Page 15 of Captivated

She couldn’t possibly know who I am, could she? Paranoia is clouding my thoughts daily now, so crazy ideas pop into my mind at the worst times.

“Oh, just back east. I’m actually new to town, hence why I wanted to volunteer. I have experience and I love getting to know new people,” I smile politely, hoping that explanation will satisfy their curiosity and the puffiness from my cry-fest from earlier has dissipated enough not to allude that something is wrong.

But when Birdie’s blinding smile stretches across her face, there’s a sparkle in her eyes. The woman who looks like she could be the adoring grandma that you love but wouldn’t dare cross is looking at me like I just took first place in the spelling bee.

“That’s wonderful, dear! Isn’t that wonderful, Samuel,” she turns to the man, still holding the giant smile on her face, which is now borderline scary.

“Oh yeah, just wonderful,” he grins and nods in agreement, and now I’m officially freaked out.

“Alright then. No offense you two, but you’re acting really strange. Did you take your meds this morning?” Sarah chimes in, cutting through the awkwardness.

“Oh yes, we’re fine, Sarah. I guess we’ll be seeing you around, Piper. Maybe one of these days you can join us for a game. My son comes to play with us at least once a week and I’d love to introduce you,” Birdie gleams with a calculating glance and Samuel chuckles behind his hand.

“Oh. Uh, sure! I’d love that,” I reply, knowing that set-ups are part of the stipulations when you agree to hang out with retirees. If I had a dollar for every time I was cornered or surprised with a set-up with the doting son each woman claimed was perfect from me—well, let’s just say I wouldn’t need to work for a while. But back home, I was engaged, so they were easy to hold off. Living here, that may be a problem.

Sarah finishes giving me the tour, leading me out into the courtyard full of mature trees, blooming flowers and bushes, and benches lining the sidewalks. Outside is also a pool, but there’s an indoor one that stays heated all year long, where I will more than likely teach water aerobics. Tennis courts lie adjacent to the property, a vegetable and flower garden are fenced where members with a green thumb can work their magic, and a Koi pond stationed in a Zen garden round out the outdoor space.

When Sarah leads me back inside, we arrive at Terrence’s office, where the energetic and enthusiastic man sitting behind a desk nearly jumps out of his skin when I tell him I’m here to volunteer and teach classes.

“Oh, my goodness! Aren’t you just the cutest thing, ever!” He exclaims, clapping his hands together wildly. “The people are just gonna love you, honey! Sit! Sit! Tell me everything you can do and let’s start scheduling,” he widens his eyes in excitement as Sarah laughs and winks at me before leaving me alone with him.

Once Terrence settles down and we start talking logistics, I leave with a commitment to teach two classes per week to start, and then more if I decide to add them on. I figured that was a compromise I could handle between adjusting to my new work schedule.

Settled in my car and preparing to leave, movement to the left draws my attention as a man strides up to the front doors like he owns the place. And when I study that swagger from the dark boots on his feet to the long legs covered in denim, attached to the narrow waist and toned upper body that is clearly visible beneath the fabric of his shirt, I realize that face is one I know and couldn’t forget even if I tried, and believe me, I have.

Cash Williams must have escaped the hospital and lived to see another day. Sure is shame that a man with those looks has the arrogance to go with it. But then suddenly, it’s not his pig-headedness that I’m questioning anymore at that moment—it’s the reason why he’s walking into Sagewood Retirement Center that has my mind reeling.

What on earth could a man like Cash Williams be doing in a place like this?

Hopefully, if the universe is on my side, we won’t ever cross paths and I won’t ever find out.

If only things would work out the way I wanted them to for a change.

Chapter 6

Cash

Age Sixteen

“Which one was it this time, Herald, huh? Which waitress at the country club did you fuck and think I wouldn’t find out about it?”

“I already knew you’d find out, so what makes you think I care? Come on, Delaney… we both know the real score here. Once Cash turns eighteen, we’re through, so why remain celibate for two more years? Go out and fuck whatever man you want. The pool boy, the gardener, the masseuse at the club—I don’t give a shit anymore.”

From the corner of the hallway, I can see my father sip his scotch with a smug look on his face while my mother’s face turns a bright shade of red. The two of them are in one of the formal living rooms in this mansion we call home. Complete wealth is reflected around them—dark mahogany wood reflected in each piece of furniture, gold accents in every nook and cranny of the room, marble floors and crown molding frame in part of the home that anyone would be jealous of from the outside—but could never see the ugliness hiding within.

“You don’t care that people know? You don’t care that it looks bad on both of us when people find out that you’re messing around?”

“As far as we say, it’s all rumors. No one should know. Make your conquest sign an NDA, like I have with mine. Legal action will be taken if they make a peep. Problem solved.” He raises his glass in the air, completely pleased with himself while I relentlessly try to smother the anger brewing inside.

This is what my parent’s marriage looks like. On the outside to their friends and other members of the country club, they’re the perfect couple—rich, good-looking, and have the scholarly, handsome son to show off when appearances matter most. But when we’re at home, behind closed doors where no one can see the façade they put on, they’re two people who have nothing but hatred for one another, who can’t stand to be in the same room with each other, and apparently no longer value monogamy at all.

This is the example of marriage I’ve been provided with for the last two years, since I was old enough to realize that something was amiss. But apparently, this has been going on long before I was aware. I guess now that I’m a teenager, they just no longer feel the need to hide it.

“You’re a bastard, Herald! I can’t believe I ever married you!”

“Yeah, you can. You married me for my money and because you got pregnant. Let’s be honest, Delaney. If it weren’t for Cash, we wouldn’t be together. But my parents couldn’t risk a scandal with my father’s election to the senate so close, and you were the daughter of the maid that I was fucking behind closed doors. So I did what I had to do to keep up appearances and guess what? Now you’re doing the same for me.”

“Fuck you! I can’t wait for that boy to be an adult. And then I’m gone! You hear me? Gone!”

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