A Lie Unraveled (4 page)

“No,” Sophia said sassily.

“Stay out of it,” Destiny blurted at the same time. “This is not your affair.”

“It doesn’t seem to be anyone’s affair,” he said. “He tapped his watch.”

“Okay, okay, we’ll all have strawberry ice-cream,” she said. “Seems to me
some
people need sweetening up.”

“She means you,” Sophia said.

“Oh? What makes you think that?”

“Because I’m already sweet and you’re a bit of a sour puss.”

* * *

Destiny crept down the stairs for the third time in an hour. “She’s finally asleep,” she said.

“Are you sure she won’t wake up?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m positive she won’t wake up. She isn’t easy to get to sleep but, once she’s nodded off, she’s out for the count. I won’t hear from her until probably eight-thirty tomorrow morning.”

“Great, sit and talk to me,” Justin said. “I just have to know.”

Destiny couldn’t look him in the eye so she got up and wiped the island counter and moved items around that didn’t need to be moved. She didn’t want to risk putting herself in it, if he, in fact, was referring to something else and not Sophia’s parentage. “About the homeschooling?” It was worth a try wasn’t it?

Justin was behind her in a second. He snatched a wooden spoon from the crock holder, grabbed her hand and towed her back to the sofa. “Let’s call this the talking stick,” he said. “Now start talking or I’m sure you can guess what happens next.”

Destiny just didn’t know where to start or what to say. “I don’t know what you want from me,” she said, “and I don’t know what you mean by what happens next—” her eyes drifted back to the wooden spoon in his hand and it suddenly dawned on her what he meant to do with his
talking
stick. “
No
, there’s no way you’re going to smack me with that thing.”

“We’ll see.” He rubbed the spoon up down the side of her leg. “Look at me,” he said. “I want to know if I am Sophia’s father. I can find out anyway, it will just be a matter of a simple court ordered test, but why put us all through all that when you know the answer and can just open up and tell the truth. I’m not putting up with this for much longer, Destiny, I want answers. I deserve answers.”

Tears welled up in the young mother’s eyes. For years, she had dreamed of this very moment. Maybe she hadn’t dreamed of
this
very moment. In her dreams, Justin had been more the knight in shining armor than pissed off principal with wooden spoon. “I don’t know what to tell you,” she almost whispered. Before she could actually form a proper answer, she found herself tugged across Justin’s hard knees. “Stop, I’ll tell you,” she said. Too little too late apparently because the thick wooden utensil landed on her bottom with a hard thwack and not just once. Thud after miserable thud of the hard wooden spoon came down across her now stinging rear. It was awful; it stung on the outside but left a dull thudding pain deeper down. “How can I tell you if you’re spanking me?” she hissed. Just as quickly, she was once again upright. She sat there on his knee like a naughty two-year-old, her face flaming with embarrassment. How
dare
he?

“Am I Sophia’s dad?” he asked her, determination sparkling in his green eyes, daring her to go for round two. “
Am I?
”

“Yes, you are.” A combination of fear and relief whooshed through Destiny and she found herself incapable of even taking a breath while she waited for his response. This had been a conversation ten years in the making and she was starting to wish that she hadn’t left it that long.

“Wow,” was all he said.

“Is that all you’ve got to say?” She was furious now. “You waltz in here, invite yourself to dinner and then demand answers.
Then
, to top it all off you
beat
me with a wooden spoon! Then I answer your damn question and all you have to say is
wow
?”

“What do you expect me to say, Destiny? I’m in shock. I’ve just found out that the girl I thought loved me, lied to me for ten years. I did nothing to you, why would you do such a cruel thing to me and to our child?”

“She isn’t
our
child. She’s
my
child! You might have been the sperm donor but that’s all! You have no-one to blame but yourself that you missed out on being a father to Sophia. Anyway, she didn’t need you all those years and she doesn’t need you now.”

“That’s debatable I think.”

