Sweet Little Secrets

by Travis Szablewski

  Sweet

  Little

  Secrets

  Travis Szablewski

  Victoria

  Thunder rumbled through the dark gray sky as Victoria tightened her grip on the black umbrella squeezed tightly in her trembling hands. Her eyes stared forward, glued to the headstone as the cool, misty breeze danced around her short, blonde hair, pressing the soft strands against her warm cheeks. Before today, it almost didn’t seem real. Before today, it felt like her stepdaughter, Elle Hampton, was just away for the weekend. Now, it was literally written in stone. Victoria stared back at Elle’s name carved into the gray marble as the soft rain tapped on the top of her open umbrella. Victoria watched as tiny puddles began to form along the freshly dug grave as the remaining funeral guests slowly began to walk away, heading back towards their cars in the parking lot of the Harmony Cemetery. Victoria’s eyes lifted, locked onto her husband, Derek, as he stepped up to the headstone…and placed his hand gently onto the cold surface. His final goodbye. Victoria swallowed hard as Derek slowly turned, his teary eyes staring back at her, as he stepped around her and made his way towards the parking lot.

  This wasn’t part of the plan.

  It wasn’t supposed to end this way.

  Derek was supposed to drink that lethal cocktail. Derek was supposed to be the one six feet under. All of this…to hide her secret love for her stepson, Harlan. Elle now paid the ultimate price for her wicked sins.

  “How are you?” a soft voice rang out behind her as Victoria slowly turned to see Connelly Campbell and Lillian Sinclair behind her, both of them holding umbrellas above their heads. She hadn’t seen them since that night…since they buried Kylie’s dead body in the woods. Everything was crashing down…faster and faster.

  “I’m holding up,” Victoria nodded as she looked back to Elle’s headstone. “It didn’t seem real until today.”

  “Do they know what happened?” Connelly asked as she placed her hand onto Victoria’s back, rubbing it gently.

  “They say…her heart just stopped. They said it was a heart attack. They don’t know what happened,” Victoria said. She knew exactly what happened…but she couldn’t tell anyone…not even her best friends.

  “She was so young,” Lillian said as tears filled her eyes, the rain pounding down onto their umbrellas harder and harder.

  “Here,” Connelly said, handing a red rose to Victoria. “I know you both had your ups and downs, but I think it’s best.”

  Victoria took the fragile rose into her hands as she stared down at the red petals, rubbing the soft leaves between her fingertips. She wanted to break down right here. She wanted to just spill every secret she was hiding. But, she couldn’t. If anyone else knew…except for her and Harlan…their lives would be over…and Elle’s death would be for nothing.

  “Do you want us to wait for you?” Lillian asked as she combed her long brown hair behind her ears.

  “No, you guys go ahead. I need a minute,” Victoria nodded as her eyes locked onto Lillian and Connelly. Lillian nodded as she turned with Connelly, making their way across the muddy cemetery and back towards the parking lot. Victoria stepped forward slowly, staring down at the headstone.

  Victoria bit her quivering bottom lip as she gently placed the rose onto the top of the headstone as the large drops of rain plopped onto the withering petals.

  At least now…her secret was safe. At least now…the one person that could unravel her entire world was gone. A wicked smile slowly stretched across Victoria’s face…as she grabbed the rose…and squeezed it in her palm, crushing the soft petals and cracking the dark green stem.

  Who was she kidding.

  She hated this bitch.

  “See you in hell,” Victoria grinned as she opened her palm…and dropped the crumbled rose onto the muddy grave.

  Connelly

  Connelly tilted her head back as the hot water raining down from the showerhead above drenched the top of her head, trickling down her long blonde strands and down the front of her face. She rose her hands, rubbing her soaked fingers over her tired, red eyes as the water rained down her back, plopping down onto the shower floor below. It had been a week since that horrible night at Lillian’s. Still, all she could see was Kylie’s cold, ghost white face as they covered her with dirt in those dark woods that night. No matter what she did. No matter what she said, Lillian and Victoria wouldn’t listen. She wanted to go to the police. She wanted to tell the truth; but now, the truth was buried deep inside of her…and she could never let it see the light of day. This tainted memory was now a burden, twisted and lodged into her beating heart.

