Hanging Pawns (The Fate Series Book 2) (11 page)

turkey.

Men.

---- ME ----

This is why you

are not missed.

---- JOSH ----

Thanks, I feel loved.

We are having dessert

now, see you soon.

---- ME ----

Okay. Now I am

jealous… see you

soon.

I toss the phone down on the counter and think about how we have formed a nice little friendship over the past few months. He still asks me out all of the time and walks around with his hand planted firmly against my back. But it’s a comfortable friendship. His alarm wakes me up for a run.

Well, I don’t think that’s the actual reason but I use it.

Then it’s off to class mostly in his car since he’s still afraid of mine. Lunch and dinner are usually spent picking what the other doesn’t like off their tray to make our own meals and the night ends watching our roommates attempt to kill each other. We think they’re all in love but that doesn’t stop us from placing bets on who is going to win. I’m not sure if he’s being sexist or letting me win by always betting on the guys but by now he should know it isn’t going to happen… those girls are ruthless, and if their sister Sidney is as bad as I hear she is then Simon has definitely met his match. I’ve only known them all for a few months, but I feel closer to them than I ever have with my own sisters.

Oh yeah.

I text Morgan. 

---- ME ----

Hey, what would you

two do if your turkey

was still frozen?

I straighten up the house, putting away the girls’ sewing machine and fabric from whatever they were working on.

Morgan texts back.

---- MORGAN ----

Molly says use a hair

dryer… not mine.

A hair dryer… that isn’t a bad idea.

I toss the phone back down.

Since the guys aren’t here, I decide now is a good time to get rid of some old copies of
Architectural Digest
that have been covering the coffee table they made for weeks. The five of them are so talented in their hobbies. It’s a shame to watch it wasted. But the guys are passionate about becoming lawyers so here the magazines lie waiting for someone to throw them out. As I go to dump them into the trash I feel guilty and decide to tuck them under the couch until they get back.

My phone makes a sound and I reach over to grab it.

A message from Josh.

---- JOSH ----

DO NOT USE A HAIR

DRYER ON THAT

TURKEY. 

I should have known the guys would send that message to Josh. It is a good idea though.

I laugh maniacally as I text back to him.

---- ME ----

No clue what you’re

talking about…

enjoy dessert.

Making a sandwich, I pour my wine and sit on the couch with the TV turned down low.

“This is so much better than last year.” I smile to myself.

By now dinner would have been served and a boring discussion about my mother or my sisters’ day would have been the highlight of the evening. My mother taking credit for a wonderful meal she didn’t make, let alone know the first thing about, other than how to pronounce it. It was never turkey and stuffing at our house. It was Cornish Hens with some kind of something sauce over it, mashed potatoes were a no-no since they are high in starch and would make her feel weighed down after the meal. Not that she would eat that much since food in her stomach would dull the effect of the alcohol she consumed because holidays are so
stressful
. My grandmother would be right behind her but her drinking was to dull the pain of my mother and the fact that she hates everything my mother does. My mother was always far too busy learning about how much one of my sisters’ cheating husbands made in a deal that day to care what my grandmother thought of her though.

I’m not positive they’re cheating, but come on, who talks to their assistants that much… on a holiday… when you’re with your family. But they keep my sisters blinded by gifts and limitless credit accounts so I guess there is nothing for them to complain about.

Nope, there is nothing about that life I miss. 

It’s early when I hear the music start. But it’s not the normal music I’m accustomed to hearing. This sounds like a phone…

My phone!

Jumping up out of bed, I search for it and when it’s located I answer just before it goes to voicemail.

“Hello?” I say rushed.

“Mea?” His voice is once again in my ear. 

I open my mouth to say something, but I remember him hanging up yesterday when I did.

“I know you can hear me, I—I am in the area, I had some—business to attend to. I would like to come and see you,” he states.

“Okay, my address is four thirty-two Harrington Street,” I say.

“I know, I’ll see you soon.”

Pulling the phone away from my ear, I sit on the edge of my bed silent for a few minutes.

