“Mom! Enough. Sam needs our support! This is a big accomplishment! Can’t you say something nice?”
A rat the size of a small goat burst across the floor. Though not fond of vermin, Sam didn’t fear them, either. However, her mother and sister were terrified. Both women ran down the steps, screaming like banshees in a horror movie. Sam couldn’t contain her emotions any longer. She burst out laughing.
“I can see we’re going to have a great friendship, Lily Belle,” Sam cooed while rubbing the doorjamb. Pausing in the threshold, she let out her best, vibrant smile. “Oh, did I fail to mention I’m going to be living upstairs too?”
Charmee gasped.
Suzy mouthed No you didn’t!
A car horn tooted three times from the street. Sam’s grin widened while waving at Nana Chapman’s fire-engine red Navigator creeping by before turning into the parking lot. Rather than maneuver it to a designated spot, she stopped the behemoth directly behind Charmee’s Escalade. Sam covered her mouth to hide the snicker. The rough beginning would turn out smooth after all. No two women on the planet despised each other more than Caroline Marie “Nana” Chapman and Charmaine Nicole Hawthorne Chapman.
“What is she doing here?”
Bounding down the steps, Sam called over her shoulder, “Nice, Mom. She’s providing a smiling face and backup support. Hey, Nana!”
Easing out of the driver’s seat, Caroline Chapman brought a Swisher Sweet to her lips, lighting up before answering her granddaughter. “Sorry I’m late, Slugger. I’m an old woman, which means I drive like one. Ever since I bought this red beast, I force myself not to smoke inside. The rate at which I travel is tied to nicotine. Besides, I wanted everyone around town to get a good gander at the man candy with me.”
Sam hugged the slender frame of her eighty-five-year-old grandmother, enjoying the woman’s playful nature. “You’re too much, Nana.”
“I’m trying to keep up with Ethel Thornton, the old battleax. She started the trend by squiring her maintenance man to and from the supply store last month. She drove by my house twice to make sure I saw the spectacle. Lord, the boy was hot enough to melt the iceberg between Ethel’s legs. Since she can’t recall what day of the week it is sometimes, I figured the old gal wouldn’t recognize Reed, and doubt she knows the other hunk with me. I drove past Ethel’s place four times, making sure she realized I upped the ante from one to two pieces of candy. I guarantee you I won the game.”
Sam laughed so hard she snorted. The laughter stopped as two men exited the Navigator. One was Suzy’s husband, Reed Mason, whom she expected. She did a double-take at the other man, hoping her eyes were playing tricks.
Though it had been years, she recognized his face even though he sported a full beard. The dark, thick hair with hints of red, and his chiseled features were dead giveaways.
“Hey, babe.” Reed placed a warm kiss on Suzy’s cool cheek. He nodded once toward the others. “Ms. Charmee. Sam. Sorry we’re a bit late.”
“If you drove here alone, perhaps apologies wouldn’t be necessary,” Charmee tossed out, tone dripping with sarcasm.
Sam glanced over at Nana, noting her emerald green eyes blazed with irritation. A gust of wind made the white hair on her head flutter. It looked like Nana’s curls were giving a collective middle finger to Charmee.
With a flick of her wrist, Caroline sent a pile of ashes free on the wind. They landed right on the front of her daughter-in-law’s suit, much to her enjoyment and Charmee’s disgust. “As usual, Charmee, your manners dwindle with each trip to the salon. Perhaps your stylist washes away more than the gray when applying that god-awful red dye to your hair?”
“Nana!”
Grinning, Caroline ignored Suzy’s interruption. “At your age, Charmee, you should reconsider the color choice to flatter your complexion. Anyway, allow me to introduce you to…”
Stepping forward between the two women before an all-out war started, Sam interrupted, “Kip Hale, yes, we know each other from school, Nana.”
“You do?”
“Oh, Caroline, your memory must be on the fritz. Samantha broke Kip’s nose in junior high after he played a vicious, vicious prank on our dear Suzy. I can’t believe you don’t remember. And Reed! I’m surprised you brought such a ruffian along, much less hired him.”
