Lie to Me

by Michelle Lindo-Rice

  She heard the lock click. Lance entered. He greeted everyone. He looked like he hadn’t slept all night.

  Sydney looked at her watch. “I’ve got to go. I have a doctor’s appointment and then I have to go see my mom.” She looked at Belinda. “Are you going to be all right?”

  Belinda gave a jerky nod. “Yes, I’m staying here with Lance until all this gets sorted out.”

  “You need to file a restraining order,” Portia said.

  “I did,” Lance said. “I thought about what Belinda said, so I went to the station this morning and told them everything. They’re sending an officer and they’ll patrol the neighborhood.”

  “Good,” Portia nodded. “I thought for a minute the Bible had replaced your brain.”

  Lance squinted. “What?”

  Sydney chuckled. “Don’t pay her any mind.” She gave Lance a hug and tilted her head toward Belinda. “Take care of her.”

  Lance nodded. “Let me walk you to your car.”

  He held an arm about Sydney’s waist. Portia tapped her chin. She was convinced God made mush of people’s brains. How else could you explain Sydney allowing her ex and her best friend to remain in her life?

  Without realizing it, Portia wandered close to the open door. Sydney and Lance shared another hug. He had a hand on her tummy. They shared a smile.

  Portia saw a flash of light. Her eyes widened.

  A car barreled down the street. The driver was heading directly to where Sydney and Lance stood. Her mouth popped open. Portia screamed.

  “Sydney. Get out the way.” Portia dashed toward her friend. “There’s a car. Sydney!”

  Lance pushed Sydney out of the way. “Monica,” he yelled. Lance charged toward the zooming vehicle. He was being the hero Portia had no idea he could be.

  The car changed directions. She was heading for Sydney. But why?

  “Sydney,” Belinda screamed from behind Portia. “Run.”

  Their screams were inconsequential against a moving vehicle. With shaking hands, Portia called 9-1-1. She quickly updated them and provided the address.

  Sydney dashed near the bushes, wrapping her arms around her stomach. But Monica plowed right into her, hitting her on the side.

  Portia’s mouth hung open. Her breath caught with her scream trapped within her lungs. The phone slipped from her hands and crashed to the ground. She held her stomach as her eyes focused on the figure of her friend on the ground.

  Monica reversed and screeched away. Portia registered that Lance and Belinda had rushed to Sydney’s side. She thought she saw Nathaniel pull up but her mind was in a haze. Lance had started CPR. Finally, the release came. Portia held her head and bellowed one single word. “Nooooo.”

  42

  “Can you believe the nerve of that woman?” Monica screeched, tossing the butcher knife intended for Belinda through the window. She punched the dashboard and pressed the gas. “Look what you made me do. Hugging on my man like that in broad daylight. Sydney’s a whore, that’s what she is. Thinking she could have a baby with Lance when she’s married to Noah.”

  “I should have known,” Monica screamed. “Sydney’s a vengeful piece of trash, plotting all this time, letting me think she had moved on. But, no, she wormed her way into Lance’s heart and into his bed. What a witch.” She raised her fists. “He doesn’t want you. Don’t you get that, you stupid woman?”

  Monica wiped her brow and pulled into her garage. She turned off the ignition and willed her heaving chest to still.

  You can’t stay here. You have to leave.

  “Shut up. Don’t you think I know that?” Monica said. She got out the car and slammed the door. She entered the house through the garage. “Freda,” she yelled. “Where are you?”

  Freda came into view with Quinn in her arms.

  Monica stopped. Freda’s lower lip shook. Quinn flicked the pacifier out her mouth and stretched her arms toward Monica.

  She zoned in on Freda, who fretted with her blouse. “What’s the matter with you?” she asked, taking Quinn into her arms.

  “I seem to have made her nervous.”

  Monica jumped at the eerie voice. She plopped Quinn into Freda’s arms and pushed past her. “What are you doing here?”

  “I got a call. Somebody’s been a bad girl,” Clarendon said.

  Monica gritted her teeth. “How did you get here so fast?”

