More Than Lies

by N. E. Henderson

  I look up from where I was cleaning my station to see Tara. I had sent her a text message thirty minutes ago, asking her if she could come back up to the studio tonight. Tara told me earlier today that she had decided since she’s been making more money working here that she doesn’t want to continue working at the bar. She spoke to Mac and he’s okay with her not returning as a waitress.

  “Yeah, I need a favor.” I tell her in a low voice so that no one else will hear our conversation. I wave her closer and Tara immediately steps in front of me. The sweet and spicy scent of her perfume envelops me, but I keep my expression neutral, not allowing her to see the affect she has on me. And believe me, Tara has a lot of them. She just doesn’t know it.

  “Sure, what do you need?” Her eyes dart all over the room. Trying to determine why I’m keeping my voice low, I’m sure.

  “I’m about to fire Sabrina. Adam has agreed to be in the room with me, but I need you in there too.”

  “Me? I don’t know anything about firing someone, Shawn.” Confusion is written all over her face.

  “I don’t need you to actually do anything except be in the room.” I don’t know a whole lot about owning a business, but Chance made it clear, do not firer her without witnesses. He was adamant about at least one witness being a female so that in the event she tries to claim sexual harassment or anything else, I’d have people to cover my back.

  “Oh,” Realization dawns on her. “You just want me to witness in case she tries to start something later?”

  “Exactly. You okay with that?”

  “Sure, it’s no problem, but what are we going to do about the rest of the week. Who’s going to work the front?”

  I turn my warmest smile on her hoping she will throw me a bone.

  “Me?” she questions, but before Tara can tell me no, I clarify. I know she’ll be returning for her last semester of school in January and I’m not asking her to manage the studio plus be the receptionist.

  “Just tomorrow and Monday. When we get back from Christmas after next weekend, I’ll get someone hired, I swear.” I’ll beg, Tara, but please don’t make me, I silently project from my brain. If she only knew, she’s probably the only person on earth I’d beg something from, she’d know just how much I hide.

  “I guess.” She doesn’t sound enthused.

  “I’d do it myself, but I have a full schedule.” I wrap both of my hands around her shoulders. “I appreciate it, I really do and I’ll make it up to you, okay?” Her eyes fall to my lips. The moment lasts only seconds before her face heats. Quickly, she turns, making my hands falls from her from.

  “Yeah, sure. Um…where should I go?” I don’t acknowledge her embarrassment or the reminder of the hot kiss we shared awhile back.

  I look in Adam’s direction, giving him a quick jerk with my head in the direction of the office. He nods as he makes his way toward the back.

  “Go wait in the office with Adam. I’ll bring Sabrina back there in a few minutes.” Tara doesn’t say anything else, but she does do as I ask, walking fast and following in Adam’s direction.

  No sense in delaying this further.

  I turn and walk toward the front. As I near, I notice Sabrina placing the deposit bag into her purse. This isn’t unusual as Sabrina has always been the person that handles taking the deposits to the bank. That was a huge error on Adam’s end.

  “You got a minute?”

  She glances up before retrieving her purse and lifting it onto her shoulder.

  “Sure, what’s up?”

  “You know I wanted to meet with everyone today. Let’s do that in the office before you leave, okay?” I keep my voice neutral and my face blank. No need to scare her or let her think there is a problem.

  “Okay, but I was just headed out.”

  “Your shift doesn’t end for another thirty minutes.” Wow, she really doesn’t give a rat’s ass about her job, does she?

  “I know, Shawn.” She laughs, but there isn’t a lick of humor behind it. “I always leave a few minutes early so I can stop by the bank on the way home.”

  “And here I thought the banks close at five.”

  “Well, ours doesn’t.” Her reply is condescending. Did I know our bank or any bank for that matter stayed open passed five o’clock, no I did not, but the bitch doesn’t have to have an attitude.

