Lily White Lies (30 page)

I squatted in front of him and swallowed hard in an attempt to choke back my tears.  “How can you say that?  Since we’ve been involved, I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”

“My father kills your uncle and his wife and your family suffers... my grandmother kills her own son and somehow, your grandfather pays for it...”

One tear spilled over my lashes, streaking my face.  “Con, please don’t do this.  Don’t let their past overshadow our future.”

He offered a half-hearted smile.  “I’ll never be able to apologize enough for my family, but I’d never do anything to hurt you, you have to believe that.”

“I do.”

He rubbed a hand over my cheek, stopping abruptly with the ringing phone.

Annoyed by the interruption, I answered, “Yes.”

“This better be a wrong number because I know
my
granddaughter wouldn’t answer a phone like that.”

“I’m sorry, I was just in the middle of something,” I sighed.  “How are you, Gram?”

“I’m old, but that’s beside the point.  Your grandfather went to the auction to buy more mouths to feed and I thought it might be a good time for you and me to spend a little time together.  You haven’t been around in a while.”

I looked to Con and hesitated.  “Gram, I’m sort of busy now, can we do this...”

“If she wants to see you, tell her yes,” he whispered.

I gave him a surprised look as he nodded.  “Listen, Gram...  I have someone with me, would you mind if I brought them along?”

She said, “The more the merrier I always say.  I’ll mix up an extra batch and see you soon,” and hung up before I could change my mind.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have told her I was bringing you but, I assumed that’s why you told me to say yes.”

“Absolutely.”

Grabbing my purse, I said, “She won’t be as mean as your grandfather was, but she, too, is an acquired taste.”

“Oh, I picked right up on that.  I met her, remember?”  He said with a laugh, as he led me out the door.

I paid closer attention to my surroundings on this trip to Willoughby after realizing on the way to Joker’s earlier, that I wasn’t nearly as familiar with them as I thought I was.

I had been trying to figure out where my grandparent’s lived in proximity to Joker and I realized that although they seemed far apart, their property lines must be close at some point.

“Con, I made a left past your grandfather’s road and I have to make another one when I get to my grandparent’s road.  It seems as if I were to walk straight back through my grandparent’s property, I’d end up somewhere near Willoughby Manor.  Are they close to each other?”

“If you do it that way I guess they aren’t too far apart but by road, they're probably a good four or five miles from each other.”

Thinking aloud, I mumbled, “That would explain the land.”

“What land?”

“My grandfather told me that the feud began over a piece of land that each family believed they rightfully owned.”

Con looked out the window thoughtfully.  “I wonder if he was talking about Wisteria Falls.”

“Wisteria Falls?”

“I’ve never actually been there, but my grandmother used to tell me about what she called heaven on earth.  She said it sat in a far corner of Willoughby Manor.  According to her, a stone cottage looks on a twenty-foot waterfall coming off the mountain.  Wisteria grows wild and turns everything purple when it blooms, which should be right about this time of year.”

“I’d like to see it one day.”

“I’ll see what I can do about that.”

I had made the last left before arriving at my grandparent’s house and still hadn’t given any serious thought as to how I would tell Gram whom Con was.  I knew without doubt that my grandfather would have a hard time with my news and I was thankful that I could prolong telling him. 

Gram was different.  When I told her about Con and meeting Joker, she would undoubtedly have strong opinions wrapped in philosophies, but she would be more understanding than Gramp would be.

A large gust of wind blew up unexpectedly and the trees began to rustle.  My speed had dropped continually since making the last left-hand turn and we were making our way up the driveway at a crawl. 

“Are you ready?”

I nodded.  “Are you?”

“You bet.” 

I stopped and put the car in park but let it run while I sat nervously and spent several minutes staring at my childhood home. 

“Honey...”  He took a hold of my hand and smiled.  “This isn’t a bank robbery.  We don’t have to leave the engine running.”

“I just want her to accept you.”  I paused.  “I want her to accept
us
.”

Reaching over and removing the keys from the ignition, he said, “Come on, let’s go in and talk to her, who knows, she might surprise us.”

I raised my eyebrows and pursed my lips.  “You don’t know Gram... nothing she does would surprise me.”  The car door slammed behind me.  “Picture Cory in forty years.”

Looking up at the house, he repeated my sentiment regarding his grandfather.  “I’ve been duly warned.”

Gram greeted us at the door; her eyes open wide at the sight of what had turned into a thick scab on my face.

“Heavens, child.  What happened to you?”

“Clumsy.  I didn’t get out of my own way in time,” motioning to Con, I changed the subject quickly.  “Gram, do you remember him?”

“Why, you’re that fine young fellow from the party.”  She gave me an approving wink and turned her attention back to him.  “Well, don’t just stand here; come in and let me get to know you a bit.”

She ran an arm through his and let him lead her into the house.  There were already glasses set out for us at the kitchen table and before we sat, Gram was pouring.

“Oh, Gram, none for me.  I’m driving.”

Waving a hand at me, she said, “You had enough the other night anyway,” and reached for Con’s glass.

“None for me either.  I’m flying.”

She looked at him suspiciously and set the pitcher down, shaking her head while she used the table to support her weight as she sat.

Giving me a reproachful stare, Gram said, “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

I thought
,
right for the jugular
,
and glimpsed Con nodding.

“Gram, I’d like you to meet Connor Ellis, Con, this is my grandmother, Cybil Embry.”

“Oh my...” 

Her hands clutched her glass and her eyes darted around the room in an attempt to avoid looking at either of us.  Uncomfortable seconds felt like minutes of agony while we sat silently, waiting for her to speak.

