The Amber Stone, page 16
He ducked when she tried to hit him and backed out of the kitchen blowing her a kiss.
“Do you two ever arm wrestle?” Michelle asked, always amazed at the physical nature of her sister’s relationship.
“Sometimes. I usually let him win.”
Michelle shook her head with an affectionate grin. “Kids.”
“Speaking of kids,” Teresa said. “You know it’s oddly quiet.”
Everyone paused. There wasn’t a child’s voice to be heard anywhere. When they left the kitchen they looked around and didn’t see a child in sight.
“Now don’t panic,” Michelle demanded. “They have to be somewhere.”
“Wait, listen,” Teresa said.
Under the hum of adult voices, they heard a faint tune on a flute. The women stared at each other then followed the sound out into the wooded backyard. There they found Sean sitting under a tree surrounded by children, scattered about like fallen leaves, listening to him play his flute. Some rested against his legs, others played with twigs on the ground while the rest sat and stared, captivated.
He abruptly stopped playing. “Then what do you think happened?” he asked the group.
“A dragon comes down and eats them,” Marvin said.
Syrah hit the boy in the arm. “There are no dragons in this story, silly.”
He rubbed his arm annoyed. “So?”
“They use the secret portal,” Daniel said.
Sean nodded. “Excellent and they escape once again.”
“What about the warlock?” Syrah asked.
“Ah, ‘Your days are numbered,’ says he and away he goes to his cave, thinking of new ways to capture the Trayon band.” He began to play again.
“A true Pied Piper,” Michelle said. “We should be worried that—”
“Shut up, Mich,” Jessie said. “He’s great. I wonder how much he charges for babysitting?”
***
“That was truly amazing,” Teresa told Sean on their drive back.
He shrugged. “I saw a little hellion getting ready to tear a boy’s eyes out and thought I’d better do something.”
She frowned. “That hellion’s my niece.”
He nodded. “I’m not surprised.”
“You had them under a spell.”
“I thought I’d seen my wife.”
She paused. “What?”
“That’s really what you want to talk about. What happened. She looked so much like Renee that I couldn’t get my bearings. I’m sorry.”
“She is beautiful.”
“And she scared the hell out of me. It was the second time in two weeks I thought I saw her.”
“I’m sorry I invited you.”
“I’m glad you did. I want your family to know who I am.”
“Even for a short while?”
Sean drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “Yes.”
“Do you have siblings?”
He nodded. “Five.”
“A big family.”
“Hmm.”
“And I probably will never meet them.”
“Not if I can help it.”
He slowed the truck and stopped in front of a house that rose like a giant monument on a hill. In the dimming light they saw silhouettes in the windows. “Would you like to live in a house that big?”
“Is this a trick question?”
“No, be honest.”
She thought for a moment then shook her head. “No, too many rooms to clean.”
He tugged on her ponytail. “You’d have a maid, you ninny.”
“A maid.” She rested her arms on the dashboard. “You know we had a maid once, but she quit after a month because she had nothing to do. We did everything ourselves.” She stared at the house for a long moment then sat back and smiled. “I like your house.”
“It’s big.”
“I know.”
“And ugly.”
She playfully tugged on his beard. “Like you and I think it’s wonderful.”
He grinned and started the truck. “I don’t feel like taking you home yet. Let’s go to the cinema.”
“And see what?”
“Whatever’s playing.”
What was playing was one of the worst films they had ever seen called Woe to Life. It was so bad, Sean actually laughed through all the dramatic scenes. Even the climactic moment when the heroine lost her entire family in a stove explosion. Teresa nudged him, warning him to behave, but that only caused him to laugh harder. Fortunately, nobody paid attention. The two other couples were high school students too busy making out to care.
“That was dreadful,” Teresa said. They sat in his truck looking at the other cars in the parking lot. Teresa was finishing an ice cream sandwich and Sean a packet of chocolate covered raisins. “But you were worse.”
“I couldn’t help myself. It was so bad it was painful. I couldn’t decide if the script was bad or the acting.”
“It was a mixture of both. When she threatened to kill herself when the waitress bought the wrong order, I thought that was a bit overdone.”
“I think someone trying to kill themselves after watching that movie would be more realistic. The love scene was okay.”
“What love scene?”
“The one in the bathtub.”
“That was a love scene? I thought he was doing some strange form of CPR.”
Sean looked astonished, then laughed. But all his good humor left him when he dropped Teresa home. “I really hate leaving you here. You have a great family. Why aren’t you with them?”
“Uncle Darren and Louisa are my family and they need me.”
Sean lifted a sly brow. “I need you. Want to move in with me?”
She made a face. “No,” she said then got out of the truck.
“Okay, then just stay the night.”
“Another time,” she said. “I have things I have to do,” she added when Sean followed her to the front door.
“Relax, I won’t stay long.”
When they entered the house, they found Louisa sitting on the sofa, her hand in a bag of potato chips. The remnants of a sandwich, bag of Oreos, Twizzlers and muffins lay around her like casualties of a child’s sleepover.