Did I really believe I would be able to leave and they would never try and find me? No need to freak out… maybe he has some watches he wants to give me.

I get up to take a shower and spend most of the time thinking over everything he said. I step out, dry my hair, and put my makeup on so I look like he’s used to seeing me. Well, when he saw me.

I walk downstairs, and the smell of coffee hits me quick.

No one is supposed to be back yet.

Rushing out to the kitchen, I stop in the doorway when I see Josh.

“Wh-what are you doing here?” Panic overtakes me as I step through the archway.

“I told you ‘See you soon’. I felt bad about leaving you alone the whole week… are you going somewhere?” he asks.

“Nope, I was just getting ready to eat. I thought… Sorry, I thought you were Molly and Morgan.” I reach into the fridge to pull out food.

“You look very nice for being alone.” He eyes me suspiciously.

Busted…

“My dad is coming in… he should be here soon?” I make a face and shrug. “It’s just…” I think it over. “Nothing, it’s just nothing. I’m sure it’s just nothing.”

“Hmm, okay. Well, this nothing…” He’s cut off by the chime of the doorbell. “I just remembered, there is something I have to do at my house. I will be back when you are finished with your nothing.” He sends me a wink and turns to walk out the back door.

How is one person so understanding?

I walk toward the front door, smiling about the man who seems to surprise me every chance he gets.

Twisting the handle, I open the door to my father whose face lights up for a split second before going back to his usual flat-featured self. Had I not been looking at him I would have missed it. I feel that maybe, just maybe, this will be okay.

I smile, extending my arm to let him come in. “Hi, Dadd—”

“Mea, there are some things we need to discuss.” He steps in and motions to the couch, cutting me off.

Maybe, just maybe, I was wrong.

“O.K.” I shut the door behind him

“First, your mother and I… I, I have something for you. Before you open it, I want you to know that everything I have done for you was for you. You are different from them. I think it’s time you got your chance, a real chance, and not have to live in fear of being told what to do.” He reaches into his coat to pull out a manila envelope.

“These are signed, and no one ever has to be the wiser. You can live out the rest of your life however you see fit.” He reaches out to hand it to me.

I rip it out of his hand, tearing into it.

“These are divorce papers?” I look up in shock. “Are you disowning me? I, you…” My hands begin to tremble.

“One day, you will understand. Everything is for you.” He looks toward the ground. “I set up a secret bank account for you, no one else will ever know about it,” he says.

“Because I’m disowned… right?” I say in disgust. “I need some wine.”

Tossing the papers onto the coffee table, I get up to grab glasses when I remember all the good ones are over at the guys’ house from when we had game night.

“I will be right back, our glasses are next door,” I yell out to my father. Grabbing my keys, I slip out the back porch and walk around to their door. Turning the handle, I notice it’s locked. I slide my key in gently as to not make any noise. I’m not ready to see Josh yet. Once it’s unlocked I spot the glasses next to the door on the counter. I grab two, wrapping my hand around the door handle inside, I twist the lock and slowly shut the door. I hold onto the screen door so it doesn’t slam.

That was easy.

Backing away from the door, I turn and run into a hard object behind me. I scream, shattering the glasses when they hit the porch.

“You know that’s considered breaking and entering. I would have brought your things over if you just asked.” Stepping around me, he opens the back door and grabs a broom to sweep the glass up.

“Mea! Are you okay?” my dad yells, running onto the porch to meet us.

“Yes, I was just startled that’s all. This is my neighbor, Josh.” My heart slowly returns to normal. Taking the broom from Josh, I start to clean up the mess.

“Mr. Andrews, it’s nice to meet you. I have to be honest, Mea doesn’t talk about her family much… but then again, I am just the neighbor,” he says with a bite.

“Ted,” my father says, correcting him.

“I’m sorry?” Josh says.

“No need for formalities of last names, you can call me Ted.”

Holding onto the broom, I feel every emotion I am trying to push away come rushing full force to the top.