Page 42 of Lie with Me
“Mom, this is my . . .friend, Tara Stevens.”
“It’s very nice to meet you . . .” Tara smiles sweetly, realizing she doesn’t know exactly what to call her.
“Samantha,” my mother returns, eying her discreetly from head to toe.
We all head into the great room where I know drinks are flowing and appetizers are set out. Family tradition—whileChristmas dinner is cooking, the family hangs out socializing and watching football. What did you expect? Just because we’re rich doesn’t mean we don’t know how to have fun.
“CJ, Tara? What would you like to drink?” Richard asks from behind the bar.
“Are you still serving your famous hot toddy?” I ask.
“Of course! It wouldn’t be Christmas without it!” My stepfather is the typical CEO. A well-trimmed man who wears sweater vests and has gray hair, but is surprisingly charismatic and outgoing.
“Tara, would you like one?”
She looks back and forth between Richard and me. “What is it exactly?”
“It’s hot tea mixed with brandy, lemon, and honey. It’s divine. Come on, I’ll show you.” He escorts her into the kitchen so he can boil the water.
After they’re gone, my sisters pounce like wild cats.
“Somebody has a girlfriend,” Camille teases me.
“A really young, pretty one. CJ is robbing the cradle,” Cara adds.
“Will you two be quiet. We’re friends.” My sisters are twelve and thirteen years my junior and have always been adorable, little thorns in my side.
“Where did you find her? A high school parking lot?” They continue to heckle me.
“She’s older than both of you. Now shut up or I will hang your Barbies from the ceiling fan again.”
They both gasp. “You’re so mean!” Camille scolds me.
“And you’re so annoying,” I fire back, causing all three of us to erupt into laughter. It echoes around the whole room.
I swear no matter how long I’m away, things never change.
As soon as Tara and Richard re-enter the room, my sisters turn their sights on her, pelting her with questions.
“Where are you from?”
“Where did you go to high school?”
“Sisters, brothers?”Yada, yada.
“Is your hair color real?”That one made me laugh.
Tara barely bats an eyelash as she goes toe to toe with the two of them. I’m impressed, I’ll admit. The duo can be quite intimidating when they gang up on someone.
“How did you and CJ meet?” Cara asks.
“He’s best friends with my brother-in-law,” Tara answers, half done with her hot toddy.
Cara and Camille both laugh, hysterically.
“CJ doesn’t have friends,” Camille says, nearly doubled over.
I take offense to their response, but before I can defend myself, Tara swoops in.
