by Jamie Knight
“I haven't been able to find my phone since yesterday,” I explained.
“Oh,” Whitney said, starting to look confused.
“He's lying,” Etta tried.
“In fact,” I continued, staring her down. “I haven't seen it since you left my apartment yesterday.”
“You didn't tell me you went to see him.” Whitney looked at her friend.
I moved closer to my sister. “She told me the whole story about how her mom was sick, and she needed money for medical bills.”
“But I already covered that,” Whitney said, looking at me and then back at Etta.
“And yet, she tried the same thing on me. Must be some pretty big medical bills. What is wrong with dear old mum exactly?”
“T-this is ridiculous,” Etta said, trying pathetically to salvage her lies.
“I quite agree. You are nearly thirty, and yet, you don't seem to have matured one iota. I really do pity you and your pathetic, parasitic existence. And you really should try and come up with better lies if you are going to try and bullshit me. I am a lawyer after all.”
“We have to go,” Etta said again, grabbing at Whitney’s arm.
“Okay, just one thing. Whitney, can I please borrow your phone?” I asked sweetly.
“Um, okay,” cautiously, Whitney handed me her phone.
I scrolled through her contact list until I found my name. I hit the send button and it was only a matter of time before my ringtone started chiming out of Etta's purse.
“What the—”
I handed Whitney's phone back to her; my name still displayed on the screen as the call recipient. I also handed her Katie. While Etta was distracted, I grabbed the bag from her shoulder, got my phone out, and returned the bag before she really had time to react.
“Oh, you're in trouble now,” she finally said.
“How is that?” I asked pleasantly.
“You just purse snatched me, you bastard,” Etta said on the edge of hysterics.
“That purse?” I asked, pointing to it hanging from her shoulder as I pocketed my phone.
“No, but you—”
“Ex-Army Ranger, remember?” I asked.
Etta made an inarticulate sound of utter frustration before storming off, her hands clutched in the tight fists of defeat.
“She is a real piece of work,” Whitney said, watching her former best friend stomp down the sidewalk and rocking the still sleeping little girl.
“She's certainly a piece of something.” I took her by the shoulders. “You okay, kid?”
“Yeah, I'll be fine. Just a bit of a shock, ya know?”
“She made a fool of both of us,” I admitted. “Etta is a slippery one.”
“I just—”
I held out my hands and took Katie back then swung an arm over my baby sister’s shoulder. “Come on, let's go back to my place and have some coffee, yeah?”
Whitney nodded mutely, the tears already starting to roll.
Chapter Sixteen
Ashlyn
My favorite dress really wasn't meant to be a solo operation. The zipper was situated in such a way as to require two people to do it up — at least that was my theory. I managed fairly well with double-jointed shoulders and a coat hanger.
After getting the dress done up, I looked at myself in the mirror in as many angles as was possible. I had to admit, I looked pretty good. It was certainly as good as it got. Though Chase did seem to be into me anyway. He had already given me the biggest orgasms of my life. So that was something.
Getting my hair done as well as I could with what I had, I went out into the living room and stretched out as seductively as I could manage on the couch. In that position, I waited for Chase to return from the park.
Turns out wait was about all I did. The note had said noon. It was a quarter to one by the time they came back. My mind was already racing with the kind of terror really only parents know.
“Jesus, what happened?” I asked as Chase got Katie down off his back.
“Mommy!” Katie said, toddling toward me at high speed, making it most of the way before going down.
“There was a complication,” Chase said.
“Hi again,” Whitney said, appearing behind him.
“Oh, um, I'll leave you alone to talk,” I said, picking up Katie.
“This actually involves you too,” Chase said, grabbing my arm.
“It does?” I asked, not quite understanding what was going on.
“Yes,” he said in a way that made me sit back down.
Chase waved Whitney in and closed the door behind her. Whitney came over and sat on the overstuffed chair as Chase made for the minibar. Pouring a Glenfiddich for him and a Brown Cow for Whitney, he came back over and sat down next to me on the couch.
“Sorry, we've both had a bit of a shock,” he said, punctuating the statement with a sip from his tumbler.
“What happened?” I asked, getting nervous again and clutching Katie to me.
“Etta,” Whitney said, taking a sip of her own drink.
“Oh,” I said, sure I would never hear that name again.
“She's gone,” Chase added
“That's good, right?” I asked, not sure what he was getting at.
“Very good,” he agreed.
“I can't really argue,” Whitney said.
“Especially since she took money from you,” Chase said.
“Oh, no, I never gave her any cash. She asked, and I wrote her a check. I already canceled it.”
“Smart,” Chase said, impressed by his sister’s thinking, if nothing else.
“She really is oily,” Whitney said, as though realizing this for the first time.
My heart really went out to her. I knew what it was like to find out that someone you loved wasn't who you thought they were.
“Don't beat yourself up or let it make you cynical. She had me fooled for the better part of a decade, so I speak from experience,” Chase said.
“I guess,” Whitney said, clearly still hurt.