Destiny pulled her arm back and went to slap him but he caught her wrist. Once again she found herself face down, staring at her fluffy family room rug. “Stop it! You can’t keep doing this,” she said.

“Apparently I can,” he said.

His fingers were in the waist band of her jeans. Thankfully this particular pair were practically painted on; he wouldn’t get them down easily. When his hand snaked around the front, she squeaked. “Stop,” she said, trying to wriggle out of his grasp. His knuckles were on the bare skin of her belly and it was doing things to her. She hadn’t felt that tingly feeling for a very long time. Did she want Justin to stop what he was doing or not? The decision wasn’t hers apparently because once he had the button undone, his hand moved; it didn’t matter, the fire was well and truly lit.

“Hold still, Destiny, or I’ll make you hold still,” Justin said, yanking the jeans down to her knees. Unfortunately for her but fortunately for him, her panties went with them.

“Justin, I mean it, stop!” She knew he had one thing on his mind, punishment. Unfortunately, her body had other ideas. “It’s not my fault!”

“You never thought anything was ever your fault and I’m not surprised that nothing’s changed.” His hand landed on each of her wriggling cheeks.

“Ow! Stop that!” She didn’t want to yell but she couldn’t help it. The man was relentless; his hand fell heavily over and over. “It
wasn’t
my fault though, it
wasn’t
. You
cheated
on me.” The spanking stopped.

“What do you mean I cheated on you? I have never ever cheated on you. I’ve never cheated on anybody, Destiny. That isn’t me, I wouldn’t do that. You’re the one who wrote me a letter to tell me you found someone else!”

She burst into tears. How
could
he sound so sincere and yet be so dishonest? She knew what she saw. “You’re lying!” she said. “I saw you!” She tried to scramble off his knee but he wouldn’t let her run, instead he sat her up and held her tight.

“Shh, I can see you
think
you know what you saw, Desi, but I didn’t cheat I swear,” he said desperately. “Tell me what you saw. No, you better tell me from the beginning, where you think it all went wrong.”

He was holding her to him with one arm and rubbing gentle circles on her back with the other. That was soothing but it was his use of the pet name he always used for her that started to melt the ice. “I did a test and I found out I was pregnant,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t want to tell you on the phone so I went on the bus,” she said with a sniffle.

“To my college?” He frowned.

She could see he was trying to recall a visit from her. “You didn’t see me. I came to your room and when I got there, the door was open. I saw you hugging another girl. You pulled back from her and you held her shoulders. I knew you were going to kiss her; I didn’t want to see, so I ran.”

“I never kissed another girl, Desi, I swear I didn’t. When was it?”

“I don’t remember the exact day. There was some big football match on; kids were all dressed in one color or another.”

“
Oh
wait!” he said.

“See you did kiss someone didn’t you?”

“I didn’t kiss anyone but I know the day you’re talking about. Ben, my roommate dumped that girl. She came to the dorm looking for him and she started to cry. What you saw was me comforting a friend. I wouldn’t even call her a friend really; she was an ex-girlfriend of a friend.” He made her turn to look at him. “I didn’t cheat on you,
ever
, I swear.”

“Oh my God,” she said, the ramifications of the misunderstanding finally hitting her.

“Why didn’t you just tell me, ask me?”

He didn’t look angry anymore, he just looked broken. “I really thought that’s what I saw, I believed that you cheated on me, Justin.”

“So there was never anyone else?” He asked.

She shook her head. There had never been anyone else, before or since, and she was pretty sure there never would be. “Never,” she said. “What is there to say? When people are young, they make mistakes, sometimes big ones. Maybe I was a little self-centered. When I went there that day, I was hoping you’d ask me to marry you; that we’d be a family. Justin I was only eighteen years old. I was a baby having a baby.”

“We would have been married if I found out. I would have gladly married you, you were everything to me,” he said.

