I bit my lip to conceal the smile that threatened. Fortunately, Maude found what she was looking for, ceasing this rather difficult line of discussion. “Ah, here we go. I owe you two thousand dollars for the bond, there wasn't a single thing wrong with the place when I inspected. Is a check okay?”
“Could I have five hundred in cash?”
“Sure, that's no problem. Now what are you doing for lunch? Will you still be in town? I'd love to catch up some more.”
I nodded my agreement. “I'd like that.”
I waited whilst Maude counted out five hundred dollars from the safe and tucked it into my wallet before taking the check for the balance from her.
Promising to meet her in an hour, I headed further down the street to deposit the check in the bank and then onto the post office to collect my mail. For the past two years, my mail had been delivered to the local post office where I was living, which made it easier when I decided to pick up and leave. Not that there was much, letters from my parole officer were an intermittent item; I was given a reasonable amount of freedom because my sentence was for justifiable homicide and I was considered unlikely to reoffend. As long as I told them my location, I was pretty much free to move wherever I wanted in the continental United States. The post office worker retrieved my mail, handed it over and waited whilst I flipped through, found the utility bill and paid it from the money Maude had given me.
Walking out, I flicked through the half dozen letters in the pile. A couple of letters from friends in previous areas, which I automatically shifted to the back of the stack. A letter from Mom's lawyer, confirming the small monthly stipend from Mom's life insurance had been paid into my account. The final letter in the pile was a mystery, written in bold handwriting I didn't recognize. Flipping it over, I found no return address and I pushed through the door, slitting open the envelope with my finger.
I unfolded the thin sheet of paper inside and got a shock when I glanced at the bottom and saw it was signed by my father.
Hiya Kiddo,
Know it's been a long time since we spoke. Too long in fact. Wanted to let you know I've remarried, met a real nice lady on my last tour of duty in Japan. Her name is Misaki, she and I got hitched about eighteen months ago.
Misaki reckons I needed to contact you and she's probably right. I know I was never much of a father to you, and it was only about six months ago that I heard about your Mom. Much as she and I had our problems and split when you were so young, I wouldn't wish what happened to her on anyone.
Misaki and I have moved stateside now, I've retired from the Marines and we've made a home for ourselves in California. Thought you'd like to know you're a big sister – we have a son, who's a year old and his name is Kazuki. Cutest little thing I ever did see, reminds me a lot of you. I look at him now, and it got me thinking about you, I know I was a lousy father and I wasn't there for you. Hell, it was a shock to discover you are nearly twenty-one now and it's been almost seventeen years since I've seen you.
Don't know what your Mom ever told you about me. She would have been right in telling you I was a lousy bum who drank too much and got married too young. I wasn't ready for the responsibility of you and your Mom, that's why I flipped out and left.
I guess I'm trying to say that I've got my life pulled together now. After I left your Mom, I joined the Marines and I've done sixteen years of service. I used my payout from the Marines to open up a little motorbike shop here in San Diego and business is good.
I'll understand if you want nothing to do with me. I've been looking for you for the past six months, since I learned about your Mom. Finally tracked down your lawyer and he gave me an address to send this to. I wanted to let you know I want to try and make amends for everything I haven't done in the past seventeen years. I know I haven't been a good father to you, but I'd like the opportunity to make up for that.
Regards,
Matt Duncan
Telephone: 632 784 5855
Mobile: 632 452 1268
Email: [email protected]
Address: 43268 Sycamore Drive, La Mesa, CA, 91942
With shaking hands, I refolded the sheet of paper, putting it into the envelope and shoving it along with the other mail into my purse. I wasn't sure how I felt about hearing from him after seventeen years. How was I supposed to feel? There was no emotional attachment – I couldn't even remember him.
My new cell phone rang and I rummaged around in my purse until I located it. “Hello?”
“Charlotte?” It was Marianne, her soft voice filled with concern. “Is everything okay?”
I frowned. “Yeah, why?”
“I got a sudden surge of future events from you, but I wasn't sure what caused it.”
