by JA Johnston
I don’t get to ponder this for long when I hear the gun fire. Once, twice. I look into his soulless eyes as I feel warmth in my abdomen. As I look down, I hear Adam; “What was that? Was that a gun shot? Amelia, where are you?”
“Adam.” I whisper as I fall to my knees.
“Amelia, where are you? Are you hurt?” I hear Adam plea into the phone.
My father stands before me, aiming the gun at my head. “You’re not my daughter. I should have told you that a long time ago. Your mother was a slut, and so are you. I tried to love you, I tried, but I can’t love an abomination as you.”
The gun fires one last time. Everything is black.
The End of Lies
Seventeen years, nine months
IT’S BEEN ONE month. One month since I lost yet another person that I loved. The first was the love of my life, Courtney, when she married another. Then my brother, Robert, eight years ago, now my nephew, Lucas.
I stand in the archway watching Amelia nurse Courtney and Lucas. It’s ironic that she and Lucas choose those names before he died. Both children have blue eyes. Courtney’s hair is a light brown, and Lucas’ is a sandy brown. I can hear their gulping and watch their little hands hold onto their mother. How she manages to nurse them both in that position is beyond me.
But it seems to sooth Amelia, to have them in her arms as much as possible. All of us have been here, supporting her as best as we can. We can never replace Lucas, but with two brand new babies, she needs us. Almost as much as we need the three of them. They are all I have left, who Grace has left.
I check my watch. “Amelia.” I step into her view, “It’s time.”
Today a memorial is being held at Lucas and Amelia’s home. Many people have sent condolences, today, though, is for family and friends.
Today I am remembering my brother’s service and Courtney’s. Nobody knew who I was at hers, as I sat in the back of the church. That was the first time I laid eyes on Amelia, she was a tiny little girl, crying into her Pops’ chest.
Amelia looks up at me and sighs. There are times when she looks like her mother, but not her eyes. I suppose those are her father’s eye color, I don’t know. I’ve never really paid attention to Darren Bennett’s picture or have met him. At this moment, her eyes are filled with sadness, which reminds me of Courtney. The last day I spent with Courtney, was the day she left to go home when her father had suffered a heart attack.
Amelia offers for me to take Courtney into my arms. As I hold this precious baby girl in my arms, I can only imagine, what if? What if Courtney never went home? Would we have gotten married? Would we be parents? Grandparents? I still have not told Amelia about her mother and I. That conversation is not going to be an easy one.
Once we are with the rest of the family, I reluctantly hand Courtney over to Grace as Amelia sits beside her. Eileen, Grams, on the opposite side of her, stroking Lucas’ crown. I look around and take everyone in. All these people have been a part of our lives for a long time and not so long, but became very close.
As the chaplain begins the service, the front door opens again, another guest arriving. I look up and meet the stare of his hard-icy blue eyes. He nods his head at me, as I reciprocate back.
As the service progresses along, my mind is reliving Courtney’s, and then my brother’s services. Grace broke down, while Lucas and I did our best to help her. I stepped into mentor Lucas, then got Grace into grief therapy. I wonder if I will need to do that for Amelia.
Looking at her, though, she’s strong. She has a larger circle of people around her, who love her, support her. Then, she has the twins, I am sure they are a beautiful reminder of her and Lucas’ love for one another. Grace and Eileen both have moved in temporarily with Amelia. I am here every day as well, along with Dan, Sam, Adam and Ben.
A hand claps me on my left shoulder as I hear his deep Czech accent, “Hello my friend. It has been a long time, no?”
“That it has.” I sigh and look at him. “Honestly, I was hoping to never have to call in that favor to you.” I offer my hand to him.
As he accepts my hand, he pulls me forward, clasping my shoulder again. He leans in close to my right ear, “It is done.”
I nod at him. “Did he say anything?”
“He was not asked anything. He was found in his cell earlier.” He stands straighter and looks around. “Is that your nephew’s wife? The daughter?”
“Yes.” I wonder when Amelia will hear the news? How will she react? As I am asking myself these questions, I had not noticed my friend walk over to Amelia.