“Was I? Then how come I’m still alone and you married someone else and had another child?” She couldn’t help but feel jealous. Destiny knew it was ridiculous to feel that way about a dead woman but she couldn’t help it. It was what it was, he couldn’t have been too in love with her if he’d run off with the first person who came along and started a new family. His child with this new woman had had what Sophia missed out on for nine years of her life. She had Justin for a daddy.

“That isn’t fair, I wouldn’t have met anyone else if you’d told the truth. I didn’t know there was a baby and I thought you’d moved on.”

“This is such a mess,” she said.

“The big question is where do we go from here?”

“I don’t know where we go from here,” Destiny said. “I really don’t. I do know that I’m sorry, for a lot of things. I’m sorry that I ran and didn’t give you the chance to explain and I’m sorry that I lied about having met someone else, but I’m sorriest for keeping Sophia from you all these years.”

“We can’t change the past and for me to hang onto a grudge about us splitting up would mean that I was wishing that Lily-Grace wasn’t here. I love both my children. Yes, I know I just met Sophia but I can’t explain it. I fell in love with her as soon as I knew there was a possibility that she was mine,
our
daughter.”

“I know exactly what you mean, I fell in love with her the minute I felt those little butterflies and knew she was moving around inside me.” She smiled. “I missed you though. I used to wish you were there sharing it all with me.”

“Well, I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.”

“Do you forgive me?” Destiny asked.

“Of course I do. I have a lot of lost time for me to make up for with Sophia,” he said.

Interesting, she thought. Did he just mean that he wanted to make up for lost time with Sophia or both of them? Was there a chance that they could rekindle what they had in the past? “Of course there is but what exactly do you mean by making up for lost time?”

“I want to be in my daughter’s life,” Justin said.

Destiny looked up into his face, trying to read him, only to find him looking back at her the same way. Nothing but pure lust was evident, his lips found hers and he kissed her, slowly deliberately. “I’ve missed this,” she said breathily.

“I missed this too.” His hand snaked its way up her t-shirt. “And I’ve missed you.”

Breath held in anticipation, Destiny shivered as his fingers slid over her warm skin, stopping to tease her when they reached the lace that was designed to decorate rather than cover. “Your skills have improved,” she chuckled as
that
garment and the jeans and panties that had still been at her knees were dispensed with. When he was a young man, he was often left clumsily fiddling for far too long with the fiddly clasps; that wasn’t the case here. When her breasts were free she lifted the t-shirt to give him access to her rosy nipples, straddling him to make it easier. “Oh yes,” she said when he took one and then the other between his teeth. Shards of pleasure flew in all directions, exciting every nerve ending as she emitted a high pitched hum.

“You’re still beautiful,” he said, claiming her lips for another long kiss, “I want you. We should move though.”

“Yes,” she said. He was right, but this was a dream and she was petrified; if they moved to the bedroom she might just wake up to find that none of this even happened. “Soon,” she muttered, tracing a line down his neck with her tongue. She ground her naked pussy against him; reveling in the erection that was trying to get to her through the fabric of his dress pants. It was such a turn on knowing he still wanted her.

He tapped her bottom none too gently and said the one word that was more important than any dream. “Sophia.”

For a few seconds, her mind cleared. “Bedroom, my bedroom,” she said, “I have a lock.”

* * *

In what seemed like seconds they were in her bed. Destiny went to resume their positions but Justin had other ideas.

“Lay on your belly,” he said, his voice thick with need.

She watched closely as he rid himself of the confines of his clothes. “So that wasn’t a gun in your pocket,” she said with a chuckle.

He lay a pillow down in front of her and flipped her onto her tummy, slapping her bottom hard. “You need to work on doing as you’re told,” he murmured in her ear, nudging her legs apart with his knee.

Destiny’s breath was held; she wanted him, expected him to take her then but his hand again connected with one cheek and then the other. They weren’t hard smacks like they'd been downstairs but hard enough to smart. “Justin? What the hell?”

“Hush,” he said, making the next few spanks a little harder and faster. “Just relax and enjoy it.”