Reed grimaced, ignoring Charmaine’s nasty remark. “Mr. Hale’s my newest addition to the team. Having an electrician in-house will be invaluable and cost-effective to our clients. Refurbishing this old beauty will be our first project together.”
Stepping forward with hand extended, Kip smiled. “Samantha. Suzanne! Great to see you both. Which one of you bought this place?”
“I did,” Sam replied, momentarily stunned by Kip’s dazzling grin. Without realizing she was doing it, she studied his nose.
“Don’t you worry, Mrs. Chapman; Sam.” Kip let his free hand touch the tip of his nose. “No permanent damage. Besides, that was ages ago. The air is rather chilly. We should continue our conversation inside. I need to take a look at the electrical situation. I’m sure Sam knows all the hidden crevices and dangers.”
Suzy and Sam exchanged glances, each sensing the other’s unease.
“My memory may be on the downward slope, Charmee, and there ain’t diddly I can do to change that. Getting older requires me to accept the changes with grace and charm. You continue to fight tooth and nail, and honey, it ain’t working. We all know the drapes don’t match the rug. The twins got their red from Big Sam, not you.”
Reed let out a low whistle while extending an arm toward his furious mother-in-law. “I agree with Kip. Let’s head inside and out of this stinging air. There’s a lot of planning and work to be done before Sam moves in.”
Charmee put on her best fake smile, looping arms with her sweet yet naïve son-in-law. “You’re such a doll to take on this daunting challenge, Reed. Suzy’s blessed to have such a wonderful life partner and father to those adorable children of yours.”
Caroline blew a plume a thick smoke toward Charmee. “Yes, Sam, let’s head inside and see what glorious plans you have for this old place. Oh, Big Sam and Pop are smiling down from above, pleased as punch with your decisions. You know how much they both adored the place.”
Throwing a satisfied smirk at her mother, Sam led the group inside, eager to talk demolition and renovations.
CHAPTER THREE
Monday, November 21, 2016
“SAM? I BROUGHT in a case of wine. Where do you want it?”
“Behind the reception desk please. I’ll be down in a minute,” Sam called out from upstairs, answering Suzy’s question, a bit annoyed she didn’t hear the sound of the door chime. She added another item to her mental checklist of things to address. The volume on the security system was too low for her to hear upstairs. “Need some help carrying the other cases in?”
“I only brought one. The rest are in my car. I’ll have Reed bring them in when he gets here.”
“Okay. Did you remember to bring ice? Glasses? A bottle opener?”
“Well duh. What kind of hostess would I be if I neglected the important things like booze and a way to open it? My reputation as a great party planner needs to remain top-notch.”
“Great, thank you. Open a bottle of merlot, please. I need a glass to calm my nerves before everyone arrives, including Mom.”
“Sure thing. My goodness! Look at all these lovely plants and flowers!”
“Deliveries arrived all day, which is why I’m still trying to get ready. I kept running downstairs to open the door. Thank goodness you have a key. I’ll be right down if I can ever get this clasp hooked.”
“Stop worrying, will you? Reed’s picking up Mom and Nana and they’ll be here in about twenty with the food. Wow, the place looks fantastic! I knew the colors we picked out were perfect choices! Oh, someone’s walking up the steps another huge arrangement! Good grief! I hope this is the last one. If anymore arrive, it’ll look like we’re having a wake rather than a party
.”
Securing the string of pearls around her neck, Sam smiled at the reflection in the mirror. The necklace was her favorite, a gift from Nana and Pop when she graduated law school. Satisfied at the way the little black dress, stilettos, and matching earrings completed the look, she swooped on a final touch of mascara, grimacing at the new lines on her face and flecks of gray hair around her temples. All the stress of the last two-plus years took a toll. Sighing once, she dashed downstairs.
“What time is it?” Sam eyed the enormous spray of white lilies and carnations. Walking over to inspect the stunning display, she searched for a card yet didn’t find one, which was odd. The piece had to be worth several hundred dollars. She guessed the flowers were from Nana and she forgot to include a note.
