Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

by Susan Mallery

“Me, too.”

  More than she would have thought. There was something about Griffith. Something she liked a whole lot.

  He walked her to her truck, pulled her close and kissed her one last time.

  “Think of me tonight,” he whispered.

  “I promise.”

  Easy words—what else could she possibly think of except him?

  * * *

  Olivia printed out another picture of a quilt and put it into the plastic sleeve. She was preparing a sample notebook to demonstrate to Sally how the quilts could be photographed to show the details and colors. Better to have only a few quilts displayed and pictures of the others available than to have a constant mess as people dug through stacks of them. Plus, unattended inventory would get dirty and then be difficult to sell. Sally’s work was exquisite. People needed to respect that.

  Olivia had already drawn up several floor plans for the booth. That had been the easy part. A quick trip to the local Target for supplies had meant she could put together the notebook. This, after working on some ideas for decorating tiny homes. Her back was sore and her hand was a little cramped from drawing, but that was okay. She liked what she was doing.

  She got up and stretched as she wandered into the kitchen. Her dad was still out with his friends and Kelly was still on her date. Given how hot she’d looked when she left, Olivia wouldn’t be surprised if Kelly didn’t make it home much before dawn.

  Olivia supposed she could have been bothered by being alone, but the old house was friendly enough for her to feel safe. She’d heated up some leftovers for dinner. Now she took a cookie from the jar on the counter and walked into the living room.

  It was nearly nine—quiet with the sun just going down. She crossed to the window and looked out onto the front yard. Her BMW looked out of place. If she stayed she would have to replace it with something more sensible when the lease was up.

  If she stayed...

  There was an unexpected thought. Stay here in this tiny town? She hadn’t been able to find full-time marketing work in Phoenix. There was no way she could earn a living here.

  She finished her cookie and flopped onto the sofa. Okay—that wasn’t completely true. She could have found full-time work if she’d left Marilee’s firm and gone out looking for a job, only she hadn’t. There were a thousand reasons, none of them especially impressive.

  She’d been afraid. She’d doubted herself, which was nearly the same thing. Somehow her mother had always sensed when she was getting ready to quit and gave her a raise or a different opportunity that kept her in place. Marilee was good like that—she could see what was happening and twist circumstances to suit herself, the rest of the world be damned.

  “Don’t think about her,” Olivia said aloud as she stretched out her legs and put her feet on the coffee table. It was still early and she wasn’t tired. She would finish Sally’s notebook, then draw up a tiny house loft bedroom design before switching on the TV.

  She started back to her room. Car headlights swept across the wall, distracting her. Her dad or Kelly. Olivia smiled as she realized she wanted it to be her dad. That would mean Kelly was still out and having a good time with Griffith. The fact that she wanted the best for her sister made her feel good about herself. She could have carried a grudge or been sullen, but neither had happened. Maybe she wasn’t as terrible a person as she’d feared.

  She went back to the living room, arriving just as the front door opened. But it wasn’t her sister or her father. Instead, Marilee walked into the house.

  “I saw your car parked out front and knew you were home.” Her mother smiled. “Hello, darling. I know, I know. I’m a surprise.” She glanced around. “It all looks the same. So very cozy. I see Jeff still isn’t locking the front door. That man.”

  The words made sound, but for Olivia it was as if she was hearing them from far away, or underwater. Olivia told herself to turn and run, or to pinch herself and wake up from the awful, scary nightmare. Only she wasn’t dreaming. She was living this moment, which meant there was no escape.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Marilee set her Valentino handbag on the sofa table and continued to study the living room.

  “You said you were enjoying your visit. It got me to thinking about how long it had been since I spent time with your father.”

  “You shouldn’t be spending time with him,” Olivia whispered, barely able to speak through the horror of it all. “You’re divorced.”