“Um, I was ready to enjoy it, but then you started whacking me again,”

“Trust me,” he said, his hand resuming its rhythmic spanks. “Close your eyes.”

She did close her eyes, sighing as he rubbed gentle circles all over her bottom before starting to spank her again. Slow even spanks that felt better than she ever imagined a spanking could feel. “That’s nice,” she muttered.

“I told you.” He went back to rubbing and dipped his fingers between her puffy lips. “You certainly do like it I see.”

“Justin,” she said realizing what he meant and what he could see. “I want you inside me,” she said. I want your head up here and away from down there is what she really meant. It felt so good but she felt so— out in the open and exposed.

“If you’re sure that’s what you want.” He pressed his hardened member at her entrance. “I can’t believe we’re here again.” His hands gripped her hips hard and he surged deep inside her.

Destiny had forgotten how good it felt have this man take her like that. He covered her entire body with his own and grazed her with his stubble as he kissed her back, her shoulders, the silky soft skin at the nape of her neck.

His hands slid from her hips to cup each flattened breast. “Oh, Desi girl, I missed you so.”

“We were always so good like this,” she panted, pushing back against him, clutching his leg and urging him to go further, deeper.

“You’re getting close, baby, I can feel it.”

“I am.” Destiny squealed into the pillow as wave after wave of exquisite pleasure flittered through her. She peaked as he joined her, growling deeply against the back of her neck, filling her with his essence.

Well, that answers that, she thought with a grin. She was filled with real happiness and hope for the first time in a long time. That didn’t mean she hadn’t been happy with Sophia and their life because she had, but there was always something missing. Could this be the missing piece? If he still didn't want her, he covered it well. She looked at the man beside her, naked and tangled in her satin sheets. “You’ve grown into a very good looking grown up,” she said with a grin, “with skills.”

He chuckled. “Should I take that as a compliment or are you telling me I’m old?”

“Thirty-one isn’t old,” she said.

“There have been times when I’ve felt about a hundred,” he said.

“So have I,” she admitted. “I think it was the lack of sex.”

“Were you serious then? You haven’t had sex with
anyone
else?”

“Never, you’re my one and only.”

“Wow, that’s really something. That’s a compliment I mean.”

“I guess it is, but I had Soph to look after, don’t get too much of a big head.” She gave him good natured shove.

“I doubt there’s much chance of that happening. Now, I hate to spoil the moment but we have important things we have to finish talking about. We got a little sidetracked.”

“If we must,” she said.

“I would like to tell Sophia and Lily-Grace; they should know that they’re sisters.”

That took her back a little. Talk about ruining the moment. It stood to reason, she guessed that he would want to tell Lily-Grace at some point, but it was so soon. She tried to soften what she was going to say by tracing circles down his arm with her finger tips. “Look, Justin, you can come and visit any time you like but I think we should take it slow. Sophia doesn’t know that you're her father, it may come as a shock. You can’t just jump in and change a little girl’s life like that overnight.”

“Of course not. We can tell her gently but I don’t want to leave it, Desi. I’ve been out of her life too long already. I don’t intend to leave a child fatherless,” he said. “Besides, I think she needs some help.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Destiny asked, pulling back her hand.

“It means exactly that. Her file shows that she is over precocious in some ways; she doesn’t play well with others and she doesn’t show respect for adults.”

“I hope just because you’re a principal you don’t think you’re going to turn our daughter into some kind of case study.” She was trying to keep the anger out of her voice but it wasn’t easy.

“Of course I’m not but I do want to help her. Kids need a good cop and a bad cop. They need boundaries. It makes them feel safe and secure. Even if they make a choice to do something against the rules, they know that there will be a consequence and know that consequence will make them feel safe.”

Destiny narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to tell me that my daughter, who I might add has
everything
she could possibly need, doesn’t feel safe?”

“Of course not, it’s obvious that you love Sophia,” he said carefully.

