A Lie Unraveled (5 page)

“Get out of my house!” Destiny wanted to punch him but she knew that would only end with her once again facing downwards; this time on the bed. This man meant business and, as angry as she was, she knew instinctively that now wasn’t the time to push him any further.

She watched with absolute dismay as he stood to leave, completely unashamed at his nakedness. He actually strode to the bathroom and showered, taking his sweet time to leave. Before he turned the locked door to get out of the bedroom, he doubled back and pressed a kiss on the top of her head. “I’ll be back tomorrow night. Have a think of what you want to say to Sophia,” he said.

He walked out the door, leaving her with life as she’d known it in tatters.

* * *

“Soph, I have something to tell you and I want you to keep an open mind. Sometimes things that we think are going to be terrible turn out to be not too bad,” Destiny said from the spot where she had perched on the edge of Sophia’s bed. She had hardly slept. All night problems and solutions flashed through her mind but none of them were even remotely sane let alone doable. When she woke from a fitful couple of hours of rest, she had to face facts. Justin intended to make sure Sophia went to school and there was no way she could stop him. If she were honest with herself, she had bitten off a bit more than she could chew.

Sophia sighed. “You forgot to buy the chocolate pop tarts yesterday when we were at the market didn’t you?” she asked.

“This isn’t about pop tarts,” Destiny said.

“What time is it anyway?” the little girl asked, reaching for her phone.

Destiny slid the phone out of her reach. “Sophia, I know I said that we were going to do homeschooling but that isn’t going to happen.” She waited for inevitable storm that she knew was to follow but surprisingly it didn’t come.

“It’s too early for pranks, Mom,” Sophia said. “Can’t I get up in a little while, I’m tired.”

“No, not this morning, Soph. I wasn’t joking, you have to go back to school. Don’t blame me, blame the law. There was all kinds of paperwork to fill out and submit that I didn’t know about and they weren’t done, so, honey, we have to get you to school today.”

“That’s just stupid,” Sophia said grumpily. “I don’t want to go to that school and I’m not going to. I hate the law.”

“We don’t have a choice, Sophia, now get up, honey,” Destiny said. “If you’re not at school this morning, then Justin will come here and pick you up himself.”

“You would let me get in the car with a
stranger
?” Sophia asked, her voice laced with a mixture of shock and disgust.

How the hell did she answer this one? “Normally, no I wouldn’t but Justin…” There was no way this was going to cut it without actually telling her about their history and the fact that he was her daddy, but she had to try. “But this time I’d come with you in the car and walk all the way back. Wouldn’t you feel sorry for Mom having to walk all that way back?”

“Not really, not if you’re going to break a promise to me.”

The child was still completely covered by her comforter but Destiny could see she stubbornly had her arms crossed. “Come on, Sophie, please?” Great, she had resorted to begging already and it looked like it was in vain.

“I don’t want to go and you can’t make me.” Sophia turned her back.

Destiny could tell that, as far as her daughter was concerned, the subject was closed. This was going to take the big guns. “Sophia, I will give you twenty-five dollars,” she said.

“I’ll go if you give me fifty dollars,” Sophia countered.

“I’ll give you twenty-five dollars now if you get out of that bed, shower and put on these clothes. I will then give you another twenty-five dollars if you actually get in the car and go to school, and stay there—all day.” She kept having to think of every scenario and add things to the list because her daughter was a master of the loop hole.

“How many days do I have to go?” she asked, her interest suddenly piqued.

“Let’s just get through today and then we’ll talk about it,” Destiny said.

“Okay.” Sophia flipped back the covers and walked to the shower.

“I’ll wait in the car, we’ll get breakfast on the way, okay?”

“Can I have hash browns?”

“Yes, you may have hash browns.”

“And syrup?”

“If you can eat it without getting it on your school clothes.”

“Okay, deal.”

* * *

Destiny pulled up out front of the school. “Have a nice day, Soph,” she said. Destiny leaned over to give her daughter a kiss on the cheek.

Sophia stayed put. “I’m not going until I get my money,” she said.

“I said I would give you the money at the end of the day,” Destiny explained.

