Lily White Lies(91)

Taking a comfortable position in his chair, my chest tightened more with each minute he stared at me.

“Cat got your tongue, girl?”

I shook my head.

“Good, because I don’t think I’d get a goddam minute sleep tonight without knowing what’s got your britches starched,” he offered sarcastically.

I had a split second to get myself back into determined mode before he lost interest in talking or being civil.

“I want to ask you some questions.”

He nodded. “Personal?”

I nodded.

He mumbled, “How did I know that,” as he summoned for Ivory.

We sat in silence waiting for Ivory to come.

I heard the door open behind me, and Ivory say, “Yes, sir.”

“How about bringing us...” turning his attention to me, he asked, “What is it you young girls drink these days? Wine coolers, something with a little umbrella maybe?”

“Ice water would be fine.”

He motioned with his hand. “And I’ll have my usual.”

“Yes, sir.”

The door had no sooner closed behind me than I heard him say, “You’re easy to please... for an Embry.”

His reference to my family bothered me and at the risk of annoying him again, I asked, “Why do you hate my grandfather so much and don’t tell me it’s over some piece of land.”

His calmness unnerved me.

“I never said I hated him. Did I say I hated him?”

“Not in those exact words, but you implied it.”

He leaned back in his chair and locked his fingers behind his head. “Did he ever tell you we used to fish together?”

“He didn’t tell me.”

“Hell yeah, we’d get back from a day at the river and he’d have to tell everyone how many he caught and how big they were... the son of a bitch never showed anyone the inside of his creel though... Ha! That’s because there was never a goddam thing in there. He couldn’t stand it when I beat him at anything.”

“What happened? Why aren’t you friends anymore?”

I saw sadness flash through his eyes before he said, “Hell, that’s water over the dam, no point in trying to catch it now.”

“Did it have anything to do with Gayle?”

His eyes clouded over and I couldn’t read his emotions.

“I shouldn’t have asked that. I heard about her passing, I’m sorry.”

Clearing his throat, he said, “Well, not talking about her won’t bring her back, so...”

I waited until he was ready to continue, not wanting to push him into a defensive state.

“Your grandfather would have you believe I stole her from him... is that what he told you?”

Casting my eyes to the floor, I shrugged.

“Well, fact is... Gayle and me... we were George and Gracie. One was no good without the other.”

For the first time, I saw something that resembled affection in his eyes and found myself touched by his emotion.

The knock at the door startled both of us, causing him to sit erect, his tone changing immediately.

“Yeah.”

The door opened and Ivory entered with the drinks he requested. She passed me a glance that asked, ‘how are you holding up,’ set the tray down and disappeared.

He took a long drink from his glass before turning his attention back to me.

“Stewart and me, it was just something we had to do. In those days you didn’t dare disrespect your father...”

“Your father’s have been gone for long time. Why do you still hate each other?”

He stood and began to pace again. Smoothing his gray hair back at the temple with the palm of his hand, he stole several glances before giving me his attention.

“It’s too bad my grandson didn’t bring you around sooner, you would have liked my Gayle.” Walking over to the fireplace, he took a picture from the mantle and brought it to me. “That’s her... some time ago, but that’s Connor’s grandmother.”

As I took the framed picture from him, I thought I felt a tremble in his hand, but pretended not to notice.

She was pretty with blonde hair and a childlike quality in her features. “She’s beautiful.”

“Absolutely. Prettiest girl in Willoughby, right up to the day she passed on.”

I cast my eyes away as I remembered my grandfather saying the exact same thing about her.

He replaced the picture and returned to his chair, his mood more solemn now.

“Mr. Ellis, I appreciate everything you’ve told me but there’s something I have to ask. It’s probably the most important question I have.”

I saw a knowing look in his eyes but he remained silent and waited for me to ask.

“Who killed...” I swallowed hard and tried again. “Did my grandfather murder your son?”