Free VEILED MIRROR by Frankie Robertson

awkward uncertainty filled her, spilling out and blanketing the room with silence. What could she say that wouldn’t give her away? She had to think like Ellie. This was her house. She was the hostess here. “Would you like a drink?” Then she bit her tongue. That was the same thing she’d said just before they’d made love.
    Apparently Jason didn’t remember. His expression was completely neutral as he looked over at her. She gestured to the decanter on the shelf. “Or maybe you’d like a beer?”
    “Beer would be good.”
    She stood up but Jason said, “I’ll get it,” and disappeared out the door.
    Beth paced around the room. She couldn’t do this. There were a million things she wanted to ask to Jason, but she could voice none of them. Why did you really break it off? Why did you make love to me when you knew you were going to dump me? But those weren’t things that Ellie would say.
    He was gone longer than she expected. He was probably talking to Maria. What was she saying to him? Maybe she changed her mind. Maybe she’s telling him I’m a fraud. Maybe he’s calling the sheriff. Beth remembered how forcefully Jason had talked about the con-artists who had scammed his mom. How could she make him understand that she was doing this for Ellie? He’d never believe this was what her sister wanted.
    Jason returned with Ollie following, a slight smile on his face. He handed her a glass of milk. “Maria told me. Congratulations.”
    She took the glass and set it down without drinking.
    “Yes. Well, thanks.” She forced a smile.
    “I know it’s hard to be happy about it now, but when the baby gets here you’ll be glad.” He rolled his eyes. “At least that’s what I hear.”
    “Do you spend lots of time talking about babies?” Beth gave him an amused look from under her lifted brows.
    “No. But with three women in my office I hear things.” He shrugged.
    This was a side of Jason she hadn’t suspected. She nodded and said, “Yeah, yeah. So which do you think is better, cloth or disposable diapers?”
    Jason grinned at the ribbing and sipped his beer. “Maria said dinner would be ready in an hour. Pot roast and mashed potatoes. It smells great, too.”
    Beth nodded “Comfort food.” Ollie jumped up on the couch in Chris’s spot.
    “Down,” she said giving him the hand signal. “You know you’re not allowed on the couch.”
    Ollie just looked up at her.
    She snapped her fingers and repeated the signal. The black and white dog sulkily clambered off the couch.
    “Good boy, Ollie.” Beth patted him on the side. He leaned against her and wagged his tail.
    “So Beth’s got you doing that too, now.”
    A zing of trepidation pricked her. “What?”
    “Using hand signals. You didn’t used to do that. Of course, Ollie never obeyed you either. For that matter, he only listened to Chris when he wanted to.”
    Another mistake . Ellie could get a horse to turn somersaults for her but she’d never really understood dogs. “Oh. Well, I guess none of us are quite ourselves these days.”
    Jason stared at Ellie, sitting on the sofa in the fading light with Ollie at her feet, then glanced away. Even covered with scratches and bruises, even with her hair cut short, the resemblance to Beth was unnerving. He looked back again, searching for the differences he knew must be there.
    “It means a lot that you came all the way out here, but …”
    “Why am I here?”
    “I didn’t mean it like that. But I don’t even know yet when the service will be.”
    She looked so small sitting with her feet tucked up underneath her. Just like Beth . She was trying so hard to be strong, even with her double loss, even though she was all alone now. He didn’t want her to feel alone. “I can help you with stuff like that. I want to. And even though I’m not Chris’s lawyer, I thought I might help you navigate the ins and outs of the trust. If nothing else, you can have me fill out paperwork, or run interference for