Secrets and Lies

by Khardine Gray

  She hoped there wouldn’t be another run in with him, because she couldn’t guarantee the civil manner in which she just spoke to him. Next time would be different.

  Wade

  Chloe set a healthy meal of stir-fry vegetables and pan-fried chicken on the table before him, then added some vegetable concoction she’d mixed up in the juicer. It was a murky dark green that looked like it came from a swamp.

  He looked up at her and narrowed his eyes. “Is that for Pisces?”

  She frowned at him and pushed the glass closer. “It’ll help you keep your strength up.” She nodded.

  He wanted to joke but couldn’t. There was no humor left in him and nothing to joke about. It was a miracle that he’d made it through the day to this point where he was here. But at least he was here with Chloe.

  All he had to do was look at her and she’d balance him. She’d calm his nerves and ease his troubled mind.

  “Thank you.” He decided he’d drink it. “Are you having some?”

  “Later,” she replied.

  “Have you eaten today?” he asked. She looked away from him. So he guessed that meant no. “Come here.” He reached for her and pulled her into his lap.

  He held her close, speared a piece of chicken with his fork, and held it up to her mouth for her to eat.

  “I made that for you.”

  “I’ll eat it, but you’re having some too.”

  “And you’re going to feed me?” She smiled down sweetly at him.

  “I’m supposed to take care of you.” As he held her gaze he couldn’t help but think of Merissa. He’d been thinking about Merissa and the past all day. He couldn’t even focus on Taylor when he went back to the hospital. He just hadn’t been able to get Merissa out of his mind.

  Wade was supposed to take care of her, too, and their son. But he failed miserably.

  He wouldn’t fail Chloe.

  Wade wanted to tell her what had happened with Merissa, but he didn’t know how.

  “Wade.”

  “Come on, eat,” he insisted. She sighed, opened her mouth and took the chicken.

  When she finished it he gave her some of the vegetable drink.

  “Now you.” She raised her brows at him.

  He ate some, and although he knew she’d put all sorts of herbs and spices in it, it tasted bland to him. His taste was the first thing to go off when he was troubled. Today there was a lot to be worried about.

  “Does it taste okay?”

  “Always, baby.” He kissed her bare shoulder. She was wearing one of those tops with the strings that tied up.

  He was so glad she was here. The house immediately felt like home again when they got back.

  She looked at him with those warm, autumn-colored eyes and observed him. He knew what she was thinking. He hadn’t said much about Taylor or anything and she was worried about him.

  “Do you want to talk?” she asked a softness that soothed him and reached out to touch his face.

  There was so much to say. Where did he begin? With how worried he was about Taylor and how terrified he felt of losing her? Or did he talk about Merissa? And he couldn’t forget the damn psycho who was stalking his family, including Chloe and Kelly. It was all bad, all of it. There wasn’t one thing that was more manageable than the other.

  “I’m scared too,” she added, breaking his train of thought.

  “Don’t be scared.” There was a lot he couldn’t protect her from, but he would try his best to make sure she was safe from this psycho person, whoever they were. Since Kelly had gone to some guy’s house and Chloe would have been home alone, he was going to do what he’d planned to do on Saturday and keep his girl with him.

  “Talk to me.” She reached out and touched his face.

  “There’s a lot, Chloe.”

  “Start with Taylor.”

  “I’m terrified she won’t make it,” he confessed.

  “It’s Taylor, she has to.” Her faint smile held a touch of sadness.

  He nodded in agreement. “She’s a strong person.”

  “The strongest. I…” She cast her eyes downward.

  “What?”

  She returned her gaze to him. “I need her, I need her back. She’s my best friend and I don’t know how to live without her. So, I have to believe that she’ll come back to us.”

  He took her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it. “She will for you, Chloe.”

  “And you.”

  “Maybe.”

  Chloe smiled. “Of course she will.”

  “Well, she told me weeks ago that if I ever hurt you she’d disown me, so I think she’d definitely come back for you more than me.”

  “She didn’t say that.” She narrowed her eyes and giggled, shaking her head.

  Wade nodded. “She sure did, and she wasn’t joking either, baby.”

  “Well, let’s just hope she comes back for both of us.” She slipped her arms around his neck and looked him over again. “What else is on your mind?”

  Wade didn’t want any secrets between them but he didn’t know how to begin to tell her about everything else.

  Merissa’s threat bothered him, and he also wondered who told her he was back in L.A. He’d spoken to Jared, who confirmed he hadn’t seen nor spoken to Merissa in years. Jared was the only person who Wade had spoken to, and Zeek. He’d done his best to keep a low profile and ease himself back in. He’d thought of someone press or paparazzi related, one of the damn thrills of being a Vanderville, but Merissa had made it sound like it was someone she knew. She’d said a little bird told her he was back.

  “I ran into someone from my past today.” He thought it was better to say that than lie and say he was fine. He also felt it was better than not saying anything because then she’d worry even more.

  She straightened up and gazed deep into his eyes. “Who was it?”

  “Someone I never expected to see again.”

  “What happened?”

