Limitless Love (Lotus House #4)(82)

Clayton was reading to Lily and putting her to bed, his deep rumble a comfort as I navigated toward the end of the hall where the guest room was. As I approached, I could hear my sister’s hushed words.

“No. It’s too soon.”

I frowned and slowly walked up as quietly as possible.

“I don’t know the codes.” Her voice rose with what sounded like irritation. “I haven’t been in a position to need them.”

I crept up closer to the door. It was open enough that I could see she was standing facing the back window, her cellphone glued to her ear.

“Of course I love you. Why would you ever question that?” Her shoulders pulled back and she stiffened. “I don’t know when a good time will be. I told you, I’ll call.”

Who did she love? Kyle? Could she be talking to my ex-husband, the man who beat, cut, and raped her? The man who almost killed her sister? It couldn’t be. A sense of dread shifted the air around me and I couldn’t wait any longer to intrude.

Just as I pushed through the door, she groaned, turned around, and tossed her phone on the bed, hanging up on whoever she had been talking to. Her gaze lifted to mine, and she stopped dead in her tracks.

“Who were you talking to?” I asked directly.

“A friend.” She crossed her arms over her chest. A defensive move I recognized a mile away.

“A friend you love?”

Matisse scowled and glanced off into the distance.

“Answer me!”

Her head snapped back, her gaze locking with mine. “Yes.” Her tone bordered on miserable before she turned and sat heavily on the end of the bed and put her face in her hands.

“Kyle?” I asked, not being able to keep the slice of anger out of my words.

Her head came up, tears flowing down her face. “Gosh, no! I haven’t seen him in weeks. Months, even.”

I rested my hand against the bureau to hold myself steady. “Then who?”

She shook her head. “No one you know. Just a coworker.”

“So why wasn’t he at the hospital or asking to come here?” I dug, needing more from her.

“Because I don’t want him to see me. Not like this. He’ll never get past what happened to me. I’m not sure I can get past it!” Tears welled in her eyes and poured down her cheeks.

I rushed over and sat down on the edge of the bed, placing a hand to her back while she cried. “I’m sorry, I know how hard this must be for you. I have firsthand knowledge.”

A flash of anger fired bright in her eyes before something changed, and it was like closing the blinds on a window. Her expression went back to cold and blank.

“Matisse, please talk to me. I need to know what happened with Kyle. When he hurt me, he said some things I can’t forget, and those things made it seem as if you were still with him.”

She wiped at the tears on her cheeks and clenched her teeth. “I had nothing to do with your attack. As I told you, I’m seeing someone new. Haven’t heard from Kyle in a while. Are you telling me that you don’t believe me? Your own sister? After the man raped me? I hated him after I found out what he did to you. Leaving you is one thing, but trying to kill you?” She shook her head and let her question drop.

I petted her back and rushed to ease her worries. “Okay. I’m sorry. I’m sure you understand that I had to ask.”

Matisse narrowed her eyes for just a second. The movement was barely perceptible, but still I saw it and had no idea what it meant.

“Yes, I understand. And I’ll be out of your hair soon if that’s what you’re worried about. I can tell that your new boyfriend doesn’t like me.” Her nostrils flared and her lips curled minutely before she settled her features into her usual mask.

Regardless of what Clayton felt or didn’t feel, Matisse was my sister. I wanted her here if this is where she needed to be. I also needed her to understand where Clayton was coming from. “Matisse, he doesn’t know you. None of us do, really. You barely speak, you’ve not taken any time getting to know Lily, and you’ve spent most of your time hiding out in here.”

“I just don’t want to be a bother, but I can’t go home. Not when I know he could get to me. I’m so scared he’ll come back for me and finish the job.” A sob tore through her, and she tugged me into an embrace and cried on my shoulder. I held her for a long time. Long enough for the sobs to abate into small sniffles.

“You don’t have to go anywhere. You can stay as long as you’d like. You’re welcome here. You’re my sister, and this is my home. Matisse, you’re always welcome.”

She nodded into my shoulder and made a choking sound. “Thanks. Thank you, Monet. You’re the best big sister a girl could ever hope for.”

I grinned. The feeling of doing something right soothed any nervous energy I’d had when approaching her. She hadn’t had anything more to do with Kyle. She feared him and was evidently in love with someone new. All of that sounded really good.

I rubbed her back until she calmed down completely. “Everything is going to be okay. Soon Kyle will be caught and put behind bars.”

“I know. It will all work out the way it’s supposed to,” she asserted, her voice monotone.

“Okay, well, I’m going to let you get some rest. See you tomorrow. Maybe we can spend some time talking more and getting to know one another again. As adults.” I got up, went to the door, and laid my hand on the doorknob, ready to leave.