A look passed between Con and me, and I said, “Gram, please... say something.”

She nodded her head in an exaggerated motion, fumbling for the words she wanted to say.

“I say you better have him out of here before your grandfather gets home.”

Gram and I stood at the same time.  She turned toward the sink and I quickly walked around the opposite side of the table to cut her off.  I took hold of her arms and forced her to look into my eyes.

“Please Gram, give him a chance.  He isn’t the rest of his family.”

Her muscles relaxed and she turned toward Con.

“I’m sure you’re a fine, young man but her grandfather will never allow this.”  As an afterthought, she added, “Neither will yours, I’m sure.”

She returned to the table and her untouched screwdriver.

Con sat erect in his chair, and replied, “No disrespect intended, Mrs. Embry, but we’re not asking for their permission.”

Taking a long drink from her glass, her face softened and she said, “Listen, I’m all for the pursuit of happiness—under normal circumstances.”

I was tired of the play on words, the insinuations, the stories and omissions.

My voice took on a tone of authority.  “Gram, I’ve heard as many versions of the past as there have been people telling it.  I’ve always respected your privacy but it’s time I know the truth.  What really happened between the Embry’s and Ellis’s and please don’t tell me that a multi-generation feud is over some stupid piece of land.”

Her eyes displayed no emotion as she sipped her drink.  She stood from the table and paced behind her chair for a minute.  When she stopped, she looked at each of us and sighed deeply.

“Lily white lies, child.  They were all lily white lies.”

I rubbed a hand over my face and shook my head.  I could see that if she were going to tell us anything, it would be in her own time and in her own way.

“Okay Gram, I’ll bite.  What is a lily white lie?”

“It’s a lie of the best kind, child.  It’s a lie told in good faith, without malice or the intent to hurt anyone.”

I looked to Con and laughed, “A good lie!” as I reached over and took my grandmother’s drink.

“Don’t be cynical.”  She chided.  “A lie is told with no regard to the feelings of the people involved while a lily white lie is told to protect the people involved.”

“I feel much better, thank you,” I mocked, as I tipped back her glass.

Realizing where this discussion was headed, Con interrupted.  “I’ll tell you what, why don’t we start off with something easy.  Mrs. Embry, can you tell us about the land that supposedly began the bickering between the families?”

Gram retrieved anther glass from the cupboard and poured herself a screwdriver as she refilled the one I had taken from her, seemingly grateful for the diversion.

She sat and directed her attention toward Con.  “That land has been in my husband’s family for as far back as anyone can remember, regardless of what your grandfather has told you.  It’s the most beautiful spot in the world and Joker wasn’t happy having more than my husband, he wanted everything my husband had, including Wisteria Falls.”

Con and I exchanged a look.

He asked, “Who has it now?  Does anyone even use it anymore?”

She shook her head.  “Stewart’s father spread his mother’s ashes there when she died and when Joker found out, he said that Stewart’s family had contaminated Ellis land, so when his own father died, he spread his ashes on top of hers to piss my husband’s family off.  Since then, no one has gone there.”

My nerves began to twitch as I heard the low drone of my grandfather’s truck making its way up the long driveway.  I looked to Con and then to Gram and saw uneasiness flash through her eyes.

I took several swallows from my glass and pushed my hair from my face.  I tried to work up the emotional strength I’d need to face my grandfather but only managed to put myself more on edge.

With Gram looking on, Con reached over and gave my hand a squeeze, saying, “I’m right here.”

I forced a smile and fixed my stare on the door.

Gram got up to peek out the window and quickly returned to her seat as his truck pulled into its usual parking spot alongside the house.

She looked at each of us and said, “This would be a good time to learn how to tell a lily white lie.”

I hit the table with my palm.  “No, Gram, it’s time to stop the lies, lily white or otherwise.”

I inhaled deeply, letting it out as the screen door slammed shut behind my grandfather.

He looked at each of us and then turned his attention to me.  He said, “Hey sugar, I didn’t know you were coming out tonight or I would have made my way back sooner,” as he bent to kiss Gram on her cheek.

“Actually,” I replied, “it wasn’t a planned visit.”

His attention was fixed on Con.

Con got up and walked to the side of the table where my grandfather stood and I tensed in preparation of what was about to happen.

Gram and I exchanged glances as Con held out his hand and Gramp took hold of it.

“Mr. Embry, I’m Connor Ellis, it’s nice to meet you, sir.”

His hand remained joined with Con’s as his expression froze.  He stared at Con for a moment before looking to Gram.  Unable to look him in the eye, she looked away and he cast his eyes on me.  I couldn’t mistake the look of hurt that filled his eyes, causing my own to fill.

Without saying a word, he turned and disappeared through the same door he’d just come in.

Before I realized what I was doing, I was halfway to the door but Gram reached out for my arm and held me back.  “In his own good time, child.  You’ve wounded him; don’t push him into a corner, too.”

“I can’t leave it like this.”

“You’ll have to.  Did you really believe you’d come here and everything would fall into place as right as rain?  He carries over seventy years of pain and anger inside.  It’s going to take a lot more than ‘I’m sorry’ and good intentions to fix what’s broken.”

Con wrapped his arms around me and let me sob into his chest when I couldn’t hold my tears back any longer. 

“I’m sorry Mrs. Embry.  I never wanted to upset anyone but head-on is the only way I know to face things.”

Gram patted Con’s arm, and replied, “Your intentions were good, son, and who knows, maybe someday he’ll be able to look at you without seeing the rest of your family but for now, its best you leave him be.”