Casting Doubt Read online

  The art gallery is only one of two buildings that has direct access from a parking lot. The other is the theatre on the separate side of campus. Even though a guard is on the door, anyone can come in during normal operating hours, but any of the doors that lead to the campus are locked and alarmed to protect the kids.

  The theatre is a different matter. Patrons still can’t get to the campus, and you can’t walk in off the street expecting to see a show. Tickets must be purchased at least two weeks in advance. This is also for the protection of the kids because students are the performers and Baxter is very picky about who they let near any of the kids.

  Dierdre barely eats half of her hamburger before pushing it away. “I forgot how big they are.”

  I can’t finish my tenderloin either. “But so good.”

  The waitress comes back and cleans the table and I ask for the check. I could sit here and talk with Deirdre longer but it’s getting loud. The late dinner crowd is disappearing and those coming to the bar just to drink are showing up and the place is getting rowdy.

  When the waitress returns, she’s carrying two more shots and a cupcake with a candle. She places the ticket upside down on the table.

  Seamus walks over with a shot in his hand. Deirdre closes her eyes for a minute, then opens them and blows out the flame.

  “Happy Birthday!” Seamus yells and we toss back another shot. We need to get out of here before he has us both drunk.

  “Thanks, Seamus.” Deirdre’s smiling up at him. “But I’m taking this with me.” She points to the cupcake. “I can’t eat another bite tonight. You really should think about making a smaller burger.”

  He laughs. “I’ll get ya a box.”

  I flip over the check and reach for my wallet. Happy Birthday is written across it and the tab is zero.

  “Wow!” Deirdre says.

  “Wow, is right.”

  The waitress returns a minute later and puts the cupcake in to a small box so Deirdre can take it with her. I still calculate the tip on what the bill should have been and leave a ten on the table. She shouldn’t be screwed because our meal was free. It’s more than twenty-percent, but I don’t want to be that guy who asks for change. Besides, I’m still getting out of here a hell of lot cheaper than I planned.

  Nine

  He grabs my hand when we step outside and leads me to the center of the square. There’re benches and a gazebo. Most the shops are still open and a lot people are walking around. It’s a beautiful spring evening and too nice to be inside. We stop at a bench across from his studio and sit.

  “Well, you must be doing well with your degree choices.” I gesture across the street. “You have your own gallery.”

  “My grandma bought that.”

  I turn to him. “What?”

  “My grandma. She didn’t want me to give up my dream and purchased the building after I graduated with a degree and got a job.”

  “That’s generous of her.”

  “Yeah, it was.” Sadness lingers in his eyes. I don’t want to ask but I get the feeling she probably died.

  “I was her only grandkid, and she left a trust for me. I mean, I’m not rich or anything, but it makes it easier to do what I want and provide for Cam. I still gotta earn a paycheck though.”

  “It’s nice that you can live your dream.” I lean back against the bench and look up at the building. Larry’s standing at the window. I’m sure she’s watching us and it creeps me out.

  I look away and study Jesse. “Didn’t you ever want to go somewhere else, like New York?”

  He shrugs. “At one time, but not now. I want Cam raised here, near my parents. They still live in the same house they raised me in Poughkeepsie. I do shows in New York once in a while, but I don’t want to live there.”

  Neither do I. My early childhood was spent in NYC I have no desire to live there again.

  “What about you? Where do you plan on living and working?”

  “I’ve got to decide on a concentration first, remember?” I laugh.

  “That’s right. But, if you could live anywhere, where would it be?”

  It’s an easy question to answer. “Not far from here. I want to be close to my family. It’s what’s important. At least to me.”

  He’s smiling and nodding his head. I like that he gets it.

  I could sit here all night talking to Deirdre but it isn’t exactly practical. I could ask her in, but that’d be uncomfortable, especially with Larry there. I could send the girl home, but then I wouldn’t have anyone to watch Cam so I could walk Deirdre home. He’s probably already asleep. It’s going on nine.