  He wished he could tell her, but he just couldn’t. Not right now.

  All that had happened with him, Merissa, and the baby was still so raw and horrendous in his mind. It didn’t help that Merissa had dug up the pain he’d struggled to manage for years. She hadn’t forgiven him, and it didn’t look like she ever would, either.

  He hadn’t forgiven himself.

  The past was something he would never forget. After he left L.A., all he saw in his mind was the image of his son. It haunted him all the time and there was no escape for him. The image followed him everywhere he went, from one country to the next. It wasn’t until well over two years had passed and he’d managed to keep himself drug free for that whole time that the pain started to subside. It was only then that he’d checked himself into a therapy facility who helped him to control his guilt and provide him with coping strategies to ensure he didn’t fall back into his old drug habits. He’d promised himself that he would change for his son, and even though he’d lost him, Wade thought he would still honor him by trying to become a better person.

  He looked at Chloe, saw the concern that filled her eyes and found himself feeling grateful for her again. “I just had a messy run in, but I’ll deal with it.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Yes, but not tonight. We’ve been through a lot since last night. You know what I’d like?”

  “What?” She smiled at him sweetly.

  “How about we finish this dinner with a movie.” He needed the distraction, if only for a few hours, and he was sure it would be good for her too.

  “That sounds cool.” She smiled and nodded with enthusiasm. Thank God she didn’t insist on talking.

  “How about Die Hard or something action packed?”

  “Die Hard works.” She nodded.

  They went over to the sofa where he set up the movie and they watched it while they ate the rest of the food. Chloe fell asleep in his arms before the movie ended and he drifted off too.

  He woke up to the sound of the ki
tchen radio as it clicked on and started playing some old classic songs. Chloe had shifted over to the other side of the sofa. She’d curled up against the cushion and looked quite comfortable. He didn’t know how the hell he’d slept next to her for a whole night and she still had her clothes on.

  He moved over to her and kissed her shoulder.

  Chloe stirred and giggled. “Wade.”

  “We fell asleep on the sofa, fully clothed.” He smiled against the warmth of her soft skin.

  “Uh huh,” she answered groggily, then went back to sleep. Wade decided to leave her alone to sleep. He knew how tired she was.

  He lifted himself up and made a move to go, but something caught his eye. A white envelope rested in the center of the coffee table, right next to the TV remote. Wade didn’t remember putting it there. He picked it up, looked at it, then opened it.

  A piece of paper was folded up inside. He pulled it out and froze as he saw what was on it.

  It was a drawing of himself and Chloe, asleep on the sofa.

  Chapter 3

  Chloe

  Wade was definitely acting weird. He was acting like he was on Saturday when he’d gone to her house and packed her bag.

  He’d woken her up to check on her to see if she was okay. Then he started searching through the house. When she asked him what he was looking for he said it was nothing to worry about.

  Then he started looking at the CCTV and decided he’d get a new system because the cameras inside the house weren’t good enough.

  He was outside now with a guy who’d come to look at the place and install a new system. All that and it was barely eight a.m. She didn’t even know how he got that man to come out so early. She supposed he probably paid him quite a lot.

  Chloe wasn’t sure what was going on so she decided to wait in the living room until he was finished, then she’d head out for work. She wanted to get in early so she could leave at lunch time and be at the hospital for visiting hours.

  Yesterday she tried to call her parents to let them know what had happened to Taylor. She was actually hoping that one or both of them would come back.

  If there was anyone who could make Regina feel better it was Chloe’s mom.

  Yesterday when she called their home in France she was told that they’d gone to Africa for a mini safari holiday. Then she couldn’t get through to the place they were staying at.

  She just decided to try again and got put through to a man called Tunde.

  “Hi I’m trying to reach Felicity and Philip Matthews. They could be down as Flick and Phil.” Her parents loved telling people to call them that. Her mother said it had a certain ring to it that she liked.

  “Oh yes, Flick and Phil,” he said in a rich African accent. There was a hint of a smile in his voice. “They’re going to be out on the reserve for another two days but I can get a message to them.”

  “Thanks so much. Could you possibly let them know there’s an emergency in L.A. I’m Chloe, their daughter. If they could call me that would be great.” She thought that was the best way to put it so they’d know that there was an emergency, but hopefully not panic too much.

  “Sure thing Chloe. I’ll make sure they get the message.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  She sighed with frustration when she hung up. It was just like her parents to do something so extravagant. Who went on a safari holiday in the middle of April? Easter was two days away, most people just rested. But no, her parents were probably riding lions across the Sahara.

  She sighed with frustration, annoyed that they hadn’t told her they’d be in Africa. They didn’t usually tell her when they went off on one of their getaways but it would have been nice to be kept in the loop. Particularly during times like this. It would be good for Regina if they were here, but Chloe needed them too. They’d know exactly what to say to give her the strength she needed, and they’d offer their support.

  She sighed with annoyance and stood when she looked over at the clock on the wall and saw the time. She was hoping to have breakfast with Wade, but she had to leave now if she wanted to get all that she had planned done and get to the hospital to stay with Taylor.