I began to limp carefully along the pavement outside the post office. “It's nothing. I got a bit of a shock, that's all.” A sudden suspicion entered my mind. “I assume Lucas has got you watching me?”
I could hear the smile in her voice when she responded. “Part of his insurance, not that I'm entirely reliable. I hope you don't mind.”
“No, of course not. I know he's worried about me. Can you let him know I'm fine? I'm having a good time catching up with some friends and I'll be heading back in about two hours.”
“You're sure you really are okay? I saw a man, someone older…”
I sighed. For a self-professed 'hit and miss psychic', Marianne was remarkably accurate about reading things about me. I knew it was something Lucas and Ripley were fascinated by, why she was so tuned into events revolving around my life and seemed more accurate in that regard, although by no means perfect still. “I'm fine. I got a letter from my father. It was— unexpected.”
“I see.”
“Marianne, I'm fine, really I am. I'm going to get a haircut, and then I'm having lunch with Maude before I pick up your painting. I'll be heading back then.”
“Don't rush, it's chaos here,” Marianne suggested grimly. “I'm beginning to wonder why I ever wanted to get married.”
“Because you love Striker with all your heart and can't wait to be his wife. When Saturday comes, I'm sure all the effort will seem worth it.”
Saying my goodbyes, I smiled weakly to myself and continued towards the local hairdresser.
Chapter 30: Jealousies
A few minutes after twelve, I walked into the small restaurant Maude had recommended. I'd managed, for the most part, to put my father's letter out of my mind for now. I would think about it later, preferring to enjoy lunch with Maude. Restaurants in Puckhaber Falls were rare and this one was more like a small café, sandwiched between the supermarket and the hardware store. Despite the location, it was bright and clean and they served good, wholesome food.
I was delighted to discover Maude had tracked down Lonnie and she waved enthusiastically from the booth where they were already seated. One of Lonnie's friends had joined them, a girl I'd met before I moved out to Lucas's house and I slipped into the booth next to Maude and opposite Lonnie, who reintroduced me to Alison Whitehead.
“Lonnie, it's so lovely to see you, I didn't know if you'd be in town,” I exclaimed. I'd hoped I could catch up with Lonnie, she'd offered me friendship when I'd been doing my utmost to avoid it and I felt a rush of warmth towards her for taking the trouble to come and see me.
“Maude telephoned and told me you were here, so I ditched class,” Lonnie announced with a grin. She leaned across the table to hug me warmly. “I've missed you!”
I smiled with genuine delight as she released me. “I've missed you too.”
“You look fabulous, Lott,” Lonnie announced admiringly when I'd settled into the booth next to Maude. “Those clothes are beautiful.”
I was wearing one of the outfits Acenith had selected, black linen trousers with a red silk shirt, teamed with a short grey leather jacket. “Thank you.” I dropped my purse onto the seat beside me. “How's college?”
“Awesome! I'm really enjoying the classes. Oh, and guess what? I'm dating Mike Tredway; rem
ember I introduced him to you at the Quikmart?”
“I remember.” Tall and slim, I'd noticed Mike spent a great deal of time in the Quikmart when Lonnie was working a shift and he could usually be found standing near her at the counter, chatting animatedly whenever she wasn't serving. It was sweet to think they'd gotten together and by the look on Lonnie's face, he was someone special in her life.
“So? Catch us up on all the gossip. I hear you're dating Lucas Tine, you lucky thing!” Lonnie almost squealed in her excitement.
“Yes, Lucas and I are dating,” I admitted with a shy smile.
“Is it true he took you skiing in Aspen?”
“Yeah, that's how I broke my ankle.” I shrugged nonchalantly. “First time I go skiing and I manage to break a bone.”