“Louisa, what are you doing up?”
“I was waiting for you.”
Teresa began to clean up the mess. “You shouldn’t eat all this junk food.”
“I was hungry.” She sent Sean a look. “You hardly stop by here anymore.”
“I’ve been busy.”
She patted the seat beside her. “You’re here now.”
“But I can’t stay long.”
“I know I’m the size of a cow, but I’m still a woman.”
“You look great,” Teresa said.
“Hardly anything fits.” She held out her arms. “I had to borrow one of your shirts.”
Sean sent Teresa a look, but she ignored the insult. “We can go shopping. We can buy you some clothes and get your hair done. Would you like that?”
Louisa looked at her unsure. “Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m there.” She stood up. “I’ll leave you two alone.”
Once she was out of hearing, Sean said, “I don’t like the way she talks to you.”
Teresa shrugged. “It doesn’t bother me. She’s been hurt. I know it’s hard for her seeing us together, especially if…”
“If what?”
She cleared her throat. “I’ve never asked you this before because what you did before we met is none of my business, but…I know you liked Louisa. And she likes you.”
Sean rested his hands on his hips and shifted his gaze to the piano. “And you want to know if I slept with her?” He looked at her. “The answer is yes. Is the baby mine? No.” He folded his arms. “Louisa isn’t nasty to you because of me, there’s another reason.”
“She’s brokenhearted. The father of her child abandoned her.”
“That’s still no excuse—”
“I can handle her. Besides, if you saw how Aunt Margaret treated her, you’d understand why she’s like this.”
“I know and I still don’t like it.”
“She’s never been loved,” Teresa said remembering the vision she’d seen of Louisa as a little girl. “Truly loved. And if I can show her what true love is, she can change.”
Sean shook his head. “I’m surprised you’ve survived this long being so naïve. You put your hopes in the wrong things.”
“So I shouldn’t hope in you? Are you warning me off again?”
He gathered her in his arms and held her snugly. “No. I’ve decided to keep you even closer.”
***
Teresa called Michelle the next day, “It’s an emergency, I need to go shopping with Louisa.”
“How is that an emergency?”
“None of her clothes fit.”
“So what?”
“I don’t want to go alone and I thought a shopping spree would be fun for her.”
“Should I repeat my first question?” Michelle said in a bored tone.
“She’s been unhappy and I’m trying to lift her spirits. Please help, I’ll be forever grateful…unless you have something else scheduled this weekend,” she said, knowing her sister rarely did.
Michelle sighed. “I’ll see if I can string Jessie along. You know how she feels about shopping.”
“Good and schedule something at Kayla’s.”
“At this late date?”
“Pull some strings. I know you can.”
Chapter Twenty-four
“Doesn’t she know the meaning of the word moderate?” Michelle complained as Louisa tried on a silk maternity dress.
“This is making her happy,” Teresa said.
“Yes, at the expense of my checkbook. Why am I paying—”
Teresa patted her sister’s arm. “It’s for a good cause,” she said, not wanting to explain that she wasn’t making enough yet for this little extravagance. She had some of Bess’s money left, but wanted to hold on to it as a reserve.
“I suppose I could write this off as a charity,” Michelle mumbled.
Louisa’s mood improved immensely and she felt like a star when they took her to Kayla’s salon and treated her to a manicure, pedicure, make up tips and a perm.
Afterwards, Jessie took them all to lunch. Jessie tried not to show any expression when Louisa ordered five appetizers and two entrees. After clearing her plate, she excused herself to go to the restroom.
“Well, she is definitely well fed,” Michelle commented.
“She’s eating for two,” Teresa said.
“Right. Two hundred,” Jessie muttered.
“Stop complaining. You know you can afford it.”
“That’s not the point. It’s bad manners to spend someone else’s money with such abandon.”
“Do you know who the father is?”
“She won’t say.”
The conversation stopped when Louisa returned to the table. “Sorry,” she said. “I have to keep going. Sometimes I feel like a leaky faucet.”
“Yes, well. How do you feel now?” Teresa asked.
“Great. I don’t know how to thank you. It’s such a shame we aren’t closer. We could do this more often.”
Michelle coughed; Jessie stared out the window, Teresa smiled wearily.
“You guys are so lucky. This is how I want to live. Fancy clothes, great hair, expensive restaurants.”
“We work hard,” Michelle said.
“Yes, but you both married money and don’t have to.”
“But as you can see that is not always the best route,” Michelle said. “I’m separated from my husband.”
Louisa shook her head. “But that’s because you did it all wrong.”
Michelle stiffened.
Louisa didn’t notice. “If he cheated on you, you should have just turned the other way while he signed your checks and if he was bad in bed, you just get a lover—same goes if he was boring, dumb or immature.”
“James was none of those things.”
“Then why are you separated?”
They all looked at Michelle expectantly.
“None of your business,” she said.
Louisa shrugged, unfazed. “Your problem is that you think too much. I on the other hand, have plans.”
