers—”

  To watch the woman’s attitude shift from haughty disdain to speechless regret almost alleviated Beth’s guilty conscious. The woman stammered, “I-I apologize, Mrs. Phillips. I didn’t realize… who you were, or—”

  Beth could hardly contain her gurgle of delight, refusing to envision the woman’s attitude reversal if the manager should happen to discover the truth. All she wanted was to acquire a pass. She could skip the workshops and the lectures. All she wanted was an opportunity to meet Adrian Adams. He would be in this building on Friday, and so would she.

  Ms. Huxley said, “Although I’m not personally acquainted with your husband, of course, I know who he is. This is, indeed, a privilege to meet you, his wife.”

  Beth accepted Henrietta’s extended hand with a gracious bow of her head, like a queen bestowing honors upon her lowly subject.

  “Please, if you’ll wait here, I’ll gather the necessary credentials for your entrance. And once again, I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

  With a condescending nod, Beth released her. And then, just as Beth was congratulating herself on her cunning military maneuvers, the front door opened and her worst nightmare strolled in.

  Her long, shapely legs, moving beneath a short, tailored dress that fitted her elegant form like a dove-gray stocking, her glossy dark hair, flowing as if tousled by an unseen breeze, Beth’s sister strutted through the entranceway like a diva on her runway. Wherever Alexis Ashton stepped, people parted like the Red Sea at high tide, and they moved aside this time, just as they always did. Following close upon her sister’s stiletto heels, a film crew entered in single file.

  From the moment she entered, all eyes remained riveted upon Beth’s sibling. Beth shrank backward, trying to be as green as a palm. Only then did she remember her father’s earlier offer to send someone to pick her up. Beth always dreaded a reunion with her patronizing relatives. Alexis’s sudden appearance at such a crucial moment bumped Beth’s dread up to a whole new level.

  Great. Now I have to ride with her.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Beth could see Henrietta Huxley coming from the opposite direction, returning with the coveted nametag dangling from her hand.

  Beth slid to her feet. Perhaps if I sprint...

  “Beth!” Alexis’s voice, as flawless as the color on her cheeks, caused Beth to groan inwardly.

  While Beth tried to force her feet to move, the two women converged on her like ships nosing into the harbor.

  Alexis reached her first and embraced Beth in a quick, sisterly hug. “You look wonderful!” Alexis said with a smile.

  Apparently I’m not the only liar in the family. One glance at her sister’s dewy fresh skin and clear eyes caused Beth to fake a smile, point to the camera crew, and say with a brittle laugh that bordered on hysteria, “I wasn’t expecting a documented reunion.” Her attempt at humor sounded flat, even to her own ears.

  In that silky smooth voice her media adored, Alexis replied, “Since I was scheduled to film a short spotlight covering this conference, I volunteered to fetch you home.”

  Henrietta stopped a discreet distance away, her mouth gaping like a cod in ice water. Alexis glanced at Henrietta. The manager cleared her throat and spoke in a tone of awestruck wonder. “Miss Ashton, I’ve been expecting you. What a surprise to find you related to Mrs. Phillips.”

  The seed of a migraine planted in her forehead. Before her courage or voice failed her, she injected, “Now, Ms. Huxley. You spoiled my little surprise.” Beth thrust both hands behind her back, slipped the emerald ring she’d inherited from her grandmother from her right hand, and placed it on her left ring finger. She swiveled the setting inward and then flashed the smooth band of gold briefly beneath her sister’s startled gaze.

  Alexis’s mouth came together in a perfect O, her dark brown eyes widening in disbelief. “You’re married!”

  “Yep, I’d planned to bring him home to meet the family, but before I knew what was happening, he swept me off my feet and talked me into eloping.” Beth spoke quickly
and breathlessly, her head moving rapidly up and down. She tried hard to look like a bride, knowing there was nothing phony about the blush on her cheeks. She knew she’d have to face an inquisition later, but for now, all Beth wanted to do was to usher her sister out of the building.

  “Newlyweds! I thought I knew all there was to know about your husband — one must be on top of all that goes on in the literary world, you know, to be in charge of such an event as this — but that explains everything. Under the circumstances, I feel certain you’ll overlook my ignorance,” Henrietta said, bringing her stubby fingers together in a gesture of mock humility.