  “I’ve been here. I’ve been staying at the Wyvern for about a month now.” He leaned against the wall and folded his arms.

  Monica shuffled from one foot to the next. “Pay me my money. I’ve got to get out of here.”

  Clarendon laughed. “Tsk, tsk. You’re not going anywhere but behind a steel door.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Again, he laughed. Monica was getting tired of him laughing at her like she was a circus clown. She lifted her chin and marched toward the kitchen. “Freda, please get Quinn’s things together for me.”

  Freda moved to do her bidding.

  “You’ll do no such thing,” Clarendon stated in a firm tone.

  Freda stopped.

  “I go pee pee,” Quinn said. She stuck her thumb in her mouth and spoke through her teeth. “I go pee.”

  Clarendon tilted his head and Freda rushed off. Monica’s shoulders slumped. Thank God for the digestive system of two year olds. She eyed the knife resting on the counter and inched closer.

  “Freda, get out of here,” she yelled, keeping her eye on Clarendon.

  In the distance, she heard the wail of a siren. She frowned. “Did you call the cops?”

  Clarendon nodded. “Of course I did. You could have killed my son today.” His eyes turned cold. “You went too far.”

  “How did you…?”

  Monica didn’t continue her question. Clarendon must have had her followed. She lowered her head to her chin. Clarendon approached her, as she knew he would. She tilted her head to look behind and smiled.

  Clarendon’s eyes narrowed. He turned his head to see. That’s when Monica grabbed the knife and lunged.

  43

  “How can I choose?” Noah whispered.

  “I know choosing between the life of your child and your wife’s is a difficult position to be in. We’ll do everything we can to save them both. It’s a miracle they both survived such blunt force trauma,” the doctor said, “but you have to decide.”

  Noah looked in the expectant face of the physician standing before him then shook his head. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t utter the words that would put one life above another.

  Lance grabbed his arm. “Noah, you must answer. If it comes down to Sydney or the baby, the doctor has to know your wishes.”

  Noah gulped. He thought of his wife whom he’d loved almost at first sight. He visualized the sonogram of his child. “I choose Sydney,” he whispered. “I choose her.”

  The doctor gave a brief nod before running through the doors.

  Lance enfolded him in a bear hug. Noah’s shoulders shook as he released his tears.

  “You did what you thought was best,” Lance said.

  Noah wiped his face and stepped back. “She’s going to hate me.”

  Lance shook his head. “No, she won’t. She’ll understand.”

  He sniffed. “I can’t live without Sydney. It was a selfish decision and the wrong one. She’s going to think I did it because the baby’s sick.” He swallowed and looked upward. “It’s in Your hands, Lord. Please let them both be all right.”

  Lance tapped him on the shoulder. “There’s a massive manhunt underway for Monica. She won’t make it far.”

  “She’ll get what’s coming to her. I’ll leave vengeance to God,” Noah said. “Right now, Sydney and the baby are all I have the strength to worry about.”

  Lance nodded. His cell buzzed.

  While he answered the call, Sydney’s parents rushed into the waiting area. The couple had driven from Orlando. They had taken a mini-vacation to
Lake Buena Vista to meet up with friends. Noah saw their frantic glances and waved them over.

  Hugs and kisses were exchanged.

  Noah eyed Janine’s protruding stomach and covered his face with his hands. He’d made the wrong choice.

  “How is she?” Irving asked.

  “Is the baby okay?” Janine asked. She placed a protective hand over her own tummy. Noah couldn’t look her in the face.

  “She’s in surgery,” Noah said. “She was hit from the side. She’s in critical condition. The doctor wasn’t sure if either one would make it. He… he made me choose.”

  Janine stared him down. “What did you say?”

  “I told him to spare Sydney’s life.” Noah bit his lower lip and sobbed. “I’m pretty sure that isn’t what Sydney would’ve wanted.”

  Janine placed a hand over her mouth.

  “She loves that baby,” Irving said. He held out his hands.