  “What are you doing tomorrow night?”

  She shrugs. “I have no set plans.”

  “Why don’t I try and cook you dinner again?” I’m not much of a cook, but it solves the sitter problems.

  “That’d be nice. I just hope nobody ruins it, again.”

  “Seven?”

  She’s grinning. “Sounds good to me.”

  “Just ring at the back door.” I hate that I can’t pick her up like I should. But, I don’t want to be taking Cam out after his bedtime. Whenever it’s screwed up he turns in to the crabbiest child on Earth.

  “What can I bring?”

  “A bottle of wine?” I can’t think of what I’ll need and at least now I know she’s old enough to buy one. The first time I asked her to dinner I figured she was still twenty. I don’t even know what I’m going to cook yet. I’ll have to figure that out tonight so I can get to the store before I have to open the gallery tomorrow. That had been my plan on Thursday, before she texted me about the water damage.

  The door of the gallery opens and Larry steps out. She isn’t supposed to leave Cam alone. “Is Cam okay?” I call over.

  “Oh, of course.” She smiles as if to assure me. “It’s just that my mom called and wants me home.”

  “Sure.” I glance back at Deirdre. Should I ask her up?

  No. It’s too soon. It’s not like she’s coming to dinner and a casual thing. That’s different. Not like asking a girl up after a date. That insinuates a different kind of ending to the night. At least in my mind it does and I’m not sure I’m ready to go there with Deirdre yet. I want to, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right time. “Can you stay just long enough for me to walk Deirdre home?”

  Larry bites her bottom lip and shifts from one foot to the other.

  “That’s okay. I grew up here and I’m perfectly safe walking home,” Deirdre says.

  I hate that she has to do that. This is supposed to be a date and honestly, I wanted to do everything right, including a good night kiss at her door. Okay, I’m fucking old fashioned, so sue me. “Are you sure?”

  She practically rolls her eyes at me. “Yes! I’ll be fine.”

  I reach out and grab her hand but I can’t very well kiss Deirdre in the middle of the square and with Larry watching us. It just wouldn’t feel right.

  We cross the street, stopping just at the gallery door.

  “Thanks for the dinner.”

  “Until tomorrow.”

  Ten

  I was on cloud nine walking home. I’m fairly certain my feet didn’t touch the ground. It took me forever to fall asleep because of this silly giddiness, and I can’t stop smiling this morning. I’ll be seeing Jesse again today. There’s something there. I can’t put my finger on it but I haven’t been this excited to see a guy ever. I dated but no one ever gave me butterflies. And, the fact that he wants to see me again just makes it so much better.

  I wish Roslyn would get here, so I can tell her about Jesse. Maybe even take her shopping today, by his shop, where she can meet him. I so want her opinion. Not that I think she’ll have a negative opinion, but there’s just something about sharing your feelings about a guy with your sister that is different with anyone else. Especially when anyone else translates into five older brothers. I already endured enough teasing and questions from Finn and Neil last night when I got home. They got in while I was at
dinner and Kian informed them of my date before I got home. I just hope they don’t decide to pay him a visit and take Alexia and Kian’s word for it that Jesse is a nice guy.

  “Hey, want to give me a hand?” Kian’s standing at the front door.

  “With what?”

  “I promised Alexia I’d deliver these paintings up to the studio.”

  I can feel my grin widen. “Of course.” It’s a chance to see Jesse before tonight and I won’t have to make a lame excuse for dragging Roslyn in there, if she ever gets home. “Let me get dressed first.” And brush my hair, put on some makeup, and everything else to look my best.

  “Let’s take your car. Mine’s blocked,” Kian says when I come back downstairs.

  “Sure, no problem.” I get my keys out of my purse and grab some canvases before heading out the door. I stop when I reach my car. “Shit. I’ve got a flat tire.”

