Tiger Lily: Part Three (23 page)

“What movie are we watching tonight?” Jonas asked

“Star Wars. An ‘extra special exclusive edition’,” Mary said with a bit of suspiciousness in her tone.

Ian gave her cool confidence back. “It is. Very few have ever seen this version.”

They launched into a deep discussion, and Jonas leaned closer to me and asked, “Everything alright?”

I focused on my glass. “Yes. We were just catching up. We’re going to Dee’s Salon tomorrow.”

“We’re thinking of getting short haircuts,” Mary said with a straight face, adding to our conversation.

I shook my head at her and laughed, knowing this was one of her social experiments. “I was thinking of getting a pixie,” I teased. I had no intention, of course, but the look on Jonas’s face was priceless.

“No. You won’t,” he said and sipped his wine. “That’s too much of a drastic change.”

“Don’t cut your hair short,” Ian said to Mary.

“I wasn’t really planning on it,” Mary said. “Though I will get a trim. This was merely a short experiment, gentlemen. And you have proven that men are addicted to long hair.”

“Fine,” Jonas said, squeezing my thigh. “I prefer longer hair.”

Ian scoffed. “That’s not true, though. Not about all men. My last girlfriend had short hair.”

“
Last
girlfriend,” Mary repeated with a smug expression on her face.

“Shoulder-length and, if I recall, she cut it after you got together and again before you broke up,” Jonas said, stirring the pot. Ian gave him a pointed look and I covered my mouth to suppress my giggle.

Mary was not letting go of her thesis. “Studies have shown there is a high percentage of breakups over an alteration of the physical elements that initially brought on the attraction. Any drastic changes could, and may, end a relationship. I believe men who are obsessed with appearances are especially quick to end said relationship, with the maximum time being three weeks after the haircut occurred. Would you care to share when the haircut occurred, compared to when your relationship ended?” Mary asked, eating her paella and ignoring the daggers Ian was giving her between bites of his own.

“We didn’t end over hair. I’m not shallow. She was a bit of a know-it-all and I got sick of her dribble,” Ian said, actively choosing to ignore Mary’s snorts.

“Mary, tell us about your program,” Jonas asked, ending their standoff. Mary eased into a discussion about her Sociology Master’s program at Boston College, which led Ian and Mary off on another conversation about continued education.

My thoughts shifted back again to Heather and the possibility of collecting my things from Declan’s.
Maybe if someone came with me during my search?

Jonas studied me, finally asking. “Something happened? Tell me.”

I nodded. “I was going to wait until later. I received an email from Declan’s fiancé, Heather.”

“When? How? Give me details,” Jonas said, his voice cross. Mary and Ian stopped talking and looked over at us.

I sighed. “Today. The email was sent to my personal account, not work. Declan must have given it to her. She was asking me to drop charges and help him get out of jail. I won’t. So that’s it.”

Jonas stroked a finger under my chin, getting me to meet his eyes. “I want to know right away. Anything that affects you is too important to wait.”

“It was right before we came down here. I was there when she read it. Heather making grandiose offers to Lily,” Mary added to the conversation. “She actually said Lily could go over to Declan’s and search his place while he’s in jail.”

I looked over at her to avoid the weighted stare I was getting from Jonas. “I was going to share that part with you, but Mary beat me to it.”

“You swore in your affidavit that you had no relationship with Declan. If you go over there and search his place, it will ruin your theft allegation and compromise your other cases. Tricky bitch,” Ian said hotly.

Mary nodded at Ian as they bonded before my eyes. “I knew it! She’s Declan’s Siren, trying to ruin your progress,” she declared.

Ian gazed at Mary for a few heartbeats before turning to speak to the rest of us. “Abusers are often master manipulators. They play upon weaknesses. If a person is still with them, they are under their influence and can’t be trusted. Sorry, Lily.”

