Cheaters Anonymous (21 page)

“Calling me. Your cell’s dead, remember? New one should be delivered soon.”

Right.

“As of last night, your mom threatened to skin me alive if I kept you to myself any longer.”

The bell rang again.

“Julia?” I heard my mom say. “If he’s going to keep you away from me, I won’t be held accountable for what I’ll do.”

“See?”

“I think we better get that,” I said with disappointment.

“I think you’re right. But I am not forgetting what just happened.”

I didn’t think I would ever forget. Straightening my dress, I wobbled toward the door, trying to steady my legs, which might as well have been made of foam.

I took in a deep breath and hoped my cheeks weren’t too flushed.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Oh, honey. It’s so good to see you. When Zoey called me, I wanted to come right over, but
somebody
insisted you were sleeping each time I called him.” She hugged me tightly. The remnants of my pain seared through my ribs. I didn’t remember feeling that way when Scar had me pressed against the wall.

“Not too hard,” I heard Scar say under his breath.

It’s okay,
I mouthed over my mom’s shoulder.

“I
have
been sleeping.”

Scar grabbed his car keys, saying, “I need to check on the club. Call me if you need anything, Jules.”

He hadn’t been to work since I came here from the hospital, instead insisting that someone was taking care of the business. I was glad he’d get this time to catch up.

“I will.”

Scar hesitated before coming over and gently kissed me on my cheek. As soon as he left, Zoey went straight into the kitchen. She moved around the guest house as if she’d been here before. She set down the bags of food she’d brought and took out the plates. While she gave me a comforting hug, my sister hadn’t said a word since she got here. The tension between Mom and her was wound so tight, I was afraid if it snapped we’d all get whiplash.

“Now tell me everything that happened. Scar said you were attacked, but he’s not involving the police? Why?”

“Mom, it’s complicated. There would be lots of red tape, so he’s hired a private investigator. They’ll find him soon.”

“You should have called me or Sid.”

“I didn’t want to worry you.”

“Nonsense. I can’t believe both my girls are dating the Wagner brothers. Men who throw themselves at women are never good. At least you’ve known Scar for longer than Zoey has known... urgh, I can’t even say his name.”

I guessed Zoey told Mom about Ace, and hence her somber mood.

I removed the utensils and poured water into our glasses, saying, “Mom, it’s been years. And as I recall, you had no problem when Ace threw himself at you.”

She gasped.

“Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that, but it’s the truth.”

My sister, on the other hand, was smiling at the side.

“Well, at least Scar doesn’t sleep around.”

Boy, did she have that wrong. Just like me, Scar had never been in a serious relationship in his life.

“Have you seen Ace? He’s a walking horny dog who can’t keep his hands to himself.”

My sister smiled again, but this time she looked like she was lost to a fond memory. Did Mom even realize she was giving Zoey all the reasons that made Ace so enticing?

“Mom, you need to stop blaming Ace and Zoey for what happened.”

Could I tell her the truth?

“He... he shouldn’t have done that at the hospital.”

As I recalled, my mom’s arms had also been wrapped around Ace’s neck, and she hadn’t been pushing him away. But there was no point in making that argument again. Mom and Sid had worked things out.

Here goes nothing.

“I’m the one who asked Scar to break you and Sid apart.” I leaned against the counter, regarding her from across the kitchen. “Scar paid Ace to kiss you.”

“He did
what
?”

“I thought Sid was after your money,” I explained.

“Sid is not like that!”

“I know that now, but Mom, your track record before Sid was pretty much meet a younger guy, screw a younger guy, and move on. Let’s face it, you were a proud cougar.”

“Julia Blakely—”

I lifted my hand, hoping she’d at least hear me out. I was tired of the lie I’d been keeping over the years. And to be honest, I was pleased that Mom had found happiness, and I wouldn’t do anything to ruin it.

“There’s nothing wrong with what you did, Mom. Especially after Dad... Well, you know what he did.”

She took my hand into hers as if trying to bring out a maternal side I’d never seen before. My mom was a good mom, but she’d never had that instinct I’d seen in Scar’s mom, Beth.