  Beth slipped her hand through Alexis’s arm, leaned close, and murmured in a low voice, “I’ll tell you everything later.” Aiming her most dazzling smile toward the manager, Beth suggested, “Why don’t you two ladies go ahead with your interview? I feel certain Ms. Huxley is a very busy woman.”

  Alexis cast a peculiar look in Beth’s direction.

  Beth avoided her sister’s curious stare and fastened her gaze on the clearance badge that dangled like a prize medallion in Ms. Huxley’s grasp. The rectangle began to move toward Beth.

  “Mrs. Phillips, this will get you through security each day,” Henrietta explained.

  Beth reached out, clasped the hunk of plastic firmly in her hands, and glanced longingly at the nearest exit.

  Henrietta’s gaze shifted to Alexis. “Miss Ashton, if you follow me, I have a room on the fourth floor already prepared for our interview.”

  With a pang of hope chugging like a freight train in her heart, Beth gave her sister a quick reassuring hug and then gratefully watched her inquisitive sibling walk away. The camera crew resembled a chain of robotic shadows as they followed Alexis in the direction of the elevators.

  Slowly, Beth exhaled. However, before she had time to cherish her victory, she watched Alexis, Henrietta, and the film crew pause in front of the elevator.

  The door slid open. Carter Phillips stepped out.

  Chapter Three

  Beth watched in speechless horror as the group came together. As if in a hideous dream, she could see Henrietta Huxley introducing herself and her sister, Alexis, to Carter Phillips. Beth’s head felt weightless, as though the members of her body were floating like independent organs from the top of her shoulders down to the tips of her aching toes.

  Carter Phillips turned. He looked at Beth, his startled gaze transforming with that slow dawning gleam of enlightenment.

  Beth lifted one hand. As her former seatmate began to walk with quick, determined strides in her direction, Beth’s lips tilted slightly in a weak attempt at a feeble smile.

  Carter drew near. Beth tried to move, but her feet appeared cemented to the marble on the floor. She tried to speak, but her mouth was dry as sawdust.

  Beth’s vision began to blur. Then, as if everything revolved in slow motion, the floor began to move upward. Her hands came out. She tried to stop, but she found herself falling into a chasm of nothingness that seemed to carry her down into a warm, dark, blanket of black.

  ****

  Gradually, Beth became alert. She could hear someone calling her name. She felt something cool and damp brushing against her cheek.

  She tried to open her eyes. Sharp pains shot across the back of her head.

  “Miss Ashton? Can you hear me?”

  A cold, wet cloth pressed gently against Beth’s cheek. Reluctantly, her eyelids fluttered open. The damp compress found its way across her forehead. She was lying on a sofa in what appeared to be someone’s office with Carter Phillips leaning over her, his expression grave and concerned.

  When she looked him full in the eye, Carter’s handsome features relaxed into a slow, easy grin. Beth attempted a half-hearted smile. Taking a shallow breath, knowing this moment of calm, of feeling cared for and looked after wouldn’t last, she murmured, “I must have fainted.”

  “You should have eaten on the plane. Too much stress combined with too little food is a recipe for disaster.”

  “Where am I, and where...” Beth couldn’t finish the sentence. The memory of the look on Carter’s face just before she had eaten up the floor rushed into her consciousness.

  “Your sister and Ms. Huxley are working upstairs. I brought you in here. I told them you were suffering from a severe headache.”

  “Which is true.” Beth touched her head and winced.

  “Speaking of truth,” Carter said.

  Beth tried to sit up. Gently, he pushed her back onto the sofa. “Careful, you took quite a tumble. I caught you just before you hit the floor, but I was not swift enough to keep you from banging your head on the bench.”

  He must think I’m some kind of psychotic liar. Beth groaned inwardly. How can this man be so nice when I have been such a pain? Humiliated by what she had done, Beth began to rattle off in rapid succession like sawdust spewing from a wood chipper’s backside, “I want to apologize for lying. There was some mistake. I registered online. Stupid computers. The attendant could not find my registration. You don’t know how much this means to me—” Beth desperately wanted him to believe she was not in the habit of inventing preposterous fantasies.