“But! I definitely hear a but.”

“Okay, look I’m going to say it. There
is
a but, a big one. Sophia lives in a shaky world. You have tried so hard to be popular with her that you haven’t made any rules. All I’ve heard is what Sophia doesn’t like or what Sophia doesn’t want to do. Kids need a bedtime. Yes, they need to make choices but choices within boundaries set by the parents; such as choosing between cereal A and cereal B. They don’t get to decide that they’ll go to sleep at eleven thirty at night. That’s insane; how is she supposed to learn at school when she’s tired? I also think that having a sister might be good for her.”

“So everything is wrong with Sophia and it’s all my fault and everything is right with Lily-Grace because you raised her?”

“I didn’t say that, Desi,” he said softening his approach a bit. “And I’m not trying to insult you or put you down. All I’m saying is that you need to be more of a parent and less of a friend. And, I wasn’t saying that Lily-Grace was better than Soph; I meant that being the big sister might be a good responsibility for her, she might enjoy it.”

“Sure
that’s
what you meant. You’re criticizing the way I do everything; you haven’t stopped since you set eyes on me.”

“Desi, wouldn’t you like for Sophia to come running to the car in the afternoon, all excited because she has an invitation to a birthday party or someone wants to have a play date with her?”

“How do you know those things don’t happen?”

“She doesn’t have any friends, Desi. You make your kid into a nice person and the other people like them too. It’s as simple as that.”

Destiny was offended and she’d seen firsthand how Justin handled what he perceived to be bad behavior. That wasn’t happening at all to
her
child. “There is no way I’m going to allow you to spank my child,” she said.

“I would never spank a child.” He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and made her look at him. “Spanking is for adults who slipped through the parenting crack and still don’t know how to behave, like you.”

His lips got very close to her ear, close enough that his breath sent shivers and tingles throughout her whole body. “Justin,” she squeaked.

“Sometimes, they’re just for people who like them,” he whispered.

He tried to kiss her but she pushed him away. “I think we better call it a night,” Destiny said. “I think we’ve covered everything.” She was overwhelmed with all of this and she didn't know what to do or say anymore but she needed some time to digest what had happened so far. She had been so happy and hopeful and now he’d just destroyed it all.

“If that’s what you want, Desi, I’ll leave in a minute, but there are still a couple of things I want to discuss,” he said. “The school issue has to be solved.”

“I told you, Justin, I’ll go and sort out the homeschool paperwork tomorrow, okay?”

“Not okay,” Justin said. “Look, honey, I know this isn’t going to be a popular decision but I want Sophia back in school tomorrow. She’s already missed the first day, and I want her to get back and settled in before kids have too much of chance to make friendships.”

“This is not up for discussion,” she said. “I made a promise to Sophia and I’m not going back on that. I promised her she didn’t have to go to school this year.”

“It was a silly promise, Desi, she has to go to school whether she wants to or not. Homeschooling works out just fine for some people but that isn’t at all what you were doing. You were extending summer vacation because you couldn’t deal with Sophia. I can understand that, you were doing it on your own but you’re not on your own anymore. I will help you, but this not going to school thing won’t fly with me. I will expect her there tomorrow morning or I will come and fetch her myself. If it comes to that though, after I get her settled in her class, I’ll be back to have a discussion with you, and I can guarantee you won’t like it.”

“You can’t threaten me!” she said.

“No? Then how about I make a promise? We both know how important you think those are, when it suits you, of course. Bring Sophia to school or else.”

“Do your worst, but don’t be surprised if we’ve gone out when you get here to
fetch
Sophia,” she said haughtily. Destiny was not about to be bullied into doing something she didn’t want to do.

“Let me make this very clear to you, Desi, you can’t hide from me. I
will
find you, and I
will
spank you. I am deadly serious about Sophia going to school. If she isn’t at school tomorrow and you take off with her, then I will call the board and tell them that Sophia is truant. It won’t bode well for you if you push me too far.”