Tell Me Lies

by Michelle Lindo-Rice

  Belinda closed her eyes and allowed the memories to surface.

  “Why are you here?” Belinda frowned. “Shouldn’t you be out with your boys enjoying your last night of freedom?”

  “I came because you’re Sydney’s closest friend. I can talk to you. I can’t marry Sydney,” Lance had said.

  She grabbed his shoulder. “You can’t do this to her. She’ll be crushed. This wedding has consumed her for the past year. The dress is paid for in full. The caterers, the guests…are all here. You can’t cancel now. Sydney will be humiliated. You’re just having a classic case of pre-wedding jitters.”

  Lance shuddered. “I did … I did something.”

  Belinda’s heart hammered in her chest. Everything from STDs to murder raced through her mind. “What did you do?” Her voice held an edge.

  “I…” He shook his head. “I don’t know if I love her. If I did I wouldn’t…”

  Belinda met his gaze. “What did you do?” Lance hadn’t answered. Belinda didn’t press the issue. “You’re a good man. Whatever you did, Sydney and you can work it out after the wedding. She’ll get over it. Any woman would be glad to have you…”

  He pierced her with his dark eyes. “Would you…want me?”

  Her heart thumped. She licked her lips. “Of course,” she said, placing a hand over her chest. “Why wouldn’t I?” She stood and walked to the other side of the room.

  Lance looked at her. It felt like he was looking into her soul. His mouth dropped. “You’re stunning. Why didn’t I see that before?”

  Belinda backed up. “I think it’s time you head home. I’ll see you tomorrow at the wedding.”

  He walked into her space. The vulnerability was gone. His confidence had returned. Lance reached over and touched her cheek. Her insides quivered.

  “What are you doing?”

  He smiled and backed her further into the corner. His body pressed against hers.

  “I can’t do this,” she whispered.

  “But you want to,” he said. He lowered his head and kissed her.

  Instead of resisting, Belinda had yielded. Just like that. That’s what bothered her the most. Had she put up even a small measure of resistance? No. Instead she’d … Belinda stopped. If only… If only was useless. She couldn’t undo the past.

  Guilt whipped at her until Belinda accepted Sydney’s invitation to church. Maybe God could help her. At church, Belinda found peace, but she’d never confessed her actions to Sydney. She knew she never could.

  Sydney was a good friend, but she struggled when it came to forgiveness. Sydney loved with all her being, which made any kind of deception intolerable. At the slightest hint of betrayal, her friend closed up. Though she wanted to be honest about her mistake, Belinda refrained. Sydney would cut her off forever. She had to keep Lance from blabbing to Sydney or tell her first.

  She tapped her chin. Maybe, Sydney could handle the truth now that she was dating Noah. She pressed the speed-dial number and within seconds, she heard the phone ringing. Just as quickly, she ended the call. No, she couldn’t tell her. She’d just have to manage the situation with Lance. For now, she’d smile and make friends with the devil.

  8

  “I’m going to win this,” Sydney said, reading through the Burns file. She sat behind her desk in her bare feet.

  Yasmeen Burns had fallen outside of an elementary school and broken her leg. She tripped over a crack in the cement. Yasmeen insisted the school knew about it for months, yet had done nothing. As a result, she lost her job as a manager at Wal-Mart. She was still in her ninety-day probationary period, so Wal-Mart released her. She also hadn’t been there long enough to qualify for insurance. Sydney was certain she could get Yasmeen a good settlement from the school district. They were due in court in early October.

  She double-checked the research herself to make sure there would be no surprises when she went to court. As luck would have it, Hammerstein was the judge on the case and Sydney refused to appear incompetent a second time.

  She stretched. As soon as she got home, she was going to take a bubble bath.

  Sydney heard a light tap on the door and then Portia poked her head in. “God’s best friend is here,” she teased.

  “Who’s here?” she asked.

  “He’s propped against your SUV. I wouldn’t mind a bite of that golden Oreo. That’s one fine white man.” Portia crossed her legs revealing thigh high boots under her skirt.

  “Really? Golden Oreo.” Sydney laughed. “Don’t stay too late.”

