Wicked Little Sins (3 page)

              Quinn groaned, adjusting her pillow on the airplane. She was still hours away from Ohio. And she hated flying. It made her antsy, and she didn’t like feeling restrained.

              She wanted to see her dad more than anything. He was secretly her favorite parent. And she was definitely a Daddy’s girl. Anything she wanted was hers when it came to that man.

              She knew Charley and Everly would be there to help with the important things that needed to be done, and she would be free to spend time with her dad.

              She missed her little brother, Ethan. Separated by only a couple years, they were the closest. She knew he was going through his own set of issues. Being a part of the Harper family had never been easy. All her life something felt off about her parents, but she didn’t know what that something was. She was too self-absorbed to expend unnecessary energy on those thoughts. With the death of her mother, those feelings had resurfaced and brought questions to her mind that she didn’t have the answers to. Average housewives didn’t get brutally murdered, and that’s what pained her the most. She loved her mom a lot. But growing up in the Harper home wasn’t as normal as people thought.

              Vinnie rested against his posh car, pumping gas. Everly was inside using the restroom. And her brother was inside buying another pack of cigarettes. They were about an hour away from their dad’s house. He ached at the thought of dealing with that old man. He was needy and grouchy most days and his daughters seemed oblivious to it. Vinnie believed men were supposed to be the strong ones, the ones who held the power. Vinnie just didn’t understand how Everly had turned out to be so stubborn having come from that old man and her mother. He vowed their marriage would be well maintained, he would be the one in control—the one that Everly could count on for all her needs. He was hopeful they’d have babies right away so he’d be bonded to Everly in every sense of the word. Family was more important to him than a wife’s career—if only he could get her to see that.

              She came out from the restroom wearing the same sad expression she’d worn for days now. Quite frankly, he was tired of seeing it and she could tell. She put on the act of wanting to be near him. How hard could it possibly be? He was the most attractive man she’d ever seen.

              “Almost there,” he said, smiling at her. He traced a finger across her cheek, wanting nothing more than a kiss from her.

              “Do you want me to drive some?” she asked, lifting her head and pulling him to her, his lips touching hers. She gave a quick peck. As he tried for more, she pulled away from him. When would he get it in his head that she was grieving the loss of her mother, and kissing or
any
sexual activity was the last thing on her mind? She was beginning to think he didn’t care that she’d lost her mother, something to not be taken as lightly as he seemed to be. There were many layers to Vince. Everyone saw him as beautiful and talented, and he
was
all those things. Unfortunately, what showed on the outside was nothing like who Vince was on the inside.

              Vinnie ignored her question, getting back into the driver’s seat. How
dare
she snub him? He was only trying to make her feel good. He was getting angry. Why did their sex life and a little romance have to stop because of a death in the family? And where was that kid when he was ready to leave?

              Vinnie gripped the steering wheel, doing what he did best—bottling all his rage and irritation inside. He scanned the parking lot, looking for Ethan. He was probably in the restroom whacking off, he thought. He touched Everly’s leg, little by little moving his hand up and down her thigh. He missed touching her and watching her undress at night before she got into their bed. She was sexy, and her body excited him to no end.

              “Where
is
he?” Everly asked, ignoring his intentions. She purposely crossed her legs, immediately knocking his pawing hand away. He was like a dog in heat wanting to hump her all the time—always about the sex and not about the romance. He wasn’t interested in making love. He treated her like a bar slut—a little smack on the ass here, a little pulling of hair there. In the beginning, his wild ways and the few bruises he’d leave behind had turned her on. She was sure that as love progressed there should be more—slow, loving kisses and sweet cuddling that she desired.

              She finally saw Ethan. They had never discussed his dating life, but she hoped that when he met the right girl and settled down that he would treat his woman right.

              “Sorry about that,” Ethan said, climbing into the back seat.

              “Oh, of course, you are,” Vinnie said, starting the car. He threw his arm around the back of Everly’s seat, whipping out of his parking spot and gunned it out of the gas station.

              “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?” Everly grumbled.              “I apologize, I’m just getting tired,” Vinnie insisted, slowing the car down to a legal speed. Everly tapped her leg in aggravation. Ethan laughed on the inside realizing how easy it was to push Vince’s buttons.

