Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

She went back to the living room, arriving just as the front door opened. But it wasn’t her sister or her father. Instead, Marilee walked into the house.

“I saw your car parked out front and knew you were home.” Her mother smiled. “Hello, darling. I know, I know. I’m a surprise.” She glanced around. “It all looks the same. So very cozy. I see Jeff still isn’t locking the front door. That man.”

The words made sound, but for Olivia it was as if she was hearing them from far away, or underwater. Olivia told herself to turn and run, or to pinch herself and wake up from the awful, scary nightmare. Only she wasn’t dreaming. She was living this moment, which meant there was no escape.

“What are you doing here?”

Marilee set her Valentino handbag on the sofa table and continued to study the living room.

“You said you were enjoying your visit. It got me to thinking about how long it had been since I spent time with your father.”

“You shouldn’t be spending time with him,” Olivia whispered, barely able to speak through the horror of it all. “You’re divorced.”

Marilee waved that factoid away. “Ancient history. He was always such a handsome man. So dependable. Not like Roger. Two weeks into our vacation and he grew so tiresome. He accused me of flirting with one of the waiters at his country club. Can you imagine?”

Easily, Olivia thought. The question wasn’t whether or not her mother had flirted, but if the flirting had gone any further. It wouldn’t surprise her at all to hear Marilee had ducked into a linen closet with said waiter for a quick round of slap and tickle.

Which wasn’t the point. The point was Marilee was here. She couldn’t be here. She had to leave right this second.

“Mom, what’s going on?”

“I told you. Your texts got me to thinking about the past and made me want to see your father. And you, of course, I’ve missed you. Oh, and Kelly. She must still be around. She did love the farm. She wouldn’t go far.” Marilee sighed. “My girls back together. It’s a wonderful thought.”

Bile rose in Olivia’s throat. No. No! Marilee couldn’t be planning on staying. If she talked to Jeff or Kelly, she would say things. Like the fact that she was from Phoenix and that she and Olivia had been working together for nearly four years. Something Olivia hadn’t mentioned at all.

“Mom, no. You have to leave.”

“No, I don’t. This is my house, too.”

“You left. You and Dad got a divorce.”

“So you keep saying. I’m very clear on my marital status, Olivia. Don’t be tiresome.” Her gaze sharpened. “Or is that not the problem? What did you tell them about me?”

Olivia swore silently. Marilee always knew what she was thinking. It was so frustrating and beyond annoying.

“You haven’t said anything about me, have you?” Her mother laughed. “Oh, that’s brilliant. I can work with that. Do they think we’ve been in touch at all?”

“Yes.” She bit her lower lip, thinking about what she and Kelly had talked about. “Some.”

“But not that we work together. Wonderful. I can get to know both my girls at the same time.”

Not a scenario Olivia liked, but what choice did she have?

Marilee wandered into the kitchen and glanced around. “Not the remodel I would have chosen, but nicely done. How’s your father these days?”

“He’s fine.”

“Is he seeing anyone?”

“Mom, no. Leave him alone.”

“That’s hardly your call, Olivia. Do I have to remind you that you kept secrets from Kelly and your father? How sad if they had to find out about your deceits. I doubt they’d want to have you around if they knew.”

Before Olivia could figure out what to say, she heard a truck door slam. Someone was home.

Her stomach flopped over, as she broke out in a cold sweat. Nothing good was going to come from any of this, she thought frantically. Disaster loomed and she honest to God didn’t know how to stop it.

The front door opened and Kelly walked in. She was flushed and smiling.

“Hi. It’s me.”

She looked like a woman who’d been well satisfied, Olivia thought, wishing there was a way to warn her off, or at the very least, protect her.

Kelly saw her and grinned. “How was your evening?”

Marilee stepped out of the kitchen. “Hello, darling.”

Kelly came to a stop. The color drained from her face as she took a step back, then another. Her eyes widened, her mouth opened and closed as she tried to speak.

“Mom?”

“Yes, it’s me. Surprise.”

*

Surprise? After being gone thirteen years, after walking out on her family, all her mother had to say was surprise? Kelly stared at the woman standing by the kitchen and did her best to reconcile what she remembered with what she saw.

Marilee looked much as she had then—as if the passing years weren’t an issue. She looked more polished, her hair more sleek, her makeup more subtle. She wore tailored pants and a clingy, low-cut blouse. There were no signs of physical aging, but Marilee had always been one to defy convention.

“What are you doing here?”

The question came out more harshly than she’d intended, but she didn’t add anything to soften it. What was her mother doing here? Why now? Why did she have to come back at all?

“Do you need money?”

Marilee laughed and stepped toward her, as if they were going to embrace. Kelly took a step back, prepared to put furniture between them if necessary.

“Oh, Kelly, I’d forgotten how you could be so funny.” She smiled. “I came to see you and your father.” She turned to Olivia. “I came to see both my girls.”

“You knew Olivia was here?” Kelly glanced at her sister. “You told her?”

Olivia nodded.

Panic flared. Kelly found herself confused and afraid—as if she were that fifteen-year-old again. The one who had fought with Marilee and caused her mother to abandon them all.

No, she told herself. It hadn’t been her fault. Her mother had wanted to leave. Kelly had provided an excuse. Marilee had chosen an extra cruel way to go, that was all.

Her mother approached. Kelly forced herself to stand her ground. Marilee touched her shoulder. “You’re all grown up. When did that happen? How old are you? Twenty-five?”

Kelly shrugged away from the contact. “I’m twenty-eight. Olivia is twenty-five. Dad is nearly fifty. We’ve all managed to keep on living, even without you. I know that’s shocking. I’m sure from your perspective we should be exactly where we were, waiting for your return. But it doesn’t work that way. We got on with our lives. We’re all fine.”

Aware that she was practically shouting, Kelly pressed her lips together.

Marilee blinked several times. “You’re still angry with me. Oh, darling, I’m sorry if I hurt you. That was so very long ago.”

Kelly wanted to scream that she wasn’t hurt, she was furious. Olivia moved to her side.

“Mom, this is an unexpected visit,” Olivia said. “Does Dad know you’re here?”

“No, and I’m so excited to see him. How is he?”