I stared down at my food.
Like me
. Ian’s words stung, but they were true. I had been under his influence for a long time, and had covered and lied for him many times. Heather was probably experiencing the same.

If so, she had also been asked to get a response. And I knew what happened to me when I didn’t give him answers. “He could hurt her and her child. What can I do?”

“You don’t know that, and it’s not your place to get involved,” Mary replied.

“If you still have the email, we’ll give a copy to Diane. She is heading your criminal case,” Ian said, looking at Jonas. He next turned to me. “We’ll get Diane to send a referral to Heather for the local domestic violence organization, but you are not to have contact with her until after your cases are closed. That is, if she will want to talk to you after he is convicted.”

I felt a queasiness in my stomach. “I won’t compromise my case. So can we move on and talk about something else now?”

“Of course,” Mary said, and Ian agreed. They went back to their discussion of Boston.

Jonas touched my hand and leaned down by my ear. “I’m happy you told me, and I also know it’s hard for you, but our intentions are good. We all care about you and want you safe.”

I nodded. “I know. I didn’t see that I was being manipulated by him again. The offer Heather made was too good to be true, I guess.”

“You’re more important than your possessions,” he reminded me. I took the kiss he placed lightly on my lips and we all ate the rest of our lunch, engaging in light conversation between bites.

Afterward, we went in the living room, where Ian put in the movie and Mary helped flip the television to the right channels to play it. Jonas and I sat down on the couch. Mary sat next to me, and Ian sat down next to her as the movie started. After we had watched for twenty minutes, Mary admitted. “Okay, Ian. You do have a version I’ve never seen before.”

Ian grinned at her and they started talking together through it.

“You’re not interested in this movie,” I said to Jonas, leaning over to his ear.

“I’m interested in you,” he said.

My body warmed and my pulse sped up as I scooted in a little closer to him and tried to focus on the film.

When the first ended, Mary got up and came back with a tray of the rosewater custards. She placed them down on the table, handing them out to all of us as we delighted in the delicious taste.

“Why are these portions so small?” Ian griped after polishing his off with a few spoonfuls. He sought Mary’s small bowl and she twisted away, giggling. “Not a chance, Unger.” He had her by the hips, but Mary twisted away and scooped the rest in her mouth. Some of it had smeared around her lips. He pinned her and licked off what little was left there and let out a triumphant groan. Mary, to my surprise, was speechless for the first time all night.

After watching their show, I finished mine and placed it down. “I think it’s my favorite, too,” I said, turning my head toward Jonas.

“You can have mine,” he said lifting his last spoonful before my lips. I ate it and he kissed me, our cold lips heating up as we deepened the kiss. No words came from Ian and Mary. Were they sharing a kiss too? When our lips parted, they were sitting closer but watching the movie.

My eyes lingered on Mary as I collected the bowls, but she was giving the credits rolling past all of her attention. So I moved on to the kitchen and cleaned the bowls before returning to the living room. I sat down as close to Jonas as I could get, though I wanted to be closer. Without a word, he lifted me into his lap and a shiver went through me at the thought of how well in tune Jonas was to my desires. He ran his hand over my head, willing me to place it down on his shoulder, to which I complied. He cuddled me close.
He’s my home.

Whatever was to come, this was where I wanted to be.

“SO HOW WAS LAST
night with Ian?” I asked Mary for the second time at breakfast in the kitchen the next day. I had dozed in the middle of the second film and was carried away to bed, where I promptly fell asleep—well, after making love. Yes. Jonas and I made love. Whether it was quick, slow, hard, or soft sex, there was love between us.

“What do you want to know? I told you we watched a few episodes of Star Trek after you and Jonas went to bed. We made bets, which Ian lost, and we devoured the rest of rosewater custard we found in the freezer,” Mary responded between bites of French toast.

I smirked before eating a bite of the toast off of my plate. “I want to know more than that.”

Mary sighed loudly and opened her laptop. “We didn’t have intercourse last night. Okay?” she said. Her tone was a bit snippy, and she quickly added an apology.