  Marilee waved that factoid away. “Ancient history. He was always such a handsome man. So dependable. Not like Roger. Two weeks into our vacation and he grew so tiresome. He accused me of flirting with one of the waiters at his country club. Can you imagine?”

  Easily, Olivia thought. The question wasn’t whether or not her mother had flirted, but if the flirting had gone any further. It wouldn’t surprise her at all to hear Marilee had ducked into a linen closet with said waiter for a quick round of slap and tickle.

  Which wasn’t the point. The point was Marilee was here. She couldn’t be here. She had to leave right this second.

  “Mom, what’s going on?”

  “I told you. Your texts got me to thinking about the past and made me want to see your father. And you, of course, I’ve missed you. Oh, and Kelly. She must still be around. She did love the farm. She wouldn’t go far.” Marilee sighed. “My girls back together. It’s a wonderful thought.”

  Bile rose in Olivia’s throat. No. No! Marilee couldn’t be planning on staying. If she talked to Jeff or Kelly, she would say things. Like the fact that she was from Phoenix and that she and Olivia had been working together for nearly four years. Something Olivia hadn’t mentioned at all.

  “Mom, no. You have to leave.”

  “No, I don’t. This is my house, too.”

  “You left. You and Dad got a divorce.”

  “So you keep saying. I’m very clear on my marital status, Olivia. Don’t be tiresome.” Her gaze sharpened. “Or is that not the problem? What did you tell them about me?”

  Olivia swore silently. Marilee always knew what she was thinking. It was so frustrating and beyond annoying.

  “You haven’t said anything about me, have you?” Her mother laughed. “Oh, that’s brilliant. I can work with that. Do they think we’ve been in touch at all?”

  “Yes.” She bit her lower lip, thinking about what she and Kelly had talked about. “Some.”

  “But not that we work together. Wonderful. I can get to know both my girls at the same time.”

  Not a scenario Olivia liked, but what choice did she have?

  Marilee wandered into the kitchen and glanced around. “Not the remodel I would have chosen, but nicely done. How’s your father these days?”

  “He’s fine.”

  “Is he seeing anyone?”

  “Mom, no. Leave him alone.”

  “That’s hardly your call, Olivia. Do I have to remind you that you kept secrets from Kelly and your father? How sad if they had to find out about your deceits. I doubt they’d want to have you around if they knew.”

  Before Olivia could figure out what to say, she heard a truck door slam. Someone was home.

  Her stomach flopped over, as she broke out in a cold sweat. Nothing good was going to come from any of this, she thought frantically. Disaster loomed and she honest to God didn’t know how to stop it.

  The front door opened and Kelly walked in. She was flushed and smiling.

  “Hi. It’s me.”

  She looked like a woman who’d been well satisfied, Olivia thought, wishing there was a way to warn her off, or at the very least, protect her.

  Kelly saw her and grinned. “How was your evening?”

  Marilee stepped out of the kitchen. “Hello, darling.”

  Kelly came to a stop. The col
or drained from her face as she took a step back, then another. Her eyes widened, her mouth opened and closed as she tried to speak.

  “Mom?”

  “Yes, it’s me. Surprise.”

  * * *

  Surprise? After being gone thirteen years, after walking out on her family, all her mother had to say was surprise? Kelly stared at the woman standing by the kitchen and did her best to reconcile what she remembered with what she saw.

  Marilee looked much as she had then—as if the passing years weren’t an issue. She looked more polished, her hair more sleek, her makeup more subtle. She wore tailored pants and a clingy, low-cut blouse. There were no signs of physical aging, but Marilee had always been one to defy convention.

  “What are you doing here?”

  The question came out more harshly than she’d intended, but she didn’t add anything to soften it. What was her mother doing here? Why now? Why did she have to come back at all?

  “Do you need money?”

  Marilee laughed and stepped toward her, as if they were going to embrace. Kelly took a step back, prepared to put furniture between them if necessary.

