Lily |18+ [Paraíso, #1]

forty three

|E V E|

There's nothing I love more than a beautiful morning. The promise of a new day and the clean slate that comes with it. Today's no different, as I'm about to be a grieving daughter to a father who never loved me.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror, happy of the way it covers the bags under my eyes and the puffiness from crying last night. It was around two when I got the call from Ruth about our father's situation, right after finding my husband with another woman on our matrimonial bed.

If there ever was a poster child for perseverance, I'd be the muse behind it. Sighing, I apply a final layer of red lipstick, happy with the way it contrasts my all black attire.

As I stare at the full-length mirror, it occurs to me that I've added weight. All that stress from Steve and his mistresses must be getting to my head. So much that my hips are starting to widen and my stomach being noticeable in the sheer lace dress.
I'm taking a mental note to contact my trainer first thing in the morning, when a voice carries into the room.

"Mom? We need to get going."

Fluffing my hair, I call out, "Almost done." After taking one last look at my reflection, I pick my purse and sunglasses from the dresser. "Did you call Luke?" I ask him as we head downstairs.

His knits his eyebrows. "Why would I call him?"

"Because I asked you to."

"He's probably there already. He does have brothers who can inform him, in case you've forgotten."

He stresses the last part, reminding me that I shouldn't be siding with any of those brats. Luke is an exception, though. It's difficult to explain, but I've always felt motherly toward him. He did stay with us for a while after the incident involving his father. Never have I felt so sorry for a child who had to go through that and still deal with a mother like Ruth. So yeah, I have a soft spot for him.

"Well, double check." I send a quick text to him, asking if he would prefer to ride with us. "We all need to be there. There's no room for any mistake."

Caleb, as usual, ignores me and goes right for the jugular. "Are you sure you want to go there today? After what happened last night?"

There's two things you're never allowed to admit as a mother. One, is when your child outsmart you, and is, in fact, right in any situation. Second, is admitting that your marriage is failing and that you may soon be divorcing their father. Luckily for Caleb, I'm not the conventional mother, and I don't tiptoe around issues to do with his father's sluts.

Plastering on a smile, I say, "Of course, I'm sure. Last night was. . ."—I ponder on a suitable word—"inconsequential. That whore got what she deserves. As for your father, I've got something special planned for him."

"I'm worried about you."

"Don't be. This is nothing new that I can't handle. What you should be worrying about is how to handle the whole issue with Jacob."

He snorts. "Easier said than done. You know how Jake is. I don't want to be next on his annihilation list."

"There's no other way. Dad loves Jacob in his own twisted way, and he's convinced that taking away his precious little possessions will make him a man."

"So, you want me to kill Julia?" he asks.

"Oh God, no. I like her. She's useful. I'm talking about the other one."

"You know he doesn't care about the other one. He'd kill her if given the chance."

"Exactly," I agree. "I want you to take that away from him. The satisfaction of killing the woman who murdered his daughter."