Frustrated?
I mused to myself and opened my laptop.

“He’s off-limits,” she said and sipped her orange juice.

“If you say so,” I said, my voice light as I ate the rest of the toast on my plate.

“I do,” she said quietly. Her lips turned down as she stared at her screen. “Everything okay?” I asked.

She gave a wave of her hand. “Hans being childish again. He hasn’t signed off on the independent project I did with him last semester, but I’ll handle it.” She went back to eating, so I opened my laptop and logged onto my email. Checking my new messages, I discovered one from Ian. “Ian sent me a message. I didn’t know he had my email.”

Mary looked up from her laptop. “I gave it to him last night. So you can forward over that message from Heather.”

I opened and read his message.

Forward the message from Heather.

Thanks,

Ian

A man of few words. I opened my delete folder and recovered the message, just as I noticed there was a new one, too. I sent the one from yesterday to Ian, then read the new message.

Hi Lily,

I went to visit Declan in jail and he gave his blessing in having you over to find your stuff. He said he was out of his mind at the time and has no idea where they could be. I searched myself, but I really don’t understand what I’m looking for. Maybe you can tell me?

Did you know he’s suffering from an addiction to pain medication? He also was diagnosed with impulse control problems a long time ago, but couldn’t afford to get help. Now with his business closed during his busiest season he may not financially recover. He’s been in prayer and wants to do the right thing. He told me to tell you his first act of penance is to apologize to you. He’s willing to do it in person. I’ll be there so I promise it will be okay. I work near your office. If ever you want to talk, I go to Sophie’s for my lunch pretty much every day. He’s getting help, now all he needs is a little help from you.

Sincerely,

Heather

I moved the cursor to hover over the reply key. Did she know Declan was manipulating her or was he different with her?

“Lily. What’s wrong?” Mary asked, frowning.

I blew out my breath. “Another message from Heather.”

Mary moved my laptop to read it and let out a huff. “He’s coming up with a medical excuse to use as a defense,” Mary chided. “Please don’t believe him. She has some nerve trying to make you feel bad for him.”

I tilted my head. “He’s probably pressuring her to keep trying to get me back under his control. I know that, but I still feel sorry for her.” Mary watched as I forwarded the new message to Ian and shut down my email.

“You can’t save her. Ian said the best thing for her right now is Declan in jail. So if you want to help her, help him stay there.” Mary moved her cursor and turned her screen around to show me a view of a website. “Ian recommended a new spa he uses called Verses on Bleecker Street. His skin is flawless close up.” Her eyes flicked to the computer screen. “Anyway, he said the facials make your skin as soft as a newborn. He lost our bets last night, so we get his appointments, or something like that.” She waved her hand. “It’s a short subway ride. What do you think? Or do you need to tell Jonas?”

Jonas had left earlier to take Paul to their rescheduled baseball game at Yankee Stadium. The building had security and the street was free of press. Jonas was their target, so I didn’t see any reason why we shouldn’t. “I think it will be fine. I’ll just send a message to him.”
After we leave.
I thought.

“Great. I’ll go get my handbag and we can leave for the spa right away,” she said, firming up our plan.

“Alright. I’ll just change quickly and we can go.” We ate the rest of our brunch and cleaned the dishes before getting up to get dressed. I changed into a silk jersey t-shirt and cargo pants with low heels. Putting my hair in a messy braid, I grabbed my handbag and phone before going downstairs to meet Mary, who was at the door waiting for me, and we left.

The sunshine had finally returned, coupled with a cool breeze that blew our jackets and hair as we walked down the sidewalk. Passing the security guard outside of the building, I peered down to the end of the block and noticed the barrier was moved aside. There was no sign of the press. I let go of my breath and fell into pace with Mary as we walked past the factories and galleries in the area until we reached the Chambers Street subway and descended the stairs.