Page 55
I step away from Brantley. “I have a song to play.”
I turn quickly and make my way to the piano that’s on another makeshift stage in the center of the room. Taking a seat on the stool, I flex my fingers over the keys and close my eyes. Breathe in, breathe out. No one stops what they are doing. I appreciate that. I don’t want all eyes on me. I play the first song that comes to mind. An angry storm of emotions and betrayal spray over the keys with every flick of my fingertips. By the time I’m finished, I stand up and rush to the back of the room. I’m tired, my muscles ache, and my mind is in a tailspin. I need sleep. I jog up the stairs at a speed I didn’t know I could wearing heels, rubbing the tears from my cheeks.
Madison rushes over to me once I’m back in the school foyer, out of breath. “There you are. Tillie and I are leaving, you want to come?”
I nod, just as my eyes fly over her shoulder and land on Ophelia and Ivy, who are still down below. “Yes, with Ivy and O.”
Pulling into the long driveway of the manor, I feel all of the past memories crawl up my throat, cutting off my air supply. Goddammit, Brantley. I want to fight him, swear at him, yell at him, but the closer I get to my home, the more I feel myself ease.
“Hey.” Ophelia’s hand is on my knee. Ivy sits opposite us, watching our exchange quietly. “It’s going to be okay. Ivy and I can go back to my parents’ house tomorrow.”
I shake my head, resting my hand on hers. “No, please, you can both stay for as long as you want. I’m just sorry that you got caught in-between all of—” I wave my hands around, “—this, and now with Veronica out with the knowledge she has.” I pause, swallowing past all of the overwhelming emotions that are threatening to choke me. She could be anywhere, waiting and ready to attack. “At least until after we’ve found Veronica, I really want you both to stay here.”
A look passes between them, before Ivy nods, her brown hair brushing against her collarbone. Ophelia gazes up at the manor, one perfectly dark eyebrow raised. “No offense, but this house is scary. You know that, right?”
For the first time since marrying Brantley, I laugh, pushing the door open and climbing out. “I know.” After we left the opening tonight, Tillie and Madison decided to drive their cars here instead of riding with us so that—in their own words—they had a way of escape when the boys got home.
“Can you believe you’re married?” Ophelia hooks her arm in mine and drags me up the stairs as if she owns the house. I’m still smiling when my eyes lock onto the lion door knocker. Everything inside my gut feels empty. Uncomfortable. Unsettled.
I push open the door just as Kore and Hades come crashing down the stairs in a whirl of black and orange.
“Oh my God!” Ophelia screams, jumping back behind the front door and closing it slightly. “Do they bite?” she asks, poking her head through the gap.
I lean down and squeeze both dogs into my arms. “Not really.” I giggle as their tongues slide all over my cheek and neck.
“What do you mean not really?” Ophelia yells. “Saint, honey, I need a yes or a no, and if it’s a no, I’m out.”
There’s laughing behind Ophelia as Tillie pushes the door open. “They don’t bite if you’re with her or Brantley. If not, then your ass is dog meat.”
Ophelia’s silent, so I nudge my head at her from over my shoulder, just as Madison and Tillie make their way farther into the house. I smile at her. “They won’t attack.”
Both Ophelia and Ivy step out from behind the door, closing it slowly. Ivy steps forward and starts scratching Kore behind her ear. Kore rolls over onto her back and exposes her belly while Hades glares at her. He’s never impressed with how easy she rolls on her back for other people.
“So, let’s go hide out in the theatre room and snack out. Sounds like the perfect honeymoon to me,” Madison grumbles, stomping into the kitchen with a deadly frown etched on her face. I stand and swipe my hands down my thighs while Tillie follows behind her.
“I’ll show you to the rooms you can stay in.” Both Ophelia and Ivy follow me up the stairs, with Hades and Kore not far behind. Once I hit the second level, I turn down the opposite wing to mine and Brantley’s room, the guest side—that has never been used except for workers.
“There’s bedding in the cupboards and your own bathrooms.” I push open both doors. “I have a big enough closet for all three of us to live happily for an entire year without going shopping. What’s mine is yours.” They both thank me and I leave them to it as I make my way back downstairs to Madison and Tillie. I’m rounding the corner when Tillie exits the pantry, hands filled with potato chips, peanut butter, Nutella spread, and— “Are those pickles?”
