Page 2 of His True Beloved

His skin was fairly pale, and his deep brown hair was styled perfectly as he smiled at me. He was just a head taller than my mother, which was great because she was a tall beauty that deserved to wear whatever high heels she wanted.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.” Justin held out his other hand to shake mine. His hand was cold but not clammy, a few degrees cooler than what I would have expected.

“We were just having some lemonade. Come on in. Justin can help you take your bags out in a minute.” Gulping, I walked into the darkened room, only to have Mom turn on the light. “Sorry, it was dark in here.” Mom giggled again. Rubbing my hands together, I sat in my favorite lazy recliner, trying to get comfortable.

I just about walked in on them doing the hokey pokey.

“Not that I am upset about you being here so early, but why are you here? You said you were going on a trip with Wyatt after graduation.” Mom poured the lemonade into her fancy mason jar and topped it with a pretty umbrella.

Thank god it has vodka in it.

Clearing my throat, I took a large sip.

Yes, vodka is nice.

“Oh, decided not to go. Thought I could stay here for a while.” Clearing my throat, Justin watched me intently. Now that I could get a good look at him, his dark eyes held hardly any color, except when the sunlight would directly hit them, they had a red glow. It reminded me of the old school film cameras where people’s eyes came out red after the pictures developed.

I eyed him warily as he studied me.

“Is there something wrong?” Mom leaned forward, her flowing sun dress covering her knees. Shaking my head, I took another sip.

Maybe if I drink enough, I won’t have to have this conversation.

“How about you tell me about Justin?” I tried to change the subject. “Is that your car out front?” Justin smiled, and damn he had some long canines.

“It is, had her about six months.”Great, he talks about his car like it’s a woman. Sleazy. Mom only giggled, putting her hand on his knee.

“Ah.” I shifted uncomfortably, taking the straw and shoving it straight toward my mouth. My eyes looked everywhere but them. This was just too weird, I mean, Dad never showed any affection toward Mom, and maybe that was part of my problem growing up. I didn’t know how to show affection to others, which led to…

Nah, not going there.

“Listen, Chrissy.” Mom set her own glass on the table. Both her hands were now in Justin’s lap as she stared dreamily at him.

Holy cow, this is some Hallmark shit.

“I know I’m still technically married to your”—she cleared her throat—“father.” I shrugged my shoulders. As far as I was concerned, he was just a bank that shoveled money out to pay for the house. Knowing Mom didn’t have a decent degree and came from poverty, Dad used that to his advantage to paint the facade of a wonderful family in some upper-middle-class neighborhood. It appeased his parents, some snotty rich old folk, but not Mom and me.

The threatening stares I saw him give her as I sat at the top of the stairs when I was younger had my heart strings pulled tight. “I’d have the best lawyers; you’d be left with nothing. You’d be a pile of trash in the streets again.”He would sneer.

Mom wasn’t as strong as me, plus she was afraid she would lose me. But I was twenty-three now. She could do whatever the damn well she pleased. Then again, I’d never lived on the streets. I wouldn’t know how tough itreallywas.

“Justin and I are soulmates.” I stifled a laugh.

Shit, this was funny. Or maybe it was the alcohol?How much did she put in here?

“I’m sorry? Mom?” Mom’s eyes didn’t bear any animosity toward me; she only continued to look at Justin like he hung the stars for her every night. His eyes didn’t look any different. They were so full of love just for one woman. I swear I thought his eyes flickered red with such a deep passion it made my stomach churn.

“That’s right, we are soulmates, or beloved, as Justin likes to call us.” His finger brushed away a piece of her hair. It was so sweet. I swear I saw some tiny sugar cubes falling on her bare shoulder. “We met at the park when I was out running.”

“You mean you weretryingto run.” He winked at her. “She got spooked when she saw a rabbit fly across her path and fell right in the ditch. Luckily, I was not far behind and smelled a cut on her leg.”

“Well, that sounds romantic—” I sat up in my seat. “Wait, you ‘smelled’ her cut?” Mom stiffened, her back straightened, clearing her throat.

“Why don’t you have another sip of your drink, Chrissy?” Mom’s look went from passion and tenderness to sheer panic. “Tell her, darling, you are only prolonging the inevitable.” Justin patted her hand.

“Please don’t tell me you’re pregnant.” I rubbed my temples. “That would be the icing on the cake.” Mom’s face contorted to laughter, holding her hand to her chest. “Oh, dear no, not yet anyway.”

“What the—”

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