by Alora Kate
“Yes, my parents are wonderful people.”
Of course, they were good people.
Good, clean, sober people. A mother who probably smelled like flowers, not stale beer and sex. A mother who wore makeup, but didn’t need to, because she was the most beautiful person on the planet. Not a mother who looked sloppy—smeared lipstick from the quickie blowjob she gave behind a dumpster for her next fix. A mother who hugged and kissed her daughter, taught her about life and love, was excited for her daughter to experience life. A mother who gave a damn about her daughter.
I tried not to show any emotions or that I was a tad jealous when I said, “That’s good to hear.”
Flashes of a childhood I only dreamed of took over my thoughts. Birthday parties with friends all around, Christmases with family, food, and gifts. Emotional support when you found out your first love wasn’t love at all. Laughter. Smiles. Warmth. Everything I never had but wished and hoped and prayed for every damn night of my sorry excuse of a childhood.
Ki rolled over in her chair and set her notebook on my desk. She started asking questions and I knew it was to take my mind off the line of questions I was starting to ask. “So, Emma, did you know her address?”
“We met somewhere once.” She continued to tell her the address and roughly where it was. According to her, they always met at the mall or a restaurant or talked on the phone.
“Anything else you can think of that might help us? Names of people she might have mentioned during your conversations?”
“No, she only wanted to talk about me.”
I tried to hide my disappointment while Ki continued, “Well, if something comes up, please let us know.”
She nodded, tucked her red hair behind her ear, and adjusted her glasses. She didn’t wear them last time so she must switch them out with contacts. Her hair was pretty for it being so bright and red. Clearly, we had different dads.
I couldn’t stop my next question. It was like I finally lost control of what little filter I did have. “Did you know your sperm donor?” I asked and Ki smacked my arm.
“Um, no. Our mom didn’t know who my father was.”
I stopped my smile from forming. Good, at least we had that in common. I could handle knowing I wasn’t good enough for my mother, she showed me and told me enough during her life. But I’m not sure if I could actually handle knowing that Emma’s sperm donor reached out to her, like she was good enough to know him too. “Mine died when I was young. Don’t remember him and that’s what led to my wonderful childhood.”
“Lex,” Ki warned and I rolled my eyes.
“Fine, I’m sorry.”
“Alexa, I’m sorry for what she did to you,” Emma started. “It was wrong on so many levels but she was trying to get better. She was fighting her demons and getting help. She felt horrible for the life she gave you. She said she was surprised you even talked to her at all. She loved you and wanted a relationship with you. I know that doesn’t mean much coming from me, but it’s all true. I hope you can find some comfort in my words.”
I set my pen down and stood. Walking away from her and Ki so I could keep myself from crying or showing weakness was the best thing to do. I needed a moment to myself. I used the restroom and then sat on the floor and pulled my phone out.
Just like the last time, it barely rung. “Dollface.”
“I have a sister.”
“Oh.” He grunted and was quiet for a few seconds and then came back to me. “Sorry, had to sit up. So, you have a sister? I’m confused.”
“So am I.”
“You called to talk, Lex, but you don’t have to. I could tell you a story.”
I laughed. “Tapper Low wants to tell me a story?”
“A story about a boy, falling in love with a girl.”
Christ, he was talking about us. I couldn’t deal with this either.
Damn feelings.
“Or I could tell you that story another day,” he added.
“I want to hear that story, but yes, another day. I can’t take anymore.”
“Well, I’m listening.”
“Apparently, my mother had two kids. She put my younger sister up for adoption when I was around the age of four. I was too young to remember anything.”
“Interesting.”
“I met her the other day, and she’s downstairs right now.”
“Must be hard not being able to ask her.”
“Ask who what?”
“Your mom,” he cleared his throat, “I mean, have you asked . . . shit.”
“You know about my mom?”
He was silent.
“How do you know about my mom?”
“Dollface—”
“Don’t give me that, Tap, not right now.” I stood and headed back to Ki and Emma.
Ki.
“Did Ki tell you?”
More silence.
“She told you!”
“She was worried about you, Lex.”
“I’ll call you back.”
“Lex—”
I hung up on him and shoved my phone into my back pocket and flew through the door, startling the both of them.
“You!” I pointed at Ki and her eyes went wide like she knew what I had just found out.
“The day you went to therapy with Prescot, Tapper was there.”
“Lex, honey, just listen—”
“You told him, Ki! You told him about my mom when I asked you to drop it.”
“I’m sorry.” She stood. “I’m worried about you, you know that.”
“I didn’t want to talk about it with you, so why would you turn to him?”
I was standing right in front of her but I glanced at Emma, who avoided my eyes. “I hate this. I hated my mom my entire life and I want to close the book on her. She doesn’t deserve any more of my time, but then you show up!” Emma refused to look at anything but the floor so I looked to Ki. “And you . . . you’re my best friend, Ki; he’s hardly my friend, at least that day he was hardly a friend, but you went to him anyway.”
“Because I love you.”
