Lily White Lies(72)
Twenty-One
...The house was enormous with pressed tin ceilings that had to be at least twelve feet high, an open staircase that was a solid six feet wide and plank flooring covered with enough lacquer to reflect the light that streamed through the floor to ceiling windows...
Walking up the steps to my apartment, my cell phone began to ring and without looking at the caller ID, I hoped it was Con.
“Hello.”
“Hey there. How’s your day going?”
I stopped halfway up the stairs, turning to sit on a step. “It just went from good to great.”
“I saw you today, at the café. I didn’t want to disturb what looked like an important pow-wow,” he deepened his tone, “but I sure did want to.”
“I already know you were there.”
There was silence on the line for a moment, before he asked, “You met Mom?”
“I met Mom. She’s a very charming woman.”
“I guess I better watch what I say to her from here on in.” I heard him laugh. “Are you at work now?”
“I’m sitting in a stairwell talking to you.”
“Do you want to go for a ride?”
I wanted to say ‘anywhere’, but instead replied, “Sure. Where are we going?”
“If you’re up to it, I thought I’d take you out to meet my grandfather today.”
Other than to say ‘really’, I was stunned speechless. The time had come for me to meet the man that completely intrigued me, and it almost didn’t seem real.
“Meg, have you changed your mind? I only suggested it because I thought you wanted to, we don’t have to go.”
“No... I mean yes I want to go. You just caught me a little off guard. Do you want to pick me up at my place?”
“Sure. How about in an hour?”
“See you then.”
“Bye.”
The sound of his voice brought a smile to my face, the sight of him ran a chill up my spine and the thought of being alone with him caused me to tremble outwardly. I wondered if he was aware that I was completely and willingly at his mercy.
I freshened up but skipped a shower for lack of clean clothes to wear afterward, which reminded me once again that I had to make a trip to Brian’s—no matter how uncomfortable I expected it to be.
I had just finished braiding my hair when the doorbell startled me. A tingle ran up my back and I marveled, “He couldn’t wait to see me either,” as I quickly made my way to the door.
I flung the door open, ready to greet him with a smile. With the door fully open, my smile disappeared and my head hung unenthusiastically. “Brian... I’m surprised to see you.”
He nodded and picked at a spot of loose paint on the door. “I’m surprised I’m here.”
After staring at him for a moment, I offered, “Would you like to come in?”
He hesitated. “Just for a minute maybe.”
“Brian, if this is about my things, I was planning on getting them later this evening.”
“That’s not why I’m here but they are packed up. I’ll have them sent over if that’s alright.”
“That’ll be fine.” As I closed the door behind him, he took a set of keys from his pocket and extended his hand.
“What’s this?”
“I want you to have the car.”
“No. Brian, I can’t accept it.”
He took several steps toward the window and stared out over the city as he spoke.
“Listen Meg, seeing our relationship through your eyes made me realize that I’ve been a real jerk.” Turning to face me, he continued, “I can’t change who I was then, but please, let me change who I am now.”
Playing with the end of my braid, I paced back and forth several times before saying anything.
“Brian, if this is a sneaky attempt to get back together; it’s a waste of time.”
“Considering the past, I suppose I deserved that, but no, I realize now that you weren’t happy and I also realize that I was the cause of your unhappiness.” Closing the gap between us, he took hold of my hands and spent a moment putting his thoughts together. “Meg, please take the car. I’d lose my ass if I tried to sell it now and to keep it, well, it would be a constant reminder of you and to be perfectly honest, I don’t need any more reminders of you. Let me do one decent thing for you, I feel like I owe you that much.”
He turned my hand over and placed the keys into it, turning sharply with the knock on the door.
I felt a knot forming in the pit of my stomach, knowing that it was Con and not sure that I really wanted them to run into each other.
I opened the door to a smile but his smile abruptly changed when he saw my nervous expression. When he glanced into my apartment, I saw his stare fix on Brian who stood motionless by the couch.