Page 42 of Diluted Truths
“Home sweet home,” Bec said as she got out of the car and Will and I followed. “My mom is very excited to meet you. There are apparently already rumors that Will is back in town with his secret wife.”
I turned to Will. “What was that about anyway?” I asked in a hushed tone.. “They called me Mrs. Bly and you my husband.”
“They assumed. I didn’t correct them.”
With that, he walked towards the house.
He seemed different in New York. He was more closed off here and came off almost sauve. Yes, he was charming, but here he almost seemed to embody the bad boy persona to an extreme.
As he approached the top step, a woman came bursting through the front door with the same dark hair and blue eyes as her children, and wrapped Will in a hug. “I can’t believe you’re here. I made up your room and have all your favorite foods. How long are you here? Do you have everything you need? I can do your laundry if you need more clothes.”
“Mom, let him go! He can’t answer if you’re suffocating him,” Bec chastised as she walked up the steps, with me following close behind.
I was nervous to meet her. I had never been good with parents. I was a technical runaway who was raised by my brother and sister, who then fell into alcoholism. Most people wanted better for their kids. Even Oliver’s mom had reservations about me initially and she was the nicest person on this planet.
“Of course, I’m sorry,” Will’s mom stated as she finally let him go. “I am just so glad you’re here.”
“Me too, Mom,” Will stated, and then turned to me. “This is Jackie, is it still okay if she stays here as well?”
“Of course! It is so nice to meet you. I never get to meet Will’s girlfriends, he likes to keep them hidden from me. My name is Winnie,” she exclaimed and then took my hand to shake it.
“It’s nice to meet you as well, but I am sorry to disappoint you. I’m not his girlfriend, just a work colleague,” I explained.
Winnie waved away my response, “Whatever you say. Sarah told me everything I need to know.” With that, she turned and entered her home.
I turned to Will. “What does that mean?”
“Her and Sarah talk on the phone once a week, about me. It could honestly mean anything. Come on, I’ll show you around.” Will then took my hand and guided me into the house.
House was not a great word to describe the opulence of the home. There were beautiful original wooden accents throughout the home. The front of the home housed a grand living room that had a fire already going in the marble fireplace. The couches belonged in a castle. The dining table looked to be able to fit up to sixteen people and had a true crystal chandelier hanging in the center of the room.
When we entered the kitchen I was taken aback by the top-of-the-line appliances, as well as one of my closest friends.
“Sarah?” I asked as I walked right into her open arms.
“Hi, Ophelia,” she whispered just for my ears to hear. “I missed you.”
I broke the hug and looked at my friend. She looked exhausted but as beautiful as ever. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just tired and feeling a bit weird about this whole case, but that can wait until tomorrow. Okay?” she responded.
I nodded. I wanted to push for more information but I knew I wouldn’t get the answers I wanted tonight.
Winnie quickly took over giving me a tour of the rest of her home. It was on this tour that I was able to see the five bathrooms, learn about Will’s childhood a bit, see the laundry room, find out Winnie andWilliam Sr. were divorced, find the guest room where Sarah has been staying since she arrived in New York, and even know how old Will was when he lost his virginity.
It was quite the comprehensive tour.
“Now this is your room. It’s the room Will grew up in,” Winnie stated as she opened up yet another door on the third floor of the house.
His room was similar to the rest but this one had pictures of him growing up on the walls. I wandered over to get a better view. There was one where he was just a kid in front of this same house. His smile was so huge I couldn’t help but smile in return. There was a photo of what must have been high school graduation with Bec and Winnie flanking either side. I stopped in front of a photo that showed him and Bec looking out towards the ocean on the Oregon coast. He looked so relaxed and happy.
“That was after I graduated with my doctorates.” Startled, I turned to see Will where Winnie had been standing. “My mom took it.”
Slowly, he came to stand by me. It was the first time we were alone since this morning in the car ride to the airport. I’m not sure what came over me, but I rested my head against his shoulder. When I was with him I always felt safe, protected even.
“Where’s your dad?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“Probably in his penthouse apartment in Manhattan. I’m not sure, honestly. Neither my mom nor I have seen him since I left here,” He responded.