  Kian stops next to me. “You have two,” he says slowly and walks around my car. “All four are flat. What the hell did you run over?”

  I set the wrapped artwork on the sidewalk and lean them against my car before joining Kian in the street. “How is that even possible?”

  He sets his paintings down and inspects each tire. “Hey, Dee, these have been sliced.”

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

  He stands, hands anchored on his hips. “Your car was keyed at Thanksgiving. Then the prank text about your apartment and now this. Did anything happen at Christmas?”

  “My taillight was broken but I figured somebody just backed into the car.”

  He pulls his phone out of his back pocket.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Reporting this.”

  I guess we should. I figured the keying was random and the taillight an accident. But four slashed tires is deliberate. “Who the hell hates me in this town?” I’d grown up here. I didn’t think anyone hated me.

  Kian clicks off his phone. “That’s exactly what I’d like to know. Give me the number from that text. I’m going to have the department run it to see who it belongs to.”

  It’s past noon and Alexia hasn’t brought the paintings in yet. If I were honest, I was hoping Deirdre would be making the delivery. But, I haven’t seen either one of them.

  “Do you want me to give Cam lunch?” Larry asks.

  “No, I got it.” I hate when someone takes care of him when I’m free. I’m away from him enough as it is so I’m not about to turn over his care when I can see to my son. “Watch the front, okay?”

  “Of course.” She smiles. “Anything to help.”

  Lately, Larry’s been a little too helpful and sweet and it’s making me uncomfortable. She wants more hours, offering to babysit, even when I don’t need a babysitter. She’s sixteen. Doesn’t she have friends, homework, a boyfriend? It’s her Spring Break and she should be having fun. It’s the very reason I gave her next week off.

  I lean over the railing of the crib. Cam is just waking up and grins at me. I’m so lucky to have a happy baby.

  After changing his diaper, I put him in the high chair and heat up some baby food. “Man this looks gross.” I stick the end of my pinky in to taste it. “Taste’s gross too.”

  I take a seat across from him. “Here you go, Little Dude. If you don’t like it, I won’t be offended.”

  Cam opens his mouth and doesn’t make a complaint. I would’ve been pushing it away.

  “Once you get more teeth, I’ll give you better stuff. I promise.”

  Eleven

  Cole Harper, Kian’s best friend since he was like twelve, is standing in the middle of the gallery with a dark haired woman when Kian and I walk in.

  “I thought that was your motorcycle outside,” Kian says by way of greeting.

  “Deirdre,” Cole grins and gives me a hug. “Back for Spring Break?”

  “Yep.” My eyes shift to the gorgeous woman beside him and I lift a questioning eyebrow.

  “Deirdre, this is Jenna. Jenna, this is the closest thing I’ve got to a little sister.”

  “You were at the house enough you might as well have been another brother.” I laugh.

  He teased me unmercifully when I was a kid. That changed when we got older. When I was confused about guys and crap, I talked to Cole because I sure as hell wasn’t going to confide in my brothers. The one time I did, I was warned to stay away from guys until I was thirty. Cole was the only who ever really listened and gave advice.

  “So, what are the two of you up to??” Kian asks.

  “Trying to pick out some artwork for the house.”

  “How’s it coming along?”

  What house? Is Cole living with Jenna? When did that happen? I so need these details. I never thought Cole would ever settle with one person. Jenna’s got to be really special.

  Jenna groans. “The more we get done, the more that needs to be done.”

  “Are you building?” I ask.

  “That would probably be easier,” Jenna answers. “Restoring fire damage.”

  “That sucks. Sorry.”

  She gives me a weak smile.

  “Glad you’re here.” Kian grins. “Help me unload.”

  The two walk out and I’m dying to ask Jenna more questions, but Larry comes up to me. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

  I can’t imagine what she wants but I let her take me to the other side of the gallery.

  “I know you enjoyed your time with Jesse last night, and might be under the misguided notion that you two might have something.”

