Unbreakable (23 page)

“Baby, go easy on that,” Luke says as I
finish my second beer and a little burp escapes me. I giggle and
grab another beer.

“No dear, I have never heard of her,” Miss
Finnegan says a little more defensive this time. “I do not know who
your birth mother is,” she says firmly this time looking me in the
eyes, but I still feel she is lying to me.

“And you?” I direct my question toward
Jeffrey. “What do you have to say?” I open my third beer and start
to gulp it down too. I stumble a little as I rest my elbows on the
counter staring at Jeffrey. It’s time for some answers.

“Alright, I think you’ve had enough for
now,” Luke says as he comes and stands beside me. He tries to take
the beer bottle out of my hand. I am not even of legal age to
drink, but I’m in my own house and it’s in my fridge so I will do
what I want.

“My beer,” I say grabbing it back from him
and I take another gulp. Luke wraps his hands around my waist and
leads me around the island to a stool.

“Let’s get some food in you baby,” he says
motioning to Miss Finnegan, and she puts a sandwich in front of me.
She goes back to making the rest of them some food.

I push the plate toward Jacob with disgust.
“I’m not hungry, just thirsty,” I say and take another drink
clumsily. I’m mad at them for not telling me about Simon. I’m also
mad at Miss Finnegan because I know she’s lying to me. I’m mad at
my dad for keeping secrets. I’m mad at Jane for hating me. It all
rushes through me as the alcohol makes it all make sense.

“Jesus, Lil, you are such a light weight.
You are drunk already,” Emma scoffs at me. She also tries to take
the bottle out of my hand. Luke steadies me on the stool as I
almost fall off. I am avoiding Emma’s grab for my beer.

“Just slow down, Lil, I’m not asking you to
stop,” Emma says rolling her eyes, and I finish the third bottle. I
stick my tongue out at her after I do. She sticks her tongue out at
me, too, and says, “Grow up.” I make like I am going to get up to
get another one and Luke holds me on the stool and looks down at
me.

“This is my house and I want another one,” I
demand staring at him.

“I will get you another one, but you have to
sip it, okay?” He says slowly to me, and I nod in agreement.

“So Feffrey, do you or don’t you know what I
am talking about?” I slur my words and my head is feeling a little
fuzzy.

Emma giggles to herself, shaking her head.
“I’ve never seen her drunk,” she says to Luke who also is laughing
at me.

Luke returns setting a bottle of beer down
and a glass of water in front of me. He also grabbed a bag of
pretzels from the cupboard and placed them in front of me as well.
“Drink some water, too, please,” he says as I take a small sip of
the beer. He sits sideways on the stool facing me and he places his
hand on the back of my stool watching me.

“Thanks baby,” I smile at him. “You are so
damn good looking. I could eat you with a spoon,” I slur and
leaning over to him so I can give him a sloppy wet kiss.

He wipes my slobber off his mouth with the
back of his hand, “Right back at you babe,” he says laughing at
me.

“So, Fuffrey, I’m waiting,” I say taking
another sip of my beer, and Luke pushes the pretzels closer to me.
I’m staring at Jeffrey waiting for an answer. He looks nervously at
Miss Finnegan, who I can tell she does not want him to answer.

“Before you came to live here, there was a
lot of stuff going on. Ted and Jane changed tremendously. She
became bitter and angry and he was distant,” Jeffrey tells me
hesitantly. “I didn’t know what was going on, but there was a lot
of secrecy, people coming and going at all times of the day.” He
continues his recollection of the past.

“And then, you were here,” Jeffrey says. “We
were never told anything, I swear.”

“But I do remember Jane saying the name
Samantha in a loud argument they were having,” Jeffrey admits.

“What else did you hear?” Emma quizzes him
astonished at the admission.

“Yeah, Dad, please enlighten us,” Luke says
as he helps me sit straight in the chair. Why is it so damn hard to
sit straight, I think to myself. It takes all my might to do
so.

“Yeah, enlighten you, Fuffrey,” I slur, man
his name is hard to say, and I realize that I can’t feel my cheeks.
They are completely numb. I shrug and take a long swig off the
bottle.