“How much did you spend on the hotel?” Chase asked.
“Two grand, why?” Whitney asked.
Without a word, Chase got out his checkbook and an expensive-looking marble themed fountain pen. The kind of writing instrument that tended to come in polished wooden cases with attached price tags ranging from fifty to eighty dollars.
Quick as could be seen, Chase wrote and pulled out a check form, giving it to Whitney.
“Oh, no, I can't, really.”
“You can and you will,” Chas said, putting away his checkbook and pen.
“But—”
“Trust me, I owe you.” Chase said.
“How?” Whitney said, looking at the check with something resembling wonder.
“Etta isn't the only one who was lying,” Chase said.
“What?” Whitney asked, looking like she was going to cry.
“I wasn't straight with you about my relationship with Ashlyn,” he explained.
“Are you sure?” I asked, not wanting him to do anything he might regret.
“Yes,” he said firmly. “Whitney, I lied to you. Ashlyn and I are not engaged. We didn't even know each other before a week ago. We came together through circumstance when I saw her asshole of a landlord throwing her out and did my best to help the situation, which included having her and Katie stay here. My friend Ann, do you remember Ann Howell?”
“Yes,” Whitney said, quietly.
“Well, she said that she knew lots of people, herself included, who successfully used fake fiancés to get themselves out of all sorts of jams. I know it's a bit twisted, but I figured even better than that would be a fake family. A beautiful fiancée and cute step-daughter to put Etta off for good,” Chase explained.
“Did you know?” Whitney asked, looking straight at me.
“Yes, but I didn't know the whole story.”
“What whole story?” Chase and Whitney asked in unison.
“That Etta was still into
Chase.”
“Into my money,” Chase pointed out.
“Yeah, I can see that.” Whitney agreed.
“Well yeah, she tried to get your inheritance too and actually did rip you off on the flight and the hotel. That's why I owe you. If I hadn't gone on with this stupid charade, you would have been staying here instead of at a hotel.”
“You wish we weren't here?” I asked, his words like a knife in my heart.
“Not at all. I don't regret for a moment helping with the landlord or taking you in. I've really liked having you around. I just wish we hadn't tried to do the whole fake relationship thing. I should have just stood up to Etta and told her the truth from the beginning.”
“Can't argue with that,” I agreed.
“So, what do we do now?” Whitney asked.
Chase looked at her and then me. “Well, I would really like Ashlyn and Katie to stay if they want to. I would also like to pursue a real relationship, but that would probably be too much too soon.”
“We can work it out,” I said, unable to keep from smiling.
“I would like to stay, too, if that would be okay,” Whitney said, “I have a lot of making up to do.”
Her brother smiled and nodded.
Chapter Seventeen
Ashlyn
I was never too big on Mondays. With piano music followed by claps playing in my head, I rolled out of bed and went into the guest room. I woke Katie to get her ready for the day — moving in a sort of fugue state. Katie was as spritely as ever.
After getting my daughter bathed and dressed, I got her into her highchair doing my best to get her to pay attention long enough to eat the yummy blender mush I had mixed up for her.
“Morning,” Whitney sang, stretching in her position on the couch.
“How can anyone be that happy in the morning?” I asked Katie.
“Birdie!” Katie said, pointing to the tree outside the patio door.
“Indeed, it is,” I agreed.
“Is there any coffee?” Whitney asked, wandering over to the kitchen, clad in panties and a T-shirt.
“I'll put some on, kid,” Chase said, emerging from the master bedroom, already looking dapper in a navy blue, pin-striped suit.”
“Chase!” Katie yelled, her food completely forgotten. And with that, a quiet morning with just Katie and I went into full gear.
“Why do you call her that?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
“He’s quite a bit older than I am,” Whitney admitted.
“And I helped raise her,” Chase added, getting the coffee down.
“That too,” Whitney agreed.
Everybody properly caffeinated, Whitney went to the master bedroom to get changed, and Chase got ready to go.
“When do you think you'll be back?” I asked, Katie reaching out for him as Chase looked for his car keys.
“Not too long. It is mostly paperwork to settle the estate. I should be back around lunch tomorrow,” he said, giving Katie a kiss on the forehead.
“Do you actually have to go to San Diego?” I asked.
“They pretty much insisted. It needs to be witnessed for security.”
“How did Whitney get her share without being there?” I asked.
“No idea, but I'll be sure to ask them that after I get the money.”
“Do they know that you're a lawyer too?”
“Nope,” he said with a gleeful smile.
“That should be a nice surprise,” I said.
“I just wished I knew what to do with it all. I knew it would be big, but I never knew it would be this much. Along with what I already had, which isn't insubstantial by any means, I'll be downright wealthy. Not just rich but actually wealthy.”
“Charity,” I suggested with a smile.
“I did think about that and it is certainly going to be a factor. Though there would still be a lot left. I'd really like to invest it, too. Help build something,” he said, taking me somewhat by surprise.