  “Fine, okay. Let’s go talk.” I don’t wait for her to argue further. Instead, I turn around and head in the direction of my office. Stupid bitch is going to wish she were a little nicer. This shit has been weighing on my mind all day. Thoughts from maybe she needs the money and didn’t see a way around not stealing. Hell, maybe she has major medical issues going on that we are all clueless about. But you know what, fuck that. Stealing is stealing and wrong no matter how you look at it.

  I walk in and as I do, I open the door wide so that she can follow. Adam is leaning against one wall and Tara is seated behind the desk, leaving the two chairs in the room, vacant. I don’t opt for one of the seats. Instead, I round the desk and lean against the wall closest to Tara. She goes to stand, but I shake my head indicating I don’t want her to move.

  “Um, what’s going on?” Sabrina has a worried expression masking her face, but I doubt she has a clue just how worried she should be.

  “Have a seat, please.” I motion to the chairs. She closes the door before making herself comfortable. “I thought you and I were going to have a one-on-one conversation. Isn’t that what you said this morning, Shawn?”

  “It is, but that isn’t what we’re here to do. I told you this wouldn’t take long and I meant it, so I’ll get right to the point, Sabrina. I know your stealing money from the company.” Her eyes widen in shock, but her lips remain sealed. “Have known for a while now, but I didn’t have the proof until two days ago.”

  “Look, I don’t know who has been talking to you, but they are lying.”

  “Save your breath, Sabrina. I said I have proof and I do. Wednesday I calculated all transactions, myself, against the schedule, when I had you run that errand.” Two days ago I sent her out on a quick run for the studio. She was gone just long enough for me to add up the money. “What was deposited into the banking account was six hundred bucks shorter than what you left with.”

  “That…that can’t be right, Shawn. I didn’t do it. Someone else must have taken the money out before I left.” I can see the sweat form on her brow.

  “Your just digging yourself a deeper hole so shut it.”

  “I said I didn’t fucking do it,” her voice booms. I’m certain she could have been heard outside this room.

  “Stop lying, Sabrina.” Adam chimes in. About fuckin’ time, too. He the one she’s started screwing over in the first place. He should be pissed.

  “I’m not, why don’t y’all believe me?” She throws up her hands in a dramatic gesture before slamming her back against the chair she is seated in.

  “Maybe because Shawn has proof like he said.” Tara’s voice is raised from the normal soft sounds that usually come from her mouth.

  “Butt. Out.” Sabrina grinds her teeth with each word. Her demeanor changes then her eyes roam back to me. “There’s no way you have proof. It’s your word against mine in fact. For all I know, you took that money out just to have a reason to get rid of me. I’ll sue.” The bitch smiles like she has just one-upped me.

  “Like hell you will.” Tara is on her feet about to pass me when her words and actions sink in. I reach out, grabbing her by the waist and pull her into my front without thinking it through. My palm sides easily beneath her t-shirt to rest on the skin above the waistband of her blue jeans. I do this to calm her down, to bring her emotions into check, but in doing so, skin-to-skin contact with her has the opposite effect on me. She instantly relaxes against me whereas the muscles in my body are coiling.

  “Is that a threat, Taralynn?” Sabrina lifts her torso, straightening her back.

  “You’re lucky he isn’t calling the cops and having you arrested
for stealing.” She makes an attempt to pull away from me, but I place my free hand on her other hip, keeping it on top of her clothes. No way I could get away with calling the first time a ‘slip of the hand’ if I do it again.

  “Again, it’s his word against mine.” This time she crosses her arms across her chest.

  “Give it up already.” Adam shakes his head.

  “This ends now,” I assert. “You’re fired; end of story. Tara is right. I could easily press charges against you, but I’m willing to let this go, right now, just walk the fuck away because my patience with you is shortening by the second. My suggestion, and I really hope you take it, is to pack whatever shit you have and get out. You won’t get a last paycheck from me; I think you’ve taken enough money already.”

  Her mouth falls open.

  “I installed security cameras above the register earlier this week. You don’t have a leg to stand on.” Before she utters another word, I decide to provide a bit of caution. “If you speak, if you do anything other than stand and leave, I won’t let this go. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you’re prosecuted for stealing from this company.”

