Deception (10 page)

“Do you recall what name is on the lease?”

“Mandola Properties.” Mr. David took copious amounts of notes. In fact, the only sound that could be heard in the room was the scratching of his old school number two pencil on the paper as he wrote.

“How often does he visit?” Mr. David asked without looking up from his notation.

“Once or twice per month.”

“And what are his reasons for visiting?”

Maura’s lips parted, but she couldn’t speak. She didn’t want to answer this question. She glanced at Julian and his father. They both had their eyes averted, offering her some privacy during a moment of raw exposure. And she knew that even if Julian was frustrated with her and her foolishness, she’d never experience pain at his hands.

“He calls it a routine maintenance check. It’s actually in the contract that I signed. Before you ask . . . no, I didn’t read the contract before I signed.”

“He sleeps with you?” Julian said, his eyes now burning her with their intensity.

Maura stood and began to pace the length of the room. She inhaled deeply and exhaled on a sigh. “Rape is not a strong enough word.” Maura wiped the tears from her eyes. “He murders my soul. You have to believe I don’t want him touching me. The first time it happened he divulged all the lies—the grant, the lack of a trust fund, the rental agreement. Everything. He knew I’d let him do whatever he wanted. I mean, my entire life and Bailey’s are or were dependent upon him. After the first few times I offered to marry him again just to diminish some of the power he had over me, but he said he had no desire to marry me. He went on to say that he liked our new arrangement much better.”

Maura walked to the window and pretended to look at something outside even though it was as dark as a brick of coal.

“He’s rough with you.” Julian’s voice was low and gravelly.

“Yes.” She wouldn’t turn her gaze from the window. She didn’t want to see the pity in his eyes. The door slam closed, startling her, but still she didn’t turn from the window. She knew Julian had left in a rage.

She heard Mr. David’s office chair squeak and within a few seconds he joined her at the window. “I’m going to help you, Maura. We’ll make this right.” He held the pad of notes in the air between them. “Alan Douglas will soon be only a memory. Mark my words, I’ll crush him for what he’s done to you.”

The determination she saw in his demeanor and in the rugged lines of his face scared her. He was a man possessed by revenge and she felt bad for having been the cause. “Mr. David please, I don’t want you to place yourself or your family at risk. And I desperately don’t want to hurt Julian.”

He pulled her in to his chest and kissed the top of her head. “Hush now. And don’t mind Julian, he’s only in love with you. Like you, he’s been hurt before. Unlike you, he hasn’t been able to put the pieces of himself back together. Please don’t give up on him.”

Julian was in love with her?
Surely he was jesting. “I could never give up on him.”

“Thank you.” His hand on her back comforted her, and for the first time in her life she experienced what it felt like to abide in the love and refuge of a devoted and protective father.

The week after Alan’s campus visit, Maura walked through the halls of the oldest building on the university campus. She loved the LSU grounds, but now she walked with vigilance, keeping an eye out for the one she hoped never to see. A chill raced up her spine and she crossed her arms over her chest. She had her job and she enjoyed teaching English and getting young adults fired up about her greatest love. Louisiana was no New York, but Baton Rouge felt good on Maura. She relished the mild fall days and the humid nights that reminded her of home. The inhabitants were proud of their town and heritage, so much so that it made every day seem like a carnival. Jazz tunes could be heard lilting from the gazebo near the center of campus. Rich deep saxophone notes punctuated by trumpet riffs.

An on-campus fraternity conducted an outdoor shrimp fry fundraiser. The spices tickled Maura’s nose. She could definitely see herself growing old here, and until Alan’s visit she had felt safe. The reality was that Alan would feel shame for his actions for a while and that humiliation would temporarily keep him at bay, but he’d ultimately come back around. He always did. Only this time was different.
What was he still doing here
?

Her phone rang to the tune of
Empire State of Mind
and she dug it out of her purse to answer.

“Hey Bails, how’s your first week back at work going?”

“Work’s fine. Julian’s losing it though. Ever since you moved out he’s been even more of a moody dick than before.”

“I’ve only been gone for a couple of days.”

