Fling

Fling- CHAPTER 1

My full real name is Serah Una Sand I am 30 years old, a New Yorker, I have a degree from NYU in art and that is the only truth I ever told people from now on. It broke my heart to lie to my sister, but she wouldn't want to know the real Serah Una Sand.

So, from now on though, I would be only known as just Una Sand. I am a liar, to get what I want, Emma, my half sister. Emma will love me as her only family as I love her now.

I made up my mind to leave Serah Sand behind in New York when Dad died and never look back at either of them. I would drive alone to Detroit in my old red Audi to meet my sister Emma. To lie to my sister about everything I am, as well as details surrounding the nature of her relationship with her recently departed, asshole of a father. You see, after my mother's death, I begged him for years to tell me about my half sister he hinted that he abandoned from an affair. Dad tells me the day he dies where she lives in Detroit and her last name is Baker. Now I would meet her without any tears in my eyes for my father. Just a heart of hope for my sister. No more pain, just happy Una!

Hiding who I was, was done in steps. I was good at this.

First, I bleached my hair a blonde color and cut it short. I put in green contacts. I switched to wearing simple, dull clothing. I turned into my alter ego personality of Una Sand: just a basic, middle class, graphic designer with a sweet personality.

Second, I rented a nice apartment downtown that held everything about Serah. A painting studio I could use when alone and my huge closet of designer clothes and secrets I would never tell my sister about. Emma would never see where I lived, but I knew someday she would forgive me. Someday she could love Serah.

An unknown sister named Emma Baker in Detroit awaited my baited breath of lies.

One little lie, and another little lie and before you know it she'll say goodbye played in my head. I scrunched up my face in self-restraint.

I finally introduced myself to Emma, taking the first step warily.

In the house my father bought his mistress, the late Connie Baker, lived my half-sister, Emma Baker.
The door opened and there were her soft brown eyes, like a kindhearted soul with an angelic, youthful face. Her dark brown hair was tucked behind her ears and her cheeks were pink. Cute girl. I saw my nose. I saw our lips. My eyes were larger but brown like hers if I hadn't been wearing green colored contacts. My hair was currently bleached blonde and cut kind of artsy short. Normally I looked more like Emma, brown-eyed, long brown-haired. Our faces were oval and our brows were strong. Her hands were tiny and mine long. Emma was short and I was tall. Still sisters in the mix of it all. Emma moved shyly as I boldly came towards her wanting a hug, yet staying back in the snowy mix of a Detroit winter's day.

I cried as I explained, "Daddy died last week and I'm here because I'm your sister Una. He wanted me to give you this heirloom, emerald necklace that was his mothers. I'm so sorry, Emma." I held out the velvet box with the expensive necklace.

Emma was dumbfounded at my tactless emotional outburst and snatched the necklace in the box from my hands. Emma asked, "Who do you think you are coming here and telling me lies like this? My father died years ago."

"I have the clipping from his obituary and I had him cremated in New York which is where I am from. Who told you he died years ago?"

"I don't.... I don't think this is right, Una. Daddy loved me and he did die years ago. Daddy loved me. My mother told me of his death years ago when she was alive."

"Your father was married to my mother, Calista Sand until her death. He had a thing with your mom Connie during his marriage and um, it ended. I knew of you, but he wouldn't tell me any details until his final day. Dad came clean to me when just before he died. I have his birth certificate Emma. Daddy's name was Joel Sand, I was sorry to hear about your mother. This took all my gumption to come meet you."

"So you think I am going to greet you with open arms Una?! How do I know you are telling the truth?"

I wasn't completely. Emma was smart in that much.

"I know its hard to believe, but I think you need to know where he has been these past years. Dad was a successful businessman. He gave all his money to charity. He's no longer with us though."

At that, Emma burst into tears and slammed the door in my face. I surely couldn't tell Emma, the truth. She was never taken care of by my father like I was. That asshole. Ugh. Why was he so negligent to my half-sister?

The next day I knocked on her door again. She looked at me strangely and asked, "Where's the rest of my inheritance Ms. Sand?"

"Call me Una. Daddy gave all of his money to charity in the only act of kindness he ever made. You got the necklace though, but more importantly I get to meet you." He gave his wealth to charity because I made my own money, lots of it for being a phenomenal painter. I wished she could know that about me. I wished I could paint her and show her my paintings of her father. She would love to see that.

"Una, how much is this necklace worth?"

"The necklace is worth about $36,000. I would get it insured or put it in the bank. All I know is that Dad died too soon at 53 and he never got the chance to speak to you because he made your mother a promise for the rest of his life. Connie would get the house you live in and sum of money for you in return if he never talked to you ever. I know that's why your mom didn't have to work most of her life. Dad paid Connie a modest sum. I know it killed him, but Connie made him promise not to interfere with your life. After your mother died, Dad kept the promise. Dad said your mother passed away at 44 when you were 19. I forced him to tell me about you before his death 2 days ago and I am terribly sorry that they denied us meeting. I don't understand why Connie stipulated this but she threatened him to never come even after her death. Dad stayed away regardless of her death."

Father was a dirt bag who stayed away because he wanted nothing to do with his daughter. Emma didn't need to know that her father wanted nothing to do with her. I know I was lying about father, but it seemed necessary. She had to believe he wanted her even if he didn't.

Emma fell to her knees crying and I put my arm around her as I tried not to cry. I cried anyway,

"I didn't want anything from him ever, I only wanted you Emma. Father finally gave me your name and address on his deathbed. I wanted you. I fought to find you Emma. Dad said you were his secret daughter."

Tears streamed down my face as I held her. "I wanted you Emma."

"I want you too Una. I just am so confused."

"I never wanted to cause you pain from our father. He did this unjustly. I loved you since the moment I heard of you Emma. Let me make you some tea Emma."

"Come inside Una. Its cold out here."

I stayed during the day into her bungalow and in my penthouse at night. I never invited her over. It would force me to tell her I had money otherwise. Which she was already suspicious about. I played it down like I had a sugar daddy or someone to buy me couture clothes. I hadn't had to explain away daddy being super rich and him not giving her more because she seemed okay with the lies I told her. I made him sound middle class. It was all lies. Because he was a jerk, and I glossed over a lot. I wanted her to know me as average middle class girl with an education and not tell her much about my celebrity artist level. I had this need for family and she was so heartbroken. Emma and I spent of our free time together and soon we were inseparable.

I would paint her in spare moments at my apartment. Emma was everything I needed in life and never had. A good sister. Someone moral and good to love.

Emma worked an aesthetician. A Jill of all trades, without a license to do any of them. Artistic and illegal. Sounded like family. We were best friends. She was so similar to me. I loved her.