18

Liesl stepped closer to him happily as he stood in front of her. He completely ignored the sputtering of Merlin and the yammering questions of Sandy demanding to know who the man was and smiled at him.

He was intently studying her. “Are you okay?”

The concern on his face made warmth spread through her chest. “Yes. I am. Are we ready to start? Did the engineer give clearance?”

“Liesl, I demand you stop this nonsense at once. Come here and we will discuss this immediately.” Merlin growled furiously.

Isaias cocked his head to one side, and then looked at her curiously, “please tell me this is not how he spoke to when you were married.”

“Only when I disappointed him,” she whispered feeling embarrassed at the condescension in Merlin’s voice, “and never in public. I will say I never heard him yell until today.”

“Do you want to talk to him?”

“No. I’m done with them both.”

Sandy edged her way closer, “Liesl are you going to introduce me or not? I’m your sister.”

Isaias shot her a dirty look and then gave one to Merlin. “How the hell do you listen to her voice? It’s the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. Do you tape her mouth shut when you fuck?”

Merlin turned a strange shade of red Liesl had never seen before in her life and Janka and Elsie were gasping for breath as they struggled not to laugh aloud at the insult.

He looked to Liesl, “I do not see the family resemblance. Did your mother fuck around? She’s a five at best. You’re off the charts. It’s like trading a thoroughbred for a donkey. You got the looks in the family.” He looked behind him at Fred. “If he had to cheat on you with a sibling he should have gone for Fred. He’s far hotter.”

“Merlin, are you going to let him talk to me like this?” Sandy squealed angrily.

“Sandy, stand there and shut up,” Merlin hissed at her. “I know the concept of being quiet and letting the adults talk is foreign to you but if you could shut up for ten fucking seconds.” He rubbed his forehead. He swallowed and spoke calmly and collectedly, much more in line with the man Liesl knew, “Machado, I do not want my marital home destroyed. Please. Sell it back to me. I will give you two million for it.”

“Wow. It’s only worth five hundred thousand.” He tapped his chin as if he were considering the offer and then he turned, motioned to the foreman, and gave him the signal to begin.

“Why are you doing this?” Merlin growled. “Liesl? Is this a revenge thing?”

“No.” She turned to face him as the scraping of the bulldozer along the walkway to the front door reached her ears. “Actually, that’s a lie. Yes. It is. I despise you. The both of you.” She looked to her sister, “do you know how many of our father’s family have reached out to me to tell me he would be rolling in his grave at your behavior? Even Nana, mom’s mom, called me to say how disappointed she is in you and Mom for all this bullshit. You can have my engagement ring. You can have the fancy cars and the expensive clothing. You can even have Merlin and the baby he said I wasn’t allowed to have. But you’re not getting my house, Sandy. Fuck you both.”

She turned just in time to see Fred plow the front door through the house. The shattering of glass and wood making her lips turn up.

“Liesl stop this.” Merlin begged.

“I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I told you. I sold the house. Isaias bought it from me. It’s his to do with as he wants,” as the screeching of the equipment sliding along the metal casing of the door frame as Fred dragged it backwards, she clapped excitedly. She gripped Isaias’s arm with her fingers, “this is orgasmic.”

“Liesl!” Merlin heard her comment ready to chastise her.

Isaias grinned, “not even close, sweetheart.” He winked at her and waved his fingers in a circular motion in front of her face, “I’ve seen your orgasm face. This isn’t it.”

She slapped his arm laughing as he pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head.

The strange gurgling sound coming from Merlin made them look over.

“You’re sleeping with him!” he accused.

Janka spoke up, always one to enjoy getting under Merlin’s skin. “Pretty sure they don’t sleep. She was wrecked when he brought her home this morning.”

Isaias laughed, “there’s truth in your statement. We may need to go home and nap after this. Last night was a workout.”

“Liesl why are you doing this? Why with him?” Merlin slapped Sandy’s hand off his arm.

“I saw him at Mara’s restaurant. We hit it off.” She cuddled into Isaias, “now can you stop talking Merlin? Your display of temper is very unbecoming of a man of your station. Your mother would be quite displeased.” She mocked him with wide eyes before turning her attention back to the scene as Fred pushed the bulldozer a bit further into the house before backing all the way out. Fred jumped off the equipment and was excitedly talking to the foreman. Her big brother had really enjoyed using the equipment.

“Machado, I don’t know what kind of dirt you have on my wife to make her behave like this.”

“Not your wife.” Liesl and Isaias both spoke at the same time and shared a grin.

“I will sue you.”

“For what? Buying a house and doing with it what I want? Have at it.” He laughed, “I don’t mind wasting your money in court. Oh, you should know, the deal you were making for the subdivision near the heights is over. I signed it yesterday.” He called over the loud banging of a jackhammer somewhere on the property. A loud crack echoed around them as the roof was taken down from behind the house.

Sandy’s devastated squeal as the house started to fold in from the other side made Liesl feel all kinds of things she knew a good person shouldn’t. The thrill of denying her this one thing of hers was by far the most exciting feeling she’d had in a long time, bar the man standing behind her with his arms wrapped over her shoulders and holding her to his chest. She looked up at him and noted he was watching her, not the demolition. She couldn’t help but smile at him.

“Thank you, Isaias.”

“Thank you,” he whispered in her ear. “This was a lifelong fantasy come true. The fact McGrath’s son is standing six feet away, sputtering like Scrooge McDuck is giving me a hardon. We may need to jump in the limo.”

She laughed and slapped his hands at her chest as he playfully nuzzled her neck, sending Merlin into a rageful rant and Sandy squealing how it was all unfair.

Fred came running over ignoring his youngest sister and her husband. “Oh my god. This is the best Saturday morning I’ve had in years.” He stepped closer to Isaias and slapped him on the shoulder and stared at Liesl, “how you are doing, sweetie?”

“I’m good Fred.”

He kissed her cheek, “Meredith told me to be no later than one because we promised Winnie to do her back-to-school shopping today, but if you need me, I can cancel. Meredith will understand.”

“No. I’m great. The girls and I are going to do a bit of shopping this afternoon because I have a dinner date tonight.” She was watching the house as it very quickly was pulled apart to become a giant heap of rubble.

“This isn’t over Liesl. We are not done,” Merlin leaned forward and hurled at her angrily. “You crossed a line!”

She waved to the house, “fairly sure it’s done. As done as you and I were the minute you told me you had an indiscretion with my sister. Stop calling me. Stop texting me. Stop harassing me. Both of you. If you both continue to behave as you have been, I will involve a lawyer.”

“You’re breaking mom’s heart,” Sandy wiped tears off her cheeks as she sobbed at the demolition. “She wanted this for me as much as I did. You ruined our dream.”

“Sue me.” She shrugged and then looked to the girls. “Should we get lunch and go shopping? I believe someone mentioned he was taking me dancing. I need a dress.”

She stood on tiptoe and kissed Isaias’s cheek. “I will see you at seven?”

“You will.” He pulled her in closer and kissed her firmly on the mouth. “I won’t be late. You won’t be going home.”