Staged: (Oliana Mercer series Book 2) Read online

  Staged

  Oliana Mercer Series

  Marguerite Ashton

  Edited by

  Ami Hendrickson

  Contents

  Criminal Lines Publishing

  Copyright

  Contributors

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Thank You

  8. Cold Read

  Meet Ms. Ashton

  Criminal Lines Publishing

  Staged

  Oliana Mercer Series

  by:

  Marguerite Ashton

  Copyright

  Staged

  Copyright 2017 by Marguerite Ashton

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, including but not limited to, digital, electronic, or print, without the written consent of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. All characters depicted herein are the product of the author’s imagination and do not represent any actual persons, living or dead.

  First published by Criminal Lines Publishing

  Contributors

  Cover by: Judy Bullard

  Edited by: Ami Hendrickson

  Acknowledgments

  To my husband and Fab 5 for their patience and getting through meals without me, so that I would have time to write. To my mom, Renee, a cancer survivor and cheerleader who at times just listened and offered the best mother’s advice any daughter could have.

  I would like to thank my writing mentor and editor, Ami Hendrickson. Her encouragement and honesty are something I will never forget. My appreciation to Judy Bullard, the cover artist behind my books. To my good friends, Joe Giacalone and Bill Cannon for just being there.

  Chapter 1

  The Reunion

  Thursday 7:59 p.m.

  My life sucks. That’s what seeped into mind as I stared at the woman in front of me as my cast mates exited the stage.

  The play was done, now it was time for me to step back into the real world and face Linda Durning. The woman who haunted my past.

  Linda adjusted the shoulder strap holding her oxygen tank and tucked the clear tubes behind her ears. Her brown blouse and jeans were several sizes too large. Her eyes seemed bigger than normal as they peered out from her frail face.

  Even with all the anger boiling inside me, my heart ached for her. “You’re Linda.”

  “Hi, Oliana. I’m your grandmother. Your real grandmother.”

  “What do you want?”

  “Is there somewhere we can talk?”

  I glanced up at the auditorium doors, wondering where my parents went. They must be waiting in the hall. Did they know this woman was here? There’s no way. They didn’t want me to know anything about my past. And for a good reason.

  I’d wished for the days when I didn’t know anything about my bio family. Except that wasn’t my reality. I knew more than what I wanted.

  “We can talk here,” I said, my voice dripping with anger.

  Linda’s head reared back. “It’s obvious your adopted mother didn’t raise you to have respect for your elders.”

  “My mother and father raised me to have respect for those who deserved it. I know what you did.”

  “There’s two sides to a story.”

  “There’s three sides. Mine counts.” I hurried towards the exit.

  “If you just hear me out.”

  “Did you hear my mother out when she came to you for help?”

  “I’m dying, and I wanted to make peace with you.”

  I halted in my tracks and looked back at Linda. “You’re not going to use me to clear your conscience.”

  I pushed open the door, stepped into the hall and waited for it to close.

  Click.

  A sound that I hope meant my past was behind me. No more secrets. No more lies. No more Linda.

  For the rest of the evening, my fear of Linda showing up again, pounded in my head. I wasn’t interested in hearing anything else negative about my parents. The pounding continued as I helped clean up backstage. And my headache remained during the cast party, as I said my goodbyes to the friends and teachers I was going to miss. As the party came to an end, my boyfriend, Austin, rescued me from the sadness when he showed up and took me to dinner. I wish he’d told me that James was going to be there.

  I would’ve said no.

  Tony’s Greasy Spoon was more of a truck stop than a restaurant. It was owned by Tony, one of Dad’s patients who’d suffered a brain aneurysm a year ago. Whenever Tony was there, he’d stop by the table and offer advice.

  “You kids don’t be in a rush to get married.” Tony took off his dirty apron and tucked it under his arm. “Me and my old lady, we’ve been together seventeen years. Never married and we’re still going strong.”

  “We’re taking it slow.” I took a bite of my grilled cheese, letting the salty tomato blanket my tongue.

  “That’s good. Cause when I saw your order, I figured I’d better see you before you left for that fancy acting school.”

  “I still have three months.”

  “Well, safe travels,” said Tony, backing away from the table. “Oh, and say hi to your Dad for me.”

  “Thanks. And I will.”

  James used to date Devin, my best friend. Until she died.

  He leaned toward me and adjusted his white sunglasses that failed to hide the dark circles under his eyes. Worn scratches covered the faded gold along the rims. He was dressed in all black and wearing biker boots. His presence as a superstar on the varsity basketball team had diminished after Devin’s death. “Let me use your eye drops.”

  “Nope.”

  “It’s like that? You always carry a bottle.”

  “For allergies. Not to hide that I’m high as a kite.” I shoved the final bite of my sandwich in my mouth and grabbed my backpack. “I have to leave. Austin?”

  “Text me later, man.” Austin gathered his things.

