Masquerade (Masquerade #1) Read online

  “Honey, I’m glad your memory is back, but I know this is hard. I want you to stay here as long as you need to.”

  “Thank you, Aunt Karen. I am so happy you’re here. I feel lost since my parents aren’t here, but I think it would be even worse too. I still don’t understand why they lied to me all those years.”

  “I am sure they had a good reason.” She jumps up quickly out of her spot on the couch. “That reminds me, I found a letter in one of the books on the shelf over here. It’s an art book, so there is no doubt that your mother wrote it. It’s made out to you. I haven’t opened it.”

  She hands it to me. “I am going to go upstairs, honey. If you need me, you know where I am.”

  I smile at her then start looking at the envelope. I’m not too sure if I even want to read it. I trace over where she has written Julia on the outside of the envelope and remember how I always thought her handwriting was so pretty.

  I bite the bullet and turn it over to put my finger underneath the top flap of the letter. I pull the letter out and unfold it to begin to read.

  Dearest Julia,

  You are getting this letter because your dad and I are gone. I hate that we had to leave you and Lucy. I need to tell you some things and hope you can forgive us for what I am about to tell you. The day you left to go and find Jason is the same day you told us you were pregnant.

  To be honest, to start with I was so angry with you. I couldn’t believe you had let this happen to you. I know you want to know the reason we never told you that Lucy was your daughter. Your father and I had good reasoning of why we didn’t tell you. The day you got into the wreck, we had received a phone call a few minutes earlier from Jason’s dad. He told us we should make you abort the baby and never to tell Jason anything. That is why he was sending him off for a long time. At the time, we didn’t know what he was talking about until Mrs. Colton told us he was making him travel the world to forget about you or the baby.

  I knew there was no way I was going to let you abort this baby. But as soon your father hung up with Mr. Colton, you were screaming and crying. We yelled back and forth until the line went dead. I tried over and over again to get you. Finally the phone rang, and it was a police officer saying that you had been in an accident. We left hurriedly to get to you in Atlanta. In fact, the hospital called, asking if it was okay to do surgery or anything else needed until we got there. That drive was the longest drive of my life. Not only was I in danger of losing my daughter, but my grandbaby too.

  When we arrived at the hospital, you were out of surgery but in a coma. I asked the doctors about the baby, and that is when they said, through the grace of God, it was in perfect condition.

  You had Lucy in Atlanta. The day she was born is when we decided to tell you she was your sister if you had no recollection of the birth, which according the doctors, they didn’t think you would. We knew we couldn’t tell you the truth because we were scared that Jason’s father would come after her. The hospital helped us hide everything luckily since your father was good friends with the CEO of the hospital.

  Once you started getting better, we had you transferred to a local hospital to have you closer to home. I started taking care of Lucy when one day you woke up. I was so happy to see those green eyes again.

  I really do hope you understand why we did this. We were protecting the both of you the best way we knew how. I couldn’t let a monster like that have that sweet baby girl of yours. Please know we didn’t do this to keep you in the dark; we had our reasons. One day when Lucy gets older, there will be times you do stuff because you know the reasoning behind it is better than the alternative.

  We love you so much. Your dad and I are so proud of the woman you have become. Never let go of the memoires you do remember. I hope you gain all of them back one day and you see why this all happened the way it happened. Remember you can’t choose your life, but you can choose how to live it. So live it to the fullest. Forgive and forget.

  Love,

  Mom and Dad

  I lay down on the couch, clutching the letter and crying.

  Chapter Twenty

  I woke up on the couch with a blanket on top of me. I still had the letter clutched to my chest. Things were making sense, but I still felt betrayed.

  I had to explain to Lucy later that day why we were staying with our aunt. She was happy about it because, “It was like a big spend-the-night party.” But she missed Chris. I was going to have to tell her about him, but right now was just not the time.

  I went back to work early from my vacation because I needed the distraction, and I also needed to finish up on finalizing my trip to Venice.

  Chris sends me texts telling me he misses us and that he loves us. He also sends one vowing that he will never lie again. He calls too, to talk to Lucy mainly.

  I am thinking after I get home from my trip, I am going to let Lucy in on all the secrets that we have been hiding. I think it’s time because she asks too many questions as it is.

  It’s the day before I have to leave, so I have the day off to get packed and make sure all my lose ends are tied up at home. I am so excited to be going. I think going will really help with my head. At least I hope so.

  I make sure that evening to spend as much time with Lucy as I can. My aunt has agreed to watch her and so has Chris while I am gone.

  The next day, Lucy and Aunt Karen take me to the airport to drop me off.

  “You better bring me something home,” Lucy says as she hugs me.

  I kiss her head. “I will. I love you more than my big toe.”

  “I love you more than my nose.”

  I laugh and set her down to get hugs from my aunt when they announce that my flight is boarding. I pick up my bag with all my stuff in there to occupy me as I travel across the ocean. I start walking to the door, and I turn around and wave goodbye.

  I get on the plane and find my seat. I am in first class thanks to the museum, so I am not all squished up against somebody that I don’t want to be.

