Southern Seduction (70 page)

“Ohh.” It was all I could say. It made JR’s reaction to Drew completely understandable. He’d tried to save Drew’s cousin while Drew did nothing.

“Did Drew give the kid the drugs?”

Brayden shrugged. “He said he didn’t, but it has divided the Thompson household, Camille believes Drew could never do anything so devastating, while her husband Donald thinks Drew is a spoiled rich kid nothing sticks to.”

Thompson? Wasn’t that Wesley’s last name? Could this kid have been his brother? It explained so much. “No wonder Wesley freaked when JR came down to the stables.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Wesley and I were hanging with Thunder, and JR came in and Wesley hid because he didn’t want to see JR and now it makes sense if Wesley’s little brother was drugged and drowned and JR didn’t save him.”

“You talk to Wesley?”

“Yeah, he’s one of the only people who’s been really nice to me since arriving here.”

“But Maddie,” Brayden’s eyes were wide, “Wesley was the kid.”

“But, but, but …” I couldn’t find the words, couldn’t breathe. Now JR’s reaction to my proclamation earlier made sense. I fell to the ground. Brayden hovered over me. “He died at the lake.”

For the next two days I didn’t leave my room, afraid of seeing Wesley again. Margo brought me food but I mostly picked at it. Brayden came by once. We didn’t talk, he just crawled into bed beside me. We laid there curled up facing each other like we used to do when we were kids and mom and dad would fight. He apologized. For what I don’t know but I forgave him.

This never happened before. Yes, sometimes it took me longer to realize a person was a ghost, but I always caught on. If Brayden hadn’t told me I don’t think I ever would have figured out Wesley wasn’t real. It raised another question; how in the world was he related to the Jean line?

I rolled onto my side and stared out the window. The sun was high in the sky, it had to be noon. JR hadn’t called or texted. No surprise there. I’m sure my Wesley declaration freaked him out. If he didn’t know about my special gift before, he had to now. I should go home back to Palo Alto. I wanted to go home. But I wasn’t sure where home was anymore.

I rented an apartment near campus with a six month lease that was up in a month. Mom left her house to me and Brayden, but I’m not sure I could live in it without her. To be honest, a part of me wanted to stay here, in Texas. I didn’t have that many friends. And I really missed Brayden. Yeah he got on my nerves and drove me insane, but he was my brother and when he was close I didn’t feel so alone, so broken. I was even getting accustomed to having my overbearing father in my life.

In truth, I missed my dad. Judgmental or not I was never afraid to tell him things like I was with my mom. Sometimes it felt as if her love hinged on my choices. Like if I didn’t make a choice she approved of she might stop loving me. Uncle Ollie was proof I was on to something.

There was a loud knock before Gram burst into my room. “I have no clue why you been hiding up here like a spinster cat lady but that ends now.”

I sat up, “Hey Gram, good to see you too.”

In four long steps she was at my bed, pulling back the covers. “You’ve got ten minutes to get ready and be downstairs. And trust me you want to be downstairs because you wont like what happens if you’re not. Now hurry up.” Gram turned heel and left the room closing my door behind her. You’d expect by Gram’s attitude she dressed in t-shirts and jeans, had a buzz cut and a cigarette hanging out her mouth. And you’d be wrong. Her blond hair was perfectly coifed, her make-up always just right and dress suits that would make Jackie O proud. You’d also expect threats from a sixty-seven year old woman no taller than 5’4 not to be intimidating or in the least bit menacing. And again you’d be wrong. Gram could break a brick just by staring at it.

Which is why I scurried out of bed and rushed to be ready and downstairs in ten minutes.

We pulled into the North Park Center up to valet at Nordstrom’s. Gram handed over the keys to a young guy no more than twenty-five with a sexy wink. Cool air hit me when we pulled open the store-front doors and went inside.

Gram ushered me towards the dress section, “May as well find a dress for the Rutherford’s party tomorrow night.” I could hear the eye roll in Gram’s voice just as I actually rolled my eyes. “Your dad even gave me the black Amex … so go crazy.”

“Gram, why don’t you like the Rutherfords?”

“Same reason I don’t like anyone. Bunch of fakers,” she pulled off her gloves and tucked them into her purse, “act like the sun rises and sets around them. Annoys the shit out of me.”
She hurried ahead of me, heels clicking on the marble. “I’m gonna grab a replacement lipstick and then I’ll come find you.” She flapped her arms in the air and hurried off towards the make-up counter.

I completely forgot about the Rutherford’s party. Was it really Thursday already? Ugh. I started rifling through racks, not giving any particular dress my attention. Would JR be there? I grabbed a knee length black, Hailey Logan cutout. Of course he would. It was customary, no matter what happened behind closed doors you always showed a united front outside. I would have to face him or he’d have to face me as the case may be.

My hand closed around a blue Alice & Olivia. I could feel the expense in the fabric.

It soothed me.

Would he talk to me if he saw me?
More, I needed more. A Jean Paul maxi-dress. Red, St. John, KENZO were flying off the racks and into my arms. I wasn’t even paying attention to price or anything just the feel of the fabrics. If a fabric felt rich, soft, luxurious, I grabbed it. The weight of those fabrics on my arm settled the butterflies.

