AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Dad, what are you talking about? Can you just tell me what’s going on? I don’t understand!” I say, trying to say anything to get him to stop.
It’s absolute chaos. My dad is yelling, my mom is crying, and I don’t even understand what is happening here. Obviously, it must be about me, because why else would they come here.
Then it hits me. One little ‘favor’ I did for Josephine. Did they somehow find out?
It had escaped my notice until recently, but I saw a familiar name and address on a list of properties behind on their rent. Our company has quite a collection of investment property, so it had genuinely escaped me that Josephine’s coffee house was one of them – and was nearing eviction.
No problem, or so I thought. I finangled some paperwork to erase the debt, putting them back in the clear, and marking their rent as paid. It was nothing illegal – we can collect, or not collect, money however we see fit, after all. And I have no regrets about doing it, though I didn’t expect my father to get this angry.
That is, if the rent is even what he’s angry about. I have no other explanation, but I have to admit I’m a bit baffled. Can that really be it? Why on earth would he be so surprised to think I wouldn’t charge my own wife rent? None of this is making much sense to me, and the pandemonium isn’t exactly helping me think.
He steps toward me, and I swear I think he might actually hit me, he’s that angry. My mother finally comes inside, grabbing his shoulder to stop him. He pauses at the gesture, and she moves to stand between us, arms spread to keep us apart and shielding me for the first time in my life. She’s defending me, and I don’t know what to think of it.
What the fuck did I do to make her step in between us this time? Instead of watching from a distance as usual?
Suddenly, Aleighia appears in the doorway and sees our mother standing between us. “Dad, stop! What are you doing? We don’t even know if it’s true or not! At least give him a chance to explain!” she says, running over to me.
I’m more confused than ever. Not only are my parents here unannounced, but my sister? “Would someone please tell me what the fuck is happening?” I finally demand.
My dad steps back, gritting his teeth. “What’s all over the news? What is the shit I’m seeing, that’s now all over the city?” he says. His tone tells me he’s still angry but trying to contain himself. I turn to Aleighia, who’s pulling out her phone.
“You really don’t know, do you?” she asks, scrolling through her phone like she’s looking for something. My parents are staring at me, and my father is now pacing circles around my couch.Good, stand over there before I lose my shit, and we get in a fight he won’t win.
After what feels like far too long, Aleighia finally hands me her phone. The first thing on it is an article with a headline that reads, ‘The Truth Behind Bachelor Aiden Hayes And His New Married Life’
Fuck….
My face gets pale, and my heart starts pounding as I scroll down. More articles pop up, along with the comments others have left. It’s spreading like wildfire before my eyes, and I’m unsure of what to do or how to stop it.
As I read, I can feel all of their stares. The cold sweats start setting in when I think of my options.
What do I do now? What do I say to them? Do I tell the truth? Or do I stick by the arrangement and contract that Josephine and I have?
“Well, are you going to explain yourself, or do we all get to sit here and guess some more?” my father asks, still angry. I look around the room and, one by one, meet each of their eyes, my mother’s still filled with tears.
“Okay. Come and have a seat. If everyone can calm down, I’ll explain,” I say and stroll to the living room, ready to reveal our secret. I’m secretly hoping Josephine won’t hate me or think I’m the one who outed us as I sit on my couch and begin explaining.
41
JOSEPHINE
Everything’s going smoothly at the coffee shop, besides the fact that every customer seems to be greeting me a bit more cheerfully than usual. I notice a few extra dollars are going into the tip jar. It makes me curious, but I let myself think that maybe more people are just enjoying the sunny day.
As the day goes on, I start to notice a few of my employees are looking at me differently, and I can’t figure out why. I try to shake it off at first.Maybe I’m the one being off today. First, thinking customers are being extra friendly and generous, and now this. It has to be me.
I avoid thinking about it as much as possible and continue with my daily tasks like making coffee and wiping down tables, until I start to notice people lining up outside. They don’t look as if they are standing in line to come in. They’re just crowding outside, and I swear it feels as if they are peering at me through the windows. I get a weird, suspicious feeling in my gut.
When I finish wiping the last table, I turn around to see a couple of customers whispering to each other with their eyes in my direction. I finally can’t take it anymore. I walk to the back and find Shane.
“Do I have something written on my face?” I ask sarcastically.
He laughs in confusion. “Um, no? Why do you ask?”
I ignore his question, “Or did I walk out wearing two different shoes? Is my shirt on backward? I didn’t forget to put on pants, did I?” I persist, chuckling darkly.
“Okay, you sound crazy. What are you talking about?”
I sigh. “Well, everyone is being weird today. Customers seem nicer, our tip jars are fuller than normal, and everyone working today is treating me weirdly for some reason. I don’t know what’s going on! And now people are lining up outside, looking in the windows.”
