Unbreakable 2, The Mystery of Lilly (Cypress Grove Series) (18 page)

             
We hear the front door open along with some commotion. The dogs start barking, sprinting to the front door. It must be Jeffrey and Carley, because the buzzer for the gate didn't sound.  Jeffrey, of course, has the code. Jacob yells for the dogs, taking them outside so that they don't maul everyone. Walking into the front entry, I see Luke coming down the stairs to greet his family.  Standing in the entry way is Jeffrey, Carley, Sarah, Lee, and someone I don't know who is tall, slender, and looks as if she just stepped off a runway.  She is super
model beautiful standing next to Sarah, who is just as tall, slender
, and beautiful. I stand by the stairs behind Luke as he hugs his mother and sister.  He shakes hands with Lee giving a polite hello.  Then he notices the mystery super
model.  I don't know how he missed her.

              "Sidney, what are you doing here?" He says. So he knows her, but doesn't seem happy that she is here.  Sidney, Sidney, oh shit this is his ex-girlfriend.  The one he would be with if it wasn't for me. 

             
"The last time I saw you, you were so distraught.  I was worried, and well, I've been with you for your last four birthdays so I figured why break the streak."  She rambles on nervously, but comes up to hug him.  Luke does a one arm hug thing, and I can see he seems uncomfortable. 

             
"Lilly you look beautiful," Sarah finally acknowledges my presence.  Luke didn't even realize I was standing behind him.  He jumps anxiously when he sees me.  What the hell is that about? 

             
"Thank you." I respond as she gives me a polite hug.  There is something off, she has changed toward
s
me. 
At one time she was so warm and welcoming, now she seems so harsh, cold even to me. 

             
"Flower," Luke says putting his arm around my waist.  "Um, this is Sidney Cross." Luke introduces us.

             
"Awe, the famous Lilly Sumnor, I can't believe I am finally meeting you.  I have heard all about you," Sidney says coming up to me to shake my hand.  The way she says my name is as if she is forcing it to sound sweet.  She takes my hand, but is quick like my skin is burning hers.  She drops it as if it's a hot coal then turns her attention back to Luke. 

             
Luke ignores her, holding tight to my waist he looks down at me with his half smile.  He is trying to make me feel better. No doubt he knows I've figured out who this is.  "Let's go to the dining room and get some drinks," Luke announces as we all herd into the kitchen first, and Jeffrey and Lee go into the dining room.

             
"I'm ready for a drink." I hear Jeffrey say. 

             
It's very awkward in the kitchen as Sarah introduces Sidney to everyone.  Emma flashes me a glance, asking me with her eyes if I knew she was going to be here.  I slightly shake my head no answering her unasked question.  Luke still has a tight hold around my waist and leans his head down kissing the top of my head.  His lips stay pressed against me for a
while, like he is enjoying the
moment.  I get the feeling that there is something I don't know, and he thinks when I find out that I'm going to be mad. 

             
"Luke, do you want to give me the grand tour?" Sidney says flashing him a pearly white smile with a flick of her blond hair.  Back off Barbie he's mine, is what I want to shout.  Luke hesitates, still not letting me go. 

             
"I'll show you around," Emma chimes in. I feel Luke's tension release almost instantly.  Sidney looks disappointed, but follows Emma out of the kitchen.  Of course she gives Luke another flip of her long hair and a wink.  What the hell?  Does she not see him attached to me? 

             
"Can I talk to you alone for a second?" Luke whispers in my ear.  Shit, there is something.

             
"Yeah," I hesitate as he leads me into the living room.  He sits on the couch pulling me to his lap.  "What happened?" I ask, knowing just by his tone that he is dreading telling me something.  He explains to me that the day he left me he was driving just trying to clear his head.  He tells me he met up with Sidney and she got the wrong idea. 