“After all the years your father had been sleeping around behind my back, I wanted something good in my life. I want you girls to have that too, without going through heartbreaks. But you’re both living with these guys—”

“Mom, we’re not denying that you deserved happiness. But Scar is a good man. And I’m sure that Ace, being his brother, is as well. And if he makes Zoey happy, then I’m happy.”

While my mom never knew the extent of my past issues, she was well aware that I hadn’t had a boyfriend in years. But she let it go. Mom looked from me to Zoey and back. Her eyes glistened, and I had a feeling she was having one of her maternal moments again.

“I’m sorry. Sometimes I forget you’re all grown up.”

“It’s okay. It’s nice to be cared for.” Zoey finally spoke up.

“You know, I could probably help you girls with relationship stuff. They say that a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but that’s a lie.”

I was afraid of where she was going with this.

“It’s actually through his penis. You take care of his needs, and he’ll be yours forever.”

“Oh, Mom!” we both whined at the same time.

“What? The least I can do is share my life’s experiences with you. And believe me, there are plenty to share. Another thing they like is if you cup...”

“... Mom, stop! Please. Or I’ll have to tell you some of our experiences.”

Her face sobered. “You’re right. I better keep those to myself.”

“So, why did you kiss Ace? I mean, it takes two, right?” I asked, my gaze going from Zoey to my mom.

“I had an argument with Sid. I was angry, and I made a mistake, and it’s a long story. Don’t change the subject, Julia. I’m worried about you. This guy who tried to hurt you... men like that don’t give up so easily.”

“I’m worried too, Jules. Ace said he’s a psycho.” Zoey removed container after container from the bags. The smell of Italian food, Mom’s favorite, filled the room.

“I wouldn’t necessarily argue with that.” I felt chills sweep through my body.

C
HAPTER
19

Mom and Zoey went home after a couple of hours, which meant that I was left behind on my own with a guard who reminded me of a gorilla. And now he was waiting behind me at the bottom of the staircase leading to the Wagner’s front door. I bet he could squash Brad in one grip. The thought made me feel happy. I imagined Brad as a small bug under a thumb, becoming a blob on a concrete sidewalk.

Four white pillars rose from the front porch up to the second floor balcony, making the entrance look grand. The Wagner residence was just as overwhelming as it had been when I knew Scar in high school. Expecting Roland, the Wagner’s butler, to open the door I was a little surprised to see Beth. She still had the same kind smile I remembered.

“Julia, it’s so good to see you. Come in, please.”

We left the gorilla behind the door. It felt nice to be at the Wagner residence – sort of like old times when I was younger and I would visit. Beth was always baking something fresh. Her kitchen was one of the best-smelling ones ever. For a woman who had all the money in the world and a talented butler, Beth always seemed to be more caring than many other mothers I’d known. Not that mine wasn’t; she was, just in a different way.

“I meant to stop by the first day to thank you for letting me stay here, but plans sort of changed.”

“Don’t worry about it. Are you feeling any better? Come with me, I’m pruning in the garden.”

“Thank you for the roses. They’re gorgeous.”

“I find flowers always lift my spirit.”

As we crossed the hallway, we passed a gorgeous bouquet on the center table.

“Are those from your garden as well?” I asked.

“No, Frank orders a fresh bouquet every weekend for me.” There was a hint of humbleness behind her voice. “He shouldn’t, since we have the garden, but he insists.”

I got the feeling that while Beth loved her own fresh-cut flowers, these from Mr. Wagner were just as special, if not more. On the side wall there was a gigantic paining of a rose garden I didn’t remember from when I was younger. It was beautiful.

“Thank you for letting us stay at the guest house. I hope we’re not a nuisance.”

“Don’t be silly, Julia. I’ve know you for so long, it’s my pleasure to have you here. I’m glad you’re staying with us. From what I heard, this man stalking you is dangerous.”

“I can’t say it doesn’t scare me, and Scar insisted.”

“I think it will be good for Scar to be back home too. I’ve missed him. He’s been working so much. Here,” she pulled out a chair on the patio pointing to it. “You sit and talk while I cut.”