  I simply blink at her. What sixteen-year-old talks like that? “Excuse me?”

  “You need to know, he’s mine. Jesse and I are together and as soon as I’m eighteen, everyone’ll know.”

  Is she for real?

  Jenna turns and looks at us. Larry has her back to her, but from the shocked look on Jenna’s face, I know she’s heard everything.

  “So, the two of you are involved?” I ask slowly.

  “Of course.” She gives me a condescending smile. “He would be lost without me and I’m the only mother Cam’s known. So you should just back off now before you get hurt. Or, at least understand that when Jesse’s seen with you, it’s only to protect what the two of us have.”

  Jenna’s mouth pops open in shock.

  Jesse can’t be involved with a sixteen-year-old girl. Can he?

  “You don’t really think my mother wanted me home last night do you?” Larry gives me a condescending smile. “We had plans and it was time for you to go. Jesse was simply waiting for me to let him know when Cam was asleep. Why else would he sit with you on the bench where he could watch the studio?”

  I know it can’t be true.

  But, what if it is?

  “You’re sleeping with Jesse?” I ask slowly, unable able to believe I fucking just asked that question.

  “Of course.” She chuckles.

  “What the hell?” Jesse yells from the other side of the counter. He’s holding a painting and his face is a mixture of disbelief and rage. At that moment, I’m not sure if it’s because he angry at her for lying, or angry at her confiding in me. Holy shit!

  Kian and Cole are next to him. They’re all holding paintings which they slowly set on the counter. Their eyes shift between Larry and Jesse. How much did they hear?

  Clearly enough.

  “Jesse. I didn’t know you came back down,” Larry says sweetly. “Did Cam have a nice nap?”

  “What the hell did you just say to Deirdre?”

  “I thought she should know about us.”

  This keeps getting worse.

  “Us? There’s no us!” Jesse is staring at Larry as if she’s grown two heads. There’s clearly no relationship and I should have never even thought for a millisecond there was.

  “Of course there is.” Her smile drops and her eyes dart around the room. “That’s why you want me here all the time. I stay late. You need me. You want me. Don’t pretend.”

  “Pretend? You’re a f
ucking kid.”

  Pain flashes in her eyes. “But, Jesse…”

  His fist slams down on the glass counter. It cracks and caves in. Blood starts dripping from the side of his hand, but I’m not sure Jesse knows he’s cut. “Tell them the truth!”

  Her mouth is opening and closing but nothing’s coming out, as if she’s shocked. What the hell did she expect his reaction to be? Profess undying love?

  “Get out!”

  Tears fill Larry’s eyes and start to spill down her cheeks. “You can’t mean that.”

  “Out!” He points to the door. “And stay the hell away from me and my son!”

  “But I love you,” she sobs. “You love me. You have to. I’d do anything for you.”

  “Larry!” he warns between clenched teeth.

  Her chin comes up. “It’s Laurentia! You will be mine. Just you wait.” She’s wagging a finger at him, her eyes wide and a bit wild. “We’ll be together until death do us part.”

  A chill snakes down my spine and Larry turns on her heel and runs outside. Kian rushes past me, following after her.

  My mind is reeling and I can’t think. Why the hell would Larry make up such lies and tell them to Deirdre?

  Jenna, Cole and Deidre are staring at me and look about as shocked as I am at the moment.

  “Let’s get something on your hand,” Deirdre says.

  “What?” I look down. My display case is broken and the side of my hand is sliced open. Blood’s dripping on the jewelry some of the students made. “Shit!” I yank my hand back, but I don’t have anything to stop the bleeding so I pull up my t-shirt up and wrap my hand in it.

  I knew I’d slammed my fist down hard, but I hadn’t realized I broke the glass.

  “Come on.” Deirdre sends me an understanding smile.

  It’s too much to hope that I stand a chance with her after this. “You can’t believe her.”

  “I don’t,” she assures me.