“No, you didn’t, I won’t go without the money.
You said
, that you would give me twenty-five dollars and another twenty-five dollars; that’s fifty. You’re a liar. You lied about the homeschooling and you’re lying about the money. I won’t believe anything you say now.” Once again her arms were folded and the subject was closed as far as she was concerned.

Destiny didn’t know what to do. Cars were honking behind her because she was too slow dropping off and Sophia wouldn’t move. She really didn’t want to give her the money on her way to school, there would be trouble over it she was sure. No-one in their right mind gave their kids that much money to take to school; unless their child had all the control, like hers obviously did. She handed Sophia a fifty-dollar bill. “This is yours, Soph, but why don’t I mind it for you?” she asked.

“No, it’s my money, I want to mind it myself,” she said.

More cars were tooting and Destiny couldn’t think what to do. “Show that money to no-one, Sophia, I mean it.”

“What, do you think I’m crazy? I don’t want someone to take it,” she said, happily hopping out of the car.

* * *

This was ridiculous; Justin felt more nervous than he had on his first day of school as a teacher. He’d asked for Sophia to be brought to his office as soon as she arrived and he knew she was here because he had been standing at the window since he got there. He’d seen her get out of the car. She didn’t look too miserable so that was something. He was so happy he didn’t have to carry out the threat of going to fetch her if she didn’t get there. He had to give it to Desi; she had managed to pull
something
out of the hat. Now all
he
had to do was wait for her to enter his office. He was looking forward to spending a few minutes alone with his little girl.

There was a knock and the door opened. “Justin, Sophia Bridges is here,” Katie said.

“Great, send her in, Katie, I’ve been waiting for her.”

A quieter than usual Sophia walked past Katie and stood as close to the door as possible.

“Hi, Sophia, come and take a seat,” Justin said. He pulled out a chair for the little girl.

“Why? I haven’t done anything wrong,” she said.

“I know; I just want to talk for a bit. I told you that I’d like to help you fit in here.”

“It won’t make a difference,” she said without moving an inch.

Justin was struck by the fact she was still refusing to actually do as he asked and sit down. Most kids in the principal’s office were so nervous that they did exactly as they were told. She may as well learn her first lesson of school obedience right here. She was not going to be the one in charge. He walked across the room, took her hand and lead her to the chair. “Sit down please, Sophia,” he said. He didn’t move until she inched herself into the seat, then he sat on the edge of the desk. “So tell me, Sophia, what do you think was the problem with school last year?” he asked.

Sophia shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said.

“Why didn’t you listen to the teacher and follow instructions?” he asked.

“What kind of instructions?”

“Like opening books and copying work from the board, doing homework, that kind of thing.”

Sophia shrugged again. “I don’t know; it was boring I guess.”

“What if I were to tell you that I could help you fit in here more if you’re willing to work on things; try harder.”

“I don’t need your help. I don’t need any of these stupid kids for friends anyway. They’re all big babies!” The arms folded again and her lips set into a pouty line.

“I wasn’t actually talking about the other kids, I was referring to helping you with the work and your homework. If it’s too hard for you, I mean.”

“It’s not too hard for me. You think I’m dumb, don’t you?”

“No, I certainly don’t think you’re dumb, Sophia, but if you don’t do the work, how am I or any of the teachers or the kids supposed to see how smart you are? Of course you could show me, prove me wrong.” He could tell that got to her, her mind was ticking.

“I could if I wanted to,” she said, “but I’m not sure I do want to. The teacher hates me; they always hate me.”

“I bet that if you listened in the classroom and you did your homework every night, that the teacher would be over the moon with you.”

“No, she wouldn’t.”

“You don’t even know who your teacher is this year. You haven’t been back yet.”

“Who is it then?” Sophia asked.

“It’s a male teacher and his name is Mr. Jenkins. He’s really cool. When the kids are well behaved and finish their work, I believe he takes them outside to play a game.”

Once again, Sophia shrugged but he could see the interest in her eyes this time.

“Let’s go and meet him, huh?” He opened the door and she walked through it. Baby steps, he thought. He decided to walk with her, to see with his own eyes what happened when she entered the classroom.

“You don’t have to walk me all the way there you know,” she said. “I won’t run away.”

