Page 106 of The Lies I've Told
I realized now that he’d known all along it would never happen.
He’d just wanted to appear normal to James and me, for as long as he was able.
The thought sobered me.
I guessed I was no different, hiding the truth from Millie. But, unlike Ben, I planned on telling her.
I only needed a little longer.
A little more time like this.
“It still looks like a giant rock.”
I turned to see Millie walking from the house, a big smile on her face. Her blonde hair blew in the breeze, and I noticed she’d changed her clothes since I saw her this morning, opting for a tropical print dress that dipped low in the front and nearly dragged on the ground, her bare feet peeking out with each step she took.
Damn, I was a lucky man.
“That’s because you’re not looking close enough,” I said, pulling her towards me. “You smell good. What is that? Vanilla? Jasmine?” I tucked her into my arms, wrapping them around her as she leaned into me, both of us glancing up at the giant stone pillar.
“Yes,” she simply stated. “I picked it up at a store in town today.”
The way she’d said it told me there was a story behind her words, but instead of sharing it, she stepped forward, her hands caressing the granite as she began checking my progress. I watched in silence, feeling an extreme sense of pride. Seeing her lay her hands on that stone, it did things to me.
“You never told me how you became Aiden Fisher, master stone sculptor.” Her head turned back toward me, a slight smile on her lips.
“It’s not a very good story,” I answered, stepping forward to join her. I pressed my hand on top of hers, spreading our fingers wide over the dusty stone. “I knew what I wanted to do, but I wasn’t exactly equipped with the cash to go to art school. So, I found a sculptor—an old-school type of chap who—”
“I can’t believe you just used the wordsold-schoolandchapin the same sentence.”
I grinned. “Do you want to hear this story or not?”
“Go on.”
“Like I was saying, Dalton—that was his name—wasn’t a flashy sculptor. He didn’t use saws or anything modern. He was just a basic chisel-and-hammer type of guy, and he wasn’t interested in taking on an apprentice.”
“Is that why you don’t use saws?”
I gave her a pointed look.
“Right, sorry. Your story. Continue.”
“But I was young and hungry. Quite literally. And I knew, if I didn’t have a job or at least a career path by the time James tracked me down, he’d drag me back to England so fast, my head would spin.”
“Wait, you left without telling your brother?”
I sighed. “Yes, I was angry. It was foolish and selfish, but he forgave me. Besides, he got a good deal out of it.”
“Oh?”
“Well, he stayed, didn’t he?” I said, watching as she guided our hands along the stone, careful to avoid the chalk lines I’d drawn.
“Right. He’s a doctor, isn’t he?”
I had mentioned that as some point or another, I think. Just not a doctor of what.
So many lies, I was losing track.
“Yes,” I said, clearing my throat. “Anyway, I was very persistent with Dalton, to the point of being annoying. No,annoyingisn’t the right word.Desperatemight be more accurate. Finally, he caved.”