I stomped my foot and kept my hands on my hips. “I wish I could punch you in the vagina.”
She swallowed a lump in her throat and replied, “What?”
“You deserve to be punched in the vagina, but instead, I have something better in mind.”
I reached out, grabbed her by her right ear, and pulled her toward the front door.
“Jesus, Lex, what are you doing?”
I kept tugging her ear, making sure if someone was watching they’d see it. A few seconds later it clicked, and Ki pulled my hand away. “You didn’t.”
“I did.”
I walked back to my desk.
“I highly doubt he’s still protecting me.”
“I hope he is.”
“What’s going on?” Emma asked.
“You think our mother was murdered so we need all hands on deck.”
“So?”
“So, I just summoned someone who’s way better at this shit than we are, and he’s got connections. Ki’s father is rich and I’m sure we have unlimited resources.”
“Oh my God!” Ki shrieked. “That’s enough, Lex!”
I punched the air toward her. “Vagina punch.”
She pointed at me and opened her mouth to say something but she didn’t get the chance. I smiled and sat on my desk as I watched Lucas walk in the door. He was a gorgeous man, and today was no different. His light blond hair was slightly messy and he had a hint of stubble on his face. His eyes were intense as he folded his strong arms across his chest.
“What the hell is going on?” he grumbled, bouncing his eyes between the two of us.
“Ki started it.” He gave his eyes to Ki, and it was obvious he was still in love with her.
“You can go, Lucas,” Ki said glaring at me. “She’s mad at me and only did that to piss me off.”
“Lucas,” I said, getting his attention and his eyes, “want to help us solve a murder
?”
Chapter 15 – Alexa
“Well, then,” Lucas said sitting in the chair in front of Ki’s desk, which was turned toward me. Ki had her chair turned toward me also but was texting Prescot. I knew she told Prescot this morning about Lucas while she was at her doctor appointment, which went well. I was anxious to find out more about the appointment, but we haven’t had a minute alone to talk since she got back.
First Emma showed up five minutes early, and now Lucas—though, to be fair, I did summon him. The minute I sat in the chair, my phone went off with a text from Ki. I knew better than to look up at her, so I read her message. Texting Prescot. Keep Lucas busy.
So here we are, one dysfunctional group trying to solve a murder.
“I know it’s not much but you’re the only person who can help us,” I replied, watching him shake his head with a small smile.
He pulled his phone out and asked, “When did she die?”
“A few days ago.”
“Full name?” he asked and Emma took over answering the questions, ones I should be paying attention to but I kept glancing at Ki, who was now giving me the stink eye. I grinned at her and she flipped me off.
We were totally best friends and we were going to be just fine.
But that didn’t mean I had to forgive her so soon.
It was a bit weird having Emma, a sister I never knew I had, know more about our mother than I did. She knew the trivial stuff that should have been second nature for me to know—where she liked to go, what she typically wore, her routines. It was almost heartbreaking to know that my mother was closer to Emma in a short year than she was with me. But is that just her fault? Should I have tried harder? I shook that thought from my head. It’s the past and I can’t change it.
Learn from it, Lex. Don’t repeat the past, learn from it.
“So, where should we start?” I asked while Lucas kept putting information into his phone.
“I’ll see what I can find out first,” he said as he stood. “Ki, can I have a word.”
She cleared her throat and slowly stood. “Sure.”
“Outside.”
“Prescot’s on his way!” she blurted out, which made Lucas grin.
“That’s fine, Ki.”
He went outside and Ki put her hand out toward me. “It’s shaking. My hand is shaking. I can’t believe you did this to me.”
“Get over it.”
She gasped, “You’re on a thin line right now, Lex.” She pinched her fingers together. “So thin.”
I laughed and watched her walk out the door.
“What am I missing?” Emma asked, and I sat back on my desk to watch it all play out.
“It’s a long story, but Lucas is in love with Ki. Ki loves Prescot, picked even after Lucas poured his heart out to her but it just wasn’t the right time. Ki’s father is rich and hired Lucas to keep tabs on Ki to make sure she didn’t get into trouble, even though she ended up getting shot.”
“That seems complicated.”
“It is, but someday Lucas will move on. Someday Ki will marry Prescot. And all will be right with the world.”
“What about you?”
I looked down at her. “What do you mean?”
“Are you dating anyone?”
I smiled.
Am I?
Is that what was happening between Tap and me? “I don’t know.”
“I am,” she said, and I watched Ki turn around to greet Prescot. He put his arm around her waist and shook hands with Lucas.
“Who are you dating?”
Emma smiled and rested her hands in her lap. “Ben. I started dating him in high school.”
“And you aren’t married?”
“He hasn’t asked, but we like our life the way it is.”
“Are you happy?”
“Yes, I am.” And she looked it. A slight pink on the apples of her cheeks, a sparkle in her eye. Emma had it all.
You don’t know that. Maybe she’s just as good at hiding her feelings as you are.