Suzy glanced at her phone. “Seven thirty. You look great, sis. The house does too and I’m not saying that because Reed did the renovations and you and I decorated. The décor is like stepping back in time. Too bad you didn’t have the open house near Halloween. You could’ve dressed up as a southern belle and made quite the entrance down the staircase in a big, puffy Scarlett O’Hara gown.”
Eyeing the skin-tight dark blue dress and five-inch heels, Sam whistled. As usual, her sister attempted to up the ante of her height but Sam had been ready. This was her night, not Suzy’s. The additional five inches from their shoes elevated them both to 5’7”, and Sam’s dress was as flattering though demure. “Holy Hotness, Batman! It rubs the oil on its skin or else it gets stuck in the material again.”
“Nice, sis. You know how much I abhor that movie. Buffalo Bill still gives nightmares! I didn’t pour myself into this dress, it fits fine. It was designed to hug every curve. I’m telling you, Pilates is the shit. Since all the construction is over, you should join me at the gym.”
Snatching a glass from the counter, Sam poured a drink, filling it to the rim. “I worked out plenty getting this place into shape. I can’t count how many trips I made up and down the stairs. Besides, I need to concentrate on getting new clients. I’m damn-near broke.”
Suzy waved her hand in disgust, walking past her sister, admiring the décor they picked out. “Daily activities do not count as exercise, Sam. Oops! Looks like Kip missed a few light fixtures.”
“I’m aware. The last few weeks have been insane with the final inspections of all the trades. Kip didn’t have time to finish the minor details. He missed a few upstairs too. I’ll talk to him about it tonight when he arrives.”
“He’s invited?” Suzy forced her voice to remain casual as her pulse quickened.
“Of course. All the trades who helped bring Lily Belle back to life are attending. Well, I invited them but I don’t know how many will come. Those who do will get to rub elbows with potential clientele plus hear all the heaping praise for their work. Look what they pulled off in a year!”
“True. Reed’s been approached by three businesses at the other end of Central Avenue. You know those shops by the fountain? They were built around the same time. The owners are itching to have him give price quotes to update their buildings. He’ll be so busy I’ll never see him. Good thing I have the kids, an active social life, and a vibrator to keep me sane.”
Sam considered a smarmy retort yet refrained. Instead, she took a long sip of the merlot, savoring the taste while admiring the ambiance of the downstairs. “Are Rachel and Reed, Jr. with the hubster?”
Pulling a tube of lipstick from her clutch, Suzy stopped in front of the ornate mirror on the wall by the front office, touching up her vibrant red lips. They were still tender from the injection to plump them up two weeks prior. “They’re at home binge watching some disgusting zombie show. Besides, this is an adult party.”
Rolling her eyes while fiddling with the Bose system and her phone, Sam suppressed a dark chuckle. In seconds, smooth jazz filled the entire downstairs after she hid the speaker on a bookshelf in a discreet location. “This is a ‘Welcome to my new business, please hire me I’m poor now’ party. I doubt anyone will get trashed and swing from the chandeliers later during a wild orgy. I’m surprised you didn’t let the kids attend. They helped me out quite a bit, from painting the bathrooms to carrying my stuff upstairs.”
“There’ll be plenty of time for them to wander the halls and keep you company, Sam, and they aren’t kids. They’re almost in their teens now, full of raging hormones and smart mouths. God, I don’t know how Mom and Dad handled the two of us. I won’t make it through the next six years without strangling one of them. Reed, Jr. is at the top of the list. He’s turned into such a slob! Boys are nasty—and stinky! Parenting sucks sometimes.”
A twinge of regret made Sam wince.
Noticing her twin’s discomfort in the reflection, Suzy sighed. She needed to learn to control her internal thoughts. Not only did she act like their mother but now she sounded like her as well. She changed the subject. “You know, your niece and nephew are plotting out a Halloween party here next year. All they talk about since you let them dress up as zombies and hand out candy a few weeks ago is next year’s party. Those two adore you. Reed, Jr. said, and I quote, ‘Aunt Sam rocks.’”
“That was so much fun! I knew it would help make them less afraid of this place. Mom did all she could to convince them the house is haunted so they wouldn’t come and visit me. It was another little tidbit of her master plan to make me give up on my dream.”
