Southern Seduction (71 page)

Dad looked up at me from over the top of his magazine and smiled. “You sound surprised.”

“A little. Mom said you ate, slept and breathed work.”

Dad laughed to himself. “I did. And your mom did nothing but enjoy life. Decided when she died I needed to take a page from the Charlene playbook. Where you heading off to?”

“Thought I’d go for a walk. And don’t worry I won’t go down to the trails.”

“Mind some company?”

Was my dad asking to spend time with me? Oh god did Gram talk to him while I was sleeping?

“Sure, why not.”

He put down his magazine, finished off his drink before standing and offering me his arm. We headed down towards the stables. “I want to apologize.”

“For what?”

“I went down to the basement. I saw your photographs. You are very talented.”

“Really? Thanks.”

Dad’s grip on my arm tightened pulling me closer to his side. “Your mom was the encourager. Always knew what to say, how to say it, and when to say it, whereas I’ve never been good with emotional delicacies. I know it seems I ride you harder than Brayden, maybe I do, but you’re tougher than Brayden. Unlike your brother you’ve never needed me or my approval. Always lived your life by your rules alone made me feel useless.”

He thought I was tough? Can’t say I wasn’t preening under dad’s praise. “I always need you dad.”

Dad looked down and smiled at me. “You’re full of it, but thanks.”

I knocked shoulders with him. When we reached the stables we turned and headed down towards the juniper maze. The air was moist, clouds shifting to gray and a subtle scent of rain hung in the air. A storm was coming.

“It wasn’t always bad between your mom and I. There was even a time or two I thought she’d come back to me, but she was too stubborn to admit her own faults,” dad said pulling my attention away from the sky. “

More raindrops were falling. “Dad,” I said, “did you know mom forbid Uncle Ollie from talking to us?”

“Yes. Your mom called and told me, she was real upset and I may have said some things to her that weren’t very nice. It was the last time I spoke to her and I used curse words.”

“She never told me, acted like Uncle Ollie wanted nothing to do with us. How could she?”

“I miss her. You know? The world feels a little colder without her in it somewhere. I was wondering, since your mom …
passed
,” the word rolled awkwardly off his tongue, like he didn’t believe she was gone either, “if she’s come to you?”

“No.” I didn’t count the night in Tanya’s room. “I kind of expected to see a lot of her too. I’m supposed to be sad because she’s gone, but I’m struggling to shake this anger.” A raindrop hit my shoulder.

Dad put his arms around me and pulled me to his chest. “I’m sorry you were forced to see all your mother’s imperfections at one time, but never forget good or bad she loves—loved you. Which brings up something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about …” big raindrops were falling now, dad pulled away and looked up, “… we better get inside.”

Together dad and I ran through the rain back to the house. As he closed the back patio door he said, “Maybe we can try for that walk tomorrow?”

“I’d like that.”

“You hungry?”

“I could eat.”

“Me too, should we order out? I gave Margo the night off?”

I nodded and followed my dad through the living room and family room across the hall to the dining room and then into the small dining alcove attached to the kitchen. We agreed on chinese takeout and a movie. Dad ordered while I picked out a movie on pay-per-view.

Several doors slammed and Brayden’s cursing reverberated off the walls of the hallway. He hollered my name and I said, “in here.”

Brayden threw his briefcase on the floor next to the couch. He loosened his tie as he plopped down besides me. “Bad day?” I asked

“What are you watching?”

“Don’t know, but I’m leaning towards something with car chases and shit blowing up.”

“Then I’m in.” Brayden pulled off his tie and threw it on the coffee table. A few minutes later dad joined us on the couch. Some small talk about work, a relay of what was ordered for dinner, a couple of jabs about Gram’s cooking later, and we were watching an action flick and sucking down lo-mien. Halfway through the movie Gram showed up and joined us.

We laughed.

We teased.

We ate.

I think it was safe to say the air between me and my dad was clear. I even forgave Brayden for telling others I was special. I had a great time. It was one of the best nights I’d had with my dad and brother. I wanted more nights like it. More time with them. When the movie finished we called it a night. It was nearly ten and both dad and Brayden had work in the morning and of course the Rutherford party tomorrow night.

I stood up. “All right I’m going to bed see you in the morning.” Gram hugged me first then Brayden and lastly dad.

Dad whispered in my ear, “Thanks.” I squeezed tighter before pulling away and heading up to my room.

“You look beautiful,” Brayden said when I met him at the bottom of the stairs. I decided to wear the black lace Alice and Olivia dress. The dress was tight in the chest and the straps were see-through lace.

“Thanks,” I said, “You look good too. Tuxes suit you.”

“I hate, no scratch that, loathe suits. Why can’t a man wear jeans and be considered dressed up?” Brayden played with his collar and tie. “JR’s gonna die when he sees you tonight you know.”

“I didn’t wear this for him,” I said fluffing my hair, indignant. Sure, I spent hours on my make-up and even more hours on my hair. Waxed, shaved, and lotioned every inch of my skin. Wore the sexiest pair of lace underwear I owned along with the tallest heels I had, but it didn’t matter because you couldn’t shake crazy. And JR certainly had me in the crazy category.

“Of course you didn’t, doesn’t mean he won’t eat it anyway.”

“Brayden, stop it.”

“What? I’m not hitting on you,” he was smirking, “come on the gun show thing was a joke.”

“Duh, I know that, I just want you to stop talking about JR, okay?”

“Alright, fine, but you have to tell me what happened between you.”

“Can we save that conversation for another day?”

Brayden shook his head. “No. I need to know why I gotta kick JR’s ass.”

“Brayden, don’t be stupid. It’s not his fault I’m a freak, that I’m
special
.”

“What are you talk—”

“I told him about Wesley. He knows why I’m
special
.” I kept emphasizing the word special but Brayden wasn’t getting it.

