Hired Liar

Ladies and gents, the first half of this chapter has been gaining dust in my files for the past two years and tonight I felt like moving forward instead of wasting it. I would like for this to be my first with a little more depth and with, God willing, longer chapters.

“Jonni, did you know Nate’s back in town?”

Her breath caught in her throat. She put her hand to her heart. “What?” she said, her voice wavering.

Her mother closed the newspaper she was reading. “I said Nate is back. I thought you’d like to know.”

Jonni dropped the toast she was buttering to her plate. “Mother, I don’t want to discuss him right now. He left me, remember?”

Her mother slapped her hand down on the table. “Well, Jonette, maybe he’s here to reconcile.”

“I’m not going back to him, even if he gets on his knees.” She resumed buttering.

“It’s better him than no one. I’m getting old, Jonni, and I would like to see you taken care of.”

“I don’t need him to take care of me.” She took a bite of her scrambled eggs. Swallowing, she said, “I’m just fine. Besides, I have boyfriends. You act like I sit at home and do nothing.”

“Where, Jonni? I haven’t seen a man near you since Nate left. If you would fix your hair up, and maybe, do your make-up every once in a while, someone would take notice. You are a beautiful girl, Jonette. Someone will see it.”

Jonni sighed, trying not to let her irritation show. “I’m not beautiful. I never have been and I never will be. I’m normal, and that’s all there is to it.” She stood with her plate, her appetite lost, and headed for the sink. Setting her plate down on the counter, she went back to the table and took a seat, wrapping her fingers around her mug of coffee.

“Don’t dismiss me, Jonette Elizabeth Caine. I’m not finished.”

Being called by her full name made her realize the tirade that was to come, and she inwardly groaned. Another lecture about ending up an old maid, and Jonni was sure she was going to lose it. Her mother opened her mouth to speak.

“I already have someone,” she said, blurting the lie without thinking. She covered her mouth in shock.

Her mother looked pleased. “Who, dear? What’s his name? Do I know him?”

Too late to take it back, she thought dismally. “He’s from out of town. I gotta go.” She stood and kissed her mother on the cheek, nearly running out the front door. By the time her late model Mercury Cougar came to a screeching halt, she was in front of her sister’s home.

She knocked briskly on the door, and was greeted by the older set of twins.

“Hello,” both seven-year-old blonde girls said in unison.

“Candy, Cathy, is your mommy here?”

“Jonni? I’m coming,” she heard her sister say from the other room. She appeared at the doorway, looking every bit of seven and a half months pregnant. “Ladies, go clean your room.”

“But, mom…” Both girls stuck their bottom lips out in a pout.

Teresa motioned Jonni into the house. “No buts, except yours upstairs.” After the girls ran up the staircase, she turned her eyes on Jonni. “What’s up?”

“I’ve got a major problem.”

Shane and Shawn, Teresa’s five-year-old set of twins came rushing into the room. “Aunt Jonni!” they shouted and ran up to her.

Teresa disregarded the ruckus in true mother fashion. “What happened? I thought you were having breakfast with Mom.”

Jonni picked up both of her nephews and went to the couch, Teresa close behind. “Nate’s back, and mother gave me the I-want-someone-to-take-care-of-you-because-you-are-incapable-of-doing-it-yourself lecture.” She ruffled the curly hair on top of her nephews’ heads.

Teresa grimaced. “Again? What did you do?”

Jonni bit her lip, suddenly feeling guilty. “I, uh…I lied.”

Both boys, unable to control their little bodies for more than a minute, sang out together. “Liars go to the devil. Liars go to the devil.”

Jonni grimaced.

Teresa must have sensed her feelings. “To your room, now.”

“We’ll be good. We’ll be good,” both boys pleaded.

“Now, or no toys for three days.” Teresa said firmly and pointed to the stairs to emphasize her point.

They dashed off Jonni’s lap, unaffected, and ran up the stairs giggling.

Teresa patted her arm. “Anyway…”

“Well, anyway, when I got to the part where she started telling me to fix myself up and maybe someone would notice me, I kinda blurted out that someone already did. Notice me, that is.”

“But, you don’t have anyone right now, do you?”

Jonni shook her head. “I told her he was from out of town.”

“What do you want to do about this, Jonni?”

She scrubbed her hand over her face. “I don’t know. Set me up with someone.”

“Well, unless pregnant women are your type, I can’t. I don’t know any men that are under the age of forty-five, Jonni.”