  Carter opened his mouth, but Beth continued to apologize. She couldn’t get rid of the words fast enough. To her mortification, tears began to pool and slide down her cheeks. Horrified, she wailed, “And now, not only will I not be able to get into this building, I’ll look like a complete idiot. My family will think I am an embarrassment. I am so ashamed and—”

  Carter placed his hand, which smelled deliciously of soap, aftershave, and breath mints firmly over Beth’s mouth. Grinning crookedly at her in a way that made her heart beat even faster, he asked, “Are you always this impulsive, impetuous, and intense about everything?”

  Slowly Beth moved her head up and down.

  “Before you say another word, I didn’t blow your cover. Luckily, for you, while I was distracted in attending to your swooning carcass, I speechlessly accepted your sister’s gracious welcome into the Ashton family.” Carter chuckled. “Your sister, by the way, is every bit as gorgeous as you described.”

  She breathed a sigh and nodded a second time. Carter removed his hand. Inhaling deeply Beth asked, “Tell me, are you always this easy-going, amused, and good-natured about everything?”

  Carter grinned and shook his head. “Not always. I just happen to find eccentric personalities enormously entertaining.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were on your way to this conference?”

  “You never asked where I was going or seemed interested in anything other than yourself.”

  Beth could feel the heat rushing into her face. To cover her shame, she quickly inquired, “What exactly is your position around here?”

  “I give lectures.”

  “I knew you looked like a professor! What is your topic?”

  “Historical literature.”

  Too boring, Beth thought, swallowing a smile. No wonder I didn’t notice his name on the schedule. “Well, you might have told me you were coming to the same conference I was. You could have saved me a great deal of embarrassment,” she chided.

  Carter shrugged, and then appearing bored with the topic, he stood.

  Beth lifted herself, resting on her elbows. When the pain subsided to a dull throb in her temples, she pulled herself upright into a sitting position. Gingerly, she touched the back of her head.

  “How do you feel?”

  “A little dizzy. And a great deal foolish.”

  “The dizziness will pass, but the rest—”

  “I deserve that,” Beth said and smiled.

  Grateful the room was no longer spinning, Beth wondered if she could stand. “I should find Alexis.”

  “No need. Little Sis gave me the keys to your father’s car. Alexis said she would see the newlyweds at dinner tonight.”

  “You mean my sister abandoned me?” Beth’s mouth fell open. “She hasn’t seen me in two years, and just like that, unconscious
, helpless, and all alone, she walked out and left me!”

  With an impish grin, Carter leaned toward her. “Your sister didn’t leave you all alone. Remember, Alexis believed she was leaving you in the arms of your newly acquired groom. She expects me to take you home.”

  Chapter Four

  From the passenger seat of her father’s silver convertible, Beth watched Carter weave his way in and out of the fast moving traffic, a look of delightful satisfaction transforming his relaxed, careless appearance into that of an excited teenager. With a sideways glance in Beth’s direction, Carter grinned like an adolescent and spoke something into the wind.

  Beth shook her head, indicating she didn’t catch his meaning. Carter pointed, signaled, and then steered suddenly into the parking area of a Quik Mart. He parked the car, turned the key, and when the powerful engine grew silent, Carter gave a satisfied grunt. “I never imagined I’d drive one of these hand-crafted beauties. Did you see the look of envy on all those slowpokes faces as we nearly blew them off the road?”

  Beth raked hair away from her face, trying to regain a resemblance of order. With an amused glance, she opened the lighted mirror on the visor and asked, “Why are we stopping?”

  “I thought you might need something to tide you over until dinner.”

  Beth looked at her watch, did the math and, allowing for the difference in time zones, exclaimed, “No wonder I fainted!”

  “Would you like something for your headache?”

  “No. I think a little nourishment will do the trick. I’m sorry to be such a nuisance. I could have driven myself.”

  “And deprive me of the privilege of sporting this showpiece? Besides, it’s not a good idea to get behind a wheel after suffering a head injury. I’ll call a cab when I get to your house. I’m staying with friends who live on the other side of town.”

  A few minutes later, Carter returned with a package of peanuts and a bottle of ginger ale. He seemed to notice for the first time Beth’s attempts to brush her hair into place, and reluctantly, he offered to replace the top. With the push of a button, the cover slid forward. “Man, I love this car.”