“Yeah, so what, the story about Wesley isn’t exactly secret and—” my brother was slow on the uptake but just then it clicked, “—oh, you’re not talking about the story are you.”

I shook my head and crossed my arms over my chest.

“Oh,” he said again lost in his own track of thought.

“Where’s dad?” I asked trying to move the conversation to safer water. I wasn’t in the mood to discuss JR or my specialness anymore.

“He’s running late, supposed to meet us there,” Brayden said absently.

“All right, well then, let’s go.”

I started walking across the foyer to the garage when Brayden stopped me. “Wait.”

“What?” I kept walking.

“Why are you so closed off to it?”

“To what?”

“You know.”

I did know but why was he so afraid to say the words? Great, he thought I was a freak too. No doubt that’s why he told Drew I was special. “No I don’t so spell it out for me.” He was uncomfortable. Too bad I was going to make him say it anyway.

Brayden rubbed his neck, “Why do you still hide your ability to talk to the dead?”

I stopped and turned around. “Are you kidding me? Do you know why I haven’t had a boyfriend in years? Because nobody wants to date Ghost Girl. Tanya is my only friend and I think she sticks around because she’s afraid I’m like Carrie. Gram admitted it freaks her out, JR stopped speaking to me. And you refer to me as
special
to your friends. Oh yeah I think talking to the dead is really working in my favor.”

Brayden mumbled something I couldn’t make out.

I shook my head and continued walking to the garage. Brayden caught up, grabbed my arm stopping me, “So what.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, so what, fuck them. Stop hiding, just be who you are. The ones who can’t handle it, well, kick their ass to the curb. And who did I tell you were special?”

“Drew.”

“Drew?”

“Yeah, I heard some girls talking yesterday and they said you told Drew I was special, they figured special needs or something.”

Brayden went serious a moment before a smile broke across his face and he started laughing.

“Glad it amuses you.”

“Maddie, the only thing I have ever told Drew about you is that you’re special to me and he better stay away from you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Now come on we need to get going.”
We made our way out to the garage. Brayden picked the black Bentley and we were off. The rain from yesterday carried into today.

The Rutherfords only lived two miles away in a house comparable to Villa de Scott, but far more modern looking. Steel and wood along with brick and mortar. At the valet, Brayden handed over the keys and took my arm. I glanced around at all the parked cars along the street, driveway and garage but didn’t see JR’s pickup truck around. Was he with that brunette whose name I still didn’t know? I shouldn’t even care if he was, but I did. I wanted him to be with me not her.
We were met at our car by two men carrying umbrellas. They escorted us up to the front door. There, two more gentleman waited to take coats and hats. I leaned over, “Promise me you’ll stay close.”

“Of course,” Brayden whispered back. He handed an invitation over to the gentleman to the left of the door who nodded and opened the door for us.

Inside was warm and inviting. Soft ambient light, classical music filled the air, while suits and gowns fluttered back and forth past the doors. Most attendees were gathered into groups of five or six talking animatedly while trays of champagne or wine and hors d’oeuvres floated around them by waiters who knew how to be invisible. A few people were even dancing in designated areas, though most of them would regret their actions in the morning.

One thing I learned at a very young age, you never, ever, danced at one of these gatherings even if there was a DJ and dance floor. It opened you up to scrutiny and gossip. In this world—one of money and power—everyone had an opinion and it was never favorable. Brayden and I had to be the youngest people here. It was going to be a long night.

No sign of JR. Not that I was scanning the crowd for him or anything. He never called or texted back. A hint couldn’t get much clearer than that. A waiter passed by Brayden and he grabbed two glasses. “Here,” he said handing me one, “I suggest chugging it if you can stomach it.”

I finished my glass in two swallows then placed the empty glass on an empty tray as it passed by and wiped my mouth. Brayden’s eye were wide. “I’ve been to a kegger or two.”

Brayden let out a chuckle, “We don’t talk enough.”

We made our way deeper into the crowd of people making our first circuit. Brayden said hello to the right people, introducing me, making small talk then with great flourish saying goodbye and moving on. It was as we were coming back around to the front door I caught a glimpse of black and white plaid. Right behind a group of grey haired men in suits talking I saw the plaid again. Then Wesley’s face popped up over one of the men’s shoulder. His brown eyes met mine before popping back down and disappearing again.

“Excuse me,” I said to Brayden.

“Where you going?”

Did I tell him the truth or lie?

“To find the ladies room.” Lie. I wasn’t ready to take ghost girl on full time yet.

“Yeah, okay.” The way Brayden eyed me I’m pretty sure he didn’t believe me though.

I made my way through the crowd keeping an eye out for the black and white plaid as it weaved among guests. I caught a glimpse of him by a punch fountain. Then he was over by a group of ladies all wearing red. At one point he stopped, looked over his shoulder, caught my eye again before disappearing behind a large woman in a pale blue gown. He was making sure I was following. I moved around the woman. Saw him again near the left back corner of the room.

Wesley gave me one last look then ducked out a door that blended in with the paneling. When I got to the door he went out of I looked back at the party. Nobody was looking at me and I quickly opened the door and went out.

Music and laughter were silenced when the door closed shut behind me. Where was Wesley? The hallway was silent. Eerily still. “Wesley,” I whispered.

He appeared at the end of the hall, a troubled look on his face. Then he disappeared around the corner. I followed at a slight run. I rounded the corner and slammed into something hard but soft. “Sorry.”

“Maddie?”
Shit. Shit. Shit
. “What are you doing back here?”

Shit. Shit. Shit.
“JR, sorry, um I was uh, looking for a rest room.”

“It’s not back here. You shouldn’t be here. Guests aren’t allowed in this part of the house.”