“Does Cole? Anyone, Teresa. All I need is a favor. And someone who is a professional at lying.”

Teresa frowned. “That’s it, Jonni!” She grinned suddenly.

The grin set Jonni’s teeth on edge. “What’s it? That look is beginning to scare me.”

“I know someone in the city. Let me talk to her. We’ll settle this right away.” She hugged Jonni. “Thank you.”

Jonni shrugged. “For what?”

“I feel fourteen again. I’ll be right back with the telephone.”

Jonni sighed and crossed her arms. “Well, I managed to get myself in deeper trouble,” she muttered. “Lovely.”

Teresa came in, looking much like her fourteen-year-old self. She held up a piece of paper triumphantly. “I found the number.”

She sat down beside Jonni and dialed. Putting the phone to her ear, she sighed. “May I speak to Nikki?”

She sat silent for a moment. “Nik, hey. I need a favor.” She listened. “That friend you were telling me about, is he free for about a week?”

Jonni was getting a little worried. She dreaded the thought of having to string some poor fellow along because of her big mouth.

Teresa grinned at Jonni. “How much?” she asked the person on the other end of the line. “Uh huh, four hundred. Thank you. Call me later. Bye.” Teresa pushed the power button on the phone.

“Well?” Jonni was a little curious, despite herself.

“Your butt is saved for the small price of four hundred dollars.”

Jonni gaped at her sister. “Are you kidding. Teresa, four hundred is a big chunk of change.”

She set the phone down on the floor beside her and regarded Jonni with eyes filled with humor. “Don’t try to fool me, Jonni. I’m not mother.”

Jonni blushed. “I’m not.”

“Yeah, right,” she said sarcastically. “I still don’t see why mother believes that farm pays your bills.”

“It does.”

“Sure, Jonni, the farm and a those novels you keep publishing. What’s it going to be, sis. You could always go tell her the truth.”

Jonni shook her head vehemently. “I want some information first.”

Groaning, Teresa said, “Oh, no.”

Jonni held up her index finger. “Number one, why should I give this guy four hundred bucks to lie for me? Any other man would do it a lot cheaper.”

“Well, he has a degree in archaeology and linguistics from Oxford. He speaks four languages. He’s handsome and well mannered. And,” she smoothed her hand over her rounded stomach and looked satisfied. “he drives a Jaguar.”

Jonni cocked a brow. “So?”

“Jonni, come on. This guy is a professional. He’ll be whatever you want him to be. I’ll even pay you back if this doesn’t work out.”

“Forget it, Teresa. You and Cole need the money.”

She waved a hand through the air dismissively. “Nonsense. I‘ve been saving my pennies. Besides, it’ll be worth it.”

Jonni crossed her arms. “Fine. Call him.”

She grinned, her victory evident on her face. “Great.” She snatched the phone off the floor.

Teresa dialed. Jonni couldn’t sit by and watch as her sister helped her flush the rest of her dignity down the drain, so she got up and went to the kitchen. Getting a can of soda from the refrigerator, she eavesdropped on the conversation.

“Justice, hello. Can we set something up?” Teresa chuckled. “I need you for a week. Well, not me actually, my sister…” She grinned. “It’s a long story. Her ex, kind of, made a mess. Everyone in town is talking now. You know how small towns are. So, can you do it?”

“Who’s on the phone?”

Jonni jumped, her heart leaping into her chest. “Cole, you scared me.”

“Sorry, Jon. So, who is it? It sounds kinda juicy.”

She smiled. “I can’t tell you. I don’t really know. Your wife is setting me up with a mystery guy.”

He wiggled his fingers in the air. “Ooo, mystery.” He poured himself a cup of coffee.

Teresa came into the kitchen. She kissed Cole on the cheek. “Hey, honey, did Jonni tell you?”

He took a sip of the steaming liquid in his stoneware mug. “About the mystery guy?”

She wiggled her eyebrows at Jonni. “Speaking of the mystery guy. I invited him for dinner at your place tomorrow evening. I suggest you tell mother to attend.”

“Are you nuts? Tomorrow?” Jonni threw her hands in the air. “I have to help Mother with her basket booth at the Apple Festival tomorrow.”

“Perfect, I’ll bring him by. The only thing you have to worry about is cleaning the cobwebs out of that relic you call a house and finding him a place to sleep in it.”

Jonni sighed. There was no arguing with Teresa once her mind was made up. “Fine. You win.” Jonni’s shoulders slumped. “But, you’re calling mother to invite her for dinner.”

