PS01 - Tall, Dark & Lonely (41 page)

“Oh?” She sat back down and crossed her legs slowly as she leaned back, giving him free reign to look her over.

“Yes.”

“Well, maybe you and I can come to some sort of….arrangement?”

She was going to kill her. That was it. Madison was going to bitch slap her mother. After all the years of sacrifice this was

how she repaid her eldest daughter by hitting on her man? She opened her eyes and took a deep fortifying breath.

“Madison, what’s-whoa!” Chris came to an abrupt halt in the foyer.

“Wow! Can I get contacts, too?” Joshua asked excitedly. “That is so cool!”

“Maybe later, little man.” Chris tried to play it off.

“Oh, fangs too! Cool!”

“Oh no,” she mumbled, wincing at her brother's excited expression.

“Yeah, she looks cool, huh? Why don’t we go upstairs and play a video game?”

“In your room? You have the best games. Da- I mean Ephraim won’t buy me any of the cool ones.”

“Sure, in my room.” Chris herded the boy to the stairs and threw Madison a look that inquired if she was all right. She nodded.

She closed her eyes again. That was too close. Thank god it hadn’t been Jill. She would have flipped out into hysterics.

Ephraim didn’t say anything for a long moment. He was too busy listening to the conversation in the foyer. That had been a

close call. They would have to be told sooner or later what they were and what Chris was. It was imperative for their own

safety that they had the facts. But they were children and Eleanor knew nothing of the real world that she lived in. She had no

idea that she shared this world with the likes of him. She would soon enough.

Emma was on her feet again, walking towards him. “Why don’t I go pick out my room and you and I can discuss the terms of

my stay?” She licked her lips invitingly.

“Don’t you have any pride, Emma?” Eleanor asked disgustedly.

She shrugged uncaringly. It seemed she was done playing nice for her mother. She saw a new mark. From the look on her face

and her body language she had every intention of getting what she wanted however she wanted.

Ephraim gently pushed her away from him when she stepped too close. “Emma,” he said it because he knew how much she

hated it, “I’m with your daughter so your little offers are wasted.”

Candy laughed haughtily. “She’s just a girl, Ephraim. You need someone with experience, someone who will please you.”

“Emma!”

His jaw clenched tightly until the muscles jumped. “Come on, Ephraim. Let’s go talk about it. Shall we?” She reached for his

hand. He drew away and stepped back.

In a restrained voice he addressed her. “Emma, let’s be perfectly clear, even if I wasn’t with your daughter you would never

catch my eye.” That didn’t seem to disturb Candy. She continued to smile knowingly at Ephraim. She seemed to think her

charms would work at attaining what she wanted, free room and board and maybe some cash.

“I am in love with your daughter and when she stops being so damn stubborn I plan on asking her to marry me. I’ve had the ring

ready for months now,” he said the last part for Madison. Her gasp was rewarding enough so he continued now that he made

his feelings known on the matter.

“As far as you joining this household there’s not a chance in hell that is going to happen. I don’t think it would be good for

Joshua and Chris to be around a woman like you and I know from what happened with Jill in New Mexico it certainly wouldn’t

be good for her.” Eleanor’s brows creased in suspicion. He forgot that she didn’t know about her daughter shoving her

youngest granddaughter towards a thirty-five year old man.

She scoffed, “They’re used to me. When I lived here we barely spoke so that’s nonsense. They don’t care what I do. There’s no

reason I can’t come back.”

Ephraim ran a hand through his hair in aggravation. This woman was really trying his patience. “Fine then! You’re not coming

back here because I do not want you near my baby. There is no way in hell our baby is going to be subjected to someone as

selfish and vile as you!”

Emma recoiled as if she’d been hit. “You’ve made me a grandmother?” she shrieked as it was the vilest thing in the world.

He ignored her and the choking sound of outrage coming from the hall and focused on Eleanor. She suddenly looked every day

of her fifty-eight years. It looked like she’d finally been beaten. Ephraim didn’t have to ask to know why.

