Fatal Deception: Part I (14 page)

Chapter 26

Blair had gone downstairs in time to see Deidra just coming in the door. She didn’t trust this woman, and didn’t know how far she should push, but she wanted to at least have a talk with her. “Has Marc come back yet,” she asked.

“No,” said Deidra, without making eye contact. She’d been sitting on the porch for quite some time, waiting for his arrival. And she’d heard the rumble of a motorcycle nearing, but it faded just as quickly, as if it had gone on by. Many questions were rambling through her mind.

“Maybe it’s none of my business,” said Blair, “but Marc is my family, and I care for him very much. So I think you and I should have a very long talk,” Blair said sternly.

Deidra scoffed and went into the living room. Blair was close behind.

“I don’t think we need a talk, long or short,” said Deidra. “In fact, you should understand something. Marc is no longer your business, and this house is no longer yours. Marc is my husband, so I am now the lady of the house. Got it?” She neared Blair forcefully, her glare penetrating deep.

Blair instinctively covered her middle with her arms. Unbeknownst to Blair, Deidra noted this.

Blair’s blood began to boil. “If you think you can get rid of us that easily, then think again,” Blair spat. Then she rushed up the stairs, pausing momentarily to look down at the wretched woman who had disrupted her home and family. She couldn’t hold back the tears any longer and she ran into her room and into Cain’s arms.

He tried to console her, knowing it had everything to do with Deidra.

Geri was on her knees on the floor. The pain she felt was devastating. She felt angry with him, yet was equally as disappointed in herself. Secretly, he had touched her deeply, long before she ever had laid eyes on him. And when she did see him for the first time, her feelings for him only grew stronger. “But I didn’t act on it in time. Still, how could he have married someone he hardly knew?” she asked aloud as if someone would answer. “So many times you told me how wonderful he was, and he is all you said and more. Yet, look at what he has done?”

Suddenly, she was interrupted by a very curious Alondra. “I think it’s time you finished telling me about your past.”

Geri was throttled form her thoughts. “Yes… and I think I owe you more than a finished story,” she answered, wiping the tears from her face. “I owe you an introduction.”

She slowly rose from the floor, her eyes never leaving Alondra’s. Then she pulled out a picture, and offered it to Alondra. It was of Alondra’s mother and of Geri, arm in arm. The girl was frozen with knowing, yet disbelief. “I’m your aunt, Geraldine,” said Geri. “Clarice was my sister.”

Alondra felt faint.

Chapter 27

“
Cain, that woman is insane, and I know it!” Blair exclaimed as she paced about the room.

Cain sat on the side of the bed. “Blair, come sit down and calm yourself,” he pleaded.

But his wife wouldn’t hear of it. She continued her ranting. “’Marc is no longer your business’ she said, ‘I am now the lady of the house’. How dare that woman just waltz in here and think she can take over?” When Blair was finished with her rant, she finally went to Cain. In his eyes, she knew they would have to move out. She began to cry in his arms.

Cain decided he would have to talk to Marc as soon as he got home. In fact, he wondered where he’d gone. And what’s more, where was Alondra?

Marc sat on an old branch, staring out at the lake. He threw rocks in and watched them skid across the water, this time not taking notice of the ducks, geese, and swans quacking around the lake. How was he going to remedy this mess? He didn’t love Deidra. Why in the hell did he do something so stupid? And Geri… she wouldn’t be speaking to him any time soon. The way she looked at him, he should be dead. “Why did it matter so much to her?” he said aloud to himself and skipped another rock. “It isn’t like we were in love or anything; even though I do have feelings for her.”

He skipped another rock, then another, then took a deep breath and pondered something. It had been a long time since he had genuine feelings for anyone besides Clarice. So it was hard for him to recognize what was going on between him and Geri. As he pondered, everything suddenly began to make sense. The kiss they shared before she kicked him out told it all. He jumped to his feet. “That’s it!” he exclaimed. His feelings for Geri were stronger than he’d realized. And he was sure she felt the same way for him. He mounted his bike. He was going to make Geri admit what she was feeling for him.

“
You’re my mother’s sister?” Alondra asked, trying to digest the news.

“Yes,” Geri replied.

The two women sat down, Geri’s eyes fixed on Alondra, Alondra’s eyes to the floor in disbelief.

“Alondra, I know this is overwhelming,” said Geri.

“Why are you just now coming into my life?” asked Alondra. “Where were you all of these years? Why didn’t you ever meet my dad?” She’d found her voice and her mind was bombarded with questions.

“After my father died, I became very reckless. I did some stupid things. One was marrying a much older man. He was over forty at the time and I was eighteen. It broke my mother’s heart.”

Alondra immediately interjected, “He was my father’s age—and you were my age? Sick! I can’t imagine marrying a man my father’s age!” Alondra shook her head. Her shock over the initial news was beginning to subside and the mood was becoming lighter.

Geri was feeling some relief and smiled. “Maybe if my father was still alive at the time, I wouldn’t have either,” she admitted.

Alondra understood and nodded. Geri stood watched Alondra, who was still soaking it all in. “Would you like some ice tea?” Geri asked.

Alondra looked up at her with renewed affection. Her mother’s sister was here; someone who would connect her to her mother. “Yes, please,” she said softly.

Geri slipped into the kitchen, and moments later returned to tell her story. “He was very wealthy. We left on a long tour around the world,” said Geri.

“Clarice and I kept in contact with each other by phone or writing. Mother was still disappointed with me. She became ill a few months after I left. I spoke to her on the phone the night she died. It was sudden; a stroke. We told each other how much we loved the other and then she died.” Geri’s voice broke, and she began to weep.