Teresa grinned. “Great. I’ll start cooking early and we’ll have a picnic in the back yard.” She turned to her husband. “Cole, will you call and invite Virginia and Fred over? Tell them to bring little Jacob with them. We’ll make it social to ease the tension.”

Jonni shook her head. “I just don’t know if this is wise. Mom is going to look right through us. She’s going to know that we haven’t been together more than three minutes.”

Teresa sighed. “You need to learn to have some faith.”

“In God? Yes.” Jonni grinned. “In you? I don’t think so.”

Cole leaned his hip against the counter. “Let me get this straight. Teresa hired someone to pretend to be your… what? Boyfriend? Fiancé? And you’re going to try to fake it in front of Darcie?” He chuckled. “I will never understand women.”

Jonni groaned. “Cole, you make it sound so… sordid.”

Teresa slapped her husband lightly on the chest. “Ignore him, Jonni. The most exciting this he’s ever done is getting one speeding ticket. Now run along, Jonni.”

“Why?”

Teresa shook her head. “I… uh… told Justin to come tonight, that way I could put the money in his hand.”

Jonni gasped. “Teresa, you didn’t!”

“Relax. I invited him to stay with us tonight until you get your place ready.”

Jonni let out a breath in relief. “Okay, I’m going. Should I meet him when he gets into town?”

“I’ll send Cole by to get the money.”

Jonni nodded and turned to leave. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at the festival.”

She bid them ado and drove home, dreading the string of lies she was about to tell. She soothed herself by remembering how Nate had humiliated her.

She’d scrubbed, dusted, and washed until her back was hurting, her feet were sore, and her place was sparkling. She picked the largest room besides her own and changed the linens.

She had just finished when Cole knocked on her door.

\"Hi. So, how is he?\"

Cole stepped inside, stuffing his hands in his pockets and grinning. \"You should see it. He\'s sitting at the kitchen table, wearing a thousand dollar suit, and trying to keep the boys from getting fingerpaint on his tie.\"

Jonni grinned at the picture, going to the kitchen to grabbed the envelope she\'d put the money in. She handed it to Cole with a sigh. \"Four-hundred.\"

\"Relax, Jonette. Teresa means well.\"

Jonni\'s heart softened a little. \"I know. And it\'s not like I\'m hard-up for money.\"

Cole rocked back and forth on his heels for a moment after slipping the envelope into his back pocket. \"Uhhh... You wanna come over and meet this guy? You\'re gonna need some practice to fool Darcie.\"

She looked down at herself. \"Give me five minutes to change.\"

She ran upstairs to her room, snagging a hairbrush from the bathroom sink. Quickly, she pulled off her overworked jeans and slipped on a floor-length black skirt and exchanged her flannel, knotted at the waist, for a three-quarter sleeve v-neck. She stuffed her feet into a pair of black suede boots with a modest heel and dragged a brush through her hair. A little eyeliner and some lip gloss and she headed back downstairs.

\"Wow, that was quick,\" Cole commented, checking his watch.

\"So, how do I look?\"

\"Fabulous.\"

She rolled her eyes and followed him out to the car. The house was all lit up inside when they arrived and there was a fair amount of noise coming from the dining room and kitchen.

\"Honey, we\'re home,\" Cole called.

Teresa stuck her head through the archway to the kitchen. \"Who\'s we? Oh, hi, Jonni.\" She disappeared back through the door, adding, \"We always got room for one more.\"

Jonni hung her purse on the coat rack and moved though the dining room and into the kitchen. She didn\'t immediately see the stranger until he stood. All six-and-a-half feet of him.

Wow.

She knew she was staring, but couldn\'t help herself. He was lean and built, she could see that even through the suit. Long, straight black-brown hair hung past his neck in a neat ponytail and he had soft brown eyes that made her tummy flutter when she looked into them.

Cole cleared his throat behind her, saving her the embarassment of having to roll up her tongue. \"Jonette, this is Justice Baily.\"

The stranger held out his hand and she slipped hers into it without thought. \"Jonni, is it?\" he asked in a deep, husky, honey-toned voice that made her skin heat up.

She gulped and nodded. \"Mmm-hmm.\" She mentally shook herself. \"I\'m Jonette Caine.\" She gave a warm, albeit slightly nervous, smile. \"I\'ll just go help Teresa in the kitchen.\"

She was in big trouble.