Page 30 of The Liar I Married
John has underestimated me. Before I inherited my grandmother’s house, I had nowhere to go and no money to support myself but, in a few weeks, the house will be transferred into my name and I will be a multimillionaire. I wake the girls gently and tell them we’re going on vacation.
They’re in the SUV, wrapped in blankets and safely secured, when John arrives. He tries to prevent me from getting into the car. “Let me go. If you think I’m staying here with her, then you are sadly mistaken. Idohave some pride, you know.”
“I won’t let you.” John yanks the door from my grasp. “Get back into the house. You’re making a spectacle of yourself.”
I push him hard in the chest. “If you don’t let me go, I’ll scream the place down and the neighbors will call the cops. Your face will be all over the Sunday paper by the time I finish telling my story. Get out of my way.”
Before I can drive away, my brother arrives. I buzz down my window to speak to him. “I’m going to Grandma’s house.”
“Maybe we should talk before you go.” Michael is eyeing me critically. “You need to calm down and think this through.”
The memory from that point blurs into the dream I had about the accident. I don’t remember John getting into the car and grabbing the wheel. Did I dream that part? No matter how angry I got I’d never speed with the girls in the vehicle. So how come I hit the tree? Confusion grips me. There’s still one piece of the puzzle missing.
THIRTY-THREE
The next morning when Michael walks into the family room, my heart lifts. He looks just the same, well-dressed and fit. He is tanned and his smile looks whiter than ever. “Michael.”
“I’m so happy to see you awake.” He shakes his head and looks at me. “I’d hug you but I figure you might break.”
I pat the sofa beside me; the plush velvet is soft and familiar under my palm. I’m desperate to find out about my girls but he’s likely been told to withhold all information as well. I decide to start with something general. “Tell me all about your trip.”
“It was business.” Michael drops into the seat and shrugs. “Same old, same old, just in different settings. It was nice visiting other countries but I wanted to be here for you.” He frowns. “John said there was no hope. I came by to see you a month ago but then the firm sent me overseas.”
I nod. “You’re here now. My memory is sketchy but it’s coming back. I need to know everything that happened while I was in a coma.”
“That’s an entire year, Jessie.” Michael rubs his chin. “Anything specific?”
“Do you know how long Ms. Lawson lived in my guesthouse?”
“As far as I know, she’s still there.” He frowns. “I believe she’s living in the house now.”
A cold chill crawls up my spine. John has spent time with me like he cares and all the while he’s living with her. I swallow the bile crawling up my throat. “Really? John never mentions her. Not that I see him very often and then he’s like a different person. He didn’t seem very happy to see me awake.”
“I don’t believe he ever got over finding your suicide note.” Michael shook his head. “I never understood why you wanted to end your life over Rebecca Lawson.”
I stare at him in disbelief. I’ve never considered suicide. No wonder John has been so cold toward me for so long. I turn to Michael. “Suicide note? I never left a suicide note. So, he believes I deliberately ran into that tree?”No wonder they won’t allow me to see the girls. They believe I tried to kill them.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure.” Michael scrubs a hand down his face. “I told him you’d never do such a thing.”
I shake my head. “I left a note saying ‘I can’t live like this any longer’ but I meant withhim. I was heading here when I wrecked the car. I never did it on purpose. I’m surprised that John believes anything so ridiculous. Is that why the cops want to speak to me?”
“I don’t know.” Michael pushes a hand through his hair. “Don’t get upset. I’ll help you work everything out. You got my note, about not trusting anyone, didn’t you? When John moved you here, I figured it was so you couldn’t be resuscitated, so I left it in case you regained consciousness. That’s when the firm sent me overseas. Likely John had a hand in it to keep me out of the way.”
I stand and grab the walker. The truth is finally unravelling. “I did get your note but I only just found out it was from you.” Flashbacks of the wreck hit my mind in lightning bolts. I needto change the subject before he notices something’s wrong. “Did you know the house is closed up apart from the bottom floor?”
“Yeah, with no one here after Mom and Dad moved to Florida, it was the best thing to do.” His gaze moves over me. “You okay, Jessie?”
I walk to the mantle and indicate to the photographs. I run my fingertips lovingly over the picture of my grandma. “There’s been a few strange things happening here. Things I can’t explain. First up, photographs are missing. All the family ones I remember are here. Do you know who moved them and why?”
“What are you talking about?” Michael grabs my shoulders. “What strange things and what missing photographs?”
I tell him about seeing Mom in the garden with the girls, the roses and then a dead phone ringing in the middle of the night. “So-called friends came to visit me and talked a load of crap. I didn’t recognize them. I’m starting to believe John is trying to make people think I’m crazy so he can take over the estate. He tried to get power of attorney. I refused.”
“I haven’t spoken to John since he insisted on turning off your life support.” Michael stares at me. His expression concerns me.
I step away, wanting to gauge his reaction. “Am I losing my mind?”
“Let’s wind it back a bit.” He searches my face. “I don’t see any missing photographs.”
