Chapter 1 Noah part 4

My mother turned off her motor after pulling around the fountain and parking in front of the steps that led to the main entrance. My first impression on getting out was that we’d come to the most luxurious hotel in all of California. But it wasn’t a hotel, it was a house—a home, supposedly, or at least that’s what my mother wanted me to believe.

William Leister appeared in the doorway just as I shut the door behind

me. Behind him were three men in penguin suits.

My mother’s new husband wasn’t dressed as he had been on the few occasions when I’d agreed to be in the same room with him. Instead of a suit or a name-brand vest, he was wearing white shorts, a light blue polo shirt, and sandals. His dark hair was tousled instead of combed back. I had to admit, I got what my mother saw in him—he was very handsome. He was tall, a good deal taller than my mother, and had maintained himself

well. His face was harmonious, though the signs of age were evident on it—the crow’s feet, the lines across his forehead—and a few gray hairs among the black gave him an alluring, mature air.

My mother ran over to him like a schoolgirl and hugged him. I took my time, walking around to the trunk to get my things.

Gloved hands appeared from nowhere, and I leapt back.

“I will take your things, Miss,” one of the men in the penguin suits said.

“I can do it on my own, thanks,” I responded, feeling very uncomfortable.

The man looked at me as if I were out of my mind.

“Let Martin help you, Noah,” I heard William Leister say behind my back.

Grudgingly, I released my suitcase.

“I’m so happy to see you,” my mother’s husband continued, smiling

affectionately. Next to him, my mother motioned for me to behave, smile,

do something.

“I can’t say the same,” I responded, stretching out a hand for him to

shake. I knew what I’d just done was terrible manners, but in that moment, I

felt like telling the truth.

I wanted to make completely clear what my position was concerning this

change in our lives.

William didn’t seem offended. He held my hand longer than necessary,

and I felt strange.

“I know this is a very abrupt change in your life, Noah, but I want you to

feel at home, to enjoy what I have to offer you, and especially for you to

accept me as part of your family…eventually.” He added this last part when

he noticed my incredulity. From his side, my mother’s blue eyes shot arrows at me.All I could do was nod and step back so he’d let go of my hand. I didn’t

feel comfortable with those shows of intimacy, especially from someone I

hardly knew. My mother had gotten married—great for her. That didn’t

make that man anyone to me—not a father, not a stepfather, not anything

like that. I already had a dad, and he’d been enough for one lifetime.

“How about I show you around the house?” he proposed with a big

smile, as far as possible from my coldness and bad mood.

“Come on, Noah,” my mother said, taking my arm and giving me no

choice but to walk beside her.

All the lights were on inside, so I didn’t miss a single detail of this

mansion that would have been too big for a family of twenty, let alone four.

The ceilings were high, with exposed wood beams and big windows

opening to the outside. A huge stairway in the middle of an immense room

split in two on the upper floor. My mother and her husband took me all

through the mansion, from the living room and the kitchen with its oversize

island—which I knew my mother would be crazy about—to the gym, the

heated pool, party rooms, and a big library that made an impression on me.

“Your mother told me you love to read and write,” William said,

awakening me from my stupor.

“Same as tons of other people,” I replied bitterly. I didn’t like him being

so friendly with me. I didn’t like him talking to me at all, to tell the truth.

“Noah,” my mother said, and looked me dead in the eyes. I knew she

was having a tough time, but she’d deal. I was going to have a whole bad

year, and there was nothing I could do about it.

William didn’t seem to notice our silent exchange and went on smiling

as if nothing was happening.

I was frustrated and uncomfortable. This was too much—too different,

too extravagant. I didn’t know if I could ever get used to living in a place

like this.

All at once, I needed to be alone; I needed time to assimilate everything.

“I’m tired. Can I see my room?” I asked in a less strident tone.

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