Your Eyes Don't Lie (34 page)

“Either way she’s going to hate me. I would in her place.” Makay stared at the tray on the bed, her appetite all but vanished.

Harrison’s hand closed over hers. “No, she doesn’t. I’ve just spent the last half hour explaining it to her while Nate watched his so-called bit of television.” He gave her a slightly crooked grin. “By the way, it looks like we’re going to have to work on that child’s reporting skills. They definitely need more accuracy.”

We’re.
The word had her tingling all over. It had been the right thing to do, confiding in Harrison. At the very least it meant not having to flee the state, but what staying put meant about everything else, she couldn’t say. Not yet. Regardless, the last thing she wanted was to talk to Sherry Matthews. She would do it, though. For Nate and Harrison. Not for herself. She didn’t expect anything from Sherry Matthews besides anger and resentment.

“I think my mom’s still hoping to sweep all this under the rug,” Harrison added. “However, I can tell she’s dying to see that folder with my sister’s information. I would have gotten it and shown her, but I—” A vertical line of concern appeared between his eyes. “I thought you should be there. Maybe if she sees what happened to you, she’ll agree to go to the police. She might even change her mind about meeting my sister someday.”

“Okay, I’ll talk to her,” Makay said slowly, squeezing his hand. “As long as you’re there. I just wish . . .” That they’d met under different circumstances, that she hadn’t become involved in Sherry’s secret past. That she and Harrison had never heard of Lenny.

Except, wouldn’t that mean they might not have met? If Sherry hadn’t been blackmailed, Harrison wouldn’t have been at Albertsons, and if Makay hadn’t gone there to pass money to Lenny, she wouldn’t have been there at the same time. In a way, she had Lenny to thank for knowing Harrison at all.

Harrison gave her cheek a kiss and stood, starting for the door. “I have to leave for work in less than an hour, but that should be enough time for us to have a short chat with my mother. I’ll give you a few minutes to eat and get dressed.”

Makay looked down at the tank and sweat bottoms she had worn to bed. She’d learned long ago the value of wearing clothes to sleep—especially at someplace new. Harrison probably didn’t understand what her attire had to do with trust, but she would never hurt him by explaining. “Won’t take long.”

“Guess not.” Harrison laughed and retraced his steps, slipping onto the bed and wrapping his arms around her. “Don’t look like it’s the end of the world. My mother is mostly a reasonable woman, but I don’t care what she says. Makayla Greyson, I’m falling for you. In fact, I think I’ve fallen so far that I can never pick myself up. What’s more, I don’t even want to.”

Makay hoped he didn’t live to regret his statement, or eventually wish he was still back in California with his ex-girlfriend. She hadn’t realized she’d voiced the thought aloud until he drew back to look at her, one finger caressing her cheek. “Leaving California was the best thing that ever happened to me. Even hiring Lenny was a good thing because he brought me you.”

She felt herself drowning in those blue eyes. “I hope you’re right.”

“I am.”

He kissed her again, long and deep, and when they drew away she felt stronger and more determined to fight for him, for their future.
I love him,
she thought. She wasn’t sure it was altogether a good thing, given the emotional pain she’d been through the past few days after their confrontation, but she wouldn’t have given up the opportunity to meet him even if it meant a thousand Lennys. So they were together on that, at least. She wanted to tell him her feelings, but the words clogged in her throat. Trust wouldn’t come that easily, not after a lifetime of depending only on herself.

As he started once more for the door, she picked up a decidedly cold piece of bacon. Even cold, it was the best breakfast she’d ever eaten. After downing as much as she could hold, she climbed from bed and went to wash her face. Her eye did look better after putting on the ointment Harrison had given her last night. Arnica or something. Using one of the pristine white washcloths, she gingerly wiped the sleep from her eyes and tried to dab the blood from the back of her head. Then she washed out the cloth and spread more of the arnica over her black eye and the rest of her bruises. The worst was on the right upper side over her ribs, but fortunately that would be covered by the hot pink blouse she’d chosen. A little makeup over the eye made her feel better, though it didn’t do much for her appearance.