Alison's was appraising me coolly and I wondered what she was thinking. I opened my mind to the spirits, curious as to what Mom might say about my lunch companion. Mom instantly appeared, smiling lovingly and I asked her opinion of the girl before me. “Watch out for her, Lottie. She's got her eye on Lucas.” Startled by her abrupt warning, I carefully shut the warning and Mom's voice away and perused Alison carefully from under the veil of my eyelashes. Although I'd met her through Lonnie a couple of times, I didn't know her personally. She was very pretty, with blonde hair, fair skin and blue eyes, extremely popular with the male population of Puckhaber and struck me as someone who was supremely confident in herself. Whilst she'd been polite the few times we'd met, we had never spoken beyond a hello and a nod of recognition to one another.
“How did you and Lucas meet?” Alison asked innocently.
Before I had a chance to respond, Lonnie answered the question. “It was so romantic! Lucas hit her with his car, accidentally, of course and then he insisted on driving her to the hospital himself. He was such a gentleman; so thoughtful and obviously worried about Charlotte. He visited her in hospital and insisted on paying all her medical bills and I could just tell he liked her!”
“Wow,” Alison responded dryly. “And you've been together since Christmas.”
“Yes, we have.”
“That's great. I'm kind of surprised though, you don't seem like Lucas's type.”
I watched her, my eyes cool. “What type is that?”
“Oh, I didn't mean to sound rude,” Alison responded quickly, all fluttering eyelashes and fake apology as her eyes roamed across me dismissively. “I just thought he was more into blondes.”
Lonnie glanced from Alison to me, sensing the sudden tension and apparently decided an interruption was in order. “I think you're so lucky, Lottie. Lucas! He's the most handsome man on the planet! Well, except for Mike of course. And you look fabulous, so much better than you did when you were living in the cottage on your own. You always seemed kind of depressed. But now, you're just glowing and your hair looks gorgeous! Wish I'd gotten curly hair, I can never do a thing with mine.”
I could have kissed her. Despite the rambling, excited tone in her voice, she was doing her best to diffuse the obvious strain and I touched my hair self-consciously. I'd asked the hairdresser to cut it into a shoulder length bob and with the reduction in weight, it was curlier than ever before. “Thank you, I got Gracie to cut it. I'm attending a wedding on Saturday.”
“I know!” Lonnie announced with a delighted grin. “Marianne and Striker's wedding – I just knew you'd be going with Lucas.”
“How do you know Marianne?” I questioned, smiling at Lonnie's over-exuberant personality.
“She volunteers at the library and I met her there a couple of years back. You're going too, aren't you, Alison?”
Alison nodded, her cool blue eyes still calculating. “Of course.”
“I heard it's going to be quite the social event of the year,” Maude interjected. “Marianne Cooper is such a pretty girl and she's got that beautiful figure. I'm sure she'll look beautiful, although I wonder about those pink highlights in her hair.”
“I think they're cool,” Lonnie announced. She sipped her orange juice then focused her attention back on me. “So give me all the news, where are you living, now you've given up the cottage?”
“I'm staying at Lucas's house,” I admitted quietly.
“You're living together?” Alison questioned, scrutinizing me with obvious disbelief.
“Umm, yeah. Kind of.” I wasn't certain how to explain our relationship and was worried about the warning message Mom had given me. A tendril of emotion curled into my mind and I tried to analyze it; it wasn't anger but it was something that made me feel very protective of Lucas and extremely annoyed with the pretty girl sitting opposite me.
“You really had a thing for him, didn't you Alison?” Maude questioned, her expression cool as she gazed at the young woman. “I remember you rushing out to talk to him whenever you saw him in town.”
Alison shrugged evasively. “Well, of course he's okay looking, but there were always those rumors he was gay, so I was never really interested.”
I rose to the bait beautifully, startling even myself. “Of course he's not gay,” I snapped.
“Whatever,” Alison said, studying a perfectly manicured fingernail. “I guess you just made me wonder, when you said you were 'kind of' living with him. Are you and he… seeing each other exclusively?”
“Yes,” I announced firmly. The emotions roiling through my heart started to become more distinguishable. Possessiveness was one of them, I didn't like the way this girl looked when she spoke about Lucas. The other emotion I couldn't honestly remember encountering before was jealousy. I was jealous of this woman, jealous of her being interested in Lucas and demeaning him because he was obviously with me. Who did she think she was?