  “I’m right behind you. I’ve got to finish inputting the new cases on your calendar. June’s been a light month, but come July you’ll be pulling some long hours.” Portia wiggled. “Besides, I’ve got plans.”

  With a wave, Sydney went out the door. The sun had started to set. The picturesque sky looked like God had splashed yellows and purples across the blue. It was marvelous to see. Then she noticed Noah staring at her with great intensity.

  She felt feminine satisfaction. His eyes said he liked what he saw.

  “Hello.” Why did her voice sound so feathery light? She blushed and then stepped toward him. She wished she could get the ridiculous smile off her face. She was really cheesing right now.

  Noah tugged her toward him. In his arms, Sydney felt tiny and delicate. She could stay there all day.

  He sniffed her hair. “You smell like apricots. I love apricots.”

  She tried to play it cool, but her traitorous body curved into his, quite happy with its current location. Sydney fought the sensations and maneuvered her way out of his arms. “What are you doing here? Not that I’m not happy to see you, but I don’t remember if we had plans.”

  He shook his head. “I’m being spontaneous. I’ve booked us a private session at the Bridle Brook Stables in Punta Gorda if you’re available.”

  Sydney rubbed her hands together. “Ooh, yes. I’m ready. I finally get to wear my pink, leopard print boots. When you said we would go, I ordered them from Amazon.” The Ariat women’s ranchero cowgirl boots were still in the box in her closet.

  “I can’t wait to see them.” Noah’s smile was warm, but oh so sexy at the same time. She thought she could listen to him talk all day.

  “Follow me home. Let me drop off my car and change.” She had a pink shirt and black jeans in mind to wear with her boots. She practically hopped to her vehicle.

  Within the hour, Noah and Sydney pulled up to the Sun City Stables. Sydney covered her nose. “These horses need a bath.”

  Noah laughed. “It’s a stable. Nature’s scent at its finest.”

  “Nature stinks.” Sydney took small breaths. “I’ll get used to it in a minute or two.”

  Noah climbed out and walked around to help her out of the car. Sydney placed her hand in his. Her heart skipped a beat. “Since this is your first time horseback riding, they promised you a docile mare.”

  Sydney nodded. She was not sure she wanted to do this, no matter how cute she looked. She held up her iPhone and snapped a couple pictures of herself with Noah. Then he went to the counter to check them in.

  Two teenagers led the horses out. Noah had a black stallion they called Sebastian. Her mare was brown and white. She knew terror was written on her face. The horse was larger than she expected.

  “Molly is friendly,” the boy said. “I’ll help you mount.”

  Sydney gulped. She watched Noah get on his horse with ease. He pulled on the reins with a practiced flick of the wrist. “You know your way around a horse.” Her voice held a tremor.

  Noah nodded. “Do you want me to help you?” He swung his legs over, dismounted and gave the reins to the other youth.

  “Here’s an apple. Hold it in your hand,” the teen said.

  Sydney took the fruit and opened her hand. Noah guided her closer to the horse. She wrinkled her nose. Molly nuzzled close before opening her mouth. Her tongue grazed Sydney’s open palm. Yuck! She pulled her hand back.

  Noah cooed and whispered into M
olly’s ear. Then he took the apple and fed it to the horse. “She’s a beauty.” His voice held wonder. Noah patted Molly’s thick mane.

  Sydney squared her shoulders. “Help me get on.”

  Noah held his hand out and then helped her get on the horse.

  “She’s moving.”

  Noah chuckled. “Yes, that’s because she’s alive.”

  “Do you need me to lead you?” the young man asked.

  Noah shook his head before Sydney could answer. “She’ll be okay with me. We’ll choose a simple path.” He remounted his stallion and came to Sydney’s side.

  “Gently tap the reins.”

  Sydney did as she was instructed and the mare began to slow trot. Together, Sydney and Noah entered the path. Noah took the lead and Molly was content to follow. After about ten minutes of not talking, Sydney felt comfortable saying, “This is fun. I’m doing better than I expected.”

