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Willa
One Month Later . . .
“I KNOW, I’M LATE,” I yelled into the dashboard of my car.
“You were supposed to be here an hour ago. We only have one more song to record. Hurry,” Hunter said from the car dashboard before whispering, “Your mom has offered to help out if you didn’t show.”
I cringed. When my mother helped it usually ended badly. If she was offering to sing on the album, that wasn’t good. I didn’t get my singing voice from her, despite what she believed.
“I’m sorry. I thought I had time to run over to my old place to pick up a few things. The realtor is coming tomorrow to orchestrate a clean-up and whatever is left in the house will be thrown out.”
“Okay, but we can do that later. Jon said the songs have to be recorded by the end of the week.”
Taking a left, I smiled as the gated entrance to my new neighborhood came into view. I waved at Roger and he started to open the gate for me.
Hunter moved my mom and me into his place a week after I agreed to record the song with him at the dinner at my mom’s house. We immediately found a realtor to sell the house, and it’s about to go on the market. In all the chaos of the move and recording songs, I remembered that I left some items at my mom’s house.
“I’m in the community. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Please hurry. Your mom is making cookies. You know I can’t say no to her cookies. It will only take a crumb, Willa. She’s gonna end up on the album if one crumb falls onto my tongue. I won’t be held responsible for my actions with her chocolate chip cookies around.”
I giggled and was filled with happiness. For the first time in a long time, it felt as if I was coming home to a family. I loved my mom, but it was lonely at times not having Dad around.
As I pulled closer to the house, I noticed someone digging through Hunter’s car.
“Did you hire a mechanic to work on your Maserati?”
“No. Why?”
“You might want to come outside. Someone is breaking into your car.”
“I’ll be right there. You stay away in case they have a weapon.”
“Mmm,” I said and pushed what I thought was the button to end the call on the console of my car, except it just started the windshield wipers.
The car was a gift from Jon for agreeing to sign a recording contract with Hell Bent Records three weeks ago. I was still learning what all the buttons and gadgets did.
The record label wanted us to record and rush the record out. We had one month to get the songs recorded, which I found out from Hunter, wasn’t a lot of time.
The label wanted the record to come out at the beginning of the new year.
“I’m serious, Willa. Just pull over at a neighbor’s house. Do not come to the house—”
“Too late. I’m here. And it’s not a man but a woman. Could be a fan. They’re usually harmless.”
I shut off the car and opened the door, automatically ending the call. I knew Hunter was going to keep yelling at me to stay in the car but we both knew that wasn’t going to happen.
“Excuse me? Can I help you?” I shut the door to my new fancy sports car and made my way over to the back of Hunter’s car.
The woman, who had been crouched down by the front tire, stood. She looked familiar but with grease smearing her face, I couldn’t place her.
“Chelsea? How the hell did you get past the guards?” Hunter said as he came out the front door.
The blonde glanced between me and Hunter with wide eyes. “Oh, Hunter. There you are. I’ve been looking for you. It seems I lost my earrings when I was last in your car and—”
“Why would you be in Hunter’s car?” I folded my arms and not only glared at this woman, but then turned my attention to Hunter.
I thought my boyfriend hated this woman. There’d be no reason for her to be in his car. Did he just say he hated her to throw me off the scent?
“You know, when I used to drive your brother around. Is he here? I’d love to see him,” Chelsea said followed by a nervous laugh.
“That was two months ago. You are only now realizing you lost your earrings?” Hunter moved closer to me. When he came next to me, he gave me a squeeze.
Her arms went in the air. “I know, ditzy me. Perhaps you could give me a minute to just check your car and I’ll be on my way.”
“Okay.” Hunter waved at the car but didn’t move.
Maybe he did hate her.
She tapped her feet and rubbed at her arm. Something was upsetting her, and I had a feeling it wasn’t about lost jewelry. The last time I saw her she appeared put together and had a glow about her. But this time, her hair was frizzy and there were bags under her eyes.
“Aren’t you going to look?” Hunter asked.
“Sure, but I was wondering if I could have some privacy while I do it. I’m kind of weird about looking for things while people stare at me.”
What? Something wasn’t right. But when my mom came outside with a fresh plate of cookies, and I caught a whiff, I almost forgot that the crazy blonde wanted to molest Hunter’s car.
“Oh, I didn’t realize we had company.” My mom limped outside with that plate in hand.
I hated that she did that. Hunter got her a personal physical therapist and we just ordered her a walker, but she still insisted to walk all over the place even if it tired her out.
“We don’t. Chelsea here is getting what she needs and is then leaving,” Hunter said through gritted teeth as he kept his eyes on Chelsea.
“Right. Oh, cookies. I’d hate to interrupt cookie time. Why doesn’t everyone go back inside and eat while I get my necklace?”
I tilted my head. “I thought you said you were looking for your earrings?”
Her eyes widened and she held up her finger. “Right, I meant earrings. Of course . . .”
“Don’t I know you?” my mom said shuffling closer to her.
Chelsea shook her head and stepped back when my mom got in her space.
“Ah-ha!” my mom said right as the plate of cookies fell from her hand. The plate shattered and some of the cookies rolled under the car.
“You! You were driving this car,” my mom said.
“It’s my car, Mrs. Jones. Chelsea owns a black car.”
Chelsea gave me a sad smile. I pursed my lips and put my hands on my hips. No one gave me a pity smile, especially if it was about my mom.
“If my mom saw you driving this car, then you drove it.”
My mom nodded. “Yes, she’s the one who knocked me down two months ago. Not Hunter. You were right about the car, Willa, but wrong about the driver.”
“Wait.” Hunter stepped forward holding his hands up. “How would Chelsea be driving my car? I was in Florida at the time with Tucker. She shouldn’t have even been here.”
Chelsea glanced at her bare wrist and shuffled her foot. “Oh, would you look at the time. You know what? I don’t need those earrings after all.” Chelsea started to make her way down the driveway.
Hunter took out his phone and tapped at it. Putting it to his ear, he said, “Roger, Chelsea’s going to try to leave. Make sure she doesn’t. Oh, and call the police. I believe she stole my car a few months back.”
He nodded a few times and his brow went up as he said, “Oh really. You still have the footage? Give it to the police when they arrive.”
After he ended the call, he shook his head and laughed.
Both my mom and I stood there waiting to hear what Roger had said. But Hunter started to walk down the driveway toward the front gate without a word.
“Hunter. Where are you going?” I asked.
He stopped and turned. He stared at us as if he forgot we were there. “Apparently, the week Tucker and I were visiting my grandma in Florida, Chelsea took the car. She told Roger she was getting the car fixed as a surprise for us. Funny thing is, we never gave her the keys.” He paused for a minute. “I’m just going to help Roger with Chelsea until the police arrive. I’ll be back in a little bit.”
I looked back at my mom, who was staring at me with an open mouth. “Get in the car, Mom. We’re going to watch the woman who tried to run you over get arrested.” I smirked.