Back in the room, she put the remaining strawberries in their bowl on top of the tray, fished in her backpack for the files Lenny had given her, and left the room, trying not to wince with each step. The hallway led to both the living room and the kitchen, and she found Harrison and Sherry talking at the kitchen table. Nate sat in the adjoining family room on the far side of the kitchen, so engrossed in the television that he didn’t look up as she entered.

“This is a really nice apartment,” Makay said, setting her tray on the counter. “Like a house almost.”

“Thanks.” Harrison jumped up and met her at the counter, but Makay’s attention was distracted by Sherry.

“Good gracious, look at your face.” Sherry arose gracefully, coming around the counter to stand with them. “Harrison told me what happened yesterday, but I guess I didn’t realize the extent of the damage.”

“Looks worse than it is,” Makay said. “Nothing a little rest and food won’t cure, and at the rate Harrison’s been feeding me, I’ll be better in no time—and ten pounds heavier.” She stopped talking as everyone looked at each other for a few awkward moments. “Sherry,” Makay said, “I want you to know that I’m sorry about all this. I’d give anything for you and Harrison not to be involved.”

Sherry’s smile died. “From what Harrison told me, it was that man’s idea. Not yours.”

“I’ve worked with him before.”

Sherry cocked her head and studied Makay. “Did you have a choice? Harrison said you didn’t.”

Makay sighed and spoke, her voice low and her knees ready to buckle. “I don’t want to lose Nate.”

“Let’s go into the living room,” Harrison said. In the next second his hand was underneath her elbow, helping her back into the hallway. Makay felt grateful for the reprieve and for the support. She settled onto the black leather couch. For all the darkness of the furniture, the sunlight filtering in through the windows painted brightness in the room and gave her courage.

“I don’t know what I can do to help you,” Sherry said after they were seated. “Harrison told you about my situation, didn’t he?” When Makay nodded, she continued. “But I’d like to see those folders he told me about.”

To verify that I’m not your daughter?
Makay suddenly found herself wanting to scream. They were sitting here acting calm and rational as if her entire life didn’t depend on the outcome of this conversation. She felt like crying out, and as Harrison took her hand, she clung onto him far too tightly. Makay handed the files to Sherry.

Sherry’s face was pale and drawn as she thumbed through the pages in the last file Lenny had given Makay. “Oh, God,” she said as if in prayer. “It’s her. It’s really her. All the information is right.” Her tearful eyes met Makay’s. “Did she go to him then like you did? Is she really searching for me?”

“She might have,” Makay said. “But actually we thought—” She glanced over at Harrison, willing him to continue.

He inclined his head toward her before saying, “We’re thinking it was me. That I led him to you.”

Sherry’s gaze transferred to him. “What?”

Makay looked between the two of them, realizing that during his explanation, Harrison hadn’t told his mother everything.

Harrison’s face flushed. “Two months ago, I contacted a man running an adoption reunion website and asked him to find my father. He turned out to be the Lenny character I told you about, the one who’s behind the blackmail. So my request is what might have started all this.” He shook his head. “I’m so sorry, Mom. I had no idea.”

“No.” She held up a hand, her voice showing a touch of the backbone that must have gotten her through the births of her two fatherless children. “It isn’t your fault. I should have told you about your father. But ultimately the fault resides with that
man.
I say we pay him and walk away.”

“Wait a minute. I have something to show you.” Harrison went into the kitchen and returned with the photograph Makay had given him of his second birthday. “Is that him? The birth father?”

Sherry gasped softly as her eyes fell on the photograph. “He doesn’t look anything like I remember, but it must be him because he was the only other one there that day beside my mother and Audrey.”

“Who is he?” Makay asked, but she was already certain of his identity. Last night she’d looked through the folder they thought was Sherry’s, and all the birth child’s details were familiar to her. Her first impression upon seeing the photograph had been right. “Because I think I picked up money from him last week.”

“Blaine Cooper,” Sherry whispered, obviously fighting tears. Then she shook her head and her face hardened. “Let’s just pay so this will all be over.”

“Cooper?” Harrison said, his tone disdainful. “That’s the name of the guy who threatened Makay if she came back for more. Is that what we’re going to do? Because otherwise, Lenny might be back in a few months with his hand out.”