  Noah smiled. “I’m proud of you.” His stallion neighed and reared back. But Noah steadied the horse and Sebastian settled.

  Sydney appreciated his skill. Noah had earned cool points with that manly stunt. He was fulfilling all her cowboy fantasies, not that she knew she had any before today.

  “So, tell me something about you that would surprise me.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “What do you want to know?”

  “As much as possible.”

  “Let me think on it a minute.” She took in the scene before her. She spotted a cardinal and pointed it out. She closed her eyes and inhaled. “I work too much. This greenery is soothing.”

  Noah scanned the area from left to right. “It is, isn’t it?” A black snake slithered across the path, spooking his horse. Noah comforted the stallion.

  “Vampires,” Sydney said.

  Noah looked back. “What about them?”

  “I’m fascinated by vampires. I’ve read and watched The Twilight Series. I ordered HBO just to get True Blood. I watch Vampire Diaries. I even watched Dracula before they canceled the show.”

  He raised a brow. “Wow. I’m surprised.”

  “It’s my guilty pleasure.”

  “Vampires and werewolves and all those creatures are dark. I think those books and shows draw evil to us. I’m not trying to judge, but I don’t think those shows are for Christians.”

  Sydney rolled her eyes at the light censure in his tone. Her horse instinctively seemed to know to stop. “I’m sorry I told you and you do sound like you’re judging me. It’s entertainment. Please don’t tell me you think Christians should live in the Bible and not read anything else.”

  Noah shook his head. “I have no problem with Christians reading for entertainment. I just think we have to be wise with what we choose.”

  “Well, reading about vampires hasn’t lessoned my love for God.” Sydney’s chest heaved. “You’re acting all self-righteous and I don’t like that.”

  Noah turned his horse to come beside her. The click-clack of their hooves was the only sounds before he spoke in a gentle tone. “I was just sharing my opinion. I’m not coming at you in any way. Please know that. We’re not going to agree on everything.”

  Sydney kept her head straight ahead.

  Noah pulled the reins to stop his horse. Then he reached over and took the reins. Molly and Sebastian nuzzled each other.

  He turned her body toward him.

  “Don’t be mad at me.”

  “I’m fine,” Sydney said, although she knew her tone said otherwise.

  “Let’s agree to disagree and drop this.” Noah playfully tapped the bridge of her nose.

  “Ugh!” Sydney moved her head back. “You touched that dirty horse.”

  “I’m sorry.” He looked contrite. Noah fashioned his expression into a sad face. “Please forgive me.”

  Sydney giggled at his woebegone expression and the air between them cleared. Her shoulders relaxed. “I can’t stay mad at you with that Puss-in-Boots face.”

  Noah did the face again for good measure.

  He lifted a brow. “Are we good?”

  Sydney nodded.

  He whipped his horse around. “Then let’s get these horses moving!” He took off.

  Molly took her cue from Sebastian and increased her pace. Sydney’s body jostled up and down. As Molly followed Sebastian’s pace, Sydney lifted her face to the sky. She felt free. She felt alive. Most of all, she was glad to be with Noah. They had survived their first rift without getting nasty or mean.

  For the first time in forever, Sydney’s heart expanded with hope. Maybe one day she’d love again.

  9

  Sydney made the hour-long drive south to Cape Coral in forty-five minutes. When Janine Richardson called, Sydney answered. She got out her SUV and inhaled the cool, night air. Listening to the sounds of the night creatures, Sydney couldn’t understand how her mother stayed out here alone with no streetlights and all those creepy-crawly sounds.

  Janine must have been looking out for her because she opened one of the double doors and stepped outside. Sydney frowned. That’s odd. Her mom had given her a key to come and go as she pleased. Her spirit discerned something important was coming. Cancer popped into her mind.

  “Lord, help me face whatever it is,” Sydney prayed.

  Janine came toward Sydney with her arms open wide. Sydney smiled at the woman she closely resembled, except for the color of their eyes. Janine’s eyes were a much darker hue. They hugged and walked arm in arm inside the freshly painted, salmon-colored, four-bedroom home.