  I’m on it.” James retrieved his earbuds from his pocket, removed himself from reality and slouched down in his seat.

  “Guess, I’m paying the bill, again. Except, this time, I’m only paying for two.” I counted out twenty-seven dollars, plus tip and paid up front.

  After I left the restaurant, Austin grabbed my arm as I reached my car. “Why are you salty towards James? He’s like, dealing with a lot of stuff. He lost his girlfriend and their baby. His ex’s in jail. I mean can’t you give him a break?”

  “James didn’t even want the baby. And never once did he step up to defend Devin against his ex’s neurotic obsession over the relationship. So, no, I won’t give him a break.”

  A car honked in the distance.

  I snatched my arm out of Austin’s grasp. This was crazy. Austin and I have been dating for a year, but he and James had been like brothers before I came into the picture. Since Devin’s death, everything was about James. I often felt as if there were three of us in the relationship. Maybe I was selfish. Or maybe it was time to accept that we were coming to an end. “You’re so wrapped up in James’s problems. We didn’t talk about our plans for school.” I tossed my backpack on the passenger seat.

  “James knows he messed up.”

  I slammed the door. “What about spring break? We can get together then.”

  Austin played with his ring. “Something came up. My parents want me to stay behind and help with the restaurant. While I’m here, I’ll take up media and creative arts. That way I can still practice my music.”

  “What happened to the un
iversity?”

  “I’ve decided that I could save my money and attend a tech school. It’d cost less, and I’d only be wasting two years of my life instead of four. After two years, I’ll transfer my credits to the university and finish that way. The back way in sucks, but at least I can still go to school. I was hoping you’d be willing to wait for me.”

  “When were you going to tell me this?” Anxiety burned in my chest. “Everything’s all set for me to attend Reyersen.”

  “So you want a long distance relationship?”

  “For now.”

  “I can’t believe you won’t wait.”

  “I can’t believe you’re asking me to stay.”

  “Well? Will you? Stay?”

  “You’re a part of my heart. But you’re not the only thing in my heart.”

  Within minutes, I was in my car headed towards the highway. I turned up the radio and let the dubstep music blare from my speakers. Just what I needed to keep me from thinking about the ache forming in my throat.

  Yep, September fifth couldn’t come soon enough.

  Now if I can just make it through my best friend’s funeral.

  Chapter 2

  Saying Goodbye

  The next morning, I stared at the text from Austin. “If you want to break up with me, that’s on you.”

  “We’re done.” I shut off my phone, packed the rest of his stuff in a box and exhaled. If Devin were alive, she’d call me out for ending a relationship by text. But the thing between Austin and me was already crashing.

  Turning eighteen had now become desire. College was around the corner. Soon, I’d be free to make my own choices. Following made up rules designated by my parents would be a thing of the past. I’d no longer have to worry about fitting in. Or was that just wishful thinking?

  Would I stand out at Reyersen as the new kid small in the small community of starving students hoping to walk the red carpet and mingle with some of the top Hollywood stars? My only hope was that I didn’t run into people more intimidating than the ones in high school. At least as a senior, I’d learned who to stay away from.

  Now I had to start all over again. Learn my way around a new school while staying out the way of upperclassmen. Shake off my anxiety and fear as I found my comfort zone. Still, excitement filled me as wondered about all of the good things that awaited me during my upcoming journey.

  At the same time, heaviness weighed down my heart. So much had happened in the last few weeks. My best friend, Devin Worthy had been a victim of bullying. Later, she was murdered while performing a scene during our high school play.

  We’d both been accepted into Reyersen. It was our dream to attend and be there for each other no matter what. Now I was going alone.

  Footsteps bounded down the hallway. Seconds later, my bedroom door swung open and in bounced my little brother, Daniel. He did his famous dive onto my bed and looked up at me with his brown eyes. “Is thirty minutes up yet?”

  “Hello. You didn’t knock.”

  Daniel’s tousled sandy brown hair flopped to the left, covering the freckles lining the top of his ear. “You’ve always told me if it was an emergency, I didn’t have to knock.”

  Alarmed, I stood and checked outside my doorway.

  Quietness.

  Everything was still except for the television blaring in Mom and Dad’s room.

  I turned toward Daniel. “Where’s the emergency?”

  “Me.”

  “Is this a brother and sister talk?”

  Daniel nodded and set his teddy bear next to him.

  I closed the door behind me.

  Daniel had just come back from spending another weekend with his sperm donor. The perfect name for a man who’d treated Mom horribly just to get what he wanted. Daniel. Although, with Mom being a former paralegal, she had to be planning ahead. Doing everything she could to look good in front of the courts as the custody battle played out. The only problem is that Daniel was going to pay the price, no matter what happened.

  Suck it up Oliana. Daniel needs you. I downed my energy drink, ignoring the fact that I wanted to burst into tears. “Is this bear new?” I asked, rubbing my fingers over the fluffy blue bear.