  I sit there for a few minutes before I remember to turn my phone off. I unlock it to see a text from Chris.

  Chris: I love you. Please be careful.

  I text him back.

  Julia: I will.

  I then turn my phone off and get ready for the rest of the people to finish boarding. Whenever everyone is on board, the flight attendants start their normal routine of exits and other stuff. I tune them out. I then buckle my seatbelt and pull out “Fallen Crest High” by Tijan to start reading.

  I fall asleep and am awoken by the dinging of the bell and the captain saying that we are making our decent. I sit up to buckle my belt and start feeling the pressure change as we are heading back down the runway.

  Getting off the plane, I retrieve my luggage from baggage claim and make my way to hail a cab. To my surprise when I walk outside, I see a man standing in front of a luxury car and holding a sign with my name on it. That’s strange because I don’t remember setting that up, but I will take it.

  He takes me to my hotel where I check in. Then the bellboy takes my luggage to my room. As I walk in, I notice how beautiful it is. I tip the bellboy, and he makes his way out, so now it’s my turn to explore.

  The room isn’t huge, but the view is the best part. I can see the ocean from my window. I open it to hear waves crashing. It is so peaceful. I turn around to look at the bathroom. I’m in girl heaven.

  The tub is huge with jets and a shower to the side. There is your normal toilet but a gorgeous counter that has two sinks and two mirrors above each sink. Oh, and the sink is a bowl. I am in love.

  Walking out of the bathroom, I find the phone and call downstairs to order room service. I’m thinking after I eat, I will take a long hot bath. I can’t wait to climb into that tub.

  I finally eat and bathe then lie down to fall into a dreamless sleep. I wake up the next morning feeling better than I have in a while.

  I get ready for my day at the museum, putting on a white sweater dress that
dips in the front, some black leggings, and brown boots. I wear a leopard print scarf to accessorize and also to help keep me warm.

  I find my bag and the hotel key and make my descent downstairs. I walk out to see the same car waiting for me. The guy opens the door to let me in then closes it. When I’m in, he walks back to the front of the car and gets in.

  “Where to ma’am?” he says with a thick Italian accent.

  “To Venice Academy Gallery Museum of Art.”

  He nods his head then proceeds to pull out into traffic. I figure this will be a perfect time to ask him who he is.

  “Excuse me, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful for all of this, but where did you come from?”

  He smiles, looking at me in the review mirror. “A Jason hired me to drive you to make sure you were safe.”

  “Damn him,” I mumble. “Thank you for all of this, but you don’t have to drive me around everywhere.”

  “Ma’am, I don’t mind, and I agree with this Jason. It would be better for you to have someone drive you then you getting cabs.”

  “Okay, I get you, but can you please call me Julia?”

  “I will, Julia. My name is Sergio. Here is my card with my number. Call me when you need a ride anywhere anytime.”

  “Thank you, Sergio.”

  He drops me off at the door to the museum and says to call him when I am ready to be picked up.

  I walk into the most breathtaking museum I have ever seen. It is huge with no corner left untouched by a piece of art. A man approaches me with his hand out.

  “You are Julia from the US?”

  “I am.”

  “I am Antonio. I will be helping you today with the paintings. I will also love to show you around.”

  “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”

  He starts taking me off on a tour of his massive museum. I am in awe of the art pieces and sculptures here. They range from Da Vinci, the tribute to Lorenzo Lotto, to The Gallerie Dell’Accademia. It is all so stunning.

  The tour of the museum takes a good two hours, but I can’t stop looking and oohing and aweing. Once we are done, we go to Antonio’s office to discuss what is being taken back with me. He already has them pulled but wants me to look at them before they are shipped.

  When we are finished with business, Antonio tries to take me out to dinner, but I blow him off the sweetest way I know how. I just want to go shopping to find a pretty gown to match my green mask, which I have brought with me, and buy some wine to relax. Antonio calls Sergio for me, and he even waits till Sergio arrives to collect me.

  Sergio takes me to the most popular places to shop in the area. I find the perfect dress as soon as I walk in the store. It is emerald green with a sweetheart neckline and is off the shoulders. It is an A-line dress and seems to flow for miles.

  I pair it with some black heels and a pear-shaped teardrop pendant and earrings to match. I am ready for the big ball tomorrow night, and I walk down a bit to find a local wine store and purchase a bottle of red wine.

  It is a quiet ride back to the hotel. I am going to have a repeat of last night: supper, bath, and bed. I hang my dress up in the closet and put my jewelry in the bathroom, getting it ready for tomorrow night.

  I then order some fried raviolis with marina sauce. These should be illegal they are that good.

  I soak in the tub for an hour before I get out, dressed only in a robe. I open the window to listen to the waves. They keep it really stuffy in these rooms. I fall asleep and dream of art.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  I have sleep in this morning since all my primping for the ball is to take place this afternoon. I throw some jeans and a t-shirt on and make my way downstairs to start my spa, which will include a message, facial, pedicure, and manicure. I am also getting my hair and makeup done. I mean, you only visit Venice every so often.