“Who said anything about running away?”

“No-one,” she said sheepishly. “Really, no-one told me that.”

Justin could sense there was something she was trying not to say. “Tell me, Sophia, why would I think you would run away; did Mommy say something?”

She scrunched her face up and covered it with her hands. “I don’t want Mommy to go to jail,” she wailed.

Justin was taken aback. “Why would Mommy go to jail?”

“She told me that you said if I ran away you would have her sent to jail.” She peeked through her fingers at him.

“Mommy said that to you?” he asked. He had never been more shocked. Here he was thinking that Destiny had done the right thing. She seemed to be trying to do the right thing. What if Sophia was lying? “Are you sure?”

“You don’t believe me do you? No-one ever believes me. She even paid me fifty dollars not to tell anyone, see?” She held up the fifty-dollar note that her mother had given her that morning.

Justin was furious. He bent down to Sophia’s level. “Mommy made a mistake,” he said. A bigger mistake than she realizes, and one she’s going to pay for dearly, he thought. “You don’t need to worry about Mommy. Your class is right over there. Give Mr. Jenkins this note,” he said. “Now remember, you have to prove to me how smart you are; I’ll be checking on you.”

He watched long enough to see Sophia disappear into the classroom and then he strode to his office. He had an urgent call to make. No, he didn’t. It would be better if his visit was a surprise.

Destiny was in the laundry room moving the clothes from the washing machine to the dryer when she heard urgent knocking, again. Oh no, what had Sophia done? She couldn’t have been in the class for longer than half an hour. Surely she wasn’t in trouble already. She rushed to the door and opened it only to have Justin stride right past her. “Come in,” she said sarcastically. “If this is about Sophia, all I can say is, it serves you right. I tried to tell you that she and school didn't get along. They don’t like her there.”

“That is just ridiculous. Sophia has done nothing wrong.
You
on the other hand are in big
trouble
. I thought we were getting along; compromising, doing what’s best for our daughter,”

“Compromising? What part of
I will expect Sophia at school tomorrow or else
,” she said, mimicking his voice, “is compromise? It sounds pretty much like a dictatorship to me.”

“Is that why you did it? I don’t know if that is your new version of payback, but to use a child like that is despicable!” he said.

Destiny frowned. Okay now she was confused. What exactly was she being accused of here? “Either you’ve lost your mind or you have made a really big mistake here,” she said. “Seriously, I would rethink whatever you say from here before you end up looking like a complete horse’s ass.”

“I beg your pardon? I’ve made a mistake?”

“Yes, you have. I don’t know what it is you think I’ve done but all I
have
done is follow your instructions by taking Sophia to school.” She looked at his face, whatever he was thinking he was having doubts. “Tell me what you think I did, please.”

“Sophia showed me fifty dollars.”

“I told her not to. I didn’t want her to take it to school but she insisted.”

Justin looked at her incredulously. So it was true? “She told me what you told her and you paid her fifty dollars not to say anything.”

“I paid her fifty dollars to go to school,” she said.

“Wait, that is still so, so wrong but you didn't tell her that I would have you put in jail?”

“Hell no,” Destiny said. “Is that what you think of me?
Why
would I do that, especially after last night?” She was hurt that he would think that of her. She was shocked that Sophia would be that devious. Is that the side she shows her teachers and the other children?

“I don’t know, that was why I was so hurt and confused,” he said. “I’m so sorry.”

“I told you you’d look like an ass,” she said, “and you do. A horse’s ass to be exact.”

“I guess I’ll take that,” he said. “Where are you going?”

“To the kitchen,” she said. “To get the spoon, apparently saying sorry isn’t good enough.”

“Really, you think you’re going to spank me with that thing?” He pointed his finger at her. “Don’t you pick that up. Second thought
pick
it up, choose a big one.”

“So it is what’s good for the goose
is
good for the gander?” she asked. Destiny plucked an even bigger spoon than he’d used the night before from its crock.

“No, it isn’t.” Justin swiped the spoon right out of her hand. “I obviously made a mistake in accusing you and I am sorry for that but I only believed Sophia because she was carrying a fifty-dollar note. You weren’t surprised she had it either.”

