Chapter Twelve

"I may be moving soon," Marlene said. Greta had met her sister for coffee. She tried to see her sister at least once a month and keep in touch so that she could make sure she was okay. She looked healthy and happy, even though Greta cringed when Marlene said her 'fortune teller' had told her. "She said I'll soon be going on a grand adventure."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Mom didn't believe me."

Greta paused. "Wait, you heard from Mom?"

"Yes, she's staying with us."

"She's staying with you?"

"Yes, she had nowhere else to go after you threw her out."

Greta shook her head annoyed. "Again, everything’s my fault."

"No," Marlene said softly. "I understand why you did it, but I couldn't just say no to her."

Greta took a sip of her coffee then picked up her biscotti. "You can't let her stay long."

"She's not too much trouble."

"She will be. She's bad news."

Marlene paused and looked down at her hands. “Sorry about what happened to your house. Mom said it was all Terrell’s fault. And I know you have a right to be angry, but she's our mother."

Greta set down her biscotti, losing her appetite. "I know that more than anyone."

"People can change."

"She hasn't." Greta lowered her voice and pointed at her sister. "Remember, don't let any of her men in your apartment. Not one."

Marlene rolled her eyes. "I'm a big girl now, I know how to handle mom."

Greta wasn't so sure. Her sister was caring and her mother was manipulative. She wished she'd suspected her mother would pull something like this. Marlene was just getting her life back on track and didn't need Rita messing it up.

"You don't have to worry about us. Now you can have your own life see some guys of your own."

Greta bit her lip. "Actually I am seeing someone."

"Really? You are? What's his name?"

"Vance."

Marlene wiggled in her seat like a little girl. "I’d love to meet him."

"After the house is fixed, I'll have you over."

"I can't wait."

Greta sighed unable to shift a sense of unease. She loved her sister and didn't want her mother interfering with her progress. "If anything happens, call me."

"I always do."

"I'm proud of you. I'm proud of what you've done and I won't let Mom spoil it."

"She won't. My future is bright." Marlene grabbed Greta’s hand. "You never gave up on me. You know I love you."

"Love you too."

***

 

It took Vance three minutes to know that Greta was going to hurt herself. She was a disaster on a bicycle. Greta had gone out and bought herself a bike. And, although she was determined, she couldn't keep her balance. When she fell off and landed on her face Vance rushed over to her, certain she'd want to quit. Instead, she wiped her glasses and smiled at him. "I almost got it that time, right?"

He loved her determined spirit and knew he wouldn't leave until she could ride. "Yes. You're doing great." After several tries, and bruises, Greta began to get the hang of things. She continued to improve and soon she was riding like a she'd been doing so for years. "Let's go to the Tidal Basin."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

They packed their bikes and headed for the perfect spot then biked around. Once again, Vance picked up a picnic-to-go from his favorite deli. After at least thirty minutes of riding, Greta indicated she needed to take a break.

They lay on the grass and looked up at the sky. "This is one of the best days of my life," Greta said. She rested on her elbow and looked at him. "Who would have thought I'd have my first time with you? I'm now just one of your many conquests."

He shook his head. "No, you conquered me first."

"I did?"

His eyes met hers. "Yes."

She stroked his chest. "I'm a woman of many talents."

He lifted her hand and kissed it. "Yes."

She smiled then looked away and her shoulders drooped.

"What is it?"

She glanced up at a bird soaring through the sky. "I'm so happy."

"And that's a bad thing?"

Her gaze fell to his face. "I'm worried about my sister. My mom is living with her right now and I don't like it, but I can't take her back."

"You don't have to."

Greta sat up and hugged her knees. "I don't know. Marlene needs support and my mother is a taker."

He stroked her back. "But your sister knows she can come to you, right? I'm sure if it gets to be too much you'll know and then we'll handle it then. What?" he asked when Greta began to grin.

She kissed his chin. "I like when you say 'we'."

He bent down to kiss her mouth. "I'll say it a lot more," he breathed.

She held him back. "You haven't told me what you're going to do about my house yet."

"I've already started."

Greta widened her eyes. "You have? Why didn't you tell me?"

He grinned and quickly kissed her. "I wanted to get that reaction."
"How are you doing?"

"I'm using some friends I know and members of my own team."

"But the cost--"

He winked. "Taken care of."

She rubbed her hands together. "Can I go see?"

"It's your house. Right now, it's a mess and I've taken out some of your furniture, like your couch, to get repaired, but when we're through you won't be able to tell anything happened."

"I’ll go see after work tomorrow."

They finished up their picnic, then spent the rest of the afternoon, into early evening, resting in each other’s arms. They couldn't get enough of each other. As the sun began to set, they drove over to see the Court of Neptune Fountain. It was beautiful at night. It was an impressive fountain consisting of a 50-foot wide semicircular granite basin set in a retaining wall, with a set of stairs on either side. Inside the wall, there are three large niches. A 12-foot sculpture of Neptune, king of the sea sits in the middle, and on either side were images of his mythical sons.

“This is beautiful.”

“I told you so. Don’t you love how it’s illuminated at night?”

“Very romantic.”

“I used to take Brianna to a fountain where she loved throwing coins in the pool,” she said feeling wistful. She had played a major role in raising her niece, but now that Brianna lived with Marlene, they hadn’t been as close as before. She missed her.

“So what did you do when you threw your coins in the pool?” Vance came up behind her and snuggled her close.

“I’d make a wish.”

“Did they come true?”

“All of them.” Except one.

“Lucky girl.” He said pulling her close. Greta held him close. She liked when he held her, for some reason she felt safe. Safe from the world. Safe from her mother. Safe from her many fears.

***

The next day Greta arrived at her house and parked on the street. Several worker trucks and vans lined her driveway. She wasn’t used to seeing so many people in her place. Not just people, men. But she knew she could trust them. Vance knew them and they were helping her. She introduced herself to one guy who said he was working on the electrical. Then a tall guy came up to her and introduced himself as Clyde. Dust was everywhere, and while she was sure they were doing a good job, things still looked pretty messy.

She turned down the hallway, stepping over a stack of wood planks she figured were to be used to replace the damage in her living room. She opened the door to her bedroom and saw a man inside. He quickly closed a drawer.

"What are you doing in here?"

"Nothing." He pushed past her.

But she wasn't going to let him leave until she got some answers.