Page 29 of Crashing Into Me
11
sharp enough to cut
Dawn had barely begun to stretch across the sky when the clock struck six, sleep escaping both Kayden and Lana. They’d spent most of the night talking about the absurdity that had occurred way earlier that morning and about how they’d go about getting the diner contract back. The snow was falling heavily again, and Lana was afraid of being trapped in a house with his mother and ex. The thought made her cringe inside. Neither wanted to get dressed and go downstairs to see if they were still there, but Lana made the first move, put on her robe, and trudged downstairs. As she descended, the smell of fresh coffee wafted to her nose, and she instantly wanted to run back upstairs to her room, but she was too late.
As soon as she had hit the last stair, Maureen was in the dining room dressed to die in more Chanel. That was obviously her thing. She peered over at the drawing table, scanning Kayden’s sketches, while holding a cup of coffee in Lana’s favorite mug.
“Good morning,” Maureen called out as Lana reluctantly walked into the kitchen.
Lana stopped and looked at her, with the fake Cheshire smile on her face.
“Good morning, Mrs. Capshaw,” she replied and rummaged the cabinet for a different mug.
“My son is quite the talent, wouldn’t you agree?” she asked as she flipped through the plans for the house Lana hoped to live in with him someday.
“Yes, he is. It’s just a shame it’s taken you so long to figure that out,” Lana replied, pouring her coffee.
Maureen set her mug down and walked over to Lana, calm, slow, and calculating. Lana was trapped in the kitchen with her, and there was nothing to do but face the wicked witch head-on.
“You have a lot of opinions about a man you know nothing about.”
“I know plenty about him,” Lana replied.
“Can you look me in the eye and tell me you really know him?”
“I know all I need to, Mrs. Capshaw. Can you look me in mine and tell meyoudo?”
Maureen smirked at her and shook her head.
“Do you think this is new for him, or that you’re the first girl he’s brought up here and made promises to?”
“You see, that’s where you’re wrong again. He didn’t bring me here. Paula, your daughter who has been my best friend for years now, if you paid any attention, asked me to house-sit for her. As she’s done five times before since she built it.”
Lana put her mug down now and stood face to face with Maureen.
“You barely know your own children, do you?”
Maureen walked away from her and grabbed her coat, draped over the barstool. Heathcliff emerged from the end of the hallway with bags in his hand and nodded at Lana as he walked to the front door.
“Tell my son when he decides to come to his senses, I’ll be at the Spence Hotel until this storm blows over, and the airport re-opens. When I leave town, the offer leaves with me.”
She stalked down the hall, and Heathcliff opened the front door, and they stepped out into the frigid air. Kim emerged next from the hallway, holding a duffel bag, her nose pointed straight into the air as she made her way to the exit.
“Have a safe trip home,” Lana called out as she walked past her.
Kim stopped, dropped her bag, and stalked up to Lana.
“What’s his favorite color?” Kim asked, her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes searching Lana’s face.
“What?” Lana replied, confused.
“It’s a simple question. What’s his favorite color? Or his favorite food? Hmm?”
Lana didn’t know any of this, and it bothered her that Kim was getting the upper hand.
“You have no idea who he is,” Kim continued. “Do you know how he got the scar on his shoulder or what his biggest fear is?”
Lana could say nothing. She stood there and felt the weight of the questions Kim threw at her, and a frown erupted on her face.