“No, not exactly,” she said.

“Did you give it to her?” he asked.

“Yes, I did.”

“Why would a nine-year-old need that kind of money and what was with her taking it to school?”

“Do you really have time to go through this now?” she asked. “I mean wouldn’t your lunch break be over by now?”

“This won’t take long, Desi, if you just spit out the answer.”

“Look, I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. What was I supposed to do? You were threatening me with all sorts and she was refusing to go…”

“You’re not telling me you bribed Sophia to get her to school are you?”

His eyebrows were raised so high she was surprised they didn't slide right off his face. “I know when you put it in black and white terms like that, it seems bad,” she said. “I have my ways of getting my daughter to do what I really need her to do.”

Justin shook his head. He opened his mouth to speak but all he got out was, “Desi…”

She took a couple of steps backwards. “I’m sure you would have done something drastic, she’s not easy.”

“No, you are and that kid plays you,” he said.

“Like she played you with her story.”

“Oh, that wasn’t the same thing at all, I didn’t bribe her.” He took a step towards her.

Destiny tapped the microwave time. “My, my, look at the time, you’ll be in trouble if you don’t get back there.”

“Nice try,” he said. He managed to trap her and bent her over the counter.

“No, Justin, no!” she yelled. “I don’t want you to whack me with that thing, it’ll hurt.”

“But it was the one you chose for me?”

“I was joking!”

He gave her a fake laugh and cracked the spoon across her bottom. “It is pretty funny at that.” He chuckled. “You know what isn’t funny? Teaching your child that you will pay her off every time she doesn't want to do something.”

“I don’t do it all the time!” Destiny wailed as the dreaded spoon ignited a fire on her battered rear end.

“You shouldn’t do it at all and you won’t do it ever again,” he said. “You say you have your ways to make Sophia do what you want, guess what? I might just take a leaf out of your book when I’m dealing with you.” He placed the spoon back on the counter and stood her up.

“That really hurt,” she said rubbing her backside.

“Good, it was supposed to hurt.” Justin kissed her gently. “I’ll be back here right after dinner. I need to eat with Lily-Grace tonight but I want to tell Sophia when I come over tonight after that. I’ll tell Lily-Grace tomorrow and then maybe we can all start to spend some time together.

“I don’t know if I’m ready,” she said.

“There’s never going to be a best time, Desi. The longer we leave it, the more complicated it gets. These kids deserve the truth and they deserve to build their own relationship, as sisters.”

Destiny nodded; she knew he was right but she was scared. What if Sophia never forgave her for keeping her from her father.

* * *

Justin answered his phone when it buzzed, listening for a second to Katie telling him he had a call. “Put her through please, Katie,” he said.

“Desi? Is everything okay?” he asked.

“I just thought, does Lily-Grace go to that school?” She was in a panic when she realized that Justin’s daughter probably attended the same school as Sophia.

“Yes,” he answered. “Is that a problem?”

“Well, I think it could be. You haven’t said anything to her about Sophia have you? What if she goes looking for her and says something? Sophia wouldn’t understand…”

“Hey, hey, of course I haven’t said anything, I wouldn’t do that. We already said that we would tell Sophia tonight and I would tell Lily-Grace tomorrow but I think I’ll tell her tonight, that way both the girls will know.”

“Oh, thank heavens, but what about if when they do both know, the girls aren’t happy with being sisters? People will find out and they could be going through all kinds of drama in front of the whole school. This is not a small thing for them to find out that they’re sisters in the first place but their Dad is the principal,” she prattled. “That’s got to be huge news in a school with the other kids and with their parents.”

“Calm down, Desi, it is what it is,” he said. “People will find out and then we’ll deal with whatever we have to deal with.”

“You don’t get it, Justin. People just assume that I have a husband somewhere or had a husband, geez for all they know he could have been a goddamn war hero!”

“I’m sure they would assume they would have been told if there was a war hero in their midst.”

“Now you’re just teasing.”

“If they don’t think there is a father then they must think Sophia is a b—”

“Enough, don’t you ever call our daughter that,” he said.

“Did you just say that out loud? What if someone heard you?”

