Chrysalis (Dangerous Secrets) (8 page)

“You read too many romance novels hon, I don’t think I quite believe that. For the heart to override the brain? People loving someone before they know and understand them? That just doesn’t make any sense.”

“Well, congratulations on figuring out love’s middle and last names: ‘Makes No Damn Sense.’”

Sydney giggled, looking away again. Then she turned back and looked Maria directly in the eye.

“Maria,” she said, “are you in love with Edward?”

Maria’s smile was slight.

“Maybe I am.” She sighed a heavy sigh. “I’m gonna miss him while I’m in Mexico,
pero
mis tias
would never forgive me if I didn’t go and see them.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Utah - Winter

“I can’t believe we’re here man,” Eddie said as their driver, Benjamin, smoothly took them up the long, curving driveway toward the six-space garage.

“Yeah,” Nicholas said, unable to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. “Home sweet home.”

Once the limousine was parked, Benjamin took their bags inside through the doorway in the garage, but the brothers exited the garage with the intentions of examining the familiar exterior for changes made in their absence.

They surveyed the mansion and surrounding property. The mansion looked the same: a white, three-story building surrounded by an expanse of lawn broken only by geometrical topiary and stone statues doubling as water fountains. None of the other embellishments were visible from the front but Nicholas recalled the pool, and tennis and basketball courts waiting in the back, all of which he had imminent plans for.

“It
is
kind of sweet though bro, you gotta admit,” Edward said, grinning. “I almost forgot after living in those condos.”

“Yeah, it’s ‘kind of sweet.’ If only our parents didn’t live in it...oh wait, dad already doesn’t.”

“Come on Nicholas...”

“You know I’m telling the truth—those two drain life from everything. I’m surprised the lawn’s still green, that we still have some foliage.” He let out a breath. “I really hope we don’t regret coming here.”

“Well, how often does mom ask us to come home? I mean—mom. Same woman who sent us off to boarding schools as soon as we could read and who couldn’t wait to ship us to college. I’m curious as hell Nick—I don’t know why she wants us around this time—although I
was
looking forward to another Christmas in some exotic country. Hey, remember New Zealand last year man? Remember that girl...”

Nicholas heard his brother’s words moments after he said them; in fact was only yanked from his thoughts when he realized Eddie had suddenly stopped talking.

“Nicholas,” Eddie began in a warning tone, “you’re not thinking about Sydney are you?”

“Well if I wasn’t, thanks to you, I would be.”

“Aw man,” Eddie turned away, shaking his head but with a small grin. “I knew it.” He turned back to him. “What were you thinking? That you wish she was here? You wish you were wherever she is? You wanna make sure she’s safe? Breastfeed her?”

“Don’t make fun man. I just...I think I’ll miss her, that’s all. I won’t be seeing her for a few weeks and I usually see her at least once a week...what?”

Eddie was laughing heartily at his expense. When he finally caught himself, he said:

“Dude, whatever’s gotten into you is funny as hell. I hope Sydney sticks around. My life’s so much more entertaining with her in it.” Then he clasped his hands over his chest and fluttered his eyelids, faking a dreamy look in his eyes.

When they got to the door, Nicholas rang the doorbell, for they both knew their keys would no longer work. Their mother flung open the door, ready for them.

“Darlings!” she said, hugging them one after the other, shocking Nicholas since he couldn’t remember the last time she touched them.

He examined her blue eyes for sincerity, curious about her actions.

He was unable to find signs of fakeness. Either she had actually been looking forward to seeing them—and Nicholas was convinced that wasn’t the case—or she had become a better actress.

“How was your trip?” she asked. Then she waved away any potential response. “Looks like everything went fine.”

She took one of their hands in each of hers.

“I’m so glad you decided to come—I feel like I haven’t seen you in years!”

She showed her manicured teeth.

Her blond, shoulder-length bluntly cut hair fell on her sea-green blouse which flowed with her movements as she then clasped her hands together in supposed joy. Nicholas had to admire her beauty despite himself—their mother looked fantastic at her age; in fact, could give women fifteen years her junior competition.

“Mom! Nice to see you,” Eddie said.

Nicholas could tell he was trying to sound genuine. For a moment, he even wondered if Eddie meant it. Then Eddie looked right at him.

“Right Nicholas?”