At that moment, Roland brought out a pitcher of iced tea and a plate full of fruit. The flower garden beyond the porch was full of opened blossoms. The air was thick with the floral scent of roses, hydrangeas, wild daisies, and petunias, the blend as sweet as honey.

“I hear a lot has happened since you two ran into each other.” She gave me one of the sweetest smiles in the world. Her voice held so much happiness, it lifted my own heart.

“Scar told you?”

I wondered how much he confided in his mother.

“He did. And I’m glad you’re better. But I really want to know how you and Scar are doing. I haven’t seen him this happy in a long time, so I’m assuming it’s good. I always knew you belonged together.”

“I think we’re good. There’s a lot going on right now.”

“Obstacles make you stronger. And you two have known each other for so long. I always hoped you’d find your way back to each other.”

“I don’t know, Beth. It’s complicated.”

She cut a stem and stood up, looking at me. “Are you fond of my son?”

“Yes.”

“And he’s very fond of you. So, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Are you two all right?” I asked. “He hasn’t mentioned much, other than you’re working through things.”

Knowing I’d switched the subject from me and Scar to him and his mom, I felt a bit of guilt.

“We are. Some children take a decade to be raised, other two or three,” she chuckled. “We’ll get there eventually.”

“You know he’s told me about, well, his father and all.”

Scar had never hid the fact that he was a “bastard” child. I cringed each time he referred to himself that way. He might have been a product of his father’s affair, but he’d had so much love in this house, it always surprised me that he remained so mad at his parents, and so rude to Beth.

“That Frank had an affair? And that Scar is not my child? Yes, well, my stretch marks say otherwise.”

She laughed as if it were an old family joke, but the spark of pain in her eyes didn’t escape me. If Beth had given birth to him, why had Scar gone on most of his life believing the opposite?

“You are his mother, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am, sweetheart. It doesn’t change the fact that Frank did have an affair, but Scar is ours.”

“I know it may sound rude to ask, because a child should never have to prove who his parents are, but have you ever thought about taking a DNA test for him?”

She chuckled. “It’s not rude. And Scar beat you to it. In fact, he had a DNA test done when he was sixteen, without telling us.”

I should have figured that from Scar. “So why is he still questioning it?”

“It’s not that simple, Julia. While I carried him and raised him and love him as if his life had begun inside me on day one of conception, genetically Scar isn’t mine. My life would have been much simpler if that was a lie, but it’s not.”

“What?”

“Scar used to think we hadn’t told him the truth to cover up Frank’s affair and his whereabouts. You know, because of his other illicit businesses. But that’s not the case.” She pulled up another chair to the table and set the bunch of roses she’d cut into a basket.

“We should have given him the details sooner. I’m not even sure how he found out on his own. Yes, Frank had an affair, but it had nothing to do with Scar. In fact, that was before we even had any children. Scar was our fourth child. We both always wanted to have a big family, and I guess for me, after having three boys, I wanted a girl. My husband was beginning to build his career, and I had high hopes for the boys. If I’d known then he’d be pulling them into his businesses, maybe I would have done things differently. But my boys are smart. Ever since Scar and Cash, his brother, cleaned up the business, our family’s been healthier than ever. But it doesn’t change the past and all the questions Scar had about his biological mother. Questions we couldn’t answer set him on a path of destruction.” She paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and continued. “Since I wanted a girl, we opted for IVF. It was the only way to guarantee it, but I guess nothing, except for plenty of surprises, can be guaranteed in life. A mistake was made at the fertility clinic. Not only was Frank’s sperm used to fertilize someone else’s egg, but they also used the Y chromosome sperm, instead of the X. I think God really wanted us to have Scar. Whatever plan he had for my son, it had to be important. We didn’t find out until our second ultrasound at four months.”

“So you thought you were carrying a girl.”

“Yes, imagine our surprise. I couldn’t find myself for days. I didn’t understand it, and when I was at my lowest, I felt Scar’s first kick in my tummy. That’s when I knew that no matter what, he was mine and I would love him forever.”

“What happened to your egg?”