“I heard Jane yelling about her to Ted once.
Calling her a dirty whore and that he was going to pay for what he
did,” he confesses. “That’s the only time I ever heard that name,”
he says looking at all our stunned faces. “I swear!”

“I knew it!” I shout, and everyone turns
toward me waiting for me to finish. I’ve already forgotten what I
was going to say, so I take another drink. “What?” I look at
everyone confused to why they are staring at me.

“So I wonder if Ted and Samantha were having
an affair,” Emma starts to speculate at what it could mean.

“You’re so pretty,” I say to Emma petting
her hair lovingly.

“Thanks sweetie and you’re smashed,” Emma
says smiling at me and rolling her eyes.

“Drink some water baby,” Luke pushes the
glass in front of me and takes my empty beer bottle.

“I’ve always thought that Jane must have
known Lilly’s mother, she would always reference her when she was
yelling at Lilly,” Miss Finnegan finally interjects her
feelings.

“I need some air.” I lean on Luke and my
stomach is starting to get queasy.

Luke helps me up and we walk to the French
doors. He opens them wide and helps me out onto the patio to lie
down on one of the chaise lounges.

“It’s the little duffer,” I exclaim and point
up at the sky.

“I think it’s the little dipper, baby,” he
chuckles at me. “You just relax, I am going inside to talk with
Emma and Jacob. The door’s open and I will be just inside.”

“Okay, you sexy man candy,” I move my head
so I can see him and he leans down, kisses my forehead, and walks
back inside. I can still hear them talking as I lay staring up at
all the bright lights.

The lounge feels like it’s spinning, I start
to concentrate to make it stop and it does. I’m such a genius as I
think to myself.

Their voices start to drown out and they
sound like a low hum instead of words. The queasiness subsides and
I sit up in the chair when I hear some rustling in the trees.

I try to focus my eyes in the darkness to
see what is making the noise. With the moonlight, I’m able to see
the bushes that line the side of the property moving. Whatever it
is seems large, and I remember the mountain lion Jacob said that is
in the area. I’ve never seen one in person.

I roll off the lounge and try to steady
myself on my feet. The ground feels like it’s moving. I walk to the
very edge of the patio and strain my eyes trying to make out a
shape. I’m too far away. Turning toward the house, I see Luke is
leaning in the doorway with his back to me still in deep
conversation with the others.

Just a little closer I think, and walk
toward the rustling sound. It sees me and takes off into the tree
line. I am still not able to make out what it is so I walk a little
further. I can’t hear it any more so I stop. Then I hear rustling
again except it is much farther away. I make my way through the
trees going the way of the sound. The moon is bright enough but
with all the leaves it’s really hard to see.

I stop again to see if I can hear it and it
is silent. There is not even chirping crickets or a croak of a
frog, just dead silence. I turn back toward the house and recognize
that I went a lot farther than I intended. I am not able to see the
house now through the trees and the darkness so I try to get my
bearings not even sure where I am. I start to walk back in the
direction that I think the house is, but in the dark nothing seems
familiar right now. What an idiot! I think to myself, I’m lost in
my own backyard.

I hear the rustling again off to the right
of me but this time it sounds much closer. I feel my heart beating
through my chest as I start to panic; I have no idea what a
mountain lion would do to me. I start walking faster the opposite
direction of the noise. I still hear it and it sounds like it’s
following me. I take off in a slow jog but my breathing is heavy
and my mind is suddenly clearer, fear taking over me as I feel
sweat starting to roll down my face.

I reach a clearing and recognize that I’m at
Georgia’s stone. Instant relief floods through me now knowing where
I am, when a shiver runs down my spine. I feel as though I’m not
alone. I turn around back toward the timber.

The same dark shape that I saw last night is
standing just yards away from me and all I hear is his breathing.
He doesn’t move but stands completely still and I am too frightened
to turn my back on it.

“Lilly,” I hear panicked shouts coming from
the house. I turn my head toward the voices then back again to the
dark shape, just in time to see it disappear into the timber.

“Lilly, please answer me,” I hear Luke’s
cries as he is obviously running around the yard looking for
me.

“Lilly,” the voices are now screaming in
unison. From what I can tell it’s Luke, Jacob, and Emma all
shouting my name.