“Yeah!” Nicholas replied, looking everywhere but at Evelyn. “Been a while.”

Evelyn surveyed them, still smiling wide.

“Oh, look at my boys all grown up!” She patted each of their cheeks then brought her hands together again. “You should see Allison, she’s grown into such a lovely young woman.”

Nicholas perked up at the mention of their sister and he could see Eddie’s interest piqued as well.

“She’s here?” Eddie asked.

They didn’t get to see Allison often but when they did, found her a breath of fresh air. Nicholas often wondered how such a beautiful soul could have been birthed from such an ugly one.

“She will be!” Evelyn replied. “She’s coming home later this evening. Oh, all my children under one house—this will be wonderful!”

“Where’s dad?” Nicholas asked, not sure why he was compelled to. Evelyn’s face seemed to darken although she managed to keep her smile.

“Oh, at some business meeting or something, you know how it is. He’ll be around for the holidays though. We’re going to have a family Christmas dinner this year!” Her face brightened again. She turned toward the inside of the house and made a motion for them to follow her.

“Well, let me show you around before you go to your rooms—we’ve made a few changes. And of course by ‘we’ I mean ‘I.’ Do let me know what you think.”

Evelyn took them through the first floor, pointing out a new grand piano of rich mahogany in the parlor, and a stunning chandelier in the dining room. New exercise equipment had been installed in the gym, and new paintings hung on the walls.

Despite the new additions and the upgrading of appliances, the place looked pretty much the same to Nicholas.

After taking them through most of the first floor, Evelyn led them up the spiraling staircase to the second floor, and past two guest bedrooms. They stopped at what was now an ex-guest bedroom, redesigned for her snow-white Persian cat, Glacier, who didn’t seem to like any of them at her threshold. She sat on what appeared to be her scratching couch and stared at them with ice-blue eyes.

Evelyn looked so proud of the room, that Nicholas humored his mother by looking interested in it. It had litter boxes, toys and several comfortable-looking options for the cat to sleep on. A water fountain sat in the corner opposite the litter boxes, where, Evelyn explained, the cat could drink filtered, running water. Next to it was a feeder. A portrait of Glacier hung on the wall.

She told them she had bought Glacier after Allison left for college four months prior.

Nicholas knew the tour was over when they headed to the third floor, after all, it was where all their bedrooms were located.

As Evelyn left she said:

“Nothing to worry about dears—your rooms are still pretty much as you left them.”

Nicholas was a little worried about the “pretty much” and braced himself when he opened the door to his room.

The first things he noticed were his traveling bags in front of the king-sized bed, sitting in the middle of the room. He looked around, then breathed a sigh of relief. His room did in fact look about the same as he had left it, only cleaner. The walls were the same shade of light blue and stilled beamed with his old posters: a
Scarface
poster with Al Pacino lounging in a chair, and posters of a beautiful actress and a Brazilian model whose names he had forgotten. He smiled to himself.

He looked around the room again, scrutinizing each object: his bed, made up with plain blue sheets and a blue patterned comforter and topped with matching pillows and throw pillows, his new flat-screen 3D television with his old ‘toys’ near it—gaming systems and games, his Blue Ray collection, and his entertainment system and old CD library.

He went over to his mini-fridge and opened it. It looked like it had been restocked recently with water and a few of his favorite things, among them: Godiva Belgium Dark Chocolate Ice Cream.

He walked over to his closet, opened the double folding doors, and smiled.

He had forgotten about all the clothes and shoes he had, and now, they were all neatly arranged by style and color.

Nicholas walked back over to his bags and started to unpack, unsure why he even bothered to bring anything back with him; everything he needed was there—almost.

When he finished unpacking and had stored the suitcases away, he took a shower, preparing himself for a long, relaxing night ahead. He threw on a pair of boxers and snuggled up under his sheets, grabbing the remote, ready to begin his leisurely vacation.

He was flipping through the channels when Evelyn poked her head in.

“Nicholas dear, the Hansfords are coming for dinner tonight. Do join us at eight.”

Nicholas looked at her, then at the clock at his bedside: 5:43.

He still had some time to catch a few shows.

He nodded at her, then continued flipping through the channels.

An hour and a half later he was dressed in a white dress shirt and black slacks, yet standing in his closet looking around, rethinking his clothing choices.

He heard a knock on his door.

Yeah?” he called out.

