17

She was standing impatiently outside the safety zone of the house chatting with Janka and Elsie while Isaias and his team went through the house carefully one more time to make sure there was nothing inside which could cause a problem once it was demolished.

“I can’t believe he’s going to level a half million-dollar house.” Elsie was still shaking her head. “It seems wasteful.”

“On the way over, I got a text from Merlin. He said his flight had landed and he needed to talk to me. He wanted to remake another offer on the house. He felt strongly his child should be raised in a house where love was. He said I am punishing my nephew by refusing to allow him to grow in a home where his father knew only happiness and how it is unlike me to be spiteful and petty. He wants me to rethink my decisions and to sit down and have a rational, logical conversation with him and to consider not holding his mistakes against his son.”

“Wait ‘til he finds out you spitefully fucked his arch nemesis.”

“Nope,” she shook her head vehemently to Janka’s words. “Did I sell my house, give him intel, and even antagonize Trent last night with his presence, purely out of spite and the need for revenge? Yup. I did. But the sex and this budding romance or whatever you want to call it, it’s all for me. He makes me feel good. He makes me laugh and he’s good to look at and I like him. I genuinely like him.” She smiled, “he’s taking me to dinner and dancing tonight.”

“He is?” Janka giggled and nudged her with her hip. “Are you the main course or the dessert? You definitely looked ravished when you two showed up at Fred’s this morning.”

“The entire buffet,” she giggled back. “I know we did a spa day yesterday, but I may need another one soon or a new fitness regime to keep up.”

“God, please tell me it wasn’t all missionary and love making?” Elsie pleaded.

“Not even once,” she grinned back.

The three women looked at the street behind them as a black town car pulled towards the driveway which was blocked off with security tape for their protection.

“Oh god,” she gave a snort, “Isaias is going to love this too much. Look who it is?”

“Is that Merlin and Sandy? Did they come straight here from the airport?” Elsie was dumbfounded.

“Yes.” She giggled delightedly. “Oh. It’s too much.”

“Should you warn Isaias?”

She looked over her shoulder at the guards who was talking into a mic attached to his collar, “pretty sure his security team is already on it.”

Janka was bouncing from one foot to the other. “This is the best day ever. Um, weren’t they were in the Caribbean, why is she not tanned? Also, who comes straight from their honeymoon to their ex-wife’s house?”

“A loser with no morals?” Elsie answered with a smug smirk as the man in question clearly overheard her insult.

“Elsie, Janka, nice to see you as always,” Merlin McGrath nodded politely ignoring the comment. “What is going on? Why are you all outside?”

Sandy reached for Merlin tucking her arm through his. “We came straight here from the airport. We really want to settle this house thing. Please, it’s important to me,” Sandy’s eyes narrowed on Liesl’s neck. “Is that a hickey or a burn?”

Liesl considered as she stood staring at her sister’s smug face and her ex-husband’s stoic countenance, she realized she wasn’t angry but relieved. They weren’t her problem. Merl’s eyes homed in on where Sandy was glaring, and his lips pursed with annoyance. She didn’t give two shits. “What do you want?”

“Can we go inside and talk?” Merl answered with his usual calm, emotionless fa?ade.

“No.” She almost laughed as he seemed surprised by her refusal.

“Please,” he added as if it would help.

“Sorry. Can’t.”

“We are not having this discussion on the street. It is time the three of us hash this out respectfully.”

“No, it’s not.” She laughed, “there is no three of us. There is you two and me. I don’t owe either of you my time, respect, or consideration. The house was mine per the prenup to do with as I see fit.”

“Then see fit as to sell it to us,” Sandy stomped her foot angrily. “This is the perfect home for our child. It has the garden, the pool and the fenced in yard. All the light and the spare rooms will be perfect for when we add to the family.”

Liesl noted how Merl looked disgusted with Sandy’s behavior, and she stifled a laugh. He had never liked public displays and she knew Sandy stomping was aggravating him. He was not enjoying the bed he had made.

“Liesl, if any of the last eight years meant anything, you will allow us to sit down and talk.”

“The last eight years meant nothing to you so why should it mean anything to me? You didn’t consider the last eight years while you screwed my sister so forgive me for very easily wiping them from my memory banks.”

“Your language doesn’t become you. You still love me, Liesl. It didn’t die overnight. Eight years doesn’t simply vanish in six weeks.”

She didn’t miss the anger on Sandy’s face at the implication of his words. He still loved her. She almost chortled with glee at the fury. “You left something in her which ruined it all for me. Love is not on the list of emotions I have for either of you. It’s been seven weeks since I found out, but it’s been a good productive time. I’ve had therapy. I’ve painted and worked through my emotions. I’m dating too. I’m good.” She gave a decisive nod and turned her head excitedly towards the start of heavy machinery in the yard. “Ooh, it’s starting!”

“You’re dating?” Merl asked ignoring the rest of her words.

Ignoring him, she grabbed Janka and Elsie’s hands and bounced up and down with anticipation.

“Why is Fred on a backhoe?” Sandy stared at the sight of her brother climbing into the machinery.

“He’s taking out the front door,” she exhaled with glee.

“Excuse me? What?” Merl reached for her, and she sidestepped him. “What on earth for? Why are you changing the door?” When she ignored him, he clicked his tongue angrily, “Liesl I am speaking to you.”

“Merlin, I don’t give a shit,” she tossed back not paying him another glance. It was happening. The house which recently had felt like the embodiment of her crushed hopes and dreams was about to be demolished.

“Is that a wrecker?” he looked to another piece of equipment beyond Fred. “What the hell is going on?”

“I sold the house,” she was trembling with anticipation.

“You did what?” Sandy squealed.

“All cash offer. Full asking price. The new owner wants to build a playpark for the neighborhood as a beautification project. He’s going to demolish it.” Her voice was getting higher and higher as excitement coursed through her veins. She had thought she’d have some feelings of sadness but with these two standing behind her with their matching gold bands and Sandy sporting the engagement ring she wore for six years, she eagerly wanted to see it all crumble to dust.

“Like hell!” Merlin started to walk up the driveway, but three men blocked him.

“I’m sorry but for safety reasons, you will not be permitted closer.”

“This is my house!” he spat furiously.

“I don’t believe it is, sir. The house was purchased by my employer last Saturday and plans were immediately developed to accommodate a vision he had for the neighborhood. You need to step back.”

“Tell him I will triple what he paid for it if he stops now.” Merlin screamed, “Fred, get out of the damn machine!”

Liesl considered in eight years she had never heard Merlin raise his voice let alone scream. She quirked an eyebrow at his behavior. How Fred heard him over the roar of the machine was beyond her, but Liesl snickered when Fred, sporting a lovely hardhat, turned to look at him and raised his middle finger. Then with a smirk, he raised his other hand and repeated the motion.

“Oh, there he is,” Janka said as Isaias walked out of the front door with a serious expression, down the three little steps and headed in their direction.

Merl spun to her furiously, “you sold our house to Machado?”

She barely heard him as she focused on the gorgeous man in his perfectly tailored suit walking towards her purposefully as if she were the only thing he could see. His hair was glinting in the summer sunlight. She heard Janka’s low whistle of appreciation at the man’s natural swagger and Sandy’s hissed “who is he?” but she couldn’t tear her eyes off him. He was laser focused and it was all on her.