Started With a Lie

Chapter Seventeen

            “Yes, darling,” she responds. “How about you?”

            “Um, yeah,” I say, scratching my cheek. “I had some dinner with a friend.” Well, I don’t know if you could consider coffee and donuts as dinner. Mark sure didn’t seem to mind.

            “Oh, okay. Was work okay besides that?”

            “It was fine,” I say. I glance at her drawings. There are tons and tons of different sketches of the same stage. It’s a platform and flowers are surrounding it in some. Why would she be designing a stage? She was an artist, not some architect. “Mom, why are you drawing these?”

            She looks over at them and starts moving them around in a pile. “It’s nothing. Just something I’m working on.” Mom looks frantic. She’s lying. But I won’t push it.

            “Oh…” I say. “Then, good night, Mom.” I kiss her forehead and she pats my hand before I leave. I close her door gently and get back to my laptop. Mom is hiding something from me. I can feel it. But I know she won’t tell me and if I ask, she’ll just cover up her tracks more than now. I take in a deep breath.

            I sit down with the hot laptop on my lap.

            On Google, I can’t help but search up Lee’s fiancé. I only know her first name so I start by typing in Lee and Penny together. Several links come up and I pick the first one. It’s a picture of a beautiful woman with Lee. Their arms are wrapped around each other’s shoulders. The headline reads: Lee Richardson with the beautiful Penelope Roberts.

            I start reading the article.

            At the social event of the year, Lee and Penelope—both heirs to their own businesses—share a drink with each other for the opening of the franchise. Rumor has it that both the Roberts and Richardsons are planning to try to arrange a marriage for Lee and Penny. There is nothing confirmed thus far, but just look at them! They’re perfect for each other.

            There’s more under it but I’m so angry that I just slam the laptop closed and slide it on the couch. In the bathroom, I angrily brush my teeth as I stare in the mirror. My eyebrows are knitted together.

            They’re perfect for each other. Well, at least the article got one thing straight. Beautiful Penny and handsome Lee just belong together. They’re both rich, too. Why don’t they just announce it to the whole freaking world that they’re just meant to be?! My cheeks are tinted red from my anger.

            I spit the toothpaste out and rinse my mouth. I get to my room and fluff my pillows before I crawl under the covers and yank the blanket over my body. Angry thoughts fill my mind as I drift off. I think I even imagine different ways to skin, boil, and cut Lee and Penny and hide their bodies.

            I’m a disturbed person.

The next morning, I feel like a total zombie. Why didn’t I go to sleep earlier, I think as I pour myself coffee. The sweet aroma drifts into my nose and I inhale the rich smell. My eyes open a fraction wider. I have to shovel the driveway if I want to get to school on time. “Ugh,” I groan, sipping my coffee.

            When did I become so grumpy all the time?

            My eyes widen in realization. When did I become so grumpy all of a sudden? I walk to the mirror next to the front door and stare at myself. Wrinkles are forming on my forehead. I press them with my fingers but they stay.