“It’s a good thing. If it had been any longer he’d be dead because I would have killed him!”

“I’m seriously doubting it could be that bad. He hated having me there. Whatever’s got his panties in a twist has nothing to do with me. How’s your packing going?”

“Parker can’t decide what to bring and what to leave behind for his parents to store. He’s worse than me. Secretly I think he’s the one who’s procrastinating now. He’s lived at home his entire life, you know.” Bailey exhaled into the phone. “I could use a break. I want to come over tonight and see your new place.”

“Tonight I’m busy with research.”

“You said that last night. I want to come see it.”

“You will Bails, but first I want to decorate. I plan on having you all over for dinner after that.”

“Oh, I wish I could help you decorate.”

“Yeah, right.”

“I know. I can’t wait to come over and eat though.”

“Now that I believe. Focus on healing and I’ll stop in and see you this weekend.”

“Okay, can’t wait. Love you, Maura.”

“Love you, Bails.”

Maura sighed. She was living in a Motel 6 out on Interstate-10. Fifty-nine dollars per night or three-fifty per week.

She’d stayed with the Davids as long as she could, but her relationship with Julian had become increasingly strained since the night she’d revealed everything to him and his father. His scowl and the fact that he wouldn’t utter a single word to her had helped her make the decision to leave the lavish sprawling home that had provided her sanctuary for the past few weeks. The moss-covered trees that lined the drive and huge pillars that supported the wrap-around deck reminded her of a Louisiana plantation home from the prewar period. She sighed as she missed her evening ritual of rocking on the porch after work, sipping the sweet tea that Mrs. David had made. She’d grown close with Mrs. David, who’d taught English at one time and loved all things literature. They’d discussed in excess Maura’s research project, identifying and coding all of the instances Emily Brontë used weather to describe characters and evoke setting.

It was Thursday and she planned on spending two nights at the David home over the weekend. That thought lifted her spirits as she walked into the room she’d rented. The motel was dark and drab, the interior seemingly untouched since the eighties.

Given the size of the David estate she hoped that she would be able to avoid Julian for her upcoming weekend getaway.

***

The swimming pool glowed green, then blue, then red, then purple. The night was slightly warm, but tolerable. Ari, Bailey, Maura, and Fiona watched as Courtney gave a recount of each item before throwing it on the fire pit to be consumed.

From the hot tub attached to the pool, Ari and Fiona giggled as a Calitones T-shirt Courtney got at a concert with Travis went up in flames.

They all mumbled die-Travis-Miller-die and did another round of tequila shots. Bailey and Maura occupied the loungers next to the pool while Courtney stirred the contents of the fire bowl that rested on the corner of the custom pool.

“Ten dollars says she catches the palm tree on fire.” Bailey wagered.

“I’ll take that action.” Maura didn’t think the flames could reach that high.

“Next up the peppermints that I begged him to partake of after our Valentine’s Day dinner at Ezra’s. He refused and I had to endure his garlic breath the entire night.”

The mints hit the pit with a plink. “Travis sounds like a real loser.” Bailey said.

Courtney held her shot glass high in the air. “die-Travis-Miller-die.” They all took another shot and Maura began to worry about Bailey and her new kidney.

“Bails, should you do any more tequila shots?” Maura whispered.

“I’ve only done one. Threw those last two over my shoulder.” Bailey winked at Maura.

Maura’s eyes filled with tears. She wasn’t used to this new Bailey. The old Bailey threw caution to the wind at every turn, living her life on fast forward, not worried that her system might not be able to keep up. Since she’d met Parker she’d been different. She’d slowed down to live life. In that moment Maura had so much love for Parker that if he were out here with them she would have surely gushed all over him.

“Behold! The
Chanel Number Five
perfume Travis gifted to me that same evening.”

“No!” Maura yelled. She watched the bottle fall from Courtney’s hand and she leaped over Bailey, slamming into Courtney and propelling them both into the pool with a big splash. Limbs tangled together and Maura saw the orange glow of the fire above them. Through the water she heard muffled voices conversing loudly. When they came up for air Parker and Everett were fighting the fire with an extinguisher and Julian had jumped into the pool fully clothed.

