Love Lies and Deceit

* Julliane * It was a quiet Friday afternoon. I had just gotten home from school when I noticed an unfamiliar car parked beside my mother's. It was sleek, polished to perfection, and expensive, the kind of car that belonged to a man with money and taste. I didn't know much about cars, especially since I didn't drive yet, but even I could tell this one was a luxury. I sighed heavily, my mind drifting to my dad. His death anniversary was coming up soon. Maybe my mother's boss had stopped by to pay respects or to find out how we were doing. I opened the front door and stepped inside. That's when I saw him, a man seated on the couch across from where my mom sat. She looked up and smiled warmly when she saw me, something that she doesn't do often. I walked over and kissed her cheek in greeting. "You have a guest, Mom?" I glanced briefly at the man as I asked. "Julie, meet Mr. Primo Dankworth," she said, her voice laced with delight. Then she turned to him with a softer tone. "This is Julliane, my daughter. The one I've told you so much about, my dear." My stomach twisted at the overly sweet way she spoke to him. But I let it slide, assuming he was just a close friend. The man looked to be in his early fifties. As he stood, I noticed how gracefully he moved despite a slight heaviness in his frame. He extended a hand with a broad smile towards me. "Hello there." I hesitated before taking his hand for a brief handshake. My mother cleared her throat sharply watching at how I accepted his hand and I immediately dropped it. "She's already so tall—and such a beauty at her age," he remarked meant for me. Despite the friendly tone, my mother nudged me with her elbow, as if to say enough. "I'm going upstairs, Mom. Is Grandpa still here?" I asked, hoping for an excuse to leave. "No," she replied, rolling her eyes upward. "He left with a friend." Then, out of nowhere, the man spoke again. "Aren't you going to tell her about us? About our plans, Marriane?" I froze on the staircase. Plans? What was he talking about? My mother sighed, then looked at me. "You'll find out sooner or later. Come, Julie. Sit with us." I walked back and sat at the edge of the couch, unsure of what was coming. But my heart was feeling heavy as I watch both of them glance at each other, it's as if they had come to an understanding. "Primo and I are in a relationship," she began casually, "and we're getting married at the end of this month." "What?!" My voice cracked, and the words barely made sense in my head. Primo chimed in, "Your mother is right, Julliane. There's nothing to worry about. I'm a widower myself, my wife passed away three years ago. And I promise to take good care of both of you. By the way, I also have two sons Lance, who's twenty-five, and Darren, who's sixteen just a year older than you." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Sure, my mom was still young and beautiful—people often mistook her for my older sister. But to remarry so soon? It hadn't even been a year since Dad passed. I couldn't bear to think about how my father would be feeling if he was here right now. Without saying another word, I stood up and ran upstairs heading to my room. "Julliane!" my mother called after me. She sounded not please, I knew that she would be mad. "Let her be, my dear," I heard Primo say calmly. "She's just surprised. She'll come around, she's young, but she's a smart girl. She will understand you and how we feel towards each other." "I'm sorry for my daughter's rudeness, darling." Their conversation floated up the stairs and into my open doorway. I lay on my bed, silent tears slipping down my cheeks. "It's alright," Primo said. "I'll head back to the hotel for now. Let's talk more tomorrow." "Sounds good," Mom replied cheerfully as if nothing had happened. It didn't matter to her how I felt. A few minutes later, I heard his car pull out of the garage. Then came the sound of her footsteps climbing the stairs and into my bedroom. She burst into my room, frustration etched across her face. "What the hell, Julie? Why were you acting so rude to Primo?" Tears welled in my eyes. "Dad just died, Mom. It hasn't even been a year!" She folded her arms and snapped, "And what do you expect me to do? Mourn until I'm old and gray? I'm just thirty-five, Julie. I'm still in my prime! And do you even know who the Dankworth family is? They're filthy rich, rumor has it they own half the island. We're moving there soon!" I shook my head, tears spilling freely. "No, Mom! I'm not going with you! I only have one dad and no amount of money can replace him." "God, Julliane, stop being so dramatic! Your father is gone, he's not coming back. Primo is giving us a chance at a better life, and I'm not going to ruin that over your childish feelings. And one more thing, don't get too close to him. He's not like your father. Primo is mine. Remember that." I was stunned by her words, she was talking about him with possessiveness. She turned to leave, but then paused and came back. "Don't push me, Julie. You know you can't defy me. Everything you have is because of me. I make the decisions, not you. I won't let you disappoint my fiancé." Her words sliced through me. She had always resented how close I was to Dad. I'd spent years trying to earn her love, but it had always felt just out of reach. Even my own mother does not love me but I still care for her. Now, crying into my pillow, I whispered, "Oh Dad, I wish you were still here." How could she expect me to leave everything behind? I was only halfway through the school year. Had she even thought about that? Of course not. Grandpa was the one who had handled my school enrollment after the funeral he was the one who cared. Maybe he could help me stay. Maybe he could stop this madness. I didn't want to move to some strange island, far from everything and everyone I knew. I didn't want to leave the place where my dad's memory still lived. As the grief washed over me, I cried harder, feeling more alone than ever.