  Both Janine and Noah joined hands with him. Then Irving closed his eyes. “Lord, you are a Healer. You’re a miracle worker. I place Sydney and her unborn child into Your care. Their life is in Your hands. You are the Great Physician, so let Your will be done in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

  “Amen.” Noah squeezed Irving’s hand before releasing it.

  Lance gestured to him from the other corner of the room. Noah walked over. “What’s up?”

  “I just heard from Nathaniel of all people. He’s at Monica’s house.”

  Noah’s eyes narrowed. “Nathaniel? What’s he doing there?”

  “He said he would explain later, but Portia’s with him. He said he and Portia arrived there just as she stabbed Clarendon.”

  Lance’s father was in town? Noah shook his head.

  “I know this is a lot, but I have to tell you. Nathaniel said Monica escaped. He and Portia are on their way here where he will explain everything.”

  Noah lifted a hand. “I can’t take any more revelations at the moment.” He moved to walk back to her parents.

  Lance nodded. “I’ll be on the lookout for them. Don’t worry about it. They think Monica might come here to the hospital.”

  Noah snapped. “If I see her, she’s a dead woman.”

  He must have spoken louder than he intended because everyone paused to look at him. But, Noah meant it. He would kill anyone who put Sydney and his child in danger.

  Gramps scurried inside and looked around. Noah gave a small wave. Gramps rushed over. “This feels like déjà vu. Only the last time, we were worrying about you.”

  Noah rubbed his head as a reflex. “I’ve only been here a couple hours and I’m going crazy. I can’t imagine what that night was like for you.”

  “How is she?” Gramps asked.

  Noah relayed what he knew. “God wouldn’t take her from me. I waited years for her. He won’t take my Rachel from me.”

  Gramps scrunched his nose. “Who’s Rachel?”

  “She’s someone in the Bible who…” Noah groaned. “Never mind. I’ll tell you another time.”

  Gramps looked at him with understanding. “God’s never wrong. Whatever happens is His plan.”

  Noah could only nod. He hoped God’s plan aligned with his own. “She’s never going to forgive me for this.”

  Gramps patted him on the knee. “She’s forgiven you for more than this.”

  He faced his grandfather. “How much is too much? I was a skinhead. I hid my parents’ condition from her. All that she was able to push through and still…” he gulped, “love me. But choosing her life over the baby’s will be the final straw. She’s going to resent me for it.”

  Gramps didn’t seem to know how to respond to Noah’s words. He stretched his legs and asked, “Do you want a cup of coffee?”

  Noah shook his head. “I can’t eat or drink anything.” It felt like boulders lined his stomach. He closed his eyes and decided to pray. That was all he had left to do. That and wait.

  44

  “Press the gas, will you?” Portia said. She grabbed onto the seat as Nathaniel conceded to her wishes. They rushed toward Fawcett Memorial. He cut a sharp turn.

  Portia’s body swung close to Nathaniel, bumping his arm.

  “Sorry.” He slowed a little.

  “Care to tell me what you were doing at Lance’s house? And, how you know where Monica lives?” Portia asked, turning down the volume on his LeCrae album. She had been grateful for his presence at the scene of the accident. If Nathaniel hadn’t scooped her into his arms, she would have passed out on the ground. Seeing Sydney lifeless with all that blood had been her undoing. Portia shook her head to push that scene out of her mind. She had stayed behind to tell the cops all that had transpired in between her bouts of tears. But now, she needed answers.

  Just then, a rabbit bounded into the street. Her eyes widened certain there would be road kill. Nathaniel tapped the brake and swung around the animal. She heaved a sigh of relief.

  “I’ve been expecting this inquisition,” Nathaniel said. “I work for—correction, used to work for—Pastor Clarendon. Monica was his chef before he sent her here.”

  Portia knew her laser-like stare could have born a hole in the side of his face. “And, you just happened to show up in the same small town? Forgive me if I don’t believe in that coincidence.” She pursed her lips. “You’re a real Shady Grady, you know that?”