  Connelly turned in the shower, facing the water, as she wrapped her arms around her trembling body; every goose bump rising to the surface. Maybe she could have stopped this. Maybe she should have taken control and just went to the police after they did the unthinkable. But that would mean turning against her greatest friends…and shattering her own life in the process.

  “Knock, knock,” a deep voice rang out, shattering the silence. Connelly jumped as she spun around, staring at her husband, Silas, as he stepped into the shower behind her. Silas closed the white curtain behind him and inched towards her, his naked body joining hers beneath the raining water. “Aren’t we a little jumpy?” Silas smirked as he stared down at Connelly, clutching her hips in his hands as the tiny water rivers rushed down his chiseled chest.

  “It’s just crazy to me. Elle was only seventeen…I guess you never know when your time is up. It’s just…scary,” Connelly whispered.

  “Well, I don’t think you need to worry about that. We’re here right now…and that’s what matters,” Silas smiled, his strong jawline tightening along his cheeks.

  “I just feel like everything is falling apart. I mean, with Ally and the investigation and now…now this. I feel like I don’t know anything anymore. My life was so…simple before and now…it’s like I’m trying to catch all the pieces before they hit the ground.”

  “I’d put every piece back together…for you,” Silas said softly as he leaned forward, his warm lips pressing against Connelly’s soaked forehead. Connelly closed her eyes as she lifted her hand and placed it onto the back of Silas’ neck, placing her lips against his as the hot water rained down their bodies. Silas’ tongue danced between Connelly’s lips, massaging her tongue as she lifted her other hand, both of them cupped around Silas’ strong shoulders tightly. The rolling steam that filled the shower danced around them as Silas ran his lips down her neck, sucking on her tender flesh. Connelly’s hand wrapped around Silas’ right wrist…pulling it towards her vagina. Silas lifted his head back up, sucking on Connelly’s bottom lip as Connelly lifted her left leg, placing her foot along the inner edge of the bathtub. Connelly tilted her head back, the hot water raining down her breasts and over her erect nipples as Silas slid two fingers between her legs, gently gliding in and out between her vagina lips…going deeper and deeper with every moan that escaped Connelly’s lips. Connelly reached down, wrapping her hand around Silas’ thick, slick cock throbbing in the air in front of her. Connelly pressed her lips against Silas’ as she ran her hand along his shaft and cupped the thick head of his penis, faster and faster, her tender palm moving along his erect member. Silas pulled his fingers from between her legs and wrapped his hands around Connelly’s waist, turning her around, her back towards him. Connelly bit her bottom lip as she arched forward, spreading her legs apart…her feet pressed firmly onto the shower floor as she grasped the corner shelf of the bathtub. Silas tightened his grip on Connelly’s hips as he pushed his penis into her from behind. Connelly moaned in ecstasy as she felt his solid, thick cock slip inside of her, deeper and deeper.

  “Oh, God,” Connelly moaned as Sil
as thrusted into her, the hot water raining down onto their tangled bodies. Silas thrusted into her from behind, harder and harder, as his hand glided up her spine and into the back of her head, tugging gently on her hair as his cock slid in and out, faster and faster.

  “Fuck yeah, you like that, baby?” Silas groaned, nearly breathless, as his testicles slapped loudly against Connelly’s buttocks.

  “Fuck me, baby! Oh, fuck!” Connelly groaned as the soaked strands of her hair plastered against her wet face.

  “Come here,” Silas said, his voice stern, as he pulled his penis out of Connelly. Connelly turned towards him as he wrapped his hands around her buttocks and lifted her into the air. Connelly draped her arms around his wet, muscular shoulders as he lifted her up, her back against the shower wall as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Silas lifted his hips up, pressing his cock back into her vagina as Connelly tilted her head back, her heart pounding in her chest.

  “Oh, fuck!” Connelly squealed as Silas thrusted into her, his hands lifting Connelly up and down onto his cock…his hands wrapped tightly around her waist and buttocks as she rose and fell in the air. “Fuck me, baby! Oh, God! Fuck!” Connelly moaned as she bounced up and down in the air against the shower wall, Silas fucking her harder…deeper.