“But I thought Makay told you that for the most part he doesn’t ask for more,” Sherry said.

“Even if he doesn’t come back, what about the others?” Makay asked. “What about my brother? Harrison told me you had a phone call from whoever it was, and if you didn’t talk to me, Lenny must have someone else working for him. Even without me, he could keep scamming others.”

Sherry’s gaze shifted to hers. “The phone call I had came from a man who told me he was helping my daughter. He actually apologized but told me she would do exactly as she threatened.”

“Lenny must have realized Harrison was trying to delay things.” Makay wondered how many other times Lenny had called a mark himself without telling her. Maybe that would explain some of the more volatile pickups.

“Perhaps. But I don’t see how I can help you or those other people. I can’t risk Eli finding out.” Sherry stood as she added to Harrison, “You’d better get to work, dear. It’s almost nine.”

Makay felt her world tilt. Sherry Matthews wouldn’t help them put Lenny away, regardless of Makay’s injuries or possible future requests for money. Without her, there would be no trapping him or testifying in Makay’s behalf. “But I don’t have enough evidence to put him away,” Makay said. “I recorded him, but the sound is bad and he never really admits to anything. The folders he gives me don’t have any connection to him.” She wondered if Sherry could hear the despair and anger lurking behind her words.

But it was Harrison who answered. “We’ll get through this. I promise,” he said in her ear. “Even if that means I have to take you and Nate away from here.”

That was something she hadn’t considered. Him going away with her. Part of her wanted to take Harrison up on the promise immediately, but doing so wouldn’t stop Lenny from ruining more lives. Now that she’d seen up close the devastation he caused, obligation tugged her in the opposite direction. What kind of person would she become if she didn’t make a stand? She had a lot to make up for.

Sherry was staring down at where Makay and Harrison still sat together on the couch. Had she understood Harrison’s quiet words? Was she willing to see Harrison leave the state rather than face her past?

“I’d better go.” Harrison took some keys from his pocket and handed them to Makay as he rose from the couch. “Take these. We still have a few days to decide what to do. Think about it.” The last sentence was obviously directed toward his mother.

Gratitude welled up inside Makay, silencing any response. She accepted the keys and nodded.

“I’ll walk you down, Mom. I just need to say goodbye to Nate first.” Harrison hurried from the room.

Sherry Matthews was still staring at her, and Makay felt at a distinct disadvantage sitting down, so she forced herself clumsily to a standing position. Thankfully, her head seemed steady, though the increasing pain in her side told her it was time for more medication. She wondered if Sherry resented her now and wished she’d keep away from her son. It seemed impossible for Makay and this woman to ever have a real relationship. Makay realized she
wanted
that relationship, wanted to belong to Harrison’s entire family, with its Sunday dinners and pool table. Even with its warts and imperfections. Its secrets.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Sherry said, “but you’re wrong. I want my son to be happy, and I think you make him happy. I just—I just don’t know how to help either of you without . . . you don’t know what it’s like.”

With Eli, she meant. “Do you love your husband so much?” Makay asked.

Sherry nodded. “With all my heart. I know he’s not perfect, but he’s mine and he takes care of me. Of all of us.”

Except in the things that really matter,
Makay thought. Yet she couldn’t really judge Sherry, not after all the pain Makay had inflicted on other birth parents.

Sherry turned and walked to the door with slow, deliberate steps. When she reached the door, she looked back at Makay. “Do you still want to meet your mother?” she asked softly. “Is it that important?”

Makay considered for a moment before shaking her head. “Not anymore. She gave me what she could, and while there’s a place inside me that will always wish things could be different, I believe she did what she thought would give me the best chance at a normal life. Just because it didn’t work out doesn’t mean I want to hurt her or make her life miserable. I want her to be happy. I even wish she still thought I could be happy. I wish Lenny had never found her.”

Sherry’s smile was sincere. “Thank you for that. Maybe my daughter feels the same.”

“Don’t you ever wonder?”

“Every day of my life for twenty-three years.”

With that, Sherry turned and left the apartment, leaving the door ajar behind her. Harrison came in a few seconds later, his eyes running between Makay and the door. “Where’s my mom?”