A sales clerk kindly took my dresses to the sales counter leaving me empty.

Shoes. I needed shoes. Dolce Vita, Ugg, Anyi Lu all came to me in a size eight. They were piled with my dresses. I went to purses. Marc, Kate and Michael all hung on my forearm as treasured best friends.

It was in the jewelry while looking at a Betsy Johnson bracelet, on the brink of thinking I could handle this party, that shopping was easing my tension, when I heard the names Rutherford and JR simultaneously. I moved around the counter. It was the two girls from the restaurant the other night. I moved behind a rack of scarves closer to where they were standing, hoping it hid me while I listened.

“Have you heard from JR?” It was the blond.

The brunette snapped her gum and picked up a pair of earrings. “No, but you know how he is. Only calls when he wants something.”

“Think he’s busy with that redhead from the restaurant?”

“Maybe, she was pretty cute.” The brunette twirled towards the blond, “What do you think?”

“Totally works with the Vera dress. Do you know what that girl’s name was?”

The brunette snapped her gum again, “Maddie I think. I know she’s Brayden’s kid sister.”
Kid sister? Ugh.

The blonde’s eyes went wide, “Are you serious? That was Brayden’s sister?”

“Duh, that’s what I said.”

“Don’t you remember what Drew said Brayden told him about her? That she was like special or something.”

“What? Like special needs?”

“I don’t know she didn’t look retarded.”

“Oh my god you’re such a bitch.” The blond fluffed her hair and picked up a necklace, “But seriously you think he’s banging her?”

The brunette shrugged, “Who knows. JR thinks with his dick a lot.” She discarded the earrings and picked up a bracelet, “And what a lovely dick it is too.”

“Oh my god are you two still banging?”

“Shut-up. Of course not. Come on I think I need some shoes.”

The shoe department was behind me. I ducked down behind the counter and scooted around to the left hoping they wouldn’t see me as they passed. They didn’t. Their voices faded into the noise of the store. I sank down to the floor and sighed.

Special?

The title didn’t even bother me. The fact Brayden was talking about me to others did. I banged my head back against the laminated wood over and over. A woman’s face peeked over the counter. “Do you need some help?”

Special indeed. “No. Sorry.” I got up and made my way over to the make up counter to find Gram.

“All right we’re out, you spent over five thousand on clothes and you still look the same. So tell me what’s crawled up your ass and died,” Gram said, easing onto Broadway. She’d traded the motor-home for a Cadillac ATS but drove it like we were still in the tank. “You seemed to be coming out of your shell and now you’re back in.”

“Gram, nothing’s up I’m just tired.”

“My ass you’re tired you’ve done nothing but sleep the last two days away and you ain’t sick. No, I’ve got a funny feeling it has to do with that Rutherford boy.”

“JR?” Ugh, I inwardly rolled my eyes. Even saying his name made my voice perk up.

“Yes, him, what happened?”

I sighed and threw my head back against the head-rest. “He doesn’t like imaginary friends I guess.”

“Oh Maddie, I thought you were done talking about that stuff.”

I didn’t mean to, but I blew, “Look Gram, I know you don’t want to think I can talk to the dead because you believe the devil owns me or something, so you rather live in your ignorance, but that doesn’t mean I can. That I have the same luxury.”

We pulled up to a stop-sign and Gram turned to me. “Is that what you’re thinking? That I believe you’re the devil?”

“Of course you do,” … oh god my lip was quivering … “that’s why you always change the subject and never listen …” great tears were stinging my eyes, “… why Brayden’s your favorite.” I couldn’t help the tears. I wiped at them but more came, “Why he’s everybody’s favorite.”

“Is that what you really believe?”

“I don’t believe it, I know it. He’s golden boy and I’m ghost girl.”

“Your brother is no saint. He shits like the rest of us and it don’t smell like roses either. Girl I love you, but I cannot lie your gift freaks me out.”

Gram pulled through the stop and continued. This was the most she ever admitted to my sixth sense without cutting me off. “It freaks everyone out,” I muttered.

“It does, you’re right,” Gram said, no hint of mirth, all seriousness, “but use it as a gauge, as a way to know who’s worth your time and whose not.”

“Yeah okay.”

“Don’t yeah okay me. I mean it girl. Sure talking to the dead is freaky as hell, but it’s a part of you and somebody who loves you will take it on the chin.”

I dried my eyes and lay my head against the glass. “It’s so tiring, you know? I put all this energy into something and it ends the minute death comes up.”

Gram glanced at me and then back to the road. Her voice was low and I strained to hear, “I’m sorry. I’m your grandmother and I love you and I should be more supportive. I will fix that in the future.”

“Sure.”

Gram took my hand and gave it a squeeze, “I mean it Maddie.” She let go of my hand and squeezed my knee before putting her hands back on the wheel.

“Thanks,” I mumbled and closed my eyes.

Shopping took a lot out of me and when Gram and I got back home I went up to my room and took a nap. There were too many thoughts swirling in my head and not enough room to make sense of it. And thinking about any of it gave me a headache and made me tired.
When I woke up it was six and I decided to take a walk. Outside, my dad was seated at a cabana with a drink and a magazine. I walked up to his table, “Are you …
relaxing
?” It was
Forbes
magazine but still.