  “Oh, God! Oh, God!” Silas said as his closed eyes opened widely. Silas slowed down…slowly pulling the long shaft of his cock in and out of Connelly…as Connelly felt the warm cum burst inside of her, slowing trickling out between her vaginal lips. Connelly’s chest heaved up and down as Silas slowly lowered her down, her feet pressing firmly onto the shower floor.

  “Now, that was the definition of afternoon delight,” Silas smirked as Connelly grinned widely, her hands cupped around his shoulders. Connelly pressed her lips against Silas’, gently sucking on his bottom lip.

  “You’re not done yet,” Connelly said, biting her bottom lip, as she grabbed his wrist and motioned his hand towards her vagina.

  “Babe, I have to go,” Silas said, shaking his head as he pulled his hand from hers softly.

  “What?” Connelly asked, her eyes narrowing onto Silas.

  “I’ve got to work. I just thought we’d have some…some quick fun. I thought you came,” Silas said, catching his breath as he turned towards the shower curtain.

  “It’s fine…just go,” Connelly said sternly as she turned away from him and back towards the water.

  “Babe,” Silas said softly as he moved towards her, inching towards her back that faced him.

  “I said go,” Connelly spat out. Silas swallowed hard as he slid the curtain open and stepped out of the shower. Connelly listened as she heard the bathroom door open…and close. Afternoon delight? That was like legit cardio…with no payoff for her. Connelly slowly looked up, her eyes locked on the detachable shower head above.

  This wasn’t the first time Silas left her hanging…left her wanting more. Connelly rose her hand and wrapped it around the detachable shower head, bringing it down. Connelly held it in front of her as the water sprayed along her breasts.

  “Hello, my old friend,” Connelly said as she tightened her grip on the showerhead and glided it down her stomach and between her legs.

  It was faster this way…

  And sometimes…better.

  Lillian

  Lillian slid a kitchen knife along a wooden cutting board, slicing the blade through a sweet potato as she glanced back to Tatum at the stove. Tatum stirred a wooden spoon in a black skillet filled with chicken and a garlic cream sauce, the sweet aroma flooding Lillian’s nostrils.

  “I just can’t believe she hasn’t shown up at all. I’ve called her…I’ve texted her; nothing. Not a single response,” Tatum sighed as she turned from the stove and walked to the center island beside Lillian.

  “I told you we shouldn’t have given her a second chance. I don’t know when you’re going to learn that Kylie is just unreliable,” Lillian lied. She wanted to tell Tatum the truth…about what happened that night; about the twisted plan that Kylie had all this time. She was Gordon’s birth mother…and all of this…was just a twisted game to get him back. And she paid the ultimate price. Lillian wasn’t going to let anything rip her family apart…and if that meant she had to kill…so be it.

  “I just don’t understand. She was finally starting to show up on time. I thought…I thought we finally got through to her,” Tatum said, shaking her head as she turned back to the stove.

  “You never really know someone, I guess,” Lillian gulped as she sliced the blade through the potato pieces, cutting them into little squares.

  “How are you not burning up in that thing?” Tatum asked as she turned, waving her hand in the air, cooling her hot face.

  “I told you I just haven’t been feeling well,” Lillian lied as she looked down at the black baggy sweater covering her upper torso. Another lie…another dirty little secret hidden beneath a piece of fabric. She knew what she needed to do. She knew she needed to take care of the horrible mistake growing inside of her stomach at this very moment…but she couldn’t bring herself to make that call just yet. This was her child. After all those years of trying…all the time spent at the fertility clinics and sperm banks…and nothing. Now, here she was…pregnant…and terrified. Before she did anything…she had to talk to him…to the father.

  “Maybe you need to go see Dr. Hill. You’ve been feeling like this for a week now,” Tatum sighed as she turned from the stove, her eyes locked onto Lillian.

  “I am fine. Stop worrying,” Lillian smiled softly as Tatum walked towards her.