“There can be a lot of money in cleaning companies,” I suggested.
“I'll think about it, we can talk about it when I get back,” he said.
“Thanks for getting Katie back into daycare,” I said.
“No problem.”
“I still need to be able to work so I can save money to move out.”
“You're not going anywhere,” Chase said firmly, taking me by the waist, “not for now anyway. When I get back, I will make it so you don't have to worry about your ex ever again.”
“Are you going to have him whacked?” I asked, kidding.
“Whack!” Katie repeated.
“Wasn't planning on it. Though I am going to have him slapped with a heavy-duty restraining order. I really want you both to stay.
He leaned down, giving me a kiss before Whitney reappeared, and they had to leave. I watched the door close with trepidation. Chase and I had just gotten on good terms. I wanted everything he had offered, but part of me still feared that he would never come back.
****
The bus rattled like an old paint mixer. Something Katie found fun. She gave out little calls to hear her voice shake, making her giggle, which also vibrated, making her giggle even more. It really was amazing what she could find joy in.
It hadn't been hard getting her back into daycare. Particularly with Chase backing us up. I really wasn't sure at first, wondering what he would want in return, my mom always telling me that no one gave something for nothing. Apparently, she had never met Chase, who, as far as I could tell, was acting in just such a philanthropic spirit. You just had to look at how he treated his little sister to see an example of it.
And he really seemed to have hit it off with Katie. If we were to form a serious relationship, I wouldn't really have to worry about her adjusting. Chase seemed like he would be a good influence. I might tell her one day what happened, but right then, I could just let her have a happy childhood with a lovely man as a father figure.
‘Lovely', really wasn't the first word which had come to mind when I saw Chase that first night. Storming up the landlord with such menace, he actually took a couple steps back. He cut an intimidating figure that was for sure, but he had never really been anything but gentle with Katie and me. Sure, he was upset when we tried to sneak back in after nearly a week away, but I soon realized that it was because he was honestly worried about us. Which made sense with both my ex and maybe even the cops being after us. All he ever wanted to do was keep us safe. The fake family thing had clearly been an afterthought.
Even so, I wasn't sure about rushing into a relationship for real.
There was a bit of upset when I dropped Katie off at the new daycare. We had only been there about a week, and she hadn't gotten used to it yet. I just reminded her that she would be seeing Chase and me at the end of the day.
“Chase!” she said, with all the joy she could muster.
It made me feel really good to see her so happy. Though it also gave me an idea of how sad she would be if we did move out. The internal debate kept up at work. Each argument and question leading to an answer and counterargument. It went on and on in a circle, never quite coming to a conclusion, the more rational part of my mind arguing with my instinct. It wasn't until I got home that night, and Katie started bouncing in her backpack, chanting Chase's name like we were at a sporting event. I couldn't remember the last time she had been so happy.
Truth be told, I couldn't remember when I had been so happy either. There was really no point in denying it. I wanted Chase as much as he wanted me, and there was no way we were going anywhere.
“Hey,” Chase said, coming to the door to greet us. “How was your—”
Before he could finish, I grabbed him and kissed him passionately, our tongues gently mingling as though dancing.
“Wow,” he said, when I finally broke away.
“I love you so much,” I whispered.
Epilogue
Chase
Traffic was hell, as it tended
to be on Friday afternoons. For all that money could buy, a smooth trip home in rush hour wasn't one of them. Short of hiring a helicopter, there was really nothing I could do. There was nothing to do but sit in my soft, leather seat, listening to the radio and going over what I was going to say in my head.
Using the time wisely, I practically skipped up the stairs to the third floor. Happier than I had been in a long time. I had just closed what might well have been the biggest case of my career. The one that would let me retire and live off my inheritance, like an old school man of leisure. An idea which was beginning to really appeal to me.
I could hear Katie before I got through the door. She was nearly two and a half with a heck of a set of pipes, which she used to shout her newest learned phrase while running around on much sturdier legs, hardly falling at all anymore.
“Chase!” she shouted as I came through the door, before making her signature move of running up and wrapping herself around my leg.
“Hey, sweet pea,” I said, stroking her hair, which had grown down to her shoulders.
“Hey, handsome,” Ashlyn said from the couch, her feet up on the coffee table.
“Hey, baby,” I said, picking Katie up.
I put Katie down next to me on the couch. Ashlyn and I kissed passionately as I gently stroked her baby bump.
“Still working?” I asked.
“Just a bit,” she said, stretching to put the file she was reading back on the coffee table.
“You promised,” I said.
“You should have thought of that before buying controlling interest in a cleaning company and appointing me CEO,” she said with a grin.
“Fair point,” I conceded.
“Did you have a good day?” she asked.
“The best!” I said.
“The best,” Katie repeated.
“Won, did you?” Ashlyn asked.
“With bells on,” I explained.
“With bells on!” Katie parroted.
“She learns fast,” Ashlyn said, with a laugh.
“I'd noticed,” I said, kissing the top of Katie's head.
