Page 54 of Keeping Lilith
Like you do?
The words were on the tip of Lilith’s tongue, but she swallowed them down. In the grand scheme of things, they hadn’t only known each other properly for long. Although, the more she thought on it, the more she was convinced that what she felt for Julian was love.
“Thank you. I’ll call you when I’m done to let you know how it went.”
“And I’ll answer, even if I’m in a meeting,” Julian assured her.
“Don’t get into trouble by doing that. I’ll understand if you can’t.”
Julian reached out and hooked a piece of her hair behind her ear. “I know. I’m proud of you, Lil.”
He kissed her, not giving her a chance to respond. By the time he backed away, her mind was mushy, but her nerves were gone. With one last look, she got out of the car and made her way into the building, glancing over her shoulder to see Julian still in the parking spot. She gave a wave, and then entered the large brick building. The air was cool, and the scent of fresh lilies filled the air.
Immediately, a sense of calmness washed over her. She was meant to be here. This was where she belonged, and she was going to make it happen.
There wasa bounce in her step as she exited the front door of Julian’s house, as she prepared herself to walk to the grocery store a half a mile away. It wasn’t the first time she’d made thetrek, and she wanted to get some groceries to prepare a special meal for her and Julian.
The interview had gone really well. The woman interviewing her had been warm, and when the truth of Lilith’s circumstances had come out—in the end, Lilith hadn’t been able to keep it quiet—she’d been understanding and sympathetic about her plight. There had been no judgment, and Lilith had been grateful for it. On the tour of one of the gardens, Lilith had noted a blight on one of the plants, and had pointed it out to the director. Immediately she’d summonsed the head groundskeeper, and when Lilith explained what she’d seen and offered a harmless remedy for it, it had cemented her interview, and the director had offered her the job. Her paperwork still needed to be sorted, but Lilith was slated to start in a week's time.
Julian had been thrilled when she’d called him. Deal had dropped her home, congratulating her as well on her employment.
“Oh my God, it’s you, Sister. Sister! I’m so glad to see you!”
Every drop of blood in Lilith chilled at hearing “sister” being called out. Maybe it was a woman who was calling her actual sister, but Lilith’s gut was telling her it wasn’t.
Determined to ignore the voice, even if it was rude, she hurried down the sidewalk. She’d made it three steps when a hand clamped on her arm.
“Sister, please don’t ignore me,” the woman begged, and the instinct to run died a little in Lilith. This woman had been as much a victim as Lilith had. She probably needed a friend.
Plastering a smile on her face, Lilith turned, prepared to reassure the woman that she was free and didn’t need to call her sister, before continuing on her way. The second she faced the woman, Lilith wished she hadn’t. “What do you want?” she asked, shaking her arm for the other woman to let her go.
She didn’t. If anything, she tightened her grip.
“I want to talk to you.” The smile she sent Lilith wasn’t reassuring. “I saw you and knew I had to talk to you. Apologize.”
Lilith doubted that. After all, this was the woman who’d ratted her out to Micah and had looked smug when he dragged to Staunton’s office the day everything imploded at The Hopeful Sunshine. “An apology is unnecessary. We all said and did things to survive.”
“Maybe, but still, I need to. Can we go somewhere and talk? I’m Stella, by the way. I’m so glad to not be a sister anymore.”
The last thing Lilith wanted to do was talk to the woman, particularly after what Stella had done to her. Then again, they’d both shared an awful experience. Perhaps Stella had done what she had to do to survive, just like Lilith had.
Even still, her instincts were warning her to stay away from the woman, and Lilith was going to listen to them. “I’m Lilith and I’d like to catch up, but I’m on my way to the store and I don’t have time. I’m sorry. I’m glad that you’re free to be you now.”
Stella’s face crumpled, and she let go of Lilith as she burst into tears. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to cry. It’s just…I’m so lost and overwhelmed. I need help.”
Against her better judgment, Lilith pulled her into a hug. How could she turn her away when she’d been feeling the same way after she left Freedom and Love? The feeling of being lost in a city full of people. Did Stella even have a job? Or a home? While she had little resources, Lilith could lend an ear, and maybe she could call Julian while they talked and get to a shelter where she could get the help she needed. “Okay, there’s a café near the store I was going to. We can grab a drink there.”
In a flash, the tears were wiped away, and a sinister look entered her eyes. “Oh, I know the perfect place.”
Before Lilith had a chance to run, Stella grabbed her and dragged her toward a car that had just pulled up. Shock renderedher motionless, and as she was shoved through the door, she screamed for help. But the street was empty, and she had no idea if anyone in the nearby houses heard her or would even do anything if they had.
“Shut up, bitch.” Stella slapped her hard across the face. “Try that again, or attempt to get out, and you’ll regret it.”
Gone was the tearful woman, and in her place was the woman from The Hopeful Sunshine.
“What do you want?” Lilith asked, her cheek stinging from the slap as the car zoomed off down the street.
“You, of course.” The person in the passenger seat turned around and smiled at Lilith.