Wicked Liar by Faith Summers

Chapter Thirty-Two

Candace

“How are you doing?” Isabella asks, folding her fingers together.

She looks at me from across the wicker table we're sitting at on Dominic's terrace. I stare back at her, not sure how to answer the question.

She insisted on coming to see me today.

“I’m okay,” I assure her, and at least that feels like some element of the truth.

She leans onto the table and bites the inside of her lip. “Candace I know what happened with the auction. I shouldn’t know what happened, but I do.”

I give her a nervous smile. I left the auction out of our conversation yesterday. Tristan wouldn't have told her. I know he wouldn't have.

“How?”

“I heard Tristan and Massimo talking. It was late, and they thought I was asleep with the baby. But baby number two thinks it’s a good idea to keep me awake at night.”

“Oh, my God. You’re pregnant again?” I gasp and I can’t resist getting up to hug her.

She nods, and I feel happy for her and Tristan.

“I’m a few weeks along. Tristan and I found out a few days ago. Its early days but happy days.”

“Oh, Isabella. I’m so happy for you both,” I bubble sitting back down.

“Thank you. I know you are. Emelia doesn’t know yet, but I’ll catch up with her later. I know she would have liked to come here today because she’s worried about you. I am too.”

“Please don’t worry about me. I'm fine.”

“Are you kidding me? Candace, you entered an auction. It's cool if you wanted to do something like that, I'm not here to judge but it's not like you and not like you either not to answer my calls."

I sigh, trying to think quick about what to tell her that won't make her worry.

"I'm sorry. Last week was crazy and I guess I'm going through a strange time. I didn't enter the auction because I wanted to, but..." She looks at me with anticipation. "Can I promise to tell you the reason why another time?" It's best I say it like that.

She considers the request for a moment then nods her head.

“Alright, but I'm holding you to that promise."

"I promise." I nod.

"Okay, so... what's happening with Dominic? You don't exactly look like you're having a bad time."

“I'm not. He wants me back.”

“How do you feel about that?”

I stare back at her, not knowing what to say. “I don’t know. It feels like what I should do is different from what I want to do."

She laughs. "Candace, I'll be the first person to encourage you to do what you want to do. You're a levelheaded woman who's always thinking about the rules, but sometimes you have to take risks."

I bring my hands together. "Risks... I was so hurt when he left Isabella. I never knew how much I loved him until he left."

She reaches across the table with a smile. "Sweetie, if you can say that, then you should give yourself a chance to explore this."

"I want to, but there are so many questions lingering in the air."

"Like what?"

I press my lips together. "Like the past... I wish we could have been like this when we were kids, or just before now. I always felt like this, but it was like he never noticed me. Then suddenly he did. I don't get it. He's been treating me like I'm this person he'd do anything to be with, but for twenty-six years of my life he didn't see me."

She gives my hand a gentle squeeze.

"Sometimes things are not always what they seem to be. That's the fundamental lesson I've learned in life and that's why I always follow my heart."

"My heart gets me in trouble," I mutter, and she shakes her head.

"No, it can't. That's other things. Your heart will always tell you what's true, and it's for you to decide what you want to do with the truth. Do what your heart tells you Candace, and don't be afraid to ask the questions you want to ask. People have their reasons for doing things."

I appreciate her words. “Thank you. That helps."

“Happy to help. Now I think you owe me a film. We were supposed to watch Casablanca.”

I laugh. “Okay, I guess we can watch that.” We both love classic films. I haven’t watched one in a long time. It would help take my mind off things for a few hours.

We make our way into the living room and I grab the DVD from my box of films I brought with me.

While she gets the DVD set up I walk over to the bookshelf to grab the tv remote. I pick it up but accidentally knock one of Dominic's notebooks off the table when I bump into it. I lower to reach for it on the floor and a stone drops in the pit of my stomach when I catch sight of my father and uncle's names written on the center.

I stare down at the pad in my hands and feel my heart racing and my breath cutting short.

William and Luccas Ricci...

Dominic wrote their names down. Why?

I'd be inclined to think this is about Richard Fenmoir, but I don't think it is.

There are another three names listed above theirs: Federico Santana, Tobias Navarro, and Peter Dawson. I don’t know who those people are.

Did Dominic find something?

Uncle Lucas... did he find him?

Oh God, what if he did?

What if Uncle Lucas is back?

I feel sick and weak as terrible memories force their way into my mind.

What did Dominic find?