Page 56 of Sweet Little Thing

He sat his cup in the sink and left the room without another word.

I finished the chocolate croissant and strawberry muffin, then washed my dish and both cups. After I dried the dishes, I located the correct cabinets so that I could put them away.

As I was walking to pick up my duffle bag, the front door opened. Preparing myself I stood there as the sound of heels clicked on the marble floor drawing closer. It had to be Presley. Bracing myself, I picked up my duffle and faced the door just as she entered the kitchen.

She was in the same clothes she’d worn last night. Her face had been washed clean of makeup, and her eyes appeared slightly bloodshot. She strutted past me. “Leaving already?” she asked in a bored tone.

I didn’t want to answer her, but I couldn’t just walk out of the room without responding. I didn’t see how being rude to her would help the situation. “No, not leaving yet. I was, but I’m not now. I will be soon.” At least I expected to be.

“Why are there pastries here? Jesus, who eats these calories in the morning?” she turned and looked at me with disgust. “Did you order all these?”

She didn’t eat the pastries. I’d been right about that.

“I didn’t; I mean, those aren’t—“ I wasn’t sure how to respond to her.

She rolled her eyes. “Well, they aren’t Stones. He only eats egg whites and whole wheat toast for breakfast.”

I looked back to the pastries. He’d lied about why they were here. But why? Unless he had ordered them for me specifically and hadn’t wanted me to know it.

Chapter

Thirty-Eight

Beulah

“We’ll take both cars in case Geraldine decides you’re a good fit and hires you. You’ll need your car to get back here this evening.” He announced meeting me at the door after I’d gone to put my things back in the closet.

“Okay,” I agreed determined to get this job. I was good with older people. I enjoyed their company and conversation.

I followed Stone out the door but before the door closed behind me, the sound of heels clicking echoed through the front foyer that sounded more like a run than a walk.

“Have a good day, baby!” she called out grabbing the door and charging out to throw herself against his chest.

The stepsister thing was all I could see. It was disturbing, but I forced myself not to think about it. I didn’t know the whole story. He didn’t return her hug, and that only seemed to make her more desperate for his attention. She began kissing his face.

He took both her arms in his hands and set her back from him.“Presley, please.”

She stuck out her bottom lip in a pout. “When will you be back?”

“When I’m done with my day.” He didn’t look at her or in my direction as he turned to leave. “Let’s go, Beulah.”

I quickly followed behind him anxious to get away from the awkwardness of that entire situation. It was a little sad. Seeing someone so completely desperate for another’s affection and getting none. Stone wasn’t cruel to Presley. He treated her as a burden more than anything. But for her to cling to him like she did wanting something more from him it seemed as if he must have given her more once.

We walked silently down the stairs and out the doors to the parking lot. Only one other car was outside—the red Porsche. It looked like something Presley would drive.

“Follow me,” he said. His voice was a harsh command that I was more accustomed to. It fit what I knew and expected of the man. Ordering me pastries and lying about it wasn’t.

I climbed into my car and exhaled a long breath. I’d been on edge since I opened my eyes. A moment alone in the car was a relief. Yesterday had been a difficult twenty-four hours that would mark me for the rest of my life. I wanted to feel sorry for myself and use that as a reason to fall apart but I knew I wouldn’t.

I thought of my mother and how she must have felt when Portia came to her with Heidi. My mother would never have turned Heidi away, even without the money. But how exhausted and scared she had to have been at times. With two little girls, no help, and one who needed the extra care that Heidi required. Heidi’s medical bills must have taken all the money Portia claimed to have given momma. I knew she hadn’t used the money she’d been given on herself. Momma had often gone without to make sure we were clothed and fed properly.

All the times when Momma would kiss my head at bedtime—she’d tell me to get in bed and that she’d be in shortly. I’d fall asleep before she could get there because Heidi wouldn’t rest until Mom had rocked her. It took hours some nights but if she didn’t do it, Heidi would cry. The dark scared her, even with me in the same room.

Momma would bend down and whisper in my ear, “I couldn’t live this life without you, my Beulah beauty. You’re my source of strength. Heidi is my joy, but you, sweet girl, are my heart. Never forget how dearly I love you. Even when I can’t always hold you as long as you want or tuck you in at night.”

Those words made more sense now. I understood what she never told me. It was something I didn’t need to know though. I had never held resentment over Heidi needing Momma in ways that took more of her time. She always told me I was her strength and it had made me proud. As if I played an important role in our family.

My thoughts snapped back to the present when Stone switched on his blinker and turned right. There was a massive stone wall with a wrought iron gate that had the letter M in the center of it. Stone leaned out his window and said something to a small black box, and the gate opened slowly. I followed him inside the fortress, or whatever this was. Magnolia trees lined the driveway until it opened up, and a small castle appeared. My jaw dropped at the sight of all the grandeur. I’d never seen anything like it.

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