  “Mom gave it to me before I went to Marc’s.”

  “Does it talk?”

  “No. I wanted a new game.”

  “Did you have fun at Marc’s?”

  “I don’t like him. I like our dad here at home.”

  My guess was the sudden jump of going back and forth between two homes and adjusting to the different sets of rules was already hitting Daniel. “It’s crazy. I get it. Just know that it’s going to take a while to get used to everything.”

  “She told me to call her mom. I already have a mommy. Do I really have to call her that?”

  It was hard to imagine the confusion circling in Daniel’s head. There’s no way he was going to understand the manipulating ways of adults who wanted their way. Sort of like Linda’s not so nice words about Mom and Dad.

  Stress ramped up inside me as I tried to come up with a way to explain the situation. The more I thought about it, there wasn’t a way to ease Daniel’s fears. “No, Daniel, you have only one Mommy. You don’t have to say it if you don’t want to.”

  There was a knock at the door.

  “Come in,” I said.

  Mom opened the door and stepped inside my room. “Oliana, you’re going to be late for the funeral.” She looked at Daniel. The contentment that had once brightened her brown eyes was now dark. She rushed over and kneeled next to Daniel. “Honey, what’s wrong.”

  Daniel looked at me.

  I smiled, giving him the signal it was okay to talk to Mom.

  “I don’t understand why I have to have two mommies and two daddies.”

  “You only have one mommy and daddy,” said Mom. “However, you’re special because you have extra adults in your life that want to be there for you.”

  “But I like the daddy I have here. I don’t want to go back.”

  Mom’s eyes flashed with worry. “Daniel, did something happen that you didn’t tell me about before?”

  Daniel sat up and wrapped his arms around Mom’s waist. “I don’t want to go back.”

  “This is just temporary. There’s no way I’m going to let him take you from me.”

  “I don’t want to share a room with the baby,” Daniel said, letting go of Mom. “Make him give me my own room.”

  “Baby?” Mom’s thin eyebrows arched. “Are you sure?”

  “The baby’s not born yet.”

  Mom’s shoulders slouched as if hearing about the baby had upset her world. “Are you eating healthy meals?”

  “I think so.”

  “Do they give you sweets?”

  Daniel squirmed in Mom’s arms. “Can I go play?”

  “After you answer my question?”

  “Hey, little brother.” I handed him a video game. “It’s the one you wanted. We’ll play it after I get back.”

  “Yay!” Daniel slipped out of Mom’s arms, off the bed and out the room.

  Mom got to her feet. “Just because you’re turning eighteen doesn’t mean you can insert your authority around here.”

  “I’m sorry, Mom. Daniel looked uneasy with the questions you kept asking him. I kinda know what it’s like to be put in the middle.”

  “Honey, I wasn’t trying to do anything like that. All I want to do is protect Daniel. Marc’s was not interested in stepping into his role as a father in the past. Ten years later, he’s interested in playing daddy?” Mom snatched up the bear and stormed out.

  My heart drummed in my chest as I followed her down the hall and into the kitchen. “Are you mad at me?”

  Mom turned and said, “You’re still raw from everything that’s happened. It’s only natural that you’d be sensitive to Daniel’s feelings.”

  It was easier for me to believe that Mom didn’t know about Linda’s visit. That with all of the pressure she was under, she was a different
person. I’d never seen this side of her before. “I understand more than you think.”

  “Let’s not talk about unpleasant things. Breakfast is ready.”

  “I’m not hungry.” I poured myself some coffee and watched as Daniel drank all of his juice. Probably in an attempt to vent his frustration.

  “Daniel, you know you’re supposed to eat all of your breakfast first.” Mom took a seat at the table and handed Dad the scrambled eggs, smiling as if she’d just had a good day. Fear trickled into my heart. Mom was doing what she did best. Burying her head in the sand to avoid any sign of unpleasantness that dare darkens our doorstep.

  Somber music played quietly in the background, making it difficult to look at Devin Worthy’s senior picture. It’d been taken only a few weeks ago. Now it was framed and posted in the corner of her parents’ home surrounded by flowers, family, and classmates. Including members from the marching band and color guard where she’d been co-captain.

  Everyone was dressed in black. But I wore a lightweight green poncho, blue jeans, and matching flats instead. Devin’s favorite colors. The shock on Mom’s face didn’t match the side glances I got from the girls who never gave Devin a chance at school. For whatever reason, they wanted to show up at Devin’s funeral. One of them was Brandi Hart--captain of the color guard, which might explain why she was there.

  I sipped on my punch and tossed the rest of it into the trash, ignoring the signals from Brandi to come over and join their huddle. I didn’t trust her. She’d stab you in the back the minute you didn’t agree with something she had to say. Plus, she’d showed up with James at the funeral home.