Jogging toward their voices I answer their
calls, “I’m here, I’m coming.”

“Over hear guys!” Jacob shouts when he hears
me, and I run smack dab into his hard chest.

“For Christ Sake, Lilly, you trying to give
us all a heart attack,” Jacob says wrapping me in his arms giving
me a huge bear hug.

Luke and Emma reach us in seconds. Luke
takes me from Jacob’s arms and I am up in his embrace so tight that
I can hardly breathe. He takes one of his arms hooking it under my
knees then he carries me to the house and sets me on the counter
with my legs dangling free. He places his hands on the counter at
my sides and leans down to stare into my eyes breathing heavy. His
eyes are dark, and I can’t tell if he is really scared or really
mad. I’m not sure if he knows either.

“What on earth were you thinking wondering
off like that?” Miss Finnegan yells coming around the counter to
scold me.

I sit there in silence for a moment and I am
just glad that I am safe.

“We’re waiting,” Luke, snaps still staring
at me. I think he is a little madder right now than scared. Ten
eyes stare at me waiting for an explanation.

“I heard something moving, so I tried to get
a closer look,” I start to explain myself. Jacob is already shaking
his head at my stupidity. “I didn’t mean to go that far, and I know
it was stupid,” I plead now feeling even more stupid when I see the
disappointment in all their eyes. Luke still hasn’t moved from his
protective spot. His arms have me caged in on the counter. I’m
avoiding his eyes, not able to stand the look he is giving me.

“Before I knew it, I was too far and
couldn’t see the house,” I continue my explanation. “I was trying
to get my bearings when whatever I was following started following
me,” I say and I feel Luke’s body tense up, and he finally moves
from his position as he walks to the doors looking out into the
darkness.

“Did you see anything?” Luke speaks finally,
his voice very monotone.

“Yes, it was a man, I think. Much like what
I saw last night.” Before I can say anything else, I’m startled
when Luke punches the wall. The walls being hard plaster, all it
does is leave a dent.

“Damn it, Lilly, what if…” Luke stops his
voice full of fear and anger.

“I’m fine, he ran away when he heard your
voices,” I finish and look around at all of the faces staring at
me.

“Stupid, Lilly, really stupid,” Emma says
shaking her head.

“Was it Simon?” Jacob asks the question and
all the eyes turn to me.

“I don’t think so. I mean he seemed taller
maybe.” I struggle trying to remember anything that would help.

“I can’t believe after what you just learned
in the truck today that you would go traipsing off in the dark,”
Luke turns toward me now rubbing his knuckles. They are red from
the impact on the wall.

“Can you tell us anything else about him, any
identifying information?” Jacob pushes me for anything.

“It was so dark, I didn’t really see
anything,” I say softly and hang my head. Everyone is so
disappointed in me and I can’t look in their eyes.

“He’s probably the one who left the note,”
Jacob whispers to Luke, but I’m still able to hear it. Luke gives
Jacob a shut-up-you-idiot look.

“What note, what are you talking about?” I
hop off the counter and stand next to them.

Emma, Jacob, and Luke all exchange looks and
I know they are hiding something again.

“You might as well tell her now,” Luke looks
angrily at Jacob for saying something.

“Tell me, tell me what?” I’m in the dark
about something again and it is really starting to get old.

“Yesterday when I asked to speak with Luke…”
Jacob starts his confession and looks extremely guilty. “It wasn’t
about a mountain lion. I found a note taped to Georgia’s stone,”
Jacob admits

“What did it say?” I ask becoming furious at
their lie and hiding yet another thing from me.

“All it said was, “SHE’S MINE,” Jacob
explains the note. “I went through the security footage and all I
could make out was a shadow. He knows where to avoid being seen.”
He runs up to his room and brings me the note in a plastic bag. The
handwriting is cursive and squiggly.

“She’s mine?” I read the note. “Me, is he
talking about me?” I’m confused to who would write a note like
that.

“That’s what we are trying to figure out,”
Jacob says now sitting at the table. “In my experience with
stalkers, they are usually fine for awhile just watching. But
something changed to trigger the more aggressive behavior,” he says
folding his hands in front of him on the table.