I turn quickly and make my way to the piano that’s on another makeshift stage in the center of the room. Taking a seat on the stool, I flex my fingers over the keys and close my eyes. Breathe in, breathe out. No one stops what they are doing. I appreciate that. I don’t want all eyes on me. I play the first song that comes to mind. An angry storm of emotions and betrayal spray over the keys with every flick of my fingertips. By the time I’m finished, I stand up and rush to the back of the room. I’m tired, my muscles ache, and my mind is in a tailspin. I need sleep. I jog up the stairs at a speed I didn’t know I could wearing heels, rubbing the tears from my cheeks.
Madison rushes over to me once I’m back in the school foyer, out of breath. “There you are. Tillie and I are leaving, you want to come?”
I nod, just as my eyes fly over her shoulder and land on Ophelia and Ivy, who are still down below. “Yes, with Ivy and O.”
Pulling into the long driveway of the manor, I feel all of the past memories crawl up my throat, cutting off my air supply. Goddammit, Brantley. I want to fight him, swear at him, yell at him, but the closer I get to my home, the more I feel myself ease.
“Hey.” Ophelia’s hand is on my knee. Ivy sits opposite us, watching our exchange quietly. “It’s going to be okay. Ivy and I can go back to my parents’ house tomorrow.”
I shake my head, resting my hand on hers. “No, please, you can both stay for as long as you want. I’m just sorry that you got caught in-between all of—” I wave my hands around, “—this, and now with Veronica out with the knowledge she has.” I pause, swallowing past all of the overwhelming emotions that are threatening to choke me. She could be anywhere, waiting and ready to attack. “At least until after we’ve found Veronica, I really want you both to stay here.”
A look passes between them, before Ivy nods, her brown hair brushing against her collarbone. Ophelia gazes up at the manor, one perfectly dark eyebrow raised. “No offense, but this house is scary. You know that, right?”
For the first time since marrying Brantley, I laugh, pushing the door open and climbing out. “I know.” After we left the opening tonight, Tillie and Madison decided to drive their cars here instead of riding with us so that—in their own words—they had a way of escape when the boys got home.
“Can you believe you’re married?” Ophelia hooks her arm in mine and drags me up the stairs as if she owns the house. I’m still smiling when my eyes lock onto the lion door knocker. Everything inside my gut feels empty. Uncomfortable. Unsettled.
I push open the door just as Kore and Hades come crashing down the stairs in a whirl of black and orange.
“Oh my God!” Ophelia screams, jumping back behind the front door and closing it slightly. “Do they bite?” she asks, poking her head through the gap.
I lean down and squeeze both dogs into my arms. “Not really.” I giggle as their tongues slide all over my cheek and neck.
“What do you mean not really?” Ophelia yells. “Saint, honey, I need a yes or a no, and if it’s a no, I’m out.”
There’s laughing behind Ophelia as Tillie pushes the door open. “They don’t bite if you’re with her or Brantley. If not, then your ass is dog meat.”
Ophelia’s silent, so I nudge my head at her from over my shoulder, just as Madison and Tillie make their way farther into the house. I smile at her. “They won’t attack.”
Both Ophelia and Ivy step out from behind the door, closing it slowly. Ivy steps forward and starts scratching Kore behind her ear. Kore rolls over onto her back and exposes her belly while Hades glares at her. He’s never impressed with how easy she rolls on her back for other people.
“So, let’s go hide out in the theatre room and snack out. Sounds like the perfect honeymoon to me,” Madison grumbles, stomping into the kitchen with a deadly frown etched on her face. I stand and swipe my hands down my thighs while Tillie follows behind her.
“I’ll show you to the rooms you can stay in.” Both Ophelia and Ivy follow me up the stairs, with Hades and Kore not far behind. Once I hit the second level, I turn down the opposite wing to mine and Brantley’s room, the guest side—that has never been used except for workers.
“There’s bedding in the cupboards and your own bathrooms.” I push open both doors. “I have a big enough closet for all three of us to live happily for an entire year without going shopping. What’s mine is yours.” They both thank me and I leave them to it as I make my way back downstairs to Madison and Tillie. I’m rounding the corner when Tillie exits the pantry, hands filled with potato chips, peanut butter, Nutella spread, and— “Are those pickles?”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103