Lies, Secrets and Apple pies

Chapter 35

I didn't start out wanting to exploit my customers for financial gain, and yet that's what I'm doing now. Maybe mom was right; I am relentless. If I could go back, would I? Tear my pink book apart with all the secrets and the lies. The one page I had from my pink book was in my hand. The date printed in my neat handwriting at the top, February 2019. That was a month ago.

 "Let it go! Let it go! Can't hold it back anymore-" Holly sang out loud with a Frozen microphone. The windows shook from the fierce, cold spring air. The March weather was chillier than last year. Georgia weather was so bipolar. 

 No. I wouldn't have done anything differently because we're all vying for a position at the top. The only question is, who will you knockdown to get there? Me, anyone. Or so I thought. It had been two days since the showdown with Lillian and her family. As you can see I was still working and so that met Lillian's parents hadn't told on me to SitForMe. It was a far greater kindness than I deserved for all the pain I put them through mainly Lillian and Julian. 

 I wondered how they were all doing. If Julian and Kennedy were still together or if she moved out temporarily. I still had all their numbers but I didn't dare call or text. Holly would be going to bed soon. I liked to start an hour early to get her into bed on time since it took her a while to fall asleep. The key was having rain sounds on and not looking at her when she slept. I liked Holly's family. They were sweet. Her parents were on the older side having Holly only three years ago in their forties. They were both successful operating a hotel-like business. 

 Holly fell asleep and I made sure she was nicely tucked in before double-checking everything in the house was in order. They recently moved here into this eight-bedroom of a castle. A bit much because there were only three of them but if you got it flaunt it. I suppose. The master bedroom was impressive with two walk-in closets, a bathroom with a separate shower and oval tub and a chandelier made the bathroom sparkle in an array of colors above. There were electric fireplaces in a few of the bedrooms and dining room. You could change the color of the fire with a remote and the temperature. It was an impressive house indeed. 

 "Thanks so much Mi'a." Mrs.Lake said as she and her husband entered the house. She was a tall, elegant woman with dark chocolate skin while Mr.Lake was short and quiet with dark skin. They seemed like a happy enough couple. I could never find anything about them to exploit. 

 I looked at the extravagant house from inside my car. The kind of house you dreamt of living in as a little kid who grew up living in one apartment to the next. The kind of house your mom promised you but never got. My phone rang in my pocket. A text message from Lillian. I read it slowly. She was asking to meet more so demanding at Grant Park. I texted back and started my car. Grant Park was located in a safe neighborhood but still it was ten pm at night. What would Lillian have to discuss at this time of hour that couldn't wait until tomorrow?

 Traffic was light with few people driving. I made it to Grant Park half an hour later. The street lamps were on, illuminating the street and the park some. I parked behind Lillian's car and exhaled a breath I didn't know I was holding. My hands were sweaty and I cleaned them with the stress relief hand sanitizer I got from Bath and Body Works. I inhaled the calming scent and allowed it to relieve me of some of my nerves. I reached into my bag taking out two things that I had been carrying since yesterday. 

 I sat on the swing beside Lillian who said nothing when she saw me. I pushed my feet against the ground and rode the wind. I wanted to say hi but it didn't feel right not after everything I had done. "Why?" Was the only warning I got before Lillian lunged out of her swing and tackled me out of mine. She pinned my arms down with her hands and laid on my stomach. Anyone who was walking around would have thought we were fooling around but this was no joke. "Why?" Lillian repeated. She brought my arms up with her hands before slamming them back into the ground. She repeated the action and asked the same question over and over.