Alondra put her cup down and went to her aunt. Holding her had new meaning. It was almost like finally be able to hold her mother. She suddenly thought she heard thunder in the distance. No… it wasn’t thunder, she realized. “Geri, why don’t you go lie down for a bit? We have plenty of time to talk,” said Alondra. She could see it was taking a toll on her and decided to give it some time.

Geri agreed and went to her room. It had been a very exhausting day. First the confrontation with Alondra, then Marc with his news; she slid into bed not wanting to even think about that disaster. But then the kiss… She lay on her back thinking of him when she heard thunder.

Alondra made sure Geri was in her room before she went out to the porch and watched her father pull up the drive. She glared at him as he turned off the bike and dismounted.

“She’s resting,” said Alondra. “And even if she wasn’t, I don’t think she wants to see you.”

He’d had just about had enough of her attitude. “Look, Alondra, I know you’re upset with me, but nothing you can say or do is gonna keep me from going into that house,” he insisted.

“Maybe not, but there’s something I can do,” said Geri. She was standing in the doorway with phone in hand. “Would you like for me to inform your new bride that you are over here harassing me?” Geri asked.

“Geri, just give me a chance to talk to you,” he said, stepping toward her.

She started to dial and he stopped in his tracks. He didn’t want Deidra involved, it would only cause more trouble for everyone, and he wasn’t going to have that. “Fine, Geri,” said Marc. “You win this round. But know something; I will not lose again.”

She felt sparks from his piercing eyes and heaving chest. Now she knew why her sister fell so deeply in love with him, his passion. She took a deep cleansing breath.

He jumped on his bike, his eyes lingering on her for some time before he sped away.

“That was gutsy of you,” said Alondra.

“Yes, it was,” Geri agreed. “But it only puts him at bay for a moment. He’ll be back!” Geri knew in her heart he was not going to let go. And part of her didn’t want him to. But then a painful thought came to mind. Could it be that he sees Clarice in her, and that it’s the only reason he’d interested? Her heart began to sink.

Chapter 28

Blair was sitting on her bed when she heard Marc pull up. Cain was in the bath. She went to the window and watched as Deidra went to greet him. He looked as if he wasn’t in the mood to deal with her. Blair chuckled satisfactorily under her breath. We’ll see who the true lady of the house is, Blair thought. She had to tell Marc everything right away. This woman couldn’t be trusted. She was trying to tear the family apart. She came to the top of the stairs as Deidra and Marc walked in arguing about something.

Blair was halfway down the stairs when a board came loose and sent her spiraling down the staircase. Marc watched in horror as her body rolled down the stairs and came to rest in front of him. He quickly came down to his knees and carefully touched her. “Blair! Blair talk to me!” he yelled upon deaf ears. “Go get Cain, now!” he roared at Deidra who was standing idly by.

She sped up the stairs and called out to Cain, making sure she missed the loose board. She banged on the bedroom door until a drenching-wet Cain swung the door open wrapped in a towel.

“It’s Blair!” she cried. “She fell down the stairs!”

He tore down the stairs seeing his wife unconscious in Marc’s arms.

“Blair!” he yelled.

“Come on girl, answer me,” Marc kept repeating.

Cain took Marc’s place and Marc ran to call the paramedics.

“Forget it, Marc!” yelled Cain. “We can’t wait for them, she’s bleeding! I’m taking her to the hospital!”

Marc stayed with her while Cain through on only a pair of sweatpants and running shoes. Then he picked up his wife and carried her to the car and laid her in the back seat.

Marc watched his desperate brother with no shirt speed out of the driveway. He went back into the house and up the stairs nearly tripping over the loose board. He studied it for a moment. Deidra slowly walked up to him.

“Watch your step,” said Marc. “There’s a loose board. It’s probably what she tripped on. I’m going to take Cain some clothes.” He hurried into Cain’s room to get what he needed.

“I’m going too!” said Deidra.

As Marc passed her in the doorway, he looked back. “No! You stay here!” he ordered, then rushed down the stairs.

She watched him leave then went over to the loose board. She grinned wickedly. “That’s okay, Marc. You go be with them. But if this doesn’t get rid of them, I’ll think of something a little more drastic.”

Chapter 29

Marc called the hospital to let them know that Cain was racing there with Blair. He explained what had happened, and most importantly that she was pregnant. When Cain's car was seen tearing into town, the local police were waiting to escort him safely through. They rushed to the hospital and several nurses came out, wasting no time getting her onto a gurney. She was still unconscious.

Once they got her to a room, a nurse bravely told Cain he would have to leave. His look told the entire staff otherwise. He stood back however, out of their way.

It wasn’t long before Marc flew into the hospital himself, searching for Cain. He found his brother despondent, standing helplessly by Blair’s side. He briefly saw Blair pale and seemingly lifeless. It reminded him of the day Clarice died. He backed up against a wall. He was beside himself with worry. Then he realized he needed to call Alondra and tell her what happened. He left the emergency room and went outside. “Pick up, girl,” he said.

“
Geri, I want to know more, if you feel up to it,” said Alondra.

Geri had always wanted a passionate man like Marc in her life, but men like that always eluded her—until now. And it seemed her sister had been right; Marc wasn’t the type to give up on anything easily.

“Geri!” Alondra’s voice carried, penetrated her thoughts.

“Yes?” asked Geri.

Alondra could see Geri had probably had enough for the night, but she needed to know one more thing. “I just have one more question for now,” said Alondra.