âIâve got this,â Janka shoved away from the table faster than Liesl could. âGet out Sandy. This is a private business establishment, and you are not welcome.â
âWhere is my sister? I want to know where she is right now.â
âSheâs busy.â
âFucking my husband?â Sandy hissed back.
Liesl pulled her lips back with fury, her teeth gritted at the hypocrisy of the woman. She entered the gallery and let her gaze rove over her sister. Her belly was rounded, and she was showing off the baby bump with the clothing she was wearing. Her shirt was almost a crop top, and the pants were low rise. It was September in New Hampshire, not exactly sweater weather yet but the summer-like attire the woman wore was odd.
âI am not fucking your husband. I have better things to do with my time.â
âYou were with him the other night. His shirt smelled of your perfume.â
âI donât even wear perfume,â Liesl laughed at her. âThe last time I wore perfume was in middle school when I got a bottle of Chanel Red.â
âOh my gosh, you thought you were so hot,â Janka laughed at the memory.
She grinned at Janka, âI did too until I caused the girl in homeroom to have an asthma attack and almost die.â
âStop laughing!â Sandy shrieked. âWhy are you doing this to me? Donât you want me to be happy?â
âNot particularly but Iâm not doing anything to you either. I donât like you, Sandy.â Lieslâs phone rang in her back pocket, and she pulled it out and looked to Janka, âis he watching me?â
âProbably has security watching you. Heâs very protective.â
âMerlin?â Sandy growled, âMerlin is watching you?â
She answered her phone, ignoring Sandy, âhey handsome. What are you doing?â
âHi, my love,â Isaiasâ voice was smooth. âYou didnât message me back when I texted. Are you okay?â
âI am.â
âAre you sure? A little birdy told me you have a parasite. You know to remove a tick? You need to make sure you rip itâs head off.â His words were dark and menacing.
Sandyâs eyes widened at the blunt comments.
âI think you mean you need to pull it out by the head,â she corrected with a giggle. âI miss you.â
âTwo more sleeps, sweetheart. Janka and Elsie are going to spend the night with you tonight. If you get into the wine cellar, there is a bottle of champagne in a special case, leave that. Itâs a bottle my grandfather had given me, but the rest is open season.â
âYouâre the best.â
âAt what? Fucking you? Spoiling you? Loving you?â
His words made her blush as Janka flapped her hands excitedly.
She giggled, âall of the above.â
âGood girl. Keep thinking of how amazing I am. If you have wet dreams tonight about me, you should paint them. I can add to it later with my own special spray.â
âEw!â Sandy gasped with disgust.
Liesl lost it and laughed loudly, âyouâre terrible.â
âYou love it.â
âI do.â
He sighed, âI miss you. If you need help removing ticks and parasites, there is a black SUV across the street with three men in there to assist you with any of your security needs.â
She smiled at his words, âthank you, Isaias.â
âYou are welcome. Iâll see you soon my love.â He paused, âtell Janka if you girls all do the shorty-shorts and pillow fight during your sleepover tonight, I want video of you.â
âIâm hanging up now.â His dark throaty laugh teased her as she disconnected the phone. She looked to her sister and smirked, âwhy the fuck would I want to screw your husband when I have someone like Isaias Machado taking care of every possible need?â
âHeâs Merlinâs enemy. Heâs only using you.â
âLet him,â Janka said with a snarky grin. âLet him use you a hundred different ways to Sunday.â
âOh,â she made wide eyes at Janka knowing it was irritating Sandy, âI do.â
âTrent and Torrie do not approve of this man,â Sandy said snapping her fingers in Lieslâs direction.
âI donât give a flying fuck,â Liesl responded crudely. âTheyâre your problem now.â
âWhere is Merlin? If Isaias is out of town, are you hooking up with him?â
âSandy,â she waved her phone around. âI have a boyfriend who keeps me so sexually satiated I have no energy to go looking elsewhere. Merlin has nothing I want.â
âHe is not your boyfriend.â
âSandy, Iâm not doing this dance with you. Merlin isnât here,â Liesl gave an exhausted sigh. âI donât know what you want from me. You have everything you could have wanted with Merlin and the baby. Why canât you simply leave me alone?â
âYouâre my sister! Youâre supposed to support me and be here for me during my pregnancy.â
âYou had an affair with my husband!â Liesl shot back. âI canât support you when you literally plotted to break my heart. You wanted him and you got him. You donât get to have me pandering to you as well. We arenât sisters anymore, Sandy.â She saw Sandyâs head snap back in disbelief. âThe child in your belly is not my nephew. Your husband is not my brother-in-law. We are not family. I donât want anything to do with you. I especially donât want anything to do with Merlin. You have what you wanted with your happy little family. Youâre living your dreams. Let me live mine in peace.â
âYou wrecked my house!â she tried to keep the argument alive.
âI sold my house, mine. Merlin can buy you a new home and the three of you can live happily ever after.â
Sandyâs eyes welled up with tears and Liesl knew it was nothing but a show. âWhy are you so mean to me?â
âI think you should leave and not ever come back. Stop messaging me. Stop calling me. I signed the divorce papers and gave you everything, including the man I thought I was going to grow old with. I have nothing left to give you, Sandy. Any affection I had for you is destroyed and it will never come back.â
âIâm telling Mom youâre talking to me this way.â
âGo ahead. I donât care. Your feelings and emotions are no longer my concern.â
âYouâre being mean!â Sandy stomped her foot furiously. âI want you to stop it. This baby,â she rubbed her belly, âis your nephew and youâre going to love him. I want you there at the birth to hold my hand. You are to be his godmother.â
Janka gasped at the statement and Lieslâs mouth fell open in stunned horror at her sisterâs demands.
âLike fucking hell,â Liesl blinked. âIâd rather die than be there to witness the birth of your spawn.â
Sandy charged at her and slapped her in the face, âstop being so mean to me!â
A burly man entered the gallery, the chimes of the bells on the door an odd notification when the entire roomâs energy was sucked in with his presence. He moved between Liesl and Sandy looking down at Liesl and checked her face studying the palm mark. âIsaias is going to be pissed.â He turned to Sandy who was now pale, âyou should leave before I make you leave.â
âThis is a family matter!â Sandy was shaking from the angry vibration of the man.
âYes, I agree. She is my cousinâs girlfriend which makes her my family. You assaulted her and itâs all on camera,â he pointed to the camera focused on the gallery over the counter where Janka stood. âIt is in your best interests to leave before we call the police and file charges for assault.â He looked to Liesl, âunless you want to do it now? Iâm happy to call my friend at the precinct.â
âNo,â Liesl rubbed her jaw. âIâm fine. Sheâs leaving and sheâs never coming back.â
He stepped closer to Sandy, âget out.â
She pouted with big tears running down her cheeks, âLiesl, you will be there for the birth.â
âI will not,â Liesl said firmly fighting her own emotions. âLeave. Now.â
As her sister stormed out of the gallery the man looked to Liesl with a sad shake of his head.
âI apologize. I delayed coming in. Isaias said I shouldnât interfere unless you were in danger. I didnât realize she was going to hit you until she did.â
âIâm fine, really.â She gave a sad smile. âSheâs mentally unhinged.â
âI wonât be letting her back inside. You can finish you day.â
âThank you,â she smiled at him as he patted her shoulder before walking out. She looked to Janka and giggled as she caught her friend staring very boldly at the manâs backside. âJanka!â
âInvite him to the slumber party.â Her friend wiggled her eyebrows, breaking the tension of the moment and sending them into gales of laughter.