  He glanced her way. “It’s not a coincidence. Clarendon ordered me to keep an eye on her.” He cleared his throat. “I wasn’t always an attorney. Before that, I was a thief, an embezzler, a real Shady Grady to use your words. Clarendon helped clear my record and put me on a new path. He paid for my college education. I worked for him for a few years and paid him back in full. But a part of me always felt indebted to him. He made sure to take advantage of it. I didn’t mind being his lackey until…”

  She raised a brow. “Until what?”

  Nathaniel pulled into the parking lot of the emergency room and sought parking. Portia tapped her feet.

  “Until what?” she asked again.

  He parked and turned to face her. “Until I came to Port Charlotte and met a dark-skinned beauty. Suddenly, I wanted… more.” His deep voice warmed her insides.

  Portia rolled her eyes. “Puhleeze. You expect me to buy that? You were all into Sydney and don’t try to deny that junk.”

  He lowered his eyes and nodded. “I was sent to woo her and make Noah nervous, distracted.”

  “Sent?” she prodded. Nathaniel was like a faucet with a low drip. Or, an expert witness on the stand. He was only answering what she asked.

  “Clarendon asked me a favor.”

  Portia shook her head. “Why not Belinda? I don’t get it.”

  He shrugged. “Clarendon is a possessive man. He wants Lance to himself. He hated seeing Lance standing with Noah. He wanted Noah’s attention away from Lance.”

  Portia scanned him from head to toe. “You say you’re a Christian, so how could you agree to something like that?”

  “Call it a false sense of loyalty.” Nathaniel opened the door and Portia got out with him. “As soon as I met Noah, I realized he was genuine. I dropped the pretense and decided to make his church my home base.” Then he focused those dark eyes on her. “And, I found you.”

  Portia closed her arms around her to keep from shivering from the impact of his words. Nathaniel was an expert flirt. He’d managed to shake the unshakeable Sydney Charleston. He wasn’t going to get through her defenses. She wasn’t about to have her heart broken by a gigolo.

  She broke eye contact and started walking. “I’ve got to see about Sydney.”

  He moved in step with her. “I can tell you don’t believe me. But, all I’m asking for is a chance. Let me get to know the woman underneath that tough exterior.”

  Portia stopped and faced him. “Forget it. I don’t like liars, and you, Nathaniel Lyons are a liar. You’d lie to me, to God, even, to get what you want.”

  “Is that what you think of me?”

  She lifted a c
hin. “Yes,” she said. “As a matter of fact, you might think you were playing us, but I was playing you. Noah asked me to get close to you to keep you away from his wife.” She didn’t add she’d refused. Nathaniel didn’t need to know all that.

  His eyes grew wide. “Wow.” He looked her up and down with scorn. “So, it’s like that.”

  Portia felt a denial form on her lips. His eyes had lost their sparkle. He looked deflated. “Yes, it’s like that.”

  Nathaniel straightened. “Then it’s a good thing we got this all settled. We’re both great pretenders. Glad we laid it all out in the open before someone got hurt.” He walked off into the emergency room.

  She followed behind him at a slower pace. Nathaniel would stay away from her now. The act was over. The curtain had fallen. She should take a bow. Except... She was still on the stage. She lowered her head. She hadn’t lied to Nathaniel. She had lied to herself. She was still waiting for Act II, but now she had lost her leading man.

  45

  “This is all my fault,” Lance said.

  “Don’t say that,” Belinda said. She blew her nose and squeezed her eyes shut to keep from crying. She could fill Lake Okeechobee with the amount of tears she had shed. She and Lance were huddled in a corner of the waiting room. His shirt was wet, most likely from both of their tears.

  “It is. If I hadn’t been such a player, Sydney wouldn’t be fighting for her life. You wouldn’t have been exposed to the dealings of a madwoman.” He sunk deeper in the chair.

  Belinda snuggled close. “You can’t hold yourself responsible for Monica’s actions.” She placed her index finger under his chin to turn his head toward her. “Sydney will survive. She has to, and, Monica will get what’s coming to her.”

  “They wouldn’t let me scrub in,” Lance said. “I could be of help.”