“Oh, she did not!”
Sam shot a disparaging look at Suzy.
“Okay, she did, but only for the first few months. Once she realized you were sober and didn’t ask for funds from the trust to pay for living and renovation expenses, she backed off.”
“Pft! She backed off only after snooping into the real estate records to discover how much I paid for Lily Belle and there’s no mortgage on the place.”
Pouring a glass of wine, Suzy joined Sam in the foyer, amused at the fact Sam named a building and seemed so attached to it. “Quit giving Mom such a hard time. It’s your fault she reacted the way she did. You’re the one keeping secrets. You need to open up to her. She loves you and wants what’s best.”
Sam stiffened. “She loves you and tolerates me. She wants what she considers best, which doesn’t coincide with the wants and desires of other people. There are some things I can’t discuss with anyone, not even you. I’m not a child anymore. I don’t need to run to my mommy or sissy when life throws a curveball my direction. I handled the issues on my own, and quite well, thank you very much.”
Suzy put an arm around Sam’s shoulder, noticing a light sheen of sweat glistening on her temple right next to the fading scar. With gentle movements, she rearranged a lock of hair to cover the area. She never asked yet suspected the injury was tied to Richard Benton. “Hey, I’m on your side, remember? All I’m saying is if you share with Mom what little you told me about what went down between you and Richard…”
“Suzy, don’t.” Sam’s temper flared. Brushing her sister’s hand away, she downed the remainder of the wine. “Not today. Not ever. What little I told you about that fucking nightmare was hard enough, not to mention breaking the agreement we signed. What happened between me and the lowlife bastard is over, and Mom will never, ever know the truth. You can’t say a word to her or even hint about the circumstances. You promised.”
“I kept my word, I swear, even when Mom grilled me about the real reason behind your decision to quit. I won’t break the promise, but you shouldn’t keep her in the dark. If you come clean and confide in her, maybe it will break the ice barrier between the two of you.”
Staring out the window as the streetlights popped on, Sam shrugged. “That particular cold wall will never crack. Now, enough talk about the past. I’m interested in hearing about other things. You know the good, juicy stuff.”
“Come again?”
“Don’t play coy with me. I know the real you, remember? Things have been strained between you and Reed the last several months. He hasn’t said anything, but he doesn’t have to because you’r
e my twin. I sense the disturbance in the force. Please tell me it has nothing to do with Kip.”
Suzy’s mouth dropped open. “Why…why in the world would you think my marital issues have anything to do with Kip?”
“Well, you confirmed one suspicion was correct.”
Suzy started to respond but clamped her mouth shut.
“I see the way you look at Kip when you think no one else is watching. When I mentioned he might be here tonight, your eyes lit up. You stopped by here so many times during the last year I lost count. During the summer when Kip wore t-shirts so tight I don’t know how he could breathe, you were a regular fixture. It would only take both hands to add up the times you visited Reed on other jobsites during the last thirteen-plus years. Please tell me I’m wrong. Make me believe it.”
Instead of responding, Suzy guzzled the remainder of the wine. She couldn’t believe she let her guard down near her hawk-eyed sister.
Opening her arms wide, Sam took a deep breath as she embraced Suzy’s trembling body. “Damnit, this is one of the rare times I wish my instincts were wrong.”
“We flirted a lot, but no broken wedding vows, I promise. I’m lonely. Reed’s busy, and when he is home, his nose is stuck in the computer or phone. Business is open day and night. He never shuts things down to spend time with me or the kids. Kips listens to me. He makes me feel like I’m worth listening to.”
Raising Suzy’s chin to meet her gaze, Sam put on her best dazzling smile. “You are worth listening to and being loved, sis. You’re beautiful too and should rethink injecting dangerous chemicals into your body! They are unhealthy. Besides, Reed loves you. He talks about you and the kids all the time, not only to me, but other contractors. I heard him every day for almost a year. He feels the weight of holding the reins to Big Sam’s business, don’t you get that? Reed controls the direction of our family’s legacy, which is a heavy load to keep hauling every day. If he didn’t adore you and the kids, he wouldn’t do it.”
Fatal Agreements Page 3