He heard the door open then a girl’s voice say:

“Nicholas?”

Nicholas dashed out of his closet as he recognized the voice, all other clothing options forgotten.

His sister cupped her hand over her mouth when she saw him.

“Oh my god—Nicholas!” she said, taking in his outfit.

Nicholas tried to reconcile his strongest impression of her—a kid with long, blond pigtails and bright blue eyes—with the pretty young woman standing in front of him.

“Allison!” He grabbed her in a hug. “It’s so great to see you! Been a hell of while; you’ve made this trip worth taking.”

She smiled at him.

“So how’s it going bro? Can’t believe you’re actually dressing up!”

“Neither can I,” he said, scowling at his pants then heading back to his closet. He threw on a pair of jeans instead, then re-presented himself.

“A compromise,” he said, grinning.

Allison held up three fingers in the okay sign.

“Looks great!” she said. Then she sat at the foot of his bed.

“You know, I don’t even know what her rush is to get us all together tonight. She must be playing matchmaker.”

“What do you mean?” Nicholas asked.

The thought had not crossed his mind.

“The Hansfords, if I recall correctly, have two daughters. I could be wrong though. But if it’s not that, I guess she figured she’d better catch us all right away because once we’re settled, we’ll be on our own missions; she might not have us all together again until Christmas.”

Nicholas shrugged, not sure what to say, in fact, not caring why Evelyn insisted they all meet for dinner that night; he missed good old Marla’s cooking and was looking forward to it.

“Anyway,” Allison said. “I better get ready. Send my apologies for being late.”

She got up from the bed and headed to the door, but before leaving, turned back to him, pointing.

“We’ll talk later though—I want to know what’s been going on. Be down in twenty,” she said as she left.

***

All Nicholas could think as he sat at the dinner table was that Allison was right: Amber and Lily Hansford clearly had their eyes on him and his brother, and his mother and the elder Hansfords clearly had been encouraging it.

They were all sitting at the dining room table—Evelyn at one end with Eliza Hansford on her left, Senator Harold Hansford on her right. Edward was next to the senator, Nicholas, next to his brother. Opposite Nicholas was Amber, a stunning beauty with almond-shaped green eyes and cinnamon-colored hair. She looked absolutely nothing like her sister, but resembled her mother, while Lily, a cute blond with dark eyes, sitting opposite Edward, resembled their father. Allison came down a few minutes late and sat down next to Nicholas. The chair opposite Allison was empty, and so was the other end of the table, where his father would have been.

“I’m so glad you’re finally able to meet my sons!” Evelyn said, after everyone had been introduced to each other. “Edward’s graduating next year—he’s majoring in...what was it honey?”

“Economics and Accounting,” Edward replied.

“Right. Then he’s going right off to um...”

“Wharton. Just found out I got in actually—interning at Dhalton Industries for the past few summers probably helped. As well as being a Dhalton.” Soft laughter rolled through the room. “I’m getting my MBA in preparation for moving up in Dhalton Industries as fast as humanly possible,” Edward finished, smiling at the Hansfords.

Nicholas was once again impressed by the way Edward was able to handle Evelyn—with admirable patience. He almost thought he caught a glimpse of genuine pride on Evelyn’s face when talking about and listening to Edward.

“Right! Oh, Edward’s so smart—he’s doing wonderfully! I just know he’ll be great. And Nicholas is...”

Her face seemed to lose some of its light when she looked in his direction. He pushed down the feelings that had started to rise in him and tried to be as charming as Eddie. He wasn’t sure if he pulled it off, but he attempted a smile and affected a casual manner.

“I’m majoring in Management,” he finished for Evelyn. “I don’t quite know where I’ll go from there but somehow, I think I’ll be just fine.” He grinned at everyone then. The girls appeared to appreciate the joke. Even Senator Hansford cracked a smile.

“Yes, your father’s paved quite a path for you all,” he said. “Where is John anyway?”

Evelyn didn’t miss a beat.

“Oh, he planned to be here on time but this thing came up and well, you know how it goes. He sends his apologies. He’ll try to make it later but...” She trailed off, shrugging, her plastic smile making its appearance. “I’m afraid it’s just poor old me for company this evening—and my wonderful boys of course. And my darling daughter—Allison honey, how’d your first term go?”

“Well, I haven’t quite decided what to major in yet mom.”