Lucas walked off and Ki leaned into Prescot’s chest as his arms wrapped around her. It was hard to see out of the shop because the sun was shining on the windows, but I knew she was telling him about what I did.
I hopped off my desk as the phone rang and sat in my chair to answer it. “Two girls investigate, this is one of them, how may I help you?” I reached for my legal pad and fuzzy pen, poised to start taking notes.
“Alexa, it’s Josh.” I dropped my pen and spun in my chair.
“What’s up, Josh?”
“Have some envelopes.”
My eyes flicked to the clock. Quarter to five and he’s calling us now? I chewed on my bottom lip as I entertained the idea of trekking back to the court house. The commuter traffic would be a nightmare at this time, both on the street and with pedestrians. “It’s kind of late.”
“I always call you girls first.”
“We better sit them out, have some stuff going on.”
“Is everything okay?”
“We’re good.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to you Monday.”
“Sounds good.”
I hung up and turned the volume down as Ki and Prescot walked in the door.
“Hey, Prescot.”
Ki pinched her fingers together reminding me of the thin line I was treading so I decided to back off. But just a little.
“I should go,” Emma said standing.
“I’ll call you when we hear back from Lucas.”
“I appreciate it, Alexa.”
“No problem.”
Ki sat at her desk while Prescot walked back to the front of the office to take a call. Emma snuck out and Ki was ignoring me. I checked my phone messages and had six from Tapper. I shot a quick text back, letting him know that all was good and that I’d call after we closed up the store for the night. I glanced up at Ki as she shut her computer down and locked her desk drawers.
“Who was on the phone?”
“Josh.”
“Work?”
“Not much, turned it down as we have so much going on right now.”
“I hate turning down work, but it is Friday and I’m exhausted.”
“I knew you’d say that.”
“Don’t try and be cute with me . . . not yet.”
“Too bad!” I spun around in my chair a few times before standing. “I’m always cute.”
She smirked. “That you are.”
“Ki.”
We both turned to Prescot, who was walking toward Ki. “Molly is dropping off some papers for me to sign.”
“On a Friday night?”
“Deadline is six pm.”
“We can wait for her.”
“You guys wait,” I said walking off. “I’m going upstairs to make some food.”
“You don’t know how to cook!” Ki yelled after me.
###
Waving the plate in front of the smoke alarm, I questioned why I thought today was the day I’d not burn something. Any minute now, Ki would be busting through the door to assist. Turkey hamburger cooks differently than hamburger, and I didn’t even know it was turkey. I must have bought it by mistake. I was officially starving now and would have to pull out another take-out menu.
“Lex!”
“Right on time,” I mumbled, dropping my arms because it’s been a few seconds since it beeped.
“Why did you even turn the stove on?”
“Don’t give me shit.” I sat the plate on the counter and looked at the burnt pan sitting in the sink. It was so black and still had burnt food on it. I was soaking it with hot soapy water, but I wasn’t sure it could be saved.
“I’ll give you all the shit I want to give you.”
“I know, I deserve it.”
I turned around and Prescot walked over to help Ki open the windows in the living room.
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“Anytime you set the alarm off, it’s bad.”
“Who’s the fastest
delivery driver?” I asked, going through the drawer.
“Cheng loves us.”
“Chinese it is.”
###
An hour after we ate, we parted ways and I called Tapper after I settled into bed.
“Dollface.”
“I’m already in bed.”
“So am I.”
I yawned into the phone and closed my eyes.
“So, what happened with Ki?”
“I punched her in the vagina.”
His tired laugh put a smile on my face. “How does someone punch someone else in the vagina?”
“Tap. I know you have experience punching people. Do I really have to paint that picture for you? I knelt down, aimed, and vagina-punched the daylights out of Ki.”
He laughed loudly. “Really?”
“Hypothetically speaking. I mean, I fist-punched the air.”
“She just wants the best for you.”
“I know, she flipped me off so I think we’re good.”
We both yawned at the same time and agreed I’d stop by tomorrow.
I fell asleep shortly after that.
Chapter 16 – Alexa
“Lexi poo poo, wake up.” I smelled the fresh bagel under my nose and knew she went to our favorite Saturday vendor. I tried to grab it, but she moved it away. “Open your eyes,” Ki sang to me, and I rolled over and opened my eyes, looking at the ceiling.
“What time is it?”
“A little after nine.”
“Feels like six am.”
“Well, it’s not so get up.”
“It’s Saturday, I’m going back to bed.”
“We have plans.”
“No, we don’t.” I rolled back over and snuggled into my pillow and closed my eyes again. “Let me sleep.”
“Ten minutes, then you’re getting up and eating your bagel before Prescot eats it.”
“Whatever.”
I heard the door quietly shut and pulled the covers up.
“Lexi poo poo, your ten minutes are up.”
“You just shut the door.”
“I promise I waited ten minutes, now get up.” She pulled the blankets off me and opened my curtains. “I’ve got a great day planned for us.”
“No.”
“Yes. Stop fighting it. It’ll be fun.”