  Wade came into the living room holding a receipt. She glimpsed the figures on it and thought she saw what looked like ten thousand dollars.

  “Did you get your parents?” he asked.

  “No, and I won’t any time soon. They’ll be practically out of reach for another two days. I can’t believe they didn’t tell me they were going to be in Africa.”

  “Baby don’t get worked up.”

  “I just wish they were here,” she frowned. “Sometimes I feel like they stopped being my parents when I turned eighteen.”

  “That’s no bad thing.” He chuckled then walked over to the window and looked it over like he was checking it worked.

  “Wade, what is going on? You’ve been acting weird all morning.”

  “I’m having the place checked out.”

  “For what? And what are you expecting, an army of thieves?”

  He narrowed his gray eyes at her. “Baby, safety is a priority. You girls leave your house on show for everyone to come through.”

  “It isn’t that bad.”

  “Yes, it is. It’s terrible. Three women and a cat in a house with the windows and doors open scream come and attack me, or rob me.”

  “I forgot how crazy you can be.”

  He grimaced at her and frowned when she picked up her bag. “Where are you going?”

  “Work,” she replied.

  “No, no. Call in sick. Stay with me today and then we can go together to the hospital.”

  “Wade, I’m the creative director, I have a lot of work to do and even more because I want to spend some time with Taylor. I can’t just call in sick.”

  “Okay, I’ll come with you then.” If that wasn’t weird she didn’t know what was.

  “No. I’m fine. You stay here and sort out whatever it is you’re sorting.”

  He was already shaking his head before she could finish. “I’ll get the keys. We’ll take the car.”

  She watched him go upstairs. Chloe was about to continue the protest, but stopped herself. As annoying as it was that he was super protective of her, it was nice. Chloe had never had anyone take care of her like that. He was just showing her that he loved her, and she appreciated it.

  When he came back down he took her hand and led her to the car.

  Wade stayed with her, just as he promised. He was like her shadow. It was only when they went to the hospital and saw Wes hanging around the seats outside Taylor’s room that Wade became antsy.

  He released what sounded like a low growl then said, “I’ll join you in a little while.” He then proceeded to the hospital café, walking straight past Wes without any form of acknowledgement.

  It didn’t sit well with her that Wade didn’t like him. She couldn’t understand why anyone would dislike Wes.

  Wade’s rudeness, however, didn’t bother Wes. He gave Chloe a hug and held up a bunch of pink dahlias Taylor’s favorite flowers.

  “I thought now was appropriate,” he said tentatively. “No one’s in at the moment.”

  “Why didn’t you go in?” Chloe smiled at him.

  He gave her a tentative look. “I thought I’d wait for you. I didn’t know what I’d say if Ben or Regina came in and saw me. They’re not exactly my favorite people. And neither is the son.”

  Chloe bit the inside of her lip. “Wade’s just testy at the moment.”

  “Is there any day that he’s not testy, Chloe? Anyway, I’m here to see Taylor.”

  Chloe nodded. “She’d love the flowers.” She was surprised that he remembered Taylor liked dahlias. It wasn’t the sort of flower that you’d remember, beautiful as it was.

  “I hope so.”

  “You ready?” Chloe thought that he’d be shocked when he saw Taylor, just as she was when she first saw her. When he nodded she took him inside.

  His fac
e fell when he saw poor Taylor, and her heart sank. She knew exactly what he must be thinking from the solemn look on his face and the sadness in his eyes. It really was just so hard to see Taylor like this.

  Wes walked up to her bedside, set the flowers down on the side table, and looked her over. Chloe thought he looked like he was going to cry. He dragged his glasses off and put them in his shirt pocket, then he took hold of her hand and looked down to where their hands joined.

  Chloe watched him, her interest piquing. She didn’t know how she didn’t see it before but she just had the impression that Wes’ admiration of Taylor ran a little deeper than what she thought.

  Thinking back she recalled instances when they’d talk about the Vandervilles and he’d always exempt Taylor from his rants. And back at school he’d always offer to carry her books and get her lunch. Chloe thought he was just trying to be nice, but she could now see that maybe it was more than that.

  “Did you want me to give you a minute?” she asked, thinking he deserved to have some time to talk to Taylor without her being there.

  He shook his head and looked over at Chloe. “Stay, you should stay. I think it would be too much for me to be here like this and see her so weak.”

  Chloe nodded, understanding. “You can talk to her.” She offered a smile and moved around to the opposite side of the bed. Wes looked at her and bit the inside of his lip.

  “I never could, Chloe. Never. I was always worried about what I’d say, and what she’d think of me. I tried but… I don’t know.”

  Chloe was starting to see that she was right. “You can talk to her now.”

  “But she’ll hear me.” Wes wasn’t the nervous type. He didn’t get nervous or afraid of anything. It was the first time that she’d seen him act this way.

  “That’s the idea.” Chloe smiled and gave him a reassuring nod. “Just talk to her. Say something you’ve always wanted to say.”

  Wes looked back to Taylor and covered her hands with his. He pulled in a breath and then focused his gaze on her face.