Page 134 of Vicious Deception

Rhett smiles. It’s something that he’s started doing much more of lately. “I’m happy, too.”

Chapter forty

Oliver

OneyearafterLudo’sdeath

“That was amazing,” I say, grinning at the older woman sitting at the piano in front of me.

“I practiced a lot,” Helen replies. “Think she’ll like it?”

“I think she’llloveit.”

When I opened my studio, my intention was to teach kids music regardless of what their parents could afford to pay. I wasn’t prepared for the adults who requested lessons, too, but I wasn’t about to turn them away because of their age. It brings me joy to watch them learn to play piano when a lot of them have wanted to for so long.

Happy tears well up in Helen’s eyes. “I’ve wanted to play this for her for years.”

Helen and her wife recently got a piano from a school that was off-loading a bunch, but neither of them knew how to play. But for the past few months, Helen has been working hard to learn Eloise’s favorite song for her birthday.

“You’ve been able to keep it a surprise?” I ask.

“Only been practicing while she’s at work,” Helen replies. “I figure she’ll probably start pestering me about getting lessons soon. I mean, what’s the point of having a piano in your house if you’re not going to play it? I don’t think she suspects at all.”

I grin. “Good. I’m glad.”

We finish up, and she gives me an excited hug before heading out. I’m in the middle of tidying up the room when Rhett comes in. This is usually the time he stops by, so I’m not surprised. I don’t have any more lessons until after school lets out, and he’s made it his personal mission to make sure I remember to eat lunch every day.

Rhett kisses me on the cheek before pulling me into my office. “How are lessons going today?”

“Pretty good. Helen is improving fast.”

He smiles. “I wish I could be there to see Eloise’s face when she plays that song.”

“She promised to record it to show us.”

“Thank fuck. It’s going to be so sweet.”

We sit down, and Rhett hands me a sandwich before pulling out his own. This has become somewhat of a routine for us, and it’s my favorite part of the day. After this, he’ll probably stop by to check on Elliot and Wren, and then he’ll go pick Benny up from school.

Corinne has adjusted to having Rhett in their lives. Hell, I think she’s actually started liking him. We had her and Benny over for dinner last week, and she was much less tense than she normally is.

As for Andrew, he moved out of state for college. He and Rhett talk once a week or so, and he seems like he’s doing better. We were all hoping that college would help him grow up, and so far, it seems to be working.

“You look nice,” Rhett tells me as he slides a container of cut-up cantaloupe onto the table. “Is that a new shade of eyeliner?”

“It is,” I say, a smile blooming on my face. Couldn’t wipe it off even if I wanted to.

Now that we’ve had the time, I’ve found myself regularly dressing the way I want to. I was a little nervous with how my students would take it, but turns out, they love it. A couple of them have started experimenting and trying out similar makeup styles, and I love watching their eyes light up whenever I compliment them.

“I’m proud of you, you know,” Rhett says softly.

“I know. I’m proud of you, too.”

The past year has been so different than the rest of our lives. We’ve all started going back to therapy, and Rhett has started to process a lot of the trauma that he’s had bottled up his whole life. He still has a long way to go, but watching him unlearn the lies Richard told him has been healing all on its own.

“I feel like we’re living in a dream,” he mutters, shaking his head. “Even now, it still doesn’t feel real.”

“I know what you mean. We got lucky.”

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