“And what are those plans?” Jessie asked.
“I’m going to marry money like you.”
“You won’t have time right now,” Michelle said. “You’ll have to take care of the baby.”
“No I won’t. He’ll eventually take care of both of us.”
Michelle leaned forward. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”
Teresa looked at her confused. “What game?”
Michelle kept her gaze on Louisa. “He’s married, isn’t he?”
Louisa slowly blinked, bored. “What if he is?”
Michelle glanced down at Louisa’s swollen belly, then back at her face. “And you think having a baby will change that?”
“I already have another option.”
“What?”
Louisa flashed a cool smile. “None of your business.”
“It will be if you get Teresa involved.”
Louisa’s smile fell. “What does Teresa have to do with anything?”
Michelle’s gaze sharpened. “You tell me, Louisa.”
Louisa swallowed, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. Michelle was sharp and she hadn’t expected that. What could she know? She couldn’t know anything. She couldn’t know that she’d been giving Thomas key information about Teresa’s business. She was just bluffing. She had to play it cool. “I don’t need another woman to catch a man. My face has always gotten me what I wanted and hasn’t stopped.” She nodded at Jessie. “I’m sure you understand about going after what you want.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Louisa rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on. Everyone knows that you set out to get Kenneth because of a bet. But I bet you only used that as a cover. What caught your interest first? His money or his looks? You’re going to have to share some of your tricks with me.”
Jessie tapped her finger on the table, trying to curb her temper. “I didn’t use any tricks.”
“Hello, ladies. Mind if we join you?” Kenneth said, approaching the table with Syrah who beamed at her two aunts.
“Well, speak of the devil,” Louisa said, looking at Kenneth with an intense there’s-a-handsome-man interest.
Kenneth shook her hand. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Jessie’s husband—”
“Kenneth Preston,” Louisa said holding both his hand and gaze longer than she needed to. “Your pictures don’t capture you. Even the bad ones.”
Jessie nearly leaped to her feet in rage at the subtle mention of the scandal, but her husband lightly touched her arm as he sat down with a smile. “Thanks,” he said simply, diffusing the tension. “This is our daughter, Syrah.”
Syrah smiled briefly.
Louisa smiled. “So Kenneth, how would you suggest a girl catch a rich man?”
Michelle choked on her drink, Jessie crumpled her breadsticks and Teresa groaned.
Kenneth kept his smile in place. “I’m not sure I follow you.”
“Well, everybody knows that Jessie went after you because of a bet. Come on, be honest, were you a little embarrassed that you fell for it?”
This time Kenneth couldn’t keep his wife seated. Jessie jumped to her feet and leaned over the table, bristling with rage. “You’re disgusting. I did not marry Kenneth because of a bet or because of his money. I married him because I loved him. But someone like you wouldn’t understand that.” She tapped the table. “Do you know why you’re here? Because we feel sorry for you. And if you weren’t family, I couldn’t care less. You have a pretty face, but you’ve got nothing else. Your mother can’t even stand to look at you and now I know why.”
“Relax, Jas,” Kenneth said, reaching for her hand.
Jessie yanked it out of reach. “Don’t touch me right now,” she warned, keeping her gaze on Louisa’s face. “You’re raw, you’re vulgar and that’s why you’re alone.” She grabbed her handbag and stormed out.
Louisa lifted her drink and took a sip. “Guess I hit a nerve.”
Kenneth and Syrah said their goodbyes and immediately followed Jessie. Michelle studied Louisa. “Well done.”
“What?” Louisa asked, looking the picture of innocence.
Michelle glanced at Teresa then shook her head. “Never mind. I think this day is over.”
***
“Louisa’s up to something,” Michelle told Jessie and Kenneth later that day as they sat in their living room. She’d stopped by their house, determined to share her concerns with her sister. “I don’t know what it is, but she’s planning something.”
“I don’t care,” Jessie said.
“You should care. If you weren’t so hot-headed you’d see she was provoking you on purpose.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know,” Michelle said with a note of frustration. “I can’t believe Teresa’s been able to stand being with her this long.”
“Teresa is attracted to broken people. First Sean and now Louisa.”
“I trust Sean more than Louisa,” Kenneth said.
“You trust a man who has no past?” Michelle said. “At least we know Louisa’s.”
“Sean’s past is spotty,” Kenneth corrected. “But a man has a right to his secrets.”
“Not when it involves my sister.” Michelle toyed with the ring on her finger. “But I know Louisa is a bigger problem.”
“What do we do about it?”
Kenneth shrugged. “Wait for something to hit the fan.”
***
Later that night, Kenneth slipped into bed next to his wife, unable to stop replaying the scene at the cafe. “So when are you going to tell me about Sean’s reading?” he asked her as she rested her head on his chest. The light from the table lamp next to him pushed away the shadows.
Jessie grimaced with chagrin. “You saw that, did you?”
He chuckled. “I know you.”
“You’re right about the secrets, but Louisa’s more dangerous to Teresa than he is.”
“Why did you let her get to you?”