  By the time I am done, I have just enough time to get my dress, shoes, and jewelry on. I eye myself in the mirror, checking my hair and makeup. My hair is pulled up in a twist with some curls hanging down my face. My makeup is perfect. Not too much; it’s just barely accenting my eyes.

  Sergio is picking me up at seven. I look at the clock to see the time, and I have five minutes to make it down stairs. I grab my mask and clutch and make a mad dash for the door.

  It is only a short drive before we pull up to a private owned house that is decorated in the finest decorations and cost more than my car. I enter on the ‘Piano Noble,’ which is the first floor. It is also decorated to the nine with an old Venetian look to it and candles lit everywhere.

  On the first floor, I am taken to my table where a gala dinner takes place. There are also entertainers, music, and characters to make it feel as if you’re back to when it all began. I look around to realize that I am in the same house I was when I was fifteen.

  Once dinner and the show is done, I am escorted down to the lower floor where a DJ is setup to play. It looks just like that night so many years ago: the chandelier, the big dance floor, and the tables against the walls. I just stand taking everything in.

  I feel a hand touch my shoulder. “Would you care to dance?”

  I look up to see a man in a tuxedo with a black masculine mask covering his eyes and nose.

  “I would love to.”

  He holds my hand and pulls me out to the dance floor. We dance to “Sentimento,” which is an Italian waltz song. It’s gorgeous, and our bodies flow together as we glide over the dance floor.

  The song ends. “Can I have this next dance too?”

  “Sure. Can I ask you a question?”

  He spins me around. “Shoot.”

  “You are not from here are you?”

  He laughs. “No, I’m not.”

  “May I ask your name?”

  “Jason.”

  I stop mid step and look up at him. I pull his mask up. I should have known it was him. Our bodies were too attuned to each other. It still doesn’t mean I’m not in shock and pissed.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I want to start over.”

  “Start over?”

  “Yes: me, you, and Lucy.”

  “I don’t know. I mean, what do I even call you?”

  “I just told you my name. Call me Jason.”

  “I just . . .”

  He puts his finger over my lips, making me be quite. “Since you have been gone, I have thought a lot about us, me, Lucy, and my dad. I need to make this all right. I need you. I can’t breathe without you.”

  “Do you really think this is going to work? I feel like I can’t trust you, but on the other hand, I trust you with my life. I’m so confused.”

  “I will earn every single bit of trust back from you. I should have done things differently, but I was scared. I didn’t know at the time what else to do. All I knew is that I couldn’t live without you.”

  We begin to dance again. “Aunt Karen found a letter from my mom explaining why she lied. I get it now. I have had time to think about it, and I come to the conclusion your dad is a fucktard.”

  He laughs. “You are right about that. Can I read the letter?”

  “Actually, I think you need to. I know they were doing it for my own good. I would have done the same for Lucy in that position.”

  The song goes off, and the DJ announces the fireworks are about to begin. Jason and I make our way to the garden to join the festivities.

  Fireworks go off left and right for a total of thirty minutes. It lights up the sky with all the bright colors, and that is when I can feel my parents with me.

  When they are done, Sergio takes me and Chris back to my hotel. I have the letter in my bag. I pull it out and hand it to him.

  He is quite while reading it. I can’t gage his mood because his face is blank.

  “They loved you. You know that right?”

  “I do.”

  “I wish I had that growing up.”

  I sit down on the corner of the bed. “Jason, we have a lot to work through. T
his can’t just be swept under the rug. We both need closure.”

  “I agree, so I think we should make a couple’s therapy with Dr. Green. I am also going to see my dad. I need to explain the massive truth and give him a chance to accept it or leave it.”

  I smile. “Sounds like you have been planning.”

  “I have. I need you back. We need to also tell Lucy.”

  Sighing, I reply, “I thought I would as soon as I got home.”

  He sits down beside me, grabbing my hand and intertwining it. “We will do it together.”

  We lie down, and he holds me all night. We fall asleep in each other’s arms where I will always be.

  After discussing some of the things that are wrong we have decided that we will get through but we have a flight to catch.

  I am calm until we start to land. My anxiety is in overdrive knowing that the talk is going to happen.

  We find Jason’s car in the parking lot, and he loads all of our luggage up in the trunk. It feels like it doesn’t take but five minutes to get to Aunt Karen, but I know it has taken longer.

  I get out of the car, feeling like my heart is going to explode. We walk in the house, and Lucy runs into my arms.

  “Did you buy me something?”

  “It’s nice to see you too.”

  The door opens, and she lets go of me to take off towards Jason. He picks her up and spins her around. He kisses her head and sets her back down.

  I look at her. “Lucy, we need to talk to you.”

  She wines. “I want my prize.”

  Jason picks her back up. “Later. First we need to talk.”

  My aunt is in the living room about to get up to leave when I tell her to stay. She sits back down.

  Lucy sits down while Jason and I get on the other side of her.

  “I don’t know how to say this but just to come out and say it.” She looks at me like I’m crazy, but I continue. “You know how we have always called each other sisters?”

  She nods her head.

  “Well, that isn’t exactly true.”