  “I like the color,” Sydney said, striving for normalcy. Her stomach churned. Please God, don’t let it be cancer.

  “Thanks, I’m getting the kitchen painted a butternut squash yellow.”

  “You and your Fruit Loops colors.”

  Janine laughed.

  Once inside, Sydney admired the Lake Reflections Canvas art she and Janine had purchased from Kirkland’s. Every time she visited, she stopped to check out the trees and their reflection on the lake.

  Janine patted her on the back and led her into the living area. Her mother had chosen the living area and not the kitchen where they had all their meals and heart-to-heart talks. Something serious was about to go down. She felt it.

  “Honey, I need to talk to you about something, and I need you to hear me out.”

  Sydney nodded. She sat on the Tommy Bahama Benoa Harbour loose back sofa, welcoming the cushion of the soft upholstery. She clutched one of the green pillows splayed with beige flowers. Somehow she felt she’d need something to hold on to.

  Janine sat across from her. “You’re all dressed up,” she noted. Usually her mother wore jeans or sweats, but tonight she was wearing a billowy orange dress. Her hair was out of its usual single braid and flowed down her back held together by two heavy pearl combs. Something was definitely amiss. “You look nice.”

  Janine smiled. “Thanks.”

  Sydney played with a sofa cushion. “Mom, what is it? Tell me. The suspense is killing me.”

  “I met someone,” Janine said. Before Sydney could comment, she amended, “Well, let me correct that. I met someone—again—someone from my past.”

  Sydney lifted a brow. She wiped a sweaty palm on the pillow. Relief flooded her. It wasn’t cancer, but she wondered why the urgency. “So you’ve met someone from your past. That’s great. So, what’s the problem? What could be so urgent that you made me drive all the way out here when I have to work tomorrow?”

  Janine drew a deep breath. “You’re not going to take the rest of my news well. In fact, you’ll be furious, but I have to tell you the truth.” She squared her shoulders. Her words came out in a whoosh, “Sydney, I’m seeing your father.”

  Sydney leaned forward once the impact of Janine’s words registered. “My father?” Her brows furrowed. “How could that be? You told me my father was dead. Are you telling me you’re seeing a dead man? Because you told me my father died.” Sydney’s voice raised an octave higher. She tossed the pillow and gripped the edge of the c
hair.

  Her mother shook her head. She opened her mouth to say something, but Sydney jumped to her feet. She held up a hand. “Give me a second to process.” For once, her mother complied. Sydney paced. Her mother had lied to her. Or did Janine mean she found a man to be her father? That was ridiculous. She was thirty-three years old.

  “Sit down. Give me a chance to explain,” Janine said.

  Sydney returned to the sofa.

  “You heard me correctly,” Janine began. “Your father is alive. I told you he was dead because it was easier than telling you the truth. I shouldn’t have lied, but at the time I thought I was doing the right thing.”

  If she weren’t already sitting, Sydney would’ve fainted. “Wha-What? Where did you meet this guy? My supposed father that’s reincarnated from the dead?”

  “I met him on the social networking site.” Janine shrugged. “Remember when you signed me up? Well, he sent me a friend request and we started from there.” She walked over to join Sydney on the couch. “Irving—you remember I told you his name? Irving wants to marry me. I’m thinking of saying yes.”

  Sydney squinted. “Have you lost your mind? Are you telling me you’re thinking of marrying some man you told me was dead, who is my father?” Her eyes bulged. “It sounds crazy even saying it aloud.” She stood. “I’ve got to get out of here.”

  “Please hear me out.” Janine’s eyes pleaded with her. “I promise you it’ll all make sense once you hear…”

  “No, save it. I don’t want to hear anything right now,” Sydney scurried out of the house and stormed to her car. She opened the door. It swung wide with the force of her anger. She slammed the door hard. The noise resounded through the otherwise quiet neighborhood.

  Janine followed behind her.

  “Don’t leave like this,” Janine begged.

  Sydney tore out of the driveway. She’d been looking forward to telling her mother about Noah. But Janine’s revelation trumped her news. She sped toward Port Charlotte and ignored the persistent ringing of her cell phone along the way.