Page 67 of Twisted Lies

“Yes.” He smiles. “I ran track throughout my years at Stonehaven.”

He waits for the driver to open the front door. It messes with my mind that he doesn’t open the door to his own home himself. The door is swung open wide, and they wait for me to enter first. I only walk a few steps in when my feet stick to the floor in shock. The interior is massive for one family and oddly reminds me of Foxworth House. The wooden staircase winds upward to the second floor, and I’ve never seen a window on a stairwell before; well, not like this one. The window has drapes. Through the archway on my left is the living room, but it’s a wreck with paint cans strewn about on plastic and all the furniture covered. Dr. Howland leads me past the room and into the adjoining dining room. The driver hurries toward a chair, but Dr. Howland shakes his head and tells him to inform the cook that he’s home.

The dining room table has claws. The carved legs of the table end in huge animal claws that grasp a huge ball. A marble fireplace is beside the table, and on the opposite wall, a row of mirrors reflects back my stunned face. Seeing my expression, I dial it back and stop staring at all the expensive, weird stuff.

“You should have a room here, Astrid,” he declares plainly as he pulls a chair away from the table, and I sit down. “You would have a place to hide out.”

I pause, staring at my father, but his expression doesn’t give me anything. His face is serene, and his thoughts only belong to him. I wish I could mimic that look because everyone knows I’m pissed or hurt with one glance.

Instead of the driver, a woman appears in the room. She smiles at Dr. Howland but stares sullenly at me. It’s not my imagination as her bottom lip pokes out. I guess he didn’t tell these people I exist. Fair enough. I didn’t know they existed either. The woman recovers slowly and politely asks Dr. Howland how his day went.

“Well, Vina, and I’d like to introduce you to my daughter Astrid.”

Vina deserves a reward for keeping it together. She smiles sweetly and places a cloth napkin over my lap. “Very nice to meet you, Astrid.”

I smile widely, but my foot is shaking under the table. “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you too.”

Vina beams, pleased with my good manners, which I’ve been practicing since I noticed how the others girls act in the dorm. Smiles and soft words are the keys to success, even when you’re talking shit about someone.

Dinner is served like we’re at a restaurant—no self-serve from a pan on the table. The plates of food are brought to us, and it’s a surprise to see a simple meal of buttered vegetables and meatloaf with a whole wheat roll. I never thought my job at the dining hall would contribute to my life skills, but I know exactly what fork to use. Eventually, we have to speak to one another, but I don’t mind while my hands have something to do.

“You wanted to discuss your surname, Astrid?”

I swallow. “Yes. Can I say who you are? Is that’s okay?”

“I think it is.” He grins and refrains from pointing out the obvious. “I was concerned at first what our relationship would be like moving forward, but you seem to be adjusting to Stonehaven and all its challenges. That was the first hurdle.”

“What’s the second?” I ask, lowering my silverware to my plate. My appetite might not survive our conversation intact.

“I will expect you to take on social duties as a Howland.” He wipes his mouth with his napkin. “I expect you to volunteer at the hospital and host charity dinners. Your enunciation isn’t as refined as it could be, but that’s fixable.”

His placid expression falters when I shrug my shoulders. “Sounds okay. Is there anything else?”

The ease I felt dissolves as his expression hardens. “And I would expect you to marry well.”

I nearly choke on my own spit from surprise. “I wasn’t planning on marrying anytime soon.”

He waves off my legit concern. “You can attend college if you haven’t found a suitable partner at Stonehaven.”

I stare at the slowly congealing butter on my plate. One boy is not my problem. I’ve found three and want to drop-kick their asses out of my life.

“Any thoughts on the subject?” Howland asks.

“I need money,” I blurt out, “and not to buy frivolous sh…stuff. I want to start a business.”

Howland’s mouth tightens then relaxes. “How much money do you think you’ll need?”

“Fifty thousand.” I’m proud that my voice doesn’t shake.

Finally, a reaction from the stone man. His eyes widen slightly and then narrow as he realizes he will have to pay if he wants me.

“It’s my condition for taking your name,” I explain, “We can think of it as a signing bonus. Like I said, it’s not frivolous. It’s an investment in a lot of futures.”

He nods. “When you were born, a trust fund was started in your name. Astrid Howland. It was your mother’s choice not to give you my name.”

I stare at him, knowing it’s rude, but my mind needs an anchor before it comes crashing down. Mom said he wanted to get rid of me. Who starts a trust for a kid they don’t want?

My eyes slowly let me look away. “Well, like I said, this money isn’t just for my future.”

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