AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter
Seventeen
“This can't be it.” I sigh, looking at the GPS on my phone and then back up to the old style townhouse sitting to my right.
“5215. See.” Lo says, pointing to the house numbers displayed just above the front entrance. I look at the number and then back down at my phone, still convinced that somehow there has been a mistake.
“This just doesn't seem like a place Bentley would live.” I say, taking in the worn down strip of town homes that line the street just on the edge of the city. It's not that there is anything wrong with the place, it seems pretty nice for the most part. It just doesn't seem like a place a man like Bentley Reed would inhabit.
“Well this is the address. Are you coming?” She asks, pushing open the passenger side door of my car, an awful squeak echoing through the night air as she does. Grabbing the box from the back seat, she pushes the door closed with her hip and then waits for me to join her on the sidewalk.
“What if he's here? If he really does own this place, and we know he's in Chicago....” I trail off, following her hesitantly up the five step stone walkway to the dark wood front door that has a large window covered by some type of curtain, eliminating the ability to see inside.
“That's why I am here. Just tell him you can't go, give him the package and then we will leave.” I don't respond to her words but I am having a hard time believing it would be that easy. “Or we could just leave it here instead.” She suggests, gesturing to the top step we are currently standing on.
“It's far too expensive to just leave out here. It would probably be stolen.” I say, turning to face her, mentally kicking myself for not thinking this all the way through.
“Then it's settled.” She says, reaching up and tapping lightly on the front door before I have a chance to stop her.
“Lo.” I hiss. “It's three o'clock in the morning. What if someone other than Bentley lives here?”
“And.” She says, like three o'clock is a perfectly acceptable time to knock on someone's door. Seconds tick by at a snails pace and yet, we continue to stand outside of the home in darkness. Lo knocks again, this time even harder and still, nothing.
“Okay, well this was stupid.” I say, turning around, fully prepared to walk away and figure out another avenue of returning the items. I make it about half way down the stone staircase when the porch light kicks on shrouding us in a dim yellow light. My breath catches in my throat as I turn back just in time to see the curtain covering the window in the door move slightly.
Before I have a chance to really react, the door creaks open and a woman, maybe in her late fifties, appears in the doorway, wrapped in a cream colored robe. Her sandy blonde hair hangs to her shoulders and shows signs that she was most definitely in bed. Of course she was in bed. Who in the hell waits up expecting house guests in the middle of the night?
“Can I help you?” She asks, looking to Lo and then to me and then back to Lo.
“We are so sorry to bother you so late.” Lo speaks, her voice even and friendly. Thank goodness she is with me. Lord knows I would be a blabbering mess trying to explain the situation to the lady. “We are looking for Bentley Reed. Does he live here?” She asks.
“I'm sorry but he's not here.” She says, not the least bit surprised by the name which is an immediate indication that she knows exactly who Bentley is. Turning the rest of the way to face her, I climb the two steps and take my spot next to Lo, finally getting a really good view of the woman in front of us. There is something so familiar about her and yet, I can't quite put my finger on it. Her features are soft and even though the wrinkle of her skin shows her age, she is still incredibly beautiful.
“Is there something I can do for you?” She asks, not seeming the least bit annoyed by our intrusion.
“He sent my friend this gift and unfortunately she is unable to accept it. We were hoping to return it to him. Do you expect to see him anytime soon?” Lo asks, making me feel like a small child at her side. I should be the one talking, not standing at her side in complete silence like I am incapable of speaking for myself.
“I do actually.” She says, a warm smile pulling up the corners of her mouth, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes crinkling as she does. “I would be happy to give it to him if that's what you need.” She says, holding her hands out to Lo who immediately sets the box in her hands. Turning slightly, the woman sets the box just inside the door and then turns to face us again.
“Is there anything else I can do for you ladies?” She asks, for the first time meeting my eyes. Like a punch to the gut, all the wind leaves my lungs when the crisp blue of her eyes settles on mine, matching Bentley's eyes perfectly. Like a light bulb flipping on, I immediately realize she must be family. But who? His mom? An aunt maybe?
“No. Thank you so much.” I finally find my words. “We are so sorry again for disturbing you.” I say, backing away from the door.
“That's quite all right dear.” She says, nodding at both of us before stepping back and closing the door, the sound of the lock clicking in place immediately following.
“Well she was super sweet.” Lo says, turning from the door and following me down the stairs as I practically run to my car and peel open the drivers side door, ducking inside as quickly as possible.
Lo takes her time getting in and then hits me with a confused look when she realizes my panicked reaction. “What is with you?”
“Do you have any idea who that was?” I ask, looking at her like she has to be blind not to see it.
“Should I?” She asks, shaking her head at me in confusion.
“Jesus Lo, I think she was related to him.” I exhale loudly, dropping my head back on the head rest.
“Seriously?” She turns towards me. “How could you tell?”
“The eyes.” I say, looking out of the front windshield. “I knew the moment we made eye contact. Fucking perfect. Not only did I return the gift he sent me. But I returned it to a woman who is probably his mother, at three o'clock in the morning!” I exclaim, covering my hands with my face.