I see her reciprocate his handshake. Her face is blocked by his build, so I cannot see her reaction to whatever it is he is whispering to her. I can only imagine since I remember the first time he ever whispered into my ear.
“You are a good man, Alex. I like good men. I give you this.” He hands me a card with his name and number on it. “You get one favor, any kind of favor. Never expires.”
I watch him as he places a kiss on each of the children. He turns then, catches my eye, and nods. Then he walks out the front door as I make my way to Amelia.
“Alex, do you know that man?” Amelia asks me quietly.
“Yes.”
She stares at me with wide eyes and holds her hand open to me. Three cards are in her hand. “He said I have three favors. One for me, Courtney and Lucas.” Shaking her head looking at her hand, “Dragomir Dvorak” she whispers. “Did you…” she gulps, “have favors?”
“Yes.” I hesitate. “Just one.”
“Did you use it, the favor?” she asks in a shaky voice.
Should I tell her? How do I tell her? As I contemplate this, Bill, Dan’s father, approaches us. “Amelia, you need to come here.” He hesitates, “Grams has something to tell you.”
I look over and see Eileen, holding a phone in her hand. She looks troubled. Amelia sits down beside her, Eileen takes her hands and whispers to her. Bill wraps his arm around Amelia, as I watch her, many different emotions take over her features. Then she looks up, her glassy eyes meet my cold brown ones. She knows!
I nod my head, answering her unasked question. Yes, I called in my one favor. A favor I never expected I would want, but Darren Bennett gave me no choice. He’s killed two people that I have loved. Two people too many.
To be continued in…
Lies in Truth
First, I need to thank you, the reader, for taking your time in reading my first book. I hope you enjoyed it!
I need to thank my friend Holly for editing. She challenged me in many areas whenever she handed the manuscript back to me. Which is a good thing! I had to break out the thesaurus!
To my nieces and nephews. I reached out and asked for ideas on town names, bar names, etc.. I can’t remember who offered me which ideas, but I know I used some or combined some. Some were just silly! Love you all!
To my brother, Steven. You’re probably wondering why I am thanking you. If not for you, I would not have my fascination with superheroes. Saturday morning cartoons, I would watch Justice League, Avengers, Captain America, Spider Man... I can go on and on.
To JM Walker for the gorgeous cover design and formatting.
Then to those authors who I look up to and admire, who responded in kind when I reached out asking for advice. Julie Richman, Aleatha Romig, and JM Walker. Ilona Townsel, I include you also, because you did offer advice to me. Thank you, ladies!
To my Beta Readers
Kristen, Kris, Grace, Tami, and Holly! Thank you for catching errors or cringing at words that I used to often. Then of course asking questions as to why this happened, what’s this? etc…in the story. Having me to go in and add more.
JA Johnston is a native New Yorker, growing up in Queens and spending summers on Long Island. JA is a preschool teacher for twenty years. In college, she loved creative writing classes and would make up other stories, but never wrote them down, until now.
She now lives in South Carolina with her husband, three daughters, an
d miniature dachshund.
Contact JA
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/authorjajohnston
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1 - Truth
Chapter 1 - Lies
Chapter 2 - Truth
Chapter 2 - Lies
Chapter 3 - Truth
Chapter 3 - Lies
Chapter 4 - Truth
Chapter 4 - Lies
Chapter 5 - Truth
Chapter 5 - Lies
Chapter 6 - Truth
Chapter 6 - Lies
Chapter 7 - Truth
Chapter 7 - Lies
Chapter 8 - Truth
Chapter 8 - Lies
Chapter 9 - Truth
Chapter 9 - Lies
Chapter 10 - Truth
Chapter 10 - Lies
Chapter 11 - Truth
Chapter 11 - Lies
Chapter 12 - Truth
Chapter 12 - Lies
Chapter 13 - Truth
Chapter 13 - Lies
Chapter 14 - Truth
Chapter 14 - Lies
Chapter 15 - Truth
Chapter 15 - Lies
Epilogue - Truth
