Page 37 of Passion

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LUCAS

Lorna was fuming. Her face was so red it appeared she had been sunburnt from sitting outdoors in summer too long. I had never witnessed someone be so upset that they changed colors like a chameleon, but there was a first time for everything. I tried to follow what she was saying, but her shouts were a bit of a jumbled mess. I couldn’t tell if she was upset at me or her ex-husband, and who hurt her more?

“Mrs. Davids, I assure you, I am not about to hurt your daughter the way your ex-husband hurt you. I love her very much.” I used a measured tone, keeping my posture calm and relaxed, but she came at me with both barrels and it was getting harder to keep my cool.

“You don’t understand how vulnerable women are, do you? Men like you think you can buy whatever you want. You just flash your money around and think she’s going to kowtow to whatever you want. Well, not if I have anything to say about it. I’m going over to her apartment later this afternoon and we’re going to talk. I’m taking her home with me.”

“Lorna, I?—”

“My name is Mrs. Davids, thank you. You haven’t earned the right to use my first name.” She stood, tucking her clutch under her arm. The way she had her hair tied back in a bun made her eye lines so severe her eyes narrowed at the corners. I could see why Vera was intimidated by her. She was, however, a gorgeous woman, which is likely where Vera got her looks from. If I wasn’t totally in love with Vera, and Lorna wasn’t biting my head off, I could see myself being attracted to her, despite her being three years older than me.

“I hope you and every man like you rot in hell.” She spat the words out like they were lava burning her tongue.

“Whoa, easy now. I don’t think Vera would be happy to hear you speaking to me that way.” I stood too, holding my hands in a defensive posture.

“That’s because she has no experience with trash like you.”

“Mom!” Vera burst out the back door, glaring at her mother. “Stop it! You’re out of line.”

Lorna’s expression changed instantly. She looked surprised, her eyes wide with high, arched eyebrows. Her mouth dropped, and she looked to me, then back to her daughter. “Vera, what are you doing here?”

“I live here,” Vera spat. “And what are you doing here? You didn’t even tell me you were coming.” Vera glared at me, as if I had something to do with this. I shook my head and again raised my hands defensively.

“Well, if I had told you I was coming, you’d have said no. I wanted to visit my daughter. And I want you to come home with me when I go.” Lorna put out her bottom lip like a child pouting because she didn’t get dessert. I was beginning to understand the strange dynamic and how she could manipulate Vera so easily. It made me want to step in and speak my mind, but I had to trust that Vera knew what she was doing.

“Look, Mom, I had a hard day and I just want to rest. I know you probably have no place lined up to stay.” Vera turned to me. “Can Mom use the guest room?”

I nodded. “I have no issues with your mother staying with us.”

Lorna scowled and pursed her lips. “I have no issue sharing a room with you, dear. You can sleep under the covers and I’ll sleep on top.” She cocked her head like an old schoolmarm.

“Mom, I sleep with Luke. I really don’t have patience for this.” Vera pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed just as Ella strolled out onto the patio carrying a tray of glasses and a pitcher of lemonade.

Ella’s smile faded as she approached. She must have sensed the tension, as she sat the tray down and nodded at me. “Everything okay, Mr. Smith.” She said the words as a statement, not a question—her way of reassuring me.

“Everything is fine, Ella. Could you please show Vera’s mother to the guest room? I’m sure she’d like to freshen up before we have dinner. And you will have to set an extra plate for her at the table.”

“Yes, sir.” She gestured at Lorna. “Come, come.” She smiled and shuffled away, and Lorna’s scowl deepened.

“I’m not tired, and I don’t need to freshen up.”

“Mom, just go. I need to talk to Luke alone.” Vera stepped aside and looked away from her mother, who kissed Vera on each cheek then obediently followed Ella inside.

I breathed a sigh of relief and sank back to the patio chair. Vera marched right over and sat down next to me, burying her face in her hands. I noticed the makeup line across her chin and realized she hadn’t taken the time to wash up after the shoot. Her eyes had dark circles, and it looked like she might have been crying at one point—her mascara was smudged everywhere.

“I’m sorry. I had no idea that was going to happen.” She rubbed her face and looked up at me.

“I had a gut feeling it might.” I sat back, patting my lap. Vera climbed onto my lap and curled up as I held her.

“Why do you say that?” she asked, picking at the buttons on my shirt.

“Well, she mentioned a while ago that she wanted to come for a visit. I told her she’d have to ask you first.” I felt Vera tense and held her tightly. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. It was when she had me followed. I called her to confront her, and she made it clear that she hated my guts.”

Vera turned her face into my neck and clung to me. “Today was such an awful day. I just want you to hold me and make it better.”

“You want to talk about it?” She had been hiding something from me since she moved back in three days ago, and I didn’t have a clue how to pry it out of her. I just knew she’d feel much better about things if she just opened up and talked to me.

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