Lie to Me by Julie Ortolon

away her trust fund, she couldn’t afford to keep working at Pearl Island in exchange for free rent.  
    She had to tell Allison a little bit, however, since her aunt now knew something was up. “Either she’s calling about the necklace again, or about wanting me to come to New Orleans. Probably both.”
    “The necklace from the shipwreck?” Allison frowned. “Why does she care about that?”
    “It’s a long story,” Chloe sighed. “Let’s just say she’s not happy it’s on display in the museum. She thinks I should try harder to get possession of it since I’m the one who found it.”
    “I thought you were happy with the judge’s ruling,” Allison said.
    “I am,” Chloe reassured her. “A valuable artifact like that should be in a museum where everyone can enjoy it. Being acknowledged as the owner was enough for me.”
    “I’m glad, since the necklace is going to stay put, but why does she want you to come to New Orleans?” Allison asked.
    Chloe turned away. “For her engagement party.”
    “Your mother’s getting married?” The word “again” hadn’t been said, but it hung in the air.  
    “Apparently.” Chloe tried to make light of it with a snort.
    Silence followed.
    When Allison spoke, her words sounded casual. “Wanna talk about it?”
    “Nothing to talk about.” Chloe concentrated on adjusting the lights.
    “All right…” Allison stretched the words out carefully. “I’m here, though, if you change your mind.”
    “I just get so frustrated,” she said, moving to the dolls to rearrange them. Despite her insistence that she didn’t want to talk, words crowded her throat. Maybe she couldn’t reveal the threat to her trust fund, but if she didn’t release some of her irritation at her mother, she’d blow. “The last thing I want to do is meet Diane’s next emotional-train-wreck-waiting-to-happen. Do you know what it’s like listening to her gush about how fabulous some jerk is? How this time it’s for real? How he treats her like a princess? When the truth is, he’s probably already treating her like dirt. Not that she’s saying any of that this time, since I’ve made it clear I don’t want to hear it.”
    “Have you met him?”
    “I don’t have to.” She waved a hand through the air.
    “Careful.” Allison reached out to rescue the doll Chloe still held.
    “Oh, sorry.” Chloe grimaced, then continued with her rant. “I know her type. He’ll be as full of himself as he is good looking and rich. The money and looks are all she ever sees. At least this time she doesn’t have to wait for the lying, cheating bastard to get divorced before they can tie the knot.”  
    “Well, there is that, at least,” Allison offered in a failed attempt at humor. “I’d say don’t let her upset you, but that’s always easier said than done. No matter what, she is still your mother.”
    “But why is she so insistent I come to this party?” Chloe asked. “We haven’t had much to say to each other since Ralph, the last ‘Mr. It’, dumped her for a younger woman.”
    “And you said, ‘I told you so,’” Allison gently reminded her as she took over rearranging the dolls.
    “So sue me,” Chloe said in defense of her actions, despite the regret that brought back the urge to cry. Damn it, though, she didn’t know who or what she wanted to cry over. Her mother? Herself? The endless cycle of hope and heartache that defined both their lives? Swallowing hard, she returned to the camera settings. “I was right, wasn’t I? She got that jerk to leave his ‘aging’ first wife for her, the hot new thing in his life, then she’s shocked when he dumps her for someone even younger?”  
    Allison didn’t say anything.
    The silence made Chloe glance over. She found her aunt studying her with sorrow in her eyes.
    “Don’t give me that look,” Chloe insisted.
    “I’m not giving you any look.”
    “Oh yes, you are.” In truth, her aunt’s expression held nothing but