Chapter 12 - Between Roses and Thorns

Kyera parked her motorcycle by the curb on the other side of the square. A discreet smile lit up her face as she saw the graceful store in the center, surrounded by benches, trees and an elegant fountain. The flower shop, built by his uncle and godfather, Paul, and run by his aunt, Suzzan, was just one of their possessions. They also had a vast estate where they grew flowers of all kinds

After crossing the square, she pushed open the store's door, causing the bell to sound to announce her arrival. Despite the charming structure, the space inside was not as large as she remembered. On the other side, Mykaella had her back turned, busy arranging a vase of red roses.

— Wait a minute, I'll be right with you. – said Mykaella, without even turning around.

Kyera took a deep breath before calling her childhood best friend:

— Myka?

The familiar voice made Mykaella raise her head, frowning. Slowly, she turned around and her green eyes met Kyera's.

— Ky? – she whispered, holding her breath. – Is that you?

The hug that followed was full of emotion and nostalgia, a mixture of tears and smiles that reflected their reunion after so long. When they finally pulled away, Mykaella looked at her with an expression that mixed curiosity and concern.

— Ky, what happened to you? Where have you been all these years? – she asked, examining her cousin's face for answers.

— I was in New York with Aunt Siena. – replied Kyera, wiping away her tears. – You didn't know?

— No. My father hasn't spoken much since he left. – sighed Mykaella, grimacing. – In fact, he hasn't spoken much since Mom died last year.

The mention of her aunt's death made Kyera's heart clench. She remembered how her uncle had been a cheerful and welcoming man when she was a child, but it seemed that everything had changed.

— I'm sorry about your mother, Myka. She was an incredible person. – Kyera touched her cousin's shoulder in a gesture of comfort.

Mykaella forced a sad smile.

— Thank you, Ky. She's really missed.

The two remained silent for a few moments, until Mykaella decided to continue the conversation at home. After closing the store, they both walked along the opposite side of the square to a nice white two-storey house with a balcony and a well-kept garden.

— I'd forgotten how beautiful this house is. – commented Kyera as she approached.

Mykaella led Kyera inside and invited her to sit down. As she made her way to the kitchen, she asked:

— Do you still prefer tea or have you switched to coffee? We have that strawberry tart you used to love. Do you remember it?

— Of course I do. I'll have an iced tea, if you don't mind. – replied Kyera, smiling.

While she waited, Kyera looked around, admiring the house which, despite some renovations, didn't seem to have changed much.

— This place hasn't changed at all.

— My father has made a few improvements, but the essence is the same. My mother left it like this before she left.

Kyera accepted the mug Mykaella handed her and sighed as she sat down on one of the stools.

— I met your father at the cemetery today. I went to visit my mother's grave and it was strange.

— How strange?

— I don't know, he seemed angry. – Kyera paused, observing her cousin's worried expression. – He said I shouldn't have come, that I'd better leave before it was too late. Do you know what he meant by that?

— I have no idea. But he's been very strange since Mom died. And it got even worse after Aunt Sara died. – Mykaella sighed and shrugged. – It's as if he's afraid of something, but he never says anything.

Uncle Paul's behavior did seem mysterious, and Kyera couldn't ignore the words Siena had written in the letter before her trip. After a long sip of tea, she decided to change the subject.

— I need a place to stay in the city while I sort out a few things. The hotel I found only has a vacancy for tonight. Can I stay here? I promise to help with the expenses.

Mykaella gave me a warm smile.

— It would be a pleasure to have you stay with us. And as for the expenses...

Paul Collins was furious. His deep, penetrating voice echoed through the kitchen as he burst into the room, abruptly interrupting the conversation between Kyera and Mykaella. He was standing in the doorway that separated the living room from the kitchen, his eyes flashing with anger.

— Keep your money, we don't need it! – Paul shouted, drawing both their gazes towards his imposing figure.

Mykaella was surprised by her father's presence. – Father? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the farm? – she asked, trying to hide the confusion in her voice. – Is that any way to treat Kyera?

Paul remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on Kyera, who could hardly recognize the man who had once affectionately called her “Hummingbird”. As a child, he had been gentle and protective; now, he displayed an inexplicable hostility.

