Fiendish: A Twisted Fairytale (82 page)

I sat on the chaise, staring out into the darkness. I tried; I really tried to forget, to pretend that he wasn’t a murderer. I forced myself to have conversations with him as if we were a normal couple. And some days, on a few rare days, I almost was able to fool myself into believing it. Seth would do or say something that would appeal to the part of me that still loved him, and I would find myself relaxing in his company until I caught a glimpse of the shed outside. When that happened, the guilt, the hurt, the anger, and the fear hit me harder.

I started to question not only my sanity, but my morals. I asked myself how I could do that, how I could not only love a man like him, but also at times
, enjoy his company. The worst guilt, however, always came after we were intimate. I told myself it was because I had to do it, that it was expected of me, part of the deal. That lie, however, didn’t justify me never once resisting. I didn’t initiate our physical contact, so I told myself it was out of my control, something he made me do. But my guilt came because I always enjoyed it. He was gentle, and loving, and attentive, and I responded to it each and every time.

“A penny for your thoughts,” Seth commented as he walked into the room.

I stood, smoothing the nonexistent wrinkles out of the gray, wool sheath-dress he’d bought for me, before taking his outstretched hand. Seth gave me a warm smile as he brought my hand up to his lips, kissing it softly.

“Are you ready to go?”

“Yes,” I replied.

I felt the warmth of his fingers as they made contact with my chin. Seth tilted my face up
, making me look at him. He leaned forward, giving me a chaste kiss before leading me out of the room.

I
’d tried to get out of tonight. I had a hard enough time facing Macy when we met for lunch. I was thankful that most of our conversations centered around her wedding plans. But tonight was Thanksgiving dinner with Macy and Mitch at their house; both of their parents would be there. I tried to tell her I didn’t want to intrude on their family time, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. I think she really wanted a chance to see Seth. I knew she still thought something was off; I just hoped she wouldn’t push too much.

My nerves increased when we pulled into the driveway at Mitch
’s Buckhead home.

“You look lovely tonight,” Seth commented as we approached the door.

“Thank you.”

“There
’s my Ginger!” Malcolm exclaimed when he opened the door.

He quickly pulled me into a bear hug
, spinning me, then leaned forward, planting a kiss on my cheek before I could even stop him. “Damn, you look good, girl.”

“Mal, I didn
’t know you were going to be here,” I said, stepping back so that I was closer to Seth. “You remember Seth right?” I asked, sliding my hand into his. I tried not to grimace when he squeezed it tightly.

“Nice to see you again,” Seth said coolly.

“Likewise.”

The two stared at each other,
Malcolm clearly recalling their last encounter, but I wondered if it was more than that. I wondered if Macy had said something to him. She had already withheld the information he’d be in attendance tonight.

“So, Malcolm,” I said, trying to break
the tension. “How have you been? How’s London?”

“London is good,” he re
plied, closing the door. “Rainy. Man, it rains way too damn much there. The company extended my time, but I’ll be home soon. Come on, Mom and Pop can’t wait to see you.”

I started to follow behind Malcolm, but my forward motion was stopped since Seth hadn
’t moved.

“I didn
’t know he was going to be here. I swear I didn’t know,” I whispered quickly in response to the disapproving look he gave me.

I already dreaded coming tonight with only fending off Macy
’s questions. Now with Malcolm added to the mix, things had gone from bad to worse. Seth said nothing in response as he led us towards the rest of the party.

“Calida, sweetie.
So nice to see you,” Macy’s mom exclaimed when we walked into the family room.

She engulfed me in a hug
, forcing Seth to release my hand.

Deidra
Frankel was a warm and loving woman. Over the years, she’d become a second mother to me.

“It
’s good to see you again Momma D,” I replied, returning her hug.

She looked amazing as usual.
For a woman in her mid-fifties, she could almost pass for Macy’s sister instead of her mother if not for the silver hair. But she wore it well, the silver hairs scattered about her light brown hair looking more like highlights than a sign of age. Her impeccable fashion sense was what fostered Macy’s love of fashion.

Macy
’s dad, William, walked over and greeted me as well. Unlike Momma D, Pops had a head full of gray hairs with no hint of the color it used to be. That was the only thing that really showed his age because he was very in shape. I think he still worked out daily, and Momma D made sure he ate right. Those two were still very much in love, even after twenty-plus years of marriage.

“How
’ve you been?” he asked, dwarfing me in the hug.

“I
’ve been…good. Momma D, Pops, I want to introduce you to my boyfriend, Seth. Seth, these are Macy’s parents, Deidra and William.”

I
could tell from the quick once-over Momma D gave him that Macy had filled her in on the not-so-good points. I would be facing a full-on Frankel family intervention. They exchanged pleasantries, and either Seth didn’t notice the look or he wasn’t bothered by it.

“Seth, Lee
, so glad you could make it,” Mitch said, walking into the room with two people trailing behind him. “Let me introduce you to my parents. Mom, Dad this is Macy’s best friend, Calida, and her boyfriend, Seth. Guys, these are my parents, Audrey and Thomas.”

Seth handed Mitch the bottle of wine we
’d brought once all the introductions were made. We learned that Audrey was a divorce attorney who had her own firm and Thomas was a tenured professor of Psychology at Vanderbilt University. We all sat making small talk while Macy finished ‘preparing’ dinner which meant moving it out of the catering containers into the proper serving dishes. 

When the conversation took a turn to topics I had no knowl
edge about, business and stocks and such, I started to feel out of place, but I realized Seth could easily fit in anywhere. He talked, and laughed, and impressed. I was amazed he could be the same man that I knew him to be but saddened to see just how easily he was able to pull the wool over my eyes. 

