Page 33 of Kisses

What did she just say?

Baffled, I question, “The person that killed your mother?”

She pauses, “Fuck. Did I just blurt that out? I only had a few beers, but mix it with exhaustion and I start spewing out nonsense.”

I lead her to the bed and say, “It sounds like you want to talk about it.”

Lyla rolls her eyes and says, “Nothing really to say. This dumb ass decided to go on a shooting spree and my mother was a victim.”

“Sounds like you have a lot to say.”

“You can just read it when you get my paper.”

We both sit there quiet. I sense she wants to talk about it. I want to take advantage of this opportunity to know her. However, I don’t want to pry. I comment, “I’m here to listen.”

She sighs, “I should’ve never said anything.”

“Why?”

She sighs, “Ever since she was killed, I haven’t talked about it in an interview or anything. I have always shut people away when they wanted to talk about my mother.”

Tears start to form in her eyes. She wipes them away.

I comment, “You miss your mom.”

“More than you can imagine.”

“Then talk about her.”

“Okay. Here goes nothing. My mother was killed by the infamous Gregory Maddox. She happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. After it all happened, I can’t even begin to explain how many reporters wanted into my mother’s life. Our family life, she kept it private for many reasons. The reason I am the way I am.”

“How’s that?”

“My mother was the District Attorney for Douglas County. When she was killed, it was a media frenzy.”

Knowing exactly who she is talking about, I play dumb and ask, “Your mom was Anastasia Hall?”

She shakes her head and says, “Of course, you know who my mother is.”

I laugh, “You forget, I’m from around here. That was big news several years ago.”

Lyla sighs, “It was hard to keep her private life out of the media. Everyone wanted to know about the victims. It was hard to keep the family secret.”

“Do you care if I ask?”

“Might as well tell ya, because I’m hinting around to it.”

This makes me smile. I love when she states the obvious.

She continues, “My parents were swingers.”

Well, I wasn’t expecting that one.

I respond, “Okay.”

“Caught you off guard, didn’t I?”

“You can say that.”