             
"She's in love with me.  I swear, I would have never agreed to meet with her if I had known she still had feelings for me."  He is playing with my hair as he tells me about how she acted.  Then he tells me she kissed him. That it was totally on her part.  "There is nothing, baby. I left instantly after that to find you," he explains, staring at me for my reaction, "Please say something."

             
I turn my head to meet his soft brown eyes. Although I am pissed as hell at super
model
Sidney, I'm a little upset that he is just now telling me. I know that I own his heart. I rest my forehead against his, "I love you, Luke Hansen." He cups the back of my head bringing his lips to mine.  We are locked in a passionate kiss when we hear Emma come in.

             
"This is the family room—" She stops talking when she sees us. Luke doesn't let go of my head and we don't look up at what I am sure is a brooding Sidney.  After a few seconds of us having our moment, I finally climb off Luke's lap only to see Sidney staring at us.  Emma is beside her, arms crossed with one hand over her mouth stifling a laugh.

             
I take Luke's hand and help him off the couch.  "Sorry guys, I was just giving my birthday boy a taste of his present," I say with confidence as I lead Luke out of the room past Emma and Sidney, his hand planted firmly in mine. 

             
"I think it is about time to eat."  Emma pipes up, following Luke and I into the dining room.  Jeffrey seems to have taken on the role of bartender, asking everyone what they want to drink.  I have a glass of red wine drinking a few sips instantly.  Luke is sitting next to me his arm around the back of my chair as he chats with Jimmy.  Sarah and Sidney enter the dining room whispering in a deep conversation.  I can't help but wonder if Sarah would prefer her brother were with her best friend.  They sit next to each other opposite us. 

             
Lucy has everything out on the table and we all sit. 

             
"Lucy, this is amazing." Carley compliments her taking a bite of the beef. 

             
"So, Lucy, are you the 'cook'?" Sidney says to her condescendingly using air quotations. God, do I hate the way she is. She is somewhat "Jane like."  This gets me going, of course, because Lucy is flushed and embarrassed by the statement. 

             
"No she is not the 'cook'; she is a magnificent computer genius and smart as hell.  'Cooking' is just a hobby and she was nice enough to prepare this delicious meal for Luke's birthday." I blurt out without even thinking, I turn to Lucy seeing that Jacob is red with anger also. 

             
"Oh, pardon me." Sidney snots with a roll of her eyes, turning her gaze to Sarah.  Sarah giggles at her. I can tell this is going to be a long night.  No one is going to be in my house, at my table, disrespecting my friends. 

             
"Okay, you work for Lilly then?" Sidney directs her question to Lucy. 

             
"Yes, I take care of all of her accounts," Lucy says quietly.  I know that Lucy is one tough cookie, but for some reason Sidney is making her go into some sort of shell.  She is the kind of girl that I could see picking on someone like Lucy in school. 

             
"What does something like that entail?"  Sarah chimes in joining Sidney in the interrogation of poor Lucy.

             
"I make sure all of her properties are taken care of and monies are going where they are supposed to.  Stuff like that." 

             
"I bet that is quite the job. How many properties do you own, Lilly?"  Sidney now turns her attention to me.  Shit, I wish I knew, but I don't. 

             
"A few," is all I say.  It's none of her goddamn business anyway.  Sarah starts laughing, almost choking on whatever she had just put in her mouth.

             
"A few, a few, huh? It seems you have been buying houses left and right lately. I think it is more than a few."  Sarah takes a drink of her wine looking at me over her glass.

             
"Sarah, that's enough." Carley speaks up, surprised as I am at the way she is acting.  Not sure what I did to piss her off, but what the hell.  I turn to Luke who is looking rather pissed at his sister. 

             
"Oh, I'm sorry. Are we not allowed to speak to Lilly?"  Sarah says innocently turning to her mother.

             
"Sarah!" Now Jeffrey is reprimanding his daughter.