              “It was nerves,” he spoke up. So
now
he decides to talk, Vinnie thought.

              “What do nerves have to do with it?” Vinnie asked him.

              “It was either shit in the bathroom or shit in your fancy car,” Ethan said, a satisfied smirk on his face. Was Vinnie really so dense to think Ethan was going to engage him in any kind of significant conversation?

              Everly chuckled. For the first time in days she laughed and it was at her brother’s lame joke about defecating in their vehicle. Vinnie shook his head, hoping the drive ended soon. He
really
needed a drink.

              Charley sat outside her childhood home. Everything was the same at the yellow Victorian-style home where she’d spent her childhood—the same black iron fence, the same hanging flower pots. However, now the flowers were dead and hung limply over the edge. It was clear her mom was gone. She’d have never let them or the once-neatly-trimmed bushes go unattended

              She got out of her car, gazing up at the tower-like structure that had been her bedroom. She could see the butterfly sticker, that she’d adorned the window with years ago, still remained. The cold air nipped at her nose as she stood admiring her old home.

              Charley plucked at the bush, dropping loose leaves to the ground. She became concerned to see a dozen or so newspapers on the porch. That’s odd, she thought as she rang the doorbell. She kneeled down to collect them, dropping several before she finally had them all.

              Charley rang the doorbell one more time before turning the doorknob to try and let herself in. She wasn’t sure if her key still worked

              Groaning in annoyance, she dropped all the newspapers at her feet, shoving the key in the lock. After a few moments of great effort, the door gave up its fight, letting her inside.

              She turned up her nose at the musty odor that greeted her as she stepped inside. It was dark and way too quiet to be her home. Walking into the foyer, she saw several photos hung on the floral wallpaper, each child’s picture beautifully displayed in an oak frame. Charley ran her fingertips across her own photo. Her hair was shorter in her senior picture, but she still looked about the same. She pulled off her high heels and placed them perfectly against the wall by the old coat rack. She wiggled out of her jacket, hanging it carefully. Making her way down the hallway and into the kitchen, she gasped in shock at the mountain of crusty dishes and the overflowing trash.

              She would tackle that right after she found her father. She knew he had to be around. His truck was sitting in the driveway.

              “Dad?” She called out, heading for the dining room. The place setting lay untouched and a bit dusty. He probably hadn’t used the dining room since Mom died.

              Charley couldn’t believe how dirty the house had gotten in just a few weeks. It devastated her to see such disarray. She was a neat freak just as her mother had been.

              Going into the family room, she discovered him asleep and snoring away in his recliner, his hand above his head. She smiled at how peaceful he looked. For once he appeared calm, not miserable or upset.

              She ran her hands through his graying hair as he slept, his glasses hanging halfway off his face. He was still the same old dad, a little rounder than the last time she’d seen him, but the same.

              “Dad,” she said quietly, shaking him a little. It only took him a moment to open his eyes, his face turning to sheer joy to be staring into the eyes of his second oldest child.

              “Charley Rae, I’m so glad to see you,” he said, yanking the recliner handle to sit vertical. He stood immediately and wrapped his arms tightly around her. She rested her head on his shoulder, lingering in the moment of his hug and holding on tight.

              “I’m glad to see you too, Dad,” she insisted. He finally released her, looking her over carefully. He pushed her hair off her shoulders, a smile still on his face. Charley wondered if what she saw in him was indeed happiness or relief. She knew she’d probably be the one to fill in for Mom. She assumed he knew that as well.

              “You look beautiful as ever,” he said, gushing over her.

              “Thank you. How is everything going, Dad?” she asked, sitting on the couch, noticing several beer cans littering the coffee table next to one of her mom’s magazines.

              “Things are hard,” he said with a sigh.

              Ned Harper was nearly sixty-one and had never imagined losing his beautiful Sandy. He didn’t know how he would go on without her. She was the love of his life. She’d given him four beautiful children and a lovely home full of life and laughter. And now she was gone.

