"Hidden With Lies" chapter 1

"There is no goddamn way, Gina, so stop pestering me," I said through gritted teeth, "I told you, I'm done with all that." I continued, calming myself down. Gina was walking away, she'd all but given up. I sighed and leaned up against the counter, and took a sip of coffee from an old, chipped up, navy blue tea cup. The faded name 'Sarah' barely showing on the side. When my eyes caught a glimpse of the name, I set the cup down. I heard the back door slam behind Gina. "I know that child is smart, but does she have to be so stubborn?" I asked, talking to myself. "She'll be back later," I couldn't help but let the corner of my lips slide into a smile, "She get's that from me," I told myself.

My hand met my forehead, and my elbow hit the counter, "Why me?" I asked, to no one, again. My long, light brown hair fell on my shoulders, and into my face, "What should I do?" I asked myself, "You could do what Gina wants you to, but she's just a child, or you could ignore it, like you told yourself you would do, after what happened last time… I couldn't, I don't want Gina to lose me, I can't…" I reassured myself.

Gina was my daughter, Gina was my only child. She is also the product of my ex-husband, who turned out to be an asshole, a few months after our wedding. When I told him I was pregnant, he wanted nothing to do with me or the baby, and because of that, I wanted nothing to do with him. Fine, I got the car, the house, the Credit Cards, so he got the cabin in south Florida, it didn't matter, I got Gina.

I gave a loud sigh, "I need to get ready for work," I told myself. I seem to talk to myself a lot, when Gina's not in the room. She's only thirteen, but she has a lot of good input on things. I swear, that child is a thirty-five-year-old, in a thirteen-year-old's body. She doesn't have school today, it's a teacher's workshop day or something, who knows.

I walk into my bedroom, and pull on some tan slacks, and a light blue shirt. I walk over to the bathroom and pick up a clip, putting one end in my mouth. I pull my hair back into a ponytail, then twist it around a few times into a bun, then use my clip to hold it tight, a few sprays of hair spray and for the first time in a long time, it all stays in. I'm about 5'10" tall enough, I've got a slim figure, it comes naturally. I pull on my heavy jacket, and open the front door, when snow comes tumbling into my face, dampening my clothes, I slam the front door shut. "Gina!" I yell, I'm too lazy to look at a calendar, "YEA?!" Gina yells from across the house, "WHAT'S TODAY'S DATE?" I yell, louder, so I could be sure she heard me "December, 2-" All I heard was 'December' and the first digit of the date, but it was enough to know, it was too cold to go outside, damnit. I walked into the kitchen, and picked up the phone. Dialed seven digits, "Hey, is there work today? My front porch is covered with snow, going six feet tall," I exaggerated a little bit, okay, a lot. But surprisingly, my boss answered "No, there's no work today, apparently Mary's house was covered in snow to fourteen feet tall," I gave a giggle. "Right," I said, holding back laughter, my boss continued "Besides, it's Christmas Eve, why the hell would I ask you in to work?" 'Oh yea, Christmas Eve, duh.' I thought to myself, "Oh, right, I'll see you in a week then?" I asked my boss "Yea, in a week," she replied. So, no work today… what am I supposed to do all day?!

Suddenly the phone rang, I answered, "Hello?"

"Hey, it's Rino,"

"Rino, I told you, I'm done! DONE!"

"I know, I know, but there's something you should know, a little piece of information I found out this morning, from Jeff, regarding Sarah,"

My eyes widened at this name, "S-Sarah?" I asked, swallowing hard.

"I need to talk to you, be here at noon, or don't come at all," I looked at my watch, 11:30.

"Yea, yea I'll be there."

I heard a click and then no one on the other line, I ran and grabbed my keys in a rush, "Shit! Gina!" I said, yelling at myself, "GINA!" I called quickly, "Yea?" Gina yelled, standing ten feet away, "Sorry, I didn't see you there, I'm going out for a while, I'll be back in a bit," I said, then rushed out the door, leaving Gina standing curiously. No time for that now, it takes 45 minutes to get to Rino's, how the hell am I gonna get there by noon? The car tires screeched as I pull out the driveway and turned the car hard on the ice-capped road. My car slid a little, but I didn't care. Then it hit me, the roads are empty! Oh, thank god for that, I might be able to make it to Rino's on time.