Suddenly, he lunged forward, grabbing Kyera's arm hard enough to leave her unresponsive.

— You can't stay in our house, you're not welcome here! – he declared, pulling her towards the door with a brutality that made Mykaella scream with fright.

— Dad, what are you doing? – Mykaella ran after him as Paul dragged Kyera out and threw her on the garden ground.

Kyera stared at him, shocked. The mixture of anger and despair in her uncle's eyes only added to her confusion.

— Go away, Kyera! – he repeated, his voice now low but laden with menace. – For your own good, get out of Lone Ridge as soon as possible!

Without waiting for an answer, Paul crossed the wooden fence and got into his truck. The engine rumbled and, in a matter of seconds, he was gone. Kyera remained on the ground for a few moments, breathing hard and trying to hold back her tears.

— Ky, are you all right? – Mykaella asked, helping her up. – I don't know what came over him. I've never seen him act like this, especially with you.

Kyera sighed, wiping the sand off her pants.

— It's all right. I'll find somewhere else to stay.

Mykaella frowned, although she let out a nervous laugh.

— So, you intend to stay in the city?

Kyera smiled, determination returning to her countenance.

— Now more than ever. Besides, I need to return the deed to the Stella stud farm.

— The deed? What are you doing with it? – Mykaella asked, puzzled.

Kyera took a deep breath, preparing to explain.

— My mother left a letter. She found out that my father had pulled a scam and forged a power of attorney to get the deed. Before confronting him, she sent the documents to Aunt Siena. – She paused, looking at the horizon as if seeking courage. – My mother asked Siena to return them, but it seems she never did.

— So, you're here to put that right? – Mykaella concluded.

— Yes, and to resolve some issues with my father. Does he still live in the same place?

— Yes, but he's out of town. Vince is traveling, helping with Bryan's Senate campaign.

Kyera sighed in frustration.

— What the hell!

She knew that these campaign trips were long and intense, which meant that confronting her father wouldn't be immediate. Still, Paul's aggressiveness ignited a new determination in Kyera. Something was wrong, and she wouldn't rest until she understood what it was.

— Looks like I'll be staying longer than I thought. I'd better find a job to occupy myself. – She cast a hopeful glance at Mykaella. – Any suggestions?

Mykaella shrugged.

— I've already got help at the flower shop, but I hear Luck is in need of waitresses at the bar.

Kyera gave an amused smile.

— I know how to balance glasses. And silly songs won't intimidate me. Where is the bar?

After getting the information, the two returned to the square where they would say goodbye. Before they did, Mykaella's eyes lit up when she noticed Kyera's motorcycle parked across the street.

— Oh my God! Is she yours? – she asked, delighted, as she circled the vehicle like a child discovering a new toy.

— Yes, it is. It was a present from Aunt Siena. – Kyera replied proudly.

— Is it true that she left you a fortune?

Kyera laughed as she put on her helmet.

— She left me some property and enough money to keep me stable, but I'm not a millionaire. I work because I enjoy it, not to spend it on nonsense.

— I see. – Mykaella replied, casting one last glance at the bike. – You know where to find me, then. Good luck in the bar!

Kyera smiled before setting off, the motorcycle's engine roaring as she disappeared down the Lone Ridge road, determined to face the mysteries that the town and her family held.

Kyera stopped for a moment at the traffic light. Her eyes roamed the surroundings until they settled on the Marquese Manor, the name chosen by her father to give the property an aura of prestige. It was a Victorian-style building, painted white and impeccably maintained, despite the passing years.

On the veranda, a woman caught the eye. She had curly brown hair, pinned up on top of her head, with a few loose strands framing her temples. She was wearing a pencil skirt and a short-sleeved dress shirt. Despite the Texas heat, she was barefoot, with her hands on her waist, talking to a man who, from his simple attire, seemed to be the gardener. The woman looked about Kyera's age and was clearly too tidy for the sunny day.

— She doesn't look like a maid. – she muttered to herself. – Who could she be? Maybe an assistant?

Determined to find out, Kyera decided that she would use her father's time away to investigate more about him and the secrets surrounding him. Not only about that woman's identity, but also about everything he had done during the years he had left her in New York. However, before facing these questions, Kyera knew she had to get rid of something much heavier: the burden her mother had carried all her life.

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