My cell phone rang again and I excused myself from the table. Dragging the phone from my purse, I limped to the door of the restaurant and stepped outside, shoving the door none too gently. I could guess who was ringing and thought privacy would be in order. “Hello?” I snapped.
“Are you thinking about murdering someone?” Marianne demanded without preamble.
“The thought has crossed my mind,” I admitted with a roll of my eyes. “I don't intend to act on the idea, though.”
“What on earth is going on there?” Marianne asked insistently.
“A slight complication, nothing to worry about,” I responded soothingly, trying to get a grip on my fury. “Marianne, I'm fine, really. I'll tell you about it when I get home.” Without allowing her to respond, I closed the phone determinedly and walked back into the restaurant.
Lunch was on the table when I returned and while we ate, the subjects we discussed remained neutral, with Lonnie tell me about her college exploits and Maude giving me a rundown of just about every single resident in town. For the most part, Alison remained quiet and listened to the conversation between the three of us; although I was apprehensive to note she seemed much more interested when the subject of Lucas came up. Was I being paranoid, I wondered? This was a difficult emotion to deal with; I'd never had reason to be jealous of anyone in my life. I knew I was being ridiculous, knew Lucas was committed to our relationship but she was just so… attractive.
Alison said her goodbyes after we'd finished eating and stood up gracefully. “I have to get back to work. It was nice seeing you again, Lottie. I'm sure we'll catch up at the wedding on Saturday.”
I forced a grim smile as she said goodbye to Lonnie and Maude and when she'd left the table, I turned my attention back to them with a mental sigh.
“Let's have another coffee, shall we?” Maude suggested. “I'm not in any hurry to get back to work and I'm enjoying catching up.”
“Sure, why not?” Lonnie agreed with a cheeky smile. “Now that I've ditched classes, I've got all afternoon.”
I glanced at my watch, confirming I still had at least half an hour before Hank would finish, so I was more than happy to sit and chat until then. “Okay, that sounds great,” I agreed, enjoying this time with them and loathe to let lunch end until I'd caught up with their new
s. Maude motioned to the server and requested three coffees, and then she settled back on the vinyl seat, obviously relishing a break from her day.
“What are you going to wear to the wedding?” Lonnie questioned as the server appeared with three steaming cups.
“To be honest, I haven't seen what I'm wearing. Marianne and Acenith were helping choose something, but when we went shopping, we couldn't settle on anything. Acenith is organizing a dress for me.”
“What about you, Lonnie? Have you got a dress?” Maude questioned. She tore open a sugar packet and tipped it into her coffee, adding cream and stirring it vigorously.
Lonnie sipped her coffee. “I'm wearing the dress I wore to my cousin's wedding last year. It's very pretty and it seemed such a shame not to wear it more than once. Besides,” she added with a grin, “I can't really afford anything else right now.”
“That's a good idea,” Maude agreed.
“I'd have liked to buy something new,” Lonnie added wistfully, “you should see the dress Alison bought – she's spent enough for both of us.”
Another surge of jealousy assaulted me and I glanced across at Lonnie. “Is she taking a date to the wedding?”
“No, she's going alone. She isn't dating anyone at the moment.” Lonnie screwed up her nose, her eyes narrowing with annoyance. “Sorry about that business with Alison earlier, she kind of invited herself to lunch when I saw her outside. She maintained for months that she wasn't interested in Lucas, but we all knew she was pretty hung up on him. She can be a real bitch sometimes. Fancy making that ludicrous comment about Lucas being gay – I couldn't believe she said that!”
I struggled to hold back a little smile, remember how Lonnie had made the same suggestion only a few short months ago, although her comment hadn't been made with the same level of vindictiveness behind it as Alison's had. I still couldn't believe any of them had made such a ridiculous assumption, just because Lucas didn't date. Sometimes I felt years older than my peers did and this was one of those times. “It's not a problem.”
Knowledge Revealed Page 36