His hands raced over each one of them as he inspected them for burns. “Are you okay? Maura? Courtney?”

Maura was still in shock and unable to speak. It seemed Courtney was too.

“Hey.” He shook each one of them by the shoulders and then snapped his fingers in front of their faces.

Maura coughed the burning lump from her throat while Courtney mumbled the words Julian wished to hear.

“I think I’m okay.” Maura finally managed.

Courtney turned to her and her arms pulled her into an embrace. “Oh, my God! Maura, you saved my life!”

“What the hell were you thinking, Courtney?” Everett yelled.

The fire had been contained. Unfortunately for the tree, it had been scorched and now Maura owed Bailey ten dollars. Courtney regarded Maura with wide eyes and then both of them fell into a fit of drunken laughter.

Julian pulled Maura in to his chest. “You’re completely shit faced.”

“I am not.”

“What the hell were you girls doing out here?” Julian yelled. Ari jumped on her brother’s back attempting to pull him into the water.

“Maura, help!” Maura slid her foot beneath his and he went down. Given his strength they weren’t able to hold him down long. His hands grasped whatever they could and at one point he’d cupped her breast.

“Hey! You copped a feel!”

Julian held his hands up in surrender. “I was only defending myself. I felt threatened.”

“I told you he’d cheat.” Parker announced.

Julian pulled himself from the water. “You can use my towel.” Maura pointed to the chaise lounge where she’d been lying.

“Some dry clothes would be nice.”

Maura exited the pool. She grabbed the towel and wrapped it around herself. “Wait here, I’ll run and get you something.”

“There’s a clean basket of laundry in my bedroom on the desk.”

“Got it.”

Maura skipped inside, taking the stairs two at a time. She rounded the corner into Julian’s room and instantly saw the basket of neatly folded clothes waiting to be placed in drawers. As she fingered through looking for a somewhat matching set of shorts and shirt, she bumped into the desk, knocking over a stack of books. As she straightened them a photograph fell to the floor—a photograph of her from a few years ago. She and Bailey had been at the beach. Bailey, who was fond of candid photos, had taken a photo of Maura while she read from
The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning
and sunbathed. She must have left it behind in the room where she’d been staying. She set the photo on top of the books and grabbed Julian’s clothes.

Outside Maura spied Julian near the bathroom off the porch. She made her way to him and handed over his clothes. Reaching out to her he used his fingers to deftly unhinge the towel wrapped around her body. It fell to the ground making a swishing sound. “Julian!”

“Don’t mind him. He just slammed four tequila shots in the time it took you to get his clothes,” Everett relayed from a wicker chair on the porch. Fiona sat close by and Maura observed their friendly banter with a smile.

“Why did you drink so much tequila?”

“Just tryin’ to catch up.”

Suddenly she was pulled into the bathroom with Julian. He closed them inside the small space. “What are you doing?”

He pulled her to his chest and then he looped their hands behind her back. He was so close she could feel the slight wisps of his breath on her skin. Her lips puckered and she placed a kiss on the Adam’s apple of his long graceful neck.

When she looked into his eyes they sparkled. Green jewels with rings of fire. “That’s my move.” His voice was raw with emotion and when his lips descended on hers she moaned in delight. Soft and thick, his lips were skilled as they pressed into her with just the right amount of pressure. His lips kissed their way down her chin, her jaw, her neck. Soft feather-light kisses that only left her aching for more. Her eyes closed as she became drunk with lust for him.

“Help me out of these wet clothes?”

Her eyes opened and slowly resumed their function. God, how she’d dreamed of getting her hands on him. She longed to rub skin on skin against his chest and more—so much more. Julian held his hands at his sides, his head lowered in a submissive gesture. Was he giving her permission to do as she pleased?

To test her theory she raked her hands tentatively down his chest, the definition visible through the clinging wet shirt he wore. His only reaction was to cut those green lasers at her. She grasped the hem of the shirt and pulled slowly, inch by inch, to unveil his glorious abs and chest. She couldn’t pull the shirt over his head fast enough.

“You were mad at me,” she frowned.