She thought she failed. Her granddaughter was unmarried and pregnant. History was repeating itself and she was helpless to

stop it. She didn’t want to see another child go through life without a real family, without love.

Ephraim took a knee in front of Eleanor. He took her trembling hand into his. “Eleanor, she’s not Emma. She’s not Emma.”

Eleanor looked so lost. “Eleanor, she’s not sixteen and she’s not alone. You know how much I love her. I’m not one of the men

that Emma hangs around with. I wanted to marry her anyway. You need to know that she will be taken care of and want for

nothing in this world. Our child will grow up in a loving home with both parents. We will never hurt our child the way Emma

hurt Madison. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“You, me, Madison, the baby, Chris, Jill and Joshua are going to stay right here and be a family. The three of us are going to

raise them together. I promise you I will be the father to all four children that they deserve.”

Eleanor gave him a watery smile. “You have been a good father to them and I thank you for that. It’s been good for the kids to

have a good man around.”

“Thank you, but you’re forgetting the best part.”

“Oh?” She looked confused.

“This will be the first grandchild you get to hold as a baby since Madison. The first of many I hope.”

He watched as that thought shot through her. She sucked in a deep breath. “That’s right.” She grinned hugely. “Can I help with

the nursery?” Her eyes brightened with excitement.

Ephraim pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. “I’m sure you, Madison and Jill will do a splendid job.”

“Oh, there’s so much to do!” Eleanor jumped to her feet. “I’ve got to call the girls so we can start on baby blankets and

clothes.”

“You can’t do this! She can’t have a baby!” Emma snapped.

Eleanor ignored her as she left the room. He knew when she spotted Madison. “A baby! We’re having a baby!” the older

woman cried happily. He heard all the air rush out of Madison’s lungs from the intense hug Eleanor gave her.

“And a wedding! Don’t forget the wedding!” Ephraim yelled. He didn’t want her to forget that part. He was sure Madison

would come around eventually.

“I’m so happy! A baby and a wedding!” Eleanor said as she hurried to the kitchen no doubt where she would be making

several dozen calls.

“Ephraim, you don’t know what you’re doing!” Emma shrieked.

He turned his attention on her. “Oh, what don’t I know?” His voice was deceptively calm.

“I’m going to tell you this for your own good.” She pushed her thick dyed blonde hair back over her shoulder. She spoke in a

calm confiding manner. “She’s done this before.”

“Excuse me?” That was a little confusing and unexpected.

Candy nodded sympathetically. “It’s true. Madison is a pathological liar. It pains me to say this, but it’s true.”

“Enlighten me.” He knew Madison had stopped breathing and wondered how long it would take her to calm down before she

stormed into the room.

“Very well, I was hoping I wouldn’t have to, but apparently she’s got you under her spell.” She sauntered over to the couch and

sat down. He took the seat Eleanor vacated minutes earlier and waited.

“Since she was very young I’ve had to deal with her problem with lying. She would steal and I would have to of course cover

for her. Things got bad when she hit puberty. She slept around with every boy she encountered. Soon she began drinking and

doing drugs.”

“I have never seen her take some much as a sip of alcohol since I’ve known her,” he pointed out sharply.

She ignored his tone. “She drinks in secret since the last time she was pregnant.”

Holy shit, this woman was the bitch to end all bitches. He shifted on the couch, trying to focus on what she just said. “You’re

saying she’s been pregnant before?”

“Yes, she didn’t know who the father was then either. When she couldn’t get any money from the men she had the baby aborted.

That was one of the reasons we came out here. I had to get her away from all of that.”

“I thought you came out here because you were homeless and penniless.”

“That too,” she ground out. “Of course I was penniless. Madison took every penny I brought into the house. It was so hard

putting food on the table for my two little ones. Once I got here I needed to get away and clear my head. I know I should have

gotten her help.” She added a slight sob to the end of her little act.