  “Oh, Kelly, I’d forgotten how you could be so funny.” She smiled. “I came to see you and your father.” She turned to Olivia. “I came to see both my girls.”

  “You knew Olivia was here?” Kelly glanced at her sister. “You told her?”

  Olivia nodded.

  Panic flared. Kelly found herself confused and afraid—as if she were that fifteen-year-old again. The one who had fought with Marilee and caused her mother to abandon them all.

  No, she told herself. It hadn’t been her fault. Her mother had wanted to leave. Kelly had provided an excuse. Marilee had chosen an extra cruel way to go, that was all.

  Her mother approached. Kelly forced herself to stand her ground. Marilee touched her shoulder. “You’re all grown up. When did that happen? How old are you? Twenty-five?”

  Kelly shrugged away from the contact. “I’m twenty-eight. Olivia is twenty-five. Dad is nearly fifty. We’ve all managed to keep on living, even without you. I know that’s shocking. I’m sure from your perspective we should be exactly where we were, waiting for your return. But it doesn’t work that way. We got on with our lives. We’re all fine.”

  Aware that she was practically shouting, Kelly pressed her lips together.

  Marilee blinked several times. “You’re still angry with me. Oh, darling, I’m sorry if I hurt you. That was so very long ago.”

  Kelly wanted to scream that she wasn’t hurt, she was furious. Olivia moved to her side.

  “Mom, this is an unexpected visit,” Olivia said. “Does Dad know you’re here?”

  “No, and I’m so excited to see him. How is he?”

  Kelly’s senses went on alert. “Why do you ask?” She glanced down and didn’t see a ring on her mother’s left hand. “No,” she said forcefully. “No. You’re not getting back together with him. He’s happy without you. We all are. You need to go right now.”

  The front door opened. Kelly spun around as her father walked into the house.

  “There’s a rental car in the driveway,” he said when he saw her. “Who—”

  Marilee stepped around her daughters and walked to her ex-husband. “Hello, Jeff,” she said, her voice low and sexy. “It’s been a long time.”

  Kelly wanted to scream at her dad to take cover. She wanted to throw herself between them. Nothing good could come of this.

  “Marilee?”

  “I know.” Her laughter was a soft trill. “I’ve missed you.”

  “All right.”

  He seemed as shocked as Kelly felt, as confused.

  Marilee tilted her head. “Have you missed me at all?”

  Olivia stepped between them. “Did you rent a car at the airport?”

  Marilee raised her eyebrows. “Yes, I did, then drove up.” She turned back to Jeff. “I was with friends in Colorado. Olivia and I text occasionally. She’d mentioned she was here and I just couldn’t stop thinking about the town. I remember it all so fondly.”

  “You left,” Kelly blurted. “For years you talked about leaving, then you walked out on your family.”

  “Kelly.” Jeff’s tone warned her.

  “No.” She put her hands on her hips. “This is ridiculous. It’s been thirteen years. Thirteen.” She glared at her mother. “You walked out on us. There was no warning. One day you were here and then you were gone. You cheated on Dad over and over again. You made our lives hell and then you disappeared. We never heard from you again. You never bothered to get in touch with me at all. I’m your daughter.”

  She felt her eyes start to burn and blinked away the tears. No way she would give Marilee the satisfaction of knowing any of this affected her.

  “Then you show up here with no warning? It’s outrageous.”

  Marilee’s mouth trembled. “Kelly, I’m so sorry. I obviously hurt you. I’d hoped...” A single tear slipped down her smooth cheek. Her shoulders slumped. “I was wrong. So very wrong.”

  Jeff cleared his throat. “Kelly, it’s fine. Your mother is always welcome to visit.”

  The tears vanished. Marilee brushed her cheek, then beamed at him. “I knew you’d understand. I’m so happy to be back with my little family.”

  “Where are you staying?” Jeff asked. “There’s a new hotel in town. I hear it’s nice.”