I glanced over to see Malcolm standing by the bar
, watching me. He smiled and poured a second drink, raising it towards me as an offering. I stood to go retrieve it, but Seth softly grabbed my wrist. He looked towards Malcolm then kissed my hand before he let it go.

“Thanks,” I said,
taking the tumbler from Mal.

I downed the amber liquid in one gulp
, coughing as my throat burned. I wasn’t much of a bourbon drinker, instead preferring my drinks to be more girly and fruity; the ‘fru-fru’ drinks as Malcolm called them. But today, something stronger was in order.

“Would you like another?” he asked
, laughing.

“No,” I said, continuing to cough a little. “My throat is still on fire from this one.”

Malcolm looked past me towards Seth. I turned to see he wasn’t watching us, but I still knew he was very aware of what I was doing. I tried to make sure I kept a safe distance between myself and Malcolm.

“So how have you
really
been, Ginger?”

I rolled the empty glass between my hands. “As well as I can be,” I replied.

“What does that mean?” he asked, dropping his voice as he stepped closer to me.

Malcolm placed his hand over mine, an innocent move, one he had done countless times before, but now it felt different and made me nervous.

“It means…” I looked back, and this time Seth was watching. “Excuse me for a moment,” I said, pulling my hand free.

Briskly, I walked down the hall towards the half bath
, needing just a moment to myself. I leaned against the door and took a few cleansing breaths. Last year I was enjoying this holiday with the Frankels, and it was a great time. This year I wanted to be anywhere but here with them.

“What a difference a year makes,” I said, pushing off the door to check my reflection.

Once I was certain I didn’t look as anxious as I felt, I exited to go rejoin the party. Seth was waiting for me when I opened the door. Words weren’t needed; they never were. I knew his moods, even when hidden, and I knew this one was not good.

“Dinner
’s ready.”

I nodded silently then followed him to the dining room. Everyone was chattering as they took their seats. Seth pulled out my chair, and I looked up
, thanking him quietly.

“Been slaving away over a hot stove all day Macy?” Mal joked as he took a seat
…directly across from me.

***

Spending time with these people was just as tiresome as the time spent with Calida’s parents. Calida had been reluctant to tell me about the invitation, and I saw the disappointment in her face when I agreed to go. I didn’t miss the glances I received from Macy, nor did I miss the looks that brother of hers kept giving Calida. He called her Ginger, or ‘my’ Ginger to be exact as if he had some claim on her.

“Calida, Mitchell showed me the plans you have for his office,” Audrey said, breaking through the mini conversations. “Maybe after dinner we can talk about some ideas I have.”

“Mom, let it go. She knows what she’s doing,” Mitch said.

I could tell from the tone they had this conversation earlier, but Audrey seemed like the type of woman who did what she wanted when she wanted.

“I’m not saying she doesn’t dear, but clients often give input to their designers. I’m sure all you’ve done is give her a check.”

“I don
’t mind, Mitch. She obviously has great taste, which you like by looking at your place.”

“See, she doesn
’t mind.”

“I should have learned long ago never argue with a lawyer. Especially one that
’s your Mom,” Mitch said, rolling his eyes.

Deidra
clinked her knife against her wine glass to get everyone’s attention. “Audrey and Thomas I want to say thank you for raising such an amazing young man. I honestly never thought I’d see the day when Macy wanted to settle down. In fact, when she called to tell us she was engaged, I thought I misheard her. I even asked if she meant Calida and in her excitement for her friend she mixed up the names,” she stated with a smile in her daughter’s direction. “So I just wanted to say how ecstatic I am at the blending of our families. Cheers!” Everyone raised their glasses in honor. “Now, if I can just do something about you,” she finished, looking over at Malcolm.

“What can I say
, Mom, all the good ones are taken,” he replied, looking at Calida.

She looked at him quickly before dropping her eyes to her plate. There was something between them she hadn
’t told me. He kept finding reasons to touch her, and the way he looked at her made me very unhappy. Calida said they were only friends, the big brother she never had, but now I was getting the feeling there was more she hadn’t told me.

“Malcolm, I notice you are th
e only person that calls Calida ‘Ginger,’” I commented.

The two exchanged glances,
and Malcolm grinned broadly as some memory hit him while a slight blush started creeping into Calida’s cheeks.

“Oh, I remember that night,”
Deidra exclaimed happily, clasping her hands together. “We were all shocked to see our little Calida all dolled up like that.”

“Aw man
, the Halloween party. That was a fun night. And to think you didn’t want us there,” Macy added, looking over at her brother.

“What seventeen year old boy wants his kid sister hanging around at his party?”

“Whatever,” Macy retorted, rolling her eyes at him. “Besides, Mom said we could go.”

“Well, this sounds like a fun story,” Audrey commented. “Please share.”

“Yes,” I agreed, looking over at Calida. “Please share, I’d love to hear all about it.”

“It
’s not that much of a story,” she retorted quietly.

“Oh yes it is,” Malcolm stated. “Okay, so we
’d all known Calida to be shy, and she always dressed in loose t-shirts with jeans or shorts. But for the party we had to be TV characters. I was Shaft and looked damn fine that night if I say so myself,” he said in a cocky manner. “But it was nothing compared to my Ginger,” he added, winking at Calida as he spoke.

She took a long drink of her wine, shifting uncomfortably in her seat as the story progressed.

“She and Macy were Ginger and Mary-Ann from Gilligan’s Island, and she looked
hot
as Ginger. She had on this form fitting white sparkly gown that was low cut in the front and with a long slit up to her thigh. Man, she was a showstopper that night.”