  She hesitates, only for a few seconds, then does exactly what I suggested she should do. She stands and starts to walk out of the door without another word. Before she can make it all the way out I stop her. I shake my head. Did this bitch really think she was that fuckin’ slick? “Don’t you think you have something that belongs to me, Sabrina?” She stumbles and then her body freezes. She looks back at me with hatred in her eyes, they bore into mine, but that’s okay. She obviously isn’t too smart. “I watched you put the deposit bag in your purse before we came back here. Did you honestly think I forgot already? Hand over the money and then GET. THE. FUCK. OUT!” She has fear in her eyes now as she hands over the bag to Adam and then scurries out the door like the pest she is. Finally, the only smart thing this bitch has ever done. She is lucky that little move didn’t warrant a call to the cops. She’s gone and I’m fucking over the whole situation. This is done. It’s over and the company can move on. I can move on and concentrate on everything I need to improve around here.

  “I’m outta here, man. See ya both, tomorrow.” Adam sets the bag down on the desk and then follows Sabrina out, leaving Tara and me alone in the office. Her back is still pressed against my chest. My hand is still on her skin and I have no idea how to alleviate a situation that is now awkward.

  It would be so easy to slide my hand up to cup her breast. I still remember what they felt like when I did it in Mac’s office. Her skin is soft, like velvet and her tits are firm and fuck, I have to get her away from me right now or she’s going to feel something pressed against her ass that she shouldn’t.

  I rip my hand out from under her clothes and push her away with my other hand.

  “I need to…I have a client waiting…probably. See ya, later.” I’m sure I do, maybe, hell I don’t know, I can’t think and I need to get away from her and away from the way she smells like things I want to taste.

  I walk away leaving her in the office.

  Shit, I need to get laid.

  After the fallout at the studio last week, I didn’t think today would ever get here. Not only did Sabrina get fired for stealing, but Tyler and Hunter got canned a few days ago too. Apparently, all three of them were in on it and were splitting the money.

  What a flippin’ shame.

  Hunter had an attitude problem, sure, and he lacked a decent work ethic, but the guy could tattoo beautifully. I don’t get it. If it was about the money, all he had to do was work harder. He never had a full schedule. He might do two or three tattoos in a day. Hunter’s always drawn them out. A simple, one-hour design would take him three times as long to finish than anyone else.

  As much as I don’t want to see anyone lose their job, Adam should have let Tyler go a long time ago. He didn’t work out as a tattoo artist. Then he was given a position as a piercer. Not that I want any other piercings than in my ears, but if I did, I’d never let Tyler touch my flesh.

  I interviewed a guy for Adam a while back, but he didn’t show up with a portfolio that would have given me a glimpse at what he would bring to the studio. I’m still learning the ins and outs of the tattoo world, but one thing I know for sure because I’ve not only heard it said from Shawn, but from my brother’s buddy, Chance Manning, too, is that an artist, a real artist that’s serious about his or her profession would never show up without a display of their previous work. If you take pride in something, you show it.

  “Taralynn.” My dad’s whisper of my name brings me out of my thoughts as he enters my bedroom. I’m not asleep, obviously, but he doesn’t know that. Its Christmas morning, early, real early, and I’m lying in my bed at my parents’ house. “Wake up, sweetheart.”

  I’ve been waiting on his arrival for half an hour. We have a tradition and one I look forward to every year. Since I was a little kid, he’s always woken me up before anyone else gets up to give me a Christmas present that’s just from him and him alone. It’s our secret. I’ve never breath a word of this even to my brother. I don’t know why my dad does this and I’ve never asked. Once a year, every Christmas morning between three and four I get my daddy the way I’ve always wanted him. Needed him. In these moments, I feel like a kid loved.

  “I’m awake, Daddy.” This is another rare moment when I call him that particular word. It’s usually Dad. At least it is in front of my mother. Her rule.

  He sits down on the edge of my bed. I rise, pulling myself into a sitting position. He’s holding a box. It’s resting on his leg. I can see the outlines of the sharpness in the dark. Excitement spurs within me making me feel like a small child.