             
"Please, you can ask me anything, but I would like to ask you something first." I sit up in my chair putting my elbows on the table.  "Did I do something to make you mad at me?  I must say you are being a little passive aggressive."  I blurt out. 

             
"You mean besides almost getting my brother killed and calling him a coward when he was having trouble dealing. How about beating up my father when poor little Lilly couldn't handle Luke leaving her for two seconds?"  She spews out all of her hatred. 

             
"Sarah, what the fuck?" Luke shouts at his sister, slamming his hand down on the table.  I put my hand on his, as I now know what is fueling Sarah. 

             
"I'm sorry, no one more than me knows what Luke has done for me.  I have made some mistakes, I'm not perfect.  Your brother is no coward, and I have apologized to him and your father," I tell Sarah, she is sticking up for her family.  What Sidney is doing I have no idea, but I will deal with her later. 

             
"So why do you still have a live in security guard?  Do you not think my brother can protect you? Or is it all for attention?" She spits, okay so not just protecting her family. 

             
"What the hell?" I stand abruptly knocking over my chair as I do.  I hear a couple gasps around the table.  "What are you really pissed about, Sarah?  This all started when Luke gave me that ring.  Would you rather your brother be with Sidney? Is that why she is here?"  I yell, Luke standing beside me now.  Everyone is up now, tempers are flaring.  Everything is escalating and fast.  Lee is trying to get Sarah out of the room telling her to calm down.  Luke is shooting daggers at his sister while Carley looks mortified. 

             
"I think Luke would be better off with me!" Sidney yells, what a stupid girl. 

             
"You fuck off and get out of my house!" I shout at her, before she has a chance to say anything else. 

             
"As a matter of fact, I do think he would be better off with Sidney. Luke's a provider, a protector, not your little boy toy!"  Sarah yells as she is fighting off Lee. 

             
"Oh my God!" Carley screeches sitting down fanning herself.  Jeffrey tends to his wife who looks as if she is about ready to faint. 

             
"Luke and I kissed!"  Sidney wails as if everyone had forgotten about her.  I glance over at Emma, Jimmy, Lucy and Jacob watching the show and start laughing hysterically.  The looks on their faces do me in. 

             
"I thought I told you to get out of my house. I know about the fucking kiss, you idiot!"  I'm still laughing as I address the stunned Sidney.  She looks at Luke who just shakes his head in amazement at her pathetic attempt. 

             
"You're so busy running around trying to find out all these secrets.  I can't believe that after everything my father has done for you, you still make him work like a second class citizen. You have millions of dollars, why don't you let him retire and hire someone else? He's done more than a lifetime
'
s worth of work for you."
Sarah has a vein popping out in the middle of her forehead she is so mad.  I start laughing harder.  She has no clue that her father now has millions also.  He works for me because he wants to.  I decide quickly that it is not my place to tell Sarah about my financial contribution to Jeffrey's retirement fund.  I'll let Jeffrey take care of that one.

             
"Sarah, you have no idea what you are talking about!" Jeffrey yells at his daughter.  "Lilly doesn't make me work, and she has given me more than enough to retire on."  Sarah shoots a look at her dad then closes her mouth as if she is about to say something but doesn't.

             
"Thanks for the wonderful birthday dinner, Sis. Maybe you should get all your facts straight next time before you blow up at my fiancée," Luke grates, leaning down to pick up my overturned chair. 

             
Lee is escorting Sarah and Sidney out of the room.  Sarah comes back in the dining room to glance at her parents and then to Luke.  Everyone has disappointment on their faces at Sarah's behavior.  She goes to say something, but decides against it, leaving the room without another word.  Jeffrey throws his napkin on the table and goes to the bar in the corner. He pours a shot of whiskey downing it then lifts the bottle to everyone to see if there are any takers.  Jimmy, Jacob, Luke, and Emma all raise their hands.  He grabs the bottle and a handful of shot glasses rejoining us at the table. There is no talking.  Everyone is silent as the boys and Emma take a few shots.