The Perfect Lie

Chapter 5

January 2005, NYU

“Happy New Year, Chanty!” Zach greeted with a booming voice.

“Why? You two dropped out?” she asked sarcastically.

“Why do you hate us so much?” Liam asked.

“Because there is no one else in the world that bothers me like the two of you!”

“Come on…” Liam puffed out.

“Yeah, I’m serious so get out of my sight and stop acting like children!”

 

2013

“Oh my God!” Angelica and Cassandra cried out at the same time. They were outside the lawn at the back of Philip and Cassandra’s house.

“This is so exciting, you know that?!” Angelica squealed.

“Wait for a second!” Cass said, stopping Angelica’s drama. “Does Liam know?”

“No,” Chanty said with a grimace.

“You should tell him,” Cass said. “I am telling you, Chanty, this lie can give you trouble. Take it from me and Philip. It will be out sooner or later and it does not always end up good.”

“But this is for Willie,” Chanty tried to explain. “I don’t want to lose him.”

Being a soon-to-be mother, she knew Cassandra would understand. Her sister-in-law, slash, friend, looked at her gently.

“But I’ll try to explain things to Liam. I’ll talk to him first thing in the morning,” she added.

“But what if he won’t help you? What if he backs out?” Angelica asked.

Chanty looked at the two ladies standing before her. “Then I guess I’ll have no choice.”

Chanty went home feeling beat. She had been through a lot in just a day. She helped Willie with his bath and made him eat his dinner. She started reading to him but she was only on the second paragraph when she heard his silent snore. Cassandra obviously exhausted him today. Now that her son was safe and in deep slumber, she got up, turned off the lights and walked out of his room.

She went back to the living room and poured herself a glass of wine. Just one glass and sleep will come, she thought.

The lie that she cooked up earlier came back to her mind.

She sighed and closed her eyes. She was sure that if Cameron could prove that Liam was not the father, he would play dirty. He would make it certain that she wouldn’t be able to see Willie again.

She wanted to throw the glass in her hand when sudden anger enveloped her senses. How dare he come back after leaving? Yes, it was true that she had that night with Liam, but they were barely conscious. Well, maybe Liam was, but she regretted it. It was just that one night. But it had been Cameron ever since. And when she told him she was pregnant, he took off like he was trying to get away from death itself. His dreams were more important to him.

Chanty knew him very well to know that he would play dirty to achieve his goal. And if it was his goal to get Willie and become a freaking senator, it would happen.

Unless I prove that Willie is not his, she said to herself in a whisper.

Part of her was shouting it was not possible.

But she had no choice. Angelica was okay with her plan because, well, she was just being Angelica. Cassandra was hesitant about it, but knowing her history, Chanty knew her sister-in-law was as crazy as Angelica.