  “If there was something wrong…you’d tell me, right?” Tatum asked softly as she placed her hand onto Lillian’s lower back. “You know I’m here for you.”

  “I know that,” Lillian smiled, fighting the tears building in her eyes. “Stop worrying about me,” Lillian grinned as she leaned forward, kissing Tatum’s cheek.

  “Whatever you say, boss,” Tatum smiled as she walked back to the stove. “So, have you heard anything about Ally?”

  “No. They’re still investigating is all I know. There’s no evidence that Kendrick was involved.”

  “What about that hot little number that he showed up with to the White Party?” Tatum smirked. “Maybe it’s a real-life remake of Fatal Attraction or some shit,” Tatum laughed.

  “That’s not funny,” Lillian said sternly as her eyes darted to Tatum.

  “I…I’m sorry. That was dumb.”

  “Yeah, it was,” Lillian said, her jaw tight, as the doorbell sounded off, echoing through the entire house.

  “Who the hell could that be?” Tatum sighed as she stirred the chicken in the skillet vigorously.

  “Maybe it’s Kylie,” Lillian smirked as she walked out of the kitchen and into the foyer. She could make jokes too…

  Lillian made her way through the foyer as her black flats tapped along the marble floor. The worst part about all of this…about Kylie being gone…was Gordon. She knew he was going to take it hard. As much as she hated Kylie, she was like a big sister to Gordon. He adored her. Just picturing his face…tears streaming down his freckled cheeks…when they finally told him that Kylie wasn’t coming back; it was almost too much. The last thing you want for your child is heartbreak. The last thing you want…is for your life to be built on one big lie. But it was too late now…

  Lillian reached forward, wrapping her hand around the door handle, and pulled the large front door open. Lillian smiled softly…as she stared back at the stranger on her front porch.

  “Hello, is this the Sinclair residence?” the young woman asked. She was no older than twenty-five. Her long, black hair was tied back in a high ponytail. A black leather jacket was zipped, hugging her tiny figure.

  “Uh, yes?” Lillian said confused. “What can I help you with?”

  “My name’s Peyton. I’m so sorry to be so intrusive. I just didn’t have any way to contact you. I asked around town and found out where you guys lived. I hope I’m not out of line.”r />
  “Oh, are you applying for the new nanny position?” Lillian asked, her face lighting up. She had put an ad in the paper yesterday. There was only so much time Tatum could take off of work. Finally…a possible solution to their problem.

  “No, actually. I’m here because…” the young woman stopped as she bit her lip, staring down at the porch. “I just didn’t know where else to turn, so…”

  “Are you alright?”

  “No, I’m not,” Peyton said softly, her eyes filled with tears. “I’m…I’m Kylie’s sister.”

  Victoria

  Victoria tilted a bottle of Chateau Marguax into the air and watched the red wine splash into the tall wine glass that sat in front of her on the kitchen island. She needed a drink after the award-winning performance she had nailed at Elle’s funeral. No one suspected a thing. Finally, she could breathe. Finally, the final nail was in the coffin…the coffin of Elle Hampton.

  “How was it?” a deep voice rang out behind Victoria as she turned, placing the wine bottle onto the countertop. Harlan Hampton stood in the doorway, leaned against the wooden frame, as his dark eyes narrowed onto her from across the large kitchen.

  “It was a lovely service. Your father was upset you didn’t go,” Victoria said sternly as she leaned against the island and took a long sip from the wine glass. “That was pretty stupid on your part.”

  “I couldn’t do it, Victoria. I couldn’t just go and…lie to the whole world. What happened…what we did…”

  “Was an accident,” Victoria snapped quietly. “You know this wasn’t my intention. It wasn’t supposed to be her.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Harlan asked angrily as his jaw tightened. Harlan moved into the kitchen, making his way towards Victoria. “Why should I believe you? Was this just a big game to you the whole time? Was this you trying to have your cake and eat it, too?”

  “If I wanted Elle truly dead, I would have done something a long, long time ago, Harlan. She was stupid. Her stupid little teenage mind got the best of her…and she took that drink. She wasn’t thinking…she never was.”