“So, what are you trying to tell me?”

She moved down the couch until she was sitting close to him. She reached out and took his hand, he let her. “If she is in fact

pregnant the baby may not be yours.”

Candy began running her fingers suggestively up and down his arm. “You think she’s been cheating on me?” he asked in a soft

voice.

“I didn’t want to be the one to tell you, but she’s been with so many men since she’s moved here that she’s developing quite the

reputation. This baby
could
be yours.”

He folded his hands together and looked down, ignoring her cold touch. Her hand was now caressing his muscles. “What do

you suggest I do then? If she’s been unfaithful to me I won’t stand by her.”

“Oh, and I don’t blame you. You’re such a strong good man. You shouldn’t have to take that,” she crooned.

“What should I do?”

“Well, I think space might be the best option. She’s saved plenty of money and has a good job. You should ask her to move

out.”

“What about the baby?”

Candy shrugged. “She’s been cheating on you? Do you really want to see her? If she is pregnant she’ll be fine. She’ll take care

of the baby. She’s good at that and you shouldn't have to be hurt by this. It’s not like she’s your wife or anything, thank god. Can

you imagine how humiliated you would be if she was?”

“So, you suggest I throw a woman out who might be pregnant?” he asked without any emotion.

She squeezed his bicep to reassure him. “I think it might be best.”

“I can’t believe this.” He shook his head in disbelief. She took it the wrong way which was incidentally the way he intended

for her to take it.

“I know. I never thought she would do this again. I hoped and prayed that you would be enough to turn her around, but I was

wrong. It’s not your fault. You’re such a good man.” She placed her other hand on his knee.

“What about the kids?” He knew he was speeding up her little game.

“Well, I wanted to move back here anyway. Granted I didn’t know she was playing this game again, but I would be willing to

help out with them and I’d be there for you as well.” Her hand moved up his inner thigh where he caught it.

Ephraim chuckled darkly “Oh, Candy, how you amuse me.” He pushed her hand away. He looked her in the eye. “Let’s start

with the basics. Madison doesn’t lie. She’s a bad cheater when it comes to games, but she doesn’t lie and she never stole a

penny. I’ve never seen a woman work harder to make sure her siblings were taken care of before. She even stretched herself to

the max when she took Chris in, but she never once complained.”

“She’s fooled you.” She gave him a look of pity.

“Candy, I can tell you right now without a doubt that Madison was a virgin the first time I took her.”

“Oh, you poor thing. Woman can fake that,” she said softly. He had a feeling she probably knew that from experience.

“Do you remember that doctor’s appointment at the OBGYN?”

“Yes,” she said hesitantly.

“Well, the doctor confirmed it to my face that she was a virgin not that I had any doubts and from the look on your face you

really didn’t know she was a virgin, did you?”

“I-”

“So, when you realized your mother was no longer able to give you a free ride you thought I would if you offered yourself.

Then you realized your possible meal ticket wasn’t interested and you thought to get rid of what you deemed to be your

competition, didn't you?”

“Ephraim, don’t be like that,” she purred.

He stood abruptly. “Did you really think I would throw the woman I love and my unborn baby out on the street based on your

word?”

She looked nervous for the first time since their conversation started. “She’s just using you Ephraim,” she argued desperately.

“No, she’s royally pissed at me at the moment and I don’t blame her. I did something stupid without asking her first. Even if she

never wants me again I would never touch you.”

“Ephraim?”

“You never deserved her you know. You used her and discarded her and those two great kids. She gave up everything to put

food on the table for those kids and you never once thanked her. Now, you repay her kindness by coming in here and trying to

throw her in the street? You disgust me.” He turned his back on her to find that Madison had moved from the foyer into the

doorway.

“Oh! Madison, we were just talking about you,” Candy said cheerfully, trying to pretend that nothing happened.

“I heard,” Madison said dryly.

Candy’s face dropped. “It’s not what you think. I…I…was just testing him to make sure he was good enough for you.”