“Seriously, Desi, you’re acting crazy. We’ll tell the girls and whatever reaction they have, we’ll deal with it. If people start to talk, then they do. We can always get married and that will shut everyone up.”

“Doesn’t that sound romantic?”

“It will be when I ask. I have to go, Desi. I’ll see you tonight about 7:30 pm.”

“Did he just say what I thought he said?” Destiny asked the empty room.

* * *

“How was school?” Destiny asked Sophia.

“
Long
and boring. I came out top of the class in the spelling quiz though,” she said.

“You did?”

“Uh huh, I want to show that stupid principal that I
am
smart,” she said.

Did Justin actually tell Sophia that he thought she wasn’t smart? It must have been a ploy to make her try harder surely. Whatever worked, she thought. “Speaking about the principal, he’s coming over after dinner,” Destiny said, watching her daughter’s reaction.

“Again? Why? He’s not your boyfriend is he?”

“Why would you ask that?” Destiny asked.

“He looks at you funny and he’s been here a lot all of a sudden.”

“What do you mean he looks at me funny?” she asked. Before Sophia could answer, she remembered this wasn’t supposed to be about her. “Never mind about that. Justin’s a nice man isn’t he?”

“Oh my God, you do like him don’t you?” Sophia asked. She was wearing a grin from to ear. She got up from her place at the table and started dancing around singing. “Mommy and Justin sittin’ in a tree
k.i.s.s.i.n.g
.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Destiny said, “if you’re done, rinse your plate and put it in the dishwasher.”

“Sure, want to go change and do your make-up? That top is a little last year.”

“Sophia, he’s not coming here to see me exactly.” She didn’t want to come out with what they were going to talk about, that wouldn’t be fair, as much as she was scared, they agreed to talk to her together. How do you prepare a child for such a momentous discussion without totally freaking her out? Maybe she was being a little cup-half-f here. She seemed to have survived the school day without any trouble or dramas and she didn’t seem to be broken or anything. Maybe she would embrace having a daddy. So how did she prepare her? Distraction, was the only way she could think of. “What do you want to do until Justin gets here?”

“Um, let’s watch our show,” Sophia said.

“Ah, I guess we could do that,” Destiny said. She had a terrible feeling though that if Justin came in while they were ensconced in an episode of
The Bachelorette
, he wouldn’t approve. “But what about if you help me find something more suitable to wear.”

“Can I pick?”

“Sure, I guess so.” As if things weren’t bad enough. She was surely going to pick something outlandish.

* * *

“He’s here!” Sophia said when there was a knock on the door. “You stay at the top of the stairs and make an entrance. That’s what girls always do when they’re going on a date.”

“I’m not going on a date and that isn’t necessary,” Destiny called from about three steps down from the top stair. Too late, Sophia had already reeled open the door.

“Hi, Justin,” she said. “See, I came first in the spelling quiz, I told you I wasn’t dumb.”

“Hi to you too, Sophia. I heard you did very well in class today. I’m very happy for you,” he said. “I bet you even had a little fun didn't you?”

“I had fun, at school, yeah sure.”

Destiny stood there on the staircase, frozen. The moment had come and instead of just running down the stairs like a normal person, she’d waited, mesmerized by the vision of Sophia actually having a conversation with her daddy.

“Desi,” Justin said from the bottom of the stairs.

Fabulous, now she had to make a damn entrance which wouldn’t have been so bad if she were wearing the skirt and blouse she’d started out in but no, she was now wearing a creation designed by her nine-year-old. She was wearing a low sheen silver dress and black belt, with six-inch hooker heels that she’d forgotten she even owned. How could she possibly explain this without hurting Sophia’s feelings? Simple, she couldn’t. She held her head up high and started stepping, very precariously down the stairs. “Hi,” she said.

“Doesn’t she look beautiful?” Sophia said, her eyes shining with pride.

“She does,” Justin said with a giant grin. “Did you help her pick out that outfit?”

“Uh huh and I did her make up too.”

“I thought you might have.” Justin gave Destiny a discreet wink and she smiled.

God I love that kid. “Aren’t I lucky my girl knows so much about fashion and make up?”