Sweet Little Lies

“She’ll have to fix that before she comes back.”

I laughed. “This is going to be the most interesting job I’ve ever had.”

“Yes, it probably will be.”

“How do you know her?” I asked.

He sighed and glanced up at the photo over her mantle. “Gerry’s husband Victor was a business associate of my fathers. My mother used to drop me off at my dad’s office because I was teething and my crying was too much for her. Granted she had nannies, but they always quit because my mother drove them crazy. Gerry was there one day with Victor when my mother brought me to drop me off. Dad was upset because he had work and she’d run off another nanny. Gerry took me with her that day. Throughout the years they left me with her often. She was the only constant woman in my life from the time I was a baby. The memories I have of my mother are sparse. She came and went, as did my dad’s many wives. But Gerry baked cookies with me, took me to the zoo, read to me, taught me how to ride a bike, and stayed by my side at the hospital after my appendix ruptured when I was ten years old. My mother was in Italy with a friend.” He stopped speaking as Gerry’s footsteps neared.

She was carrying a silver tray with a pretty tea set. “Now, let’s drink a spot of tea and discuss your pay.”

I watched as Stone smiled at her. There was love in his eyes. This woman was very special to him, and he was trusting me to take care of her. His trust honored me. This wasn’t a position he chose just anyone to fill. I understood, and I’d make sure I never let him or Geraldine down.

“There will be times I’m a case I tell you. Be prepared for that,” she said as she sat up straight with her legs crossed. I noticed she now had matching black flats on her feet.

“I think she witnessed that already, Gerry,” Stone said in an amused drawl.

Geraldine frowned. Then her eyes went wide, and she looked down at her shoes. “Yes, my shoes were a disaster, weren’t they?”

“I have meetings today, Gerry. Why don’t you and Beulah work things out? You can show her around. Let her get the feel of how you like your day to go. I’m a phone call away if either of you need me,” he glanced at me then.

“We will be just fine. Don’t you worry about her. I won’t scare her away,” Geraldine said then winked at me. I liked this woman. My mother would have liked her too.

Stone stood up and sat his cup on the tray then kissed her on the cheek again. “I’ll leave her in your care then.” His tone was gentle and caring. Who was this man?

“What meetings do you have? Still handling all Jasper’s affairs for the boy? It’s time you make him figure it out. You’ve got your empire to run. And Victor’s.”

Stone gave a hard shake of his head as if to stop her from saying any more. “Everything’s under control, Gerry,” he said and gave me a tight smile before quickly making his exit.

Handling Jasper’s affairs?

“That boy works too much,” she said with a sigh. “Do you like to garden? I have a vegetable garden out back. It gives me something to do instead of sitting in this big house all alone every day.” The switch in topics was swift, and then she was up out of her chair walking over to the window. “He’s a good kid. I often wonder how that’s possible with parents like his. He made it out okay though.” She glanced back at me. “Can’t say the same for Jasper though. That one was stuck with Portia. It ruined him.”

Stone wouldn’t want her saying any of this to me, but I was clinging to every word. I was finding out more truths every day. My time with Jasper had been brief, and I didn’t know as much as I thought I did. I had assumed and judged things that were incorrect. Jasper relied on Stone, not the other way around. Yet Jasper had let me think otherwise. It felt like everything I knew had been centered on lies.

“Now, tell me about yourself Beulah. Beginning with where you got that name. It’s Hebrew you know. It means married.”

I was impressed that she knew the meaning and origin of my name without looking it up. She was a well-educated woman who had lived what appeared to be an elaborate life. And she was kind. She had been a mother to a little boy whose mother neglected him. That alone made me respect her.

“My mother heard the name on a television show when she was pregnant with me. She was young, and she thought the name was unique and special. She wanted me to be those things, so she said she named me accordingly.”

Geraldine smiled. “Well, that sounds nice. She was a good mother then? Even though she was young?”

“The very best in the whole world,” I replied without pause. No matter how many lies revolved in and out of my life, my mother’s love would always remain the truth.

I understood that she hadn’t lied to me about Heidi to hurt me. She’d lied to protect Heidi.

CARS WERE EVERYWHERE AS I slowly pulled into the small parking lot outside Stone’s apartment. There was a single parking spot beside Stone’s Rover. That was odd since cars were parked on both sides of the brick-paved road that led to the front of the building. Several were blocking the other cars that parked here regularly.

I pulled into the spot and turned off the car, then heard the sound. It was music and people. Obviously, that’s why all the cars came were here. I reached over to grab my purse from the seat beside me and then climbed out of the car. Walking toward the door, I heard more noise and realized it was coming from the roof. Someone was yelling down at me. I heard, “Did we order him some entertainment?” and glanced up to see a guy smiling down at me with a beer bottle in his hand.

The front door was unlocked. I walked inside the building and peeked inside the open door of the first-floor apartment. The people inside were laughing, and there were voices coming from further inside the apartment.

This was very different from the quiet building I’d left earlier today. I had wondered if any of the other people that lived in the building were ever home. I didn’t wonder anymore.

A guy with black hair that brushed his shoulders and dark brown eyes walked out the door. His hair was tucked behind his ears and curled slightly near the end. His gaze locked on me and I paused. I wasn’t sure if I should introduce myself or just keep walking.

“You must be Beulah,” he said as a slow easy grin spread across his angular face.

“Yes,” I replied unsure of how he knew that and felt slightly awkward that I had no idea who he was.

“I’m Mack. This is my place. I heard all about you earlier.”

“Oh, yes. Stone told me you and Marty live here. It’s nice to meet you.”

A deep and low laugh was his response, and I wondered if I’d said something funny. I didn’t know what that could be. I was trying to be polite.

“When things get too hectic with the crazy bitch upstairs, you’re welcome to come hide out here. She hates you. She doesn’t have a real reason to, but after seeing you, I think I have that figured out.” His tone was friendly.

“Thanks . . . I think,” I said not sure if I should agree that Presley was a bit off her mental rocker or not. I decided on going with the truth. “She’s got the wrong idea about Stone and me.”

That response seemed to please him. “That’s good to know. You take care now and don’t be a stranger.”

I started to say thanks, then thought better of it because it seemed redundant. Instead, I gave him a little wave. Small talk was not my thing.