              He stared at his Charley, remembering her life here. She’d been the most studious of his children and everything a mother could wish for. Ned just adored her in spite of her stuffy ways. He wished his sense of humor had worn off on her.

              As glad as he was to have Charley home, he hoped she wouldn’t be too eager with her questions surrounding her mother’s death. The less he talked about it, the better. He’d suffer in silence. He knew that’s what Sandy would have wanted.

              “Just remember, Dad, I am here to help. I took a couple weeks off of work and everything. And the first thing I am going to do is clean up the kitchen,” she said smiling, as she hurried off. It was obvious he wasn’t ready to talk about anything. She would let him revel in the homecomings.

Vinnie watched Everly and Ethan hurry up the steps leaving hi
m
with
t
he luggage. He slammed the trunk down in a huff, pulling a cigar from his shirt pocket. He was in no hurry to go inside that old house.

              Everly nervously fussed with her hair and clothes as she stood at the door. It was obvious to Vinnie that she was concerned with the impression she made. He lit his cigar and puffed away, a troubled look on his face.

              The door opened to shrieks and screams of laughter from the two sisters. He watched closely, impressed at Everly’s good mood and the way she bounced up and down with Charley, appearing glad to see her.

              They broke apart and headed inside, leaving him to deal with the luggage. He surveyed the neighborhood. It was all shabby and basic to him. He could never see himself being happy with such a simple way of life. His values were much higher than that.

              “Didn’t anyone tell you cigars are bad for you?” Ned asked, coming down the steps to welcome him. Vinnie gave a dry chuckle, handing it over to his soon to be father-in-law. Ned took a puff, leaning against the car with Vinnie.

              “Your daughter tells me that all the time, but I don’t listen,” he shot back. Everly had once told him how sexy it made him look, that she loved the smell. Now she snubbed him each time he lit up. He couldn’t figure her out.

              “Well, let’s get inside. It’s rather chilly out here,” Ned said, waiting for Vinnie to follow. Vinnie didn’t budge, he really had a lot on his mind. And the one person who could give him answers was Everly’s Dad.

              “Lately, I feel like she almost detests me,” he blurted out. He watched the house for Everly or anyone who might want to listen in. He didn’t want to appear pathetic or less of a man in front of
any
one.

              Ned took his words in, shaking his head. He was trying his best to come up with something that made this man feel good. He didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Everly had been with Vinnie for four years, and the first couple years she seemed to be head over heels for him. A couple years back, though, things started changing. Everly didn’t talk about Vinnie as much, and she had spent many nights crying on the phone to her mother. In one of those conversations, he was sure things might have turned violent on her part. He didn’t close his eyes to violence, but he knew Everly wasn’t the type to lash out without good reason.

              “She’s just lost her mother, that’s hard for anyone. And she and Sandy were close. Give her some time and she will come back around Vin,” Ned said, yet again waiting for him to head up the stairs.

              “We were going to get married, and now I feel like she is stuck in grief.” He instantly regretted spitting that out, but he had no one to talk to about Everly. His friends were all single, they were dance instructors like him and they were too busy sleeping with everything that batted an eyelash at them to understand what Vinnie wanted. Vinnie had enough of that lifestyle. He was ready to have a real girl to come home to every night. He knew he could have anyone he wanted, but he wanted Everly. She had grace and an incredible presence. She tolerated so much and she was truly a genuine person, and he loved everything about her.

              “Everly will come around; you’ll see,” Ned said, patting him on the back. This time he pushed him lightly forward.

              “I’ll be in, just give me a couple minutes,” he said. He wasn’t ready to enter that home. With Sandy dead and having to see all her stuff kind of creeped him out.

              Ned headed in, wondering if he’d said the right things to Vinnie. He was still a young man but older than his daughter by six years. Ned knew how he was at that age. And he’d been nowhere near as good looking as this Russian man. Even with the best of intentions, he didn’t feel anyone was right for Everly. When Everly was in college, she had dated her longtime classmate, Ryan. Ned had never seen Everly happier. When Ryan ended things with Everly, he moved out of state for a job, taking an old girlfriend with him. He didn’t think his daughter ever truly healed from being burned by that young man.