  Marilee’s mouth formed a perfect circle. Her eyes widened with shock. “I thought I’d stay here.”

  “No,” Kelly and Olivia said at the same time.

  “To get to know my girls,” she added. “You’ve had them all this time. That hardly seems fair.”

  Kelly had no idea how her mother managed to twist everything, but she was a master.

  “Dad,” she began, only to have her father quiet her with a look.

  “You can stay in the guest room,” he said. “Kelly, would you please get your mother clean sheets and towels?”

  Just like that, Kelly thought, outraged. Because no matter what, her father had never said a word against Marilee. Not when she’d cheated, not when she’d left, not in all the years since.

  She supposed it was some absurd code by which he wouldn’t trash talk his daughters’ mother in front of them. While she respected the theory, in practice, it made him annoying as hell, and now they were stuck with Marilee in the house.

  Kelly walked out of the living room and into the hallway. The main linen closet was by her room. Olivia followed.

  “This isn’t a good idea,” her sister began.

  “I know that, but what are we supposed to do? It’s his house and she’s his ex-wife. I can’t believe this.”

  “Me, either.”

  “You had to tell her you were here? You couldn’t have said you were at Disneyland?” Kelly saw her sister flinch and groaned. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. It’s not your fault. Of course you would mention that you were here. It’s just, I don’t want her here.”

  “Me, either.”

  They walked back the way they’d come and down the hall leading to the master and the guest room. Marilee was already in the latter. She examined the queen-size bed and the small en suite bathroom.

  “This is so nice,” she told them.

  Jeff appeared with her suitcases. “I hope you’ll be comfortable here,” he said as he put them down, then left.

  Kelly watched him go. She didn’t like anything about this. Her mother was back and in the house. She had a horrible feeling that once in place, Marilee would be impossible to remove.

  “Good night,” she said brusquely, before retreating to her own room. She sat on the edge of her bed and told herself to breathe. That she would be fine.

  A lie, she admitted to herself. Worse, the evening’
s events had killed her Griffith kiss-induced buzz and how fair was that? Speaking of Griffith...

  She pulled out her phone and started to text him, then dropped her phone back in her bag. She had no idea what to say. What a nightmare. Marilee was back and there didn’t seem to be a damn thing she could do about it.

  19

  Kelly had a hard time falling asleep. It was after midnight by the time she dozed off, so she didn’t appreciate someone shaking her awake a little after five. She opened her eyes and saw her father standing by her bed. He looked tired, as if he’d slept even less than her.

  She sat up. “Are you okay?”

  “Kitten, I need you to do me a favor. Can you go to the diner and tell Helen I won’t be in this morning?”

  “What?”

  “I guess you’re going to have to tell her what happened. About your mother.”

  Kelly hardly needed an explanation on the “what happened” front. “Sure. I guess. Can’t you just text her or something?”

  “I can, but I want you to tell her.”

  An odd request, Kelly thought as she swung her feet onto the floor, but her dad didn’t ask for much. Besides, she would really appreciate the chance to get her friend’s perspective on the situation.

  Given the early hour, Kelly passed on a shower. She dressed, brushed her teeth, combed her hair and was in her truck by five thirty. Ten minutes later she parked in front of The Parrot Café and thought longingly of coffee. At least three cups, she told herself. Maybe more.

  Her mother was back. That hadn’t changed. There’d been no waking up with that blissful it was all just a bad dream feeling. Instead there was reality—ugly, why-did-she-have-to-come-back, reality.

  Helen’s happy smile faltered when Kelly walked into the café.

  “Hi,” her friend said. “Was I expecting you?”

  “No. My dad sent me.” She made her way to the counter and sank onto a stool. “You will never in a million years guess what happened.”

  Helen seemed to go pale. “Is Jeff okay? Did something happen to him?”

  “What? No. He’s fine. I doubt he slept much, but then none of us did.” She leaned forward and pointed to the full pot. “Can I have a cup?”