  He reaches over to the bedside table to turn on the lamp. Luckily it’s low lighting so the brightness doesn’t sting my eyes.

  “Merry Christmas, baby girl.” He places the wrapped present onto my lap.

  “Merry Christmas to you too.” I smile, looking at him expectantly. He knows what’s coming. I can’t help myself. “What is it?” I’m way to giddy for a twenty-one year old, but I don’t give a crap.

  “Child, every year since you learned to speak, you’ve asked that same question.” He laughs lightly. “I’ve never told you before and I’m not telling you now. Open it, Taralynn, if you want to find out.”

  It’s heavy and several inches thick. When I pick it up, it feels solid so I give it a shake. Nothing rattles. My dad laughs again. The wrapping paper is the same every year. Santa Claus. I don’t know where or how he manages to pull that one off, but he does. I lay it back on my lap and proceed to tear into it, quickly learning that it isn’t a present inside a box. The present itself is wrapped. It’s a book and a thick book at that. Flipping it over to the front, I read the title. It’s a thesaurus for writers.

  I’m floored maybe even shocked. I was not expecting him to give me something like this. I look up confused. Not because I don’t like it and not because I’m ungrateful. I’m both. In fact, I think I love this. It’s the best gift he’s ever given me, but coming from him it doesn’t make sense.

  “You don’t like it?” His question is full of disappointment. That’s the last thing I want my dad to feel so I quickly dispel that assumption.

  “Yes, sir, I like it a lot; a lot a lot even. It’s just…I don’t get why you would give me something like this. I’m confused, but I love it.”

  “Confused how? You love to write so I thought it would be something useful for you.”

  “It is. It will be very useful, but you hate that I want to be a writer.”

  “Sweetheart, I don’t hate it. You enjoy it and I get that, but I’m your dad. I want what’s best for you. I know you don’t like having been forced to graduate with two majors, but it’s my job to make sure if one option doesn’t pan out that you’ll have a second option to pursue.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense to me. And it’s contradicting the ultimatum you gave me just a week ago.” Why would he have h
er tell me I have to give up writing and settle down if he doesn’t disagree with my passion to write?

  “What are you talking about? I haven’t given you any sort of ultimatum. Ever.”

  “That not true.” My voice falters allowing the hurt inside to filter out. “Mother said that if I don’t give up writing after graduation and marry someone worthy of this family that I wouldn’t be a welcome member of it any longer.” Who does that to their children? Aren’t you supposed to love them unconditionally? Accept them for who they are, the good and the bad?

  He stares at me. It’s as though I’ve rendered Jacob Evans speechless.

  I haven’t given any thought to what my mother said after I told Shawn. I wouldn’t allow myself to dwell on it; I knew the moment I did, the emotions would overcome me. I was right. The tears come and fall from my eyes before I’m able to keep them at bay. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to cry in from of him. I didn’t want to ruin the one moment I get to enjoy my dad the way I’ve always dreamed.

  I turn my face to look away, but he grabs my jaw firmly between his thumb and index fingers pulling my head back around to face him. He’s angry.

  “Let’s get one thing straight right now.” His normal light blue eyes are dark. Almost scary looking as they bore into mine. “Nod so that I know you’re not only going to listen, but you’re going to really hear what I say.” I do as he says, nodding my head. “The moment you were conceived you were my daughter. You became a part of me for forever in that moment and you’ll always be not just my daughter, but as much a part of this family as anyone else in it. Am I clear on that, Taralynn?”

  “Yes, sir, but she said—” He cuts me off before I restate my mother’s words to me last week.

  “Katherine does not speak for me. She should not have said what she said to you and I’ll address that with her.” He releases my jaw only to place his palm gently around the back of my head. Leaning forward, my dad plants a softs kiss on my forehead. It’s sweet and something he hasn’t done in years. “I’m sorry, baby girl. I’m sorry I’m not the father you need nor the father you’ve always deserved.”