Page 17 of Lies Beneath Secrets

“What does huh, mean?” She chuckles a little at my question, not looking my way. “What? How old are you then?” I know how old she is. Shit, I even know where her damn sister’s house is, but I sure as hell am not going to let her know that.

“I’m twenty-five,” she says.

“Yeah, figured you were a young’n,” I say, rolling my eyes like a teenager. This gets her to laugh, just like when she laughed at Knox’s place, and I find myself wanting nothing more than to get her to laugh like that for the rest of the trip.

CHAPTERTWELVE

Lauren

I peer up at the large house as Conner pulls into the short driveway. It’s a tall brick building with plenty of windows to see inside from out here, only I can’t. Every window has a thick curtain draped over it. It appears no one is home but when I step outside and walk up to the house, I take a peek through the garage door window. There’s one car parked in there. My sister’s car. I know she’s here. “Do you want me to come with you?” Conner asks from behind me.

“No, that’s okay. I’m going inside if she doesn’t answer. I know where her extra key is. If she sees you, she might freak. And I think you should be out here in case James comes home.” I don’t elaborate any further as to why, and he doesn’t ask. I think he got the picture on the ride here.

I walk up to the front door and ring the doorbell twice before giving up and grabbing the key under the flowerpot outside. One year when I came to visit for Christmas, I got here early, and she told me where they kept the key, so I didn’t have to wait outside. I’m glad she didn’t change the hiding spot after all this time.

“Leah? Are you home?” I call out, stepping inside. The house smells clean, almost too clean. There’s a hint of bleach in the air that has my nose twitching. “Leah?” I say again and make my way to the stairs leading up to her room, taking stock of how the place looks. Everything is in its place, the same as it was when I came to visit around Christmas. “Leah!” I call out again and hear footsteps coming to the stairs.

“Lauren?” She comes into view as I step into the living room. She’s in a robe she pulls tighter around her body when she sees me standing below her. “What are you doing here?”

“Why haven’t you returned my calls?” I respond, forgoing her question.

“I’ve been sick. I’m sorry. This is the first time I’ve gotten out of bed in days.” I tilt my head to the side, waiting for her to come down the stairs.

“Are you feeling any better?” She nods her answer. “Can you come down for a little bit? I can make you some tea.” She smiles at my invitation.

“That would be nice. Let me get some clothes on. I’m still a little chilled. I’ll meet you down there. You remember where everything is, don’t you?”

“Of course.” I smile and walk back toward the kitchen. Something seems off about her but otherwise, she looks okay. I busy myself in the kitchen and do my best to keep an eye on the stairs. When I see her at the top, I watch as she gingerly takes each step one at a time, pain etched all over her face with each move she makes. There’s no way a cold can make her hurt that much. I grip the canister of tea a little too tight when I think about that asshole of a husband she has. I have no doubt he did something to her. I’m about to call her out on her bullshit when I hear knocking at the door. I look over to see Conner standing there through the small window on the door.

“Is she here?” he asks when I open it up for him.

“Yeah.” Just then, Leah comes into the kitchen area.

“Oh, I didn’t know you came with someone.” She has the same robe on but this time, she has a pair of sweatpants and sweatshirt on underneath. She clenches it together again just like she did when she saw me.

“I’m Conner. Your sister’s neighbor. She needed a ride here today, so I offered. She seemed pretty worried about you,” he says. “Good to see you’re okay.”

“She’s not?—”

“I am. Just a really bad case of the flu. James even took Tyler to stay at his parents’ place to give me time to recover.” It’s such a lie but since Conner is here, I decide to leave it be. I know damn well she won’t tell me anyway. She’s stubborn, like our mother.

“I’m making tea,” I say with a smile and walk back over to the kitchen counter to put the bags into the cups. I watch as Conner pulls out a chair for my sister, then comes to help me with the cups. He takes two of them, leaving me to carry one. Then he places a cup in front of Leah and goes to the other side of the table to pull out another chair. I think this one is for him until he steps over to the chair next to it and takes a seat. I glance over at my sister who’s also watching him intently. When she glances up at me, she raises her eyebrows and gives a little smirk. I roll my eyes and sit next to Conner.

“So, Conner, are you married?”

“Lee,” I warn her, and Conner laughs.

“No, ma’am, not married. Never even come close.” Leah hisses as if he burnt her.

“Oft, please don’t call me ma’am.” He laughs a little at her request.

“Absolutely not an age thing. Just a respect thing. I didn’t mean to offend.” He holds up his hands, and she laughs a little before wincing. She recovers quickly and keeps talking.

“Kids?”

“He has a daughter,” I cut in and answer her. “Where is James?” She rolls her eyes over to me in annoyance, then puts her attention back to him.

“Any other kids?” she asks, not paying any mind to the question I asked.

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