"Where should we start?"
"I want to see Mason James house. Did you know..."
"That he was the first to settle his family here? Yes, I do, you have mentioned it once or twice." he said in a playful tone.
"Well look at you retaining useless information." I respond as I laugh.
"You should be proud, I have a ton in here." he says as he taps his head. "All thanks to you darling."
We walk around the museum outer edge and work our way in toward the center, like a spiral. The very center of the museum holds a replica of a small house, more of a hut in my opinion, that would have been built in the early to mid 1700's. It is filled with Mason James's belongings; the wooden post at the back of the house is said to be an original piece from his home.
I have seen the replica house dozens of times but it is my favorite part of the museum. When it was housed in the Luxenberg Howard Museum, it was tucked away in a corner at the back and rarely saw visitors. Now it is very close to being on the land he called home, proponent in the center of the Old Shoreline Museum. This is where it belongs.
I walk around the outside of the house admiring how much time it must have taken to recreate it. Kade just follows me as I go, not really paying much attention to the exhibits but oddly hearing everything I say.
"Isn't it amazing? I mean look at it, just beautiful, perfect."
"Yes, it is fascinating, Em. I am glad you are enjoying it, I can't remember the last time you smiled like this. All it takes is a bunch of old things." he chuckled.
I roll my eyes and stick out my tongue like a child. He just shakes his head in amusement.
I make my way to the entrance of the house. It is one room, a small bed, handmade chairs and table and a larger wooden barrel for washing. I know the layout by heart. I walked through the door and hit a wall, well it felt like a wall. I look up into two beautiful green eyes. My heart flutters and I forget myself for a moment, long enough for Kade to see me standing too close to Jonas.
Kade grabs my arm and pulls me into him with such force that it hurt. I looked at him with a WTF expression, but kept quiet.
"Kade, right?" Jonas says as he walks through the doorway out of the little house.
Kade just stands there looking at him as though he was the spawn of Satan.
Jonas moves his attention to me. "Ember, it is lovely to see you again. Date night?" he asks as he looks us up and down.
"Um, it is very nice to see you too. Are you by yourself?" I ask, skipping over his question.
"No, not today."
A beautiful woman walked out of the doorway and smiled. She is absolutely gorgeous. Long legs, thin frame, large breast, long golden blond hair flowing down her back. She has sharp facial features with beautiful green eyes. She could easily be a model. My mind is trying to function but I find it hard to focus right now. Is she his girlfriend? Why should that bother me? Logically it shouldn't, right?
"Hi, I’m Janessa" she said in a soft sweet voice that most definitely does not match her looks.
"Hello, Kade Graham." he says as he holds out his hand and releases me from his death grip. "I don't think I have seen you around before, are you new in town or has someone just kept you locked up?”
Is he flirting with her? What is happening?
She wraps her hand around Jonas's bicep and smiles awkwardly. "Just arrived"
"Janessa flew in from France to see me. She will be here until summer, then we will be heading back to Greece for a wedding."
At that she lit up like a child in a toy store. "Yes it is going to be magnificent." she clapped her hands together and bounced up and down on her toes.
I couldn't help but smile, she is intoxicating and her excitement is contagious.
"I haven't made any friends here yet, would you be willing to show me around sometime?" she said as she took both of my hands in hers.
"We would be happy to." Kade interjected.
She looked at him and dropped my hands. "Is she not permitted to speak for herself?"
Before I could stop myself I was laughing, "I would love to take you around town anytime you like Janessa. I have lived here my entire life so I can take you to all the undiscovered gems Shoreline has to offer. My best friend does a drag show every Sunday night, I haven't missed a show since he started, I would love to have you come sometime." I take out my phone and hand it to her, as she does the same. After entering my number in her phone and handing it back. "Just hit me up when you feel like exploring."
"Thank you, I look forward to seeing you again, and would love to see his show sometime. Probably not tomorrow but maybe next week." she smiled and whispered in Jonas' ear. "If you will excuse me I need the ladies’ room. It was so lovely to meet you...Ember was it?”
I nod "Yes, very nice to meet you too."
Kade just watched her walk away like a lion tracking their prey. I wonder if that is what I look like when I look at Jonas. I smile and laugh at myself.
Kade glares at me, brushes past Jonas and walks into the replica house.
I close my eyes and shake my head, "Sorry about him."
"You have nothing to apologize for, his actions are not your own. You look very nice tonight. Is this a special occasion?"
I blush, "Thank you, you always seem to look amazing." I can feel the heat in my face.
"You keep avoiding my questions." he takes a step closer to me.
"It is Kade's way of apologizing for yesterday. He planned a romantic date night, horse and carriage included." I say in a flat voice, not wanting to look up into those beautiful emeralds that are currently burning holes in me. I can feel his eyes on me, watching my every move. Suddenly I find myself picking at my fingernails.
He tilts my face up with his hand at my chin. I look into his eyes and melt.
"I saw you, watched you as you walked around here. You looked as if you were in heaven. So, entranced by the history of your home. You are truly an amazing woman Ember." he drops his hand and steps back suddenly. Almost as if he realized he had crossed some unseen line.
Line or no line, I was ready to wrap my arms around him and taste those luscious lips. Thankfully I snapped out of it and managed a weak smile.
"Thank you for your kind words. I should...ah..." I point into the house and step backwards through the doorway.
Jonas smiles, puts his hands in his pocket and nods. "See you around."
I turn to Kade, he is talking to me but I don't know what about. I smile and nod my head. He seems to be satisfied with that.
"Can you believe that joke of a man has a woman like that? She can certainly do better than him."
"Why is it so hard for you to believe a beautiful woman would find him attractive?"
"You have got to be kidding. Is that a serious question, Em? Look at him and then look at her. She should be with a man that has class, education and a real job. Not some want to be." he said with his hands all over the place, walking in circles.
Oh right, a man like him I am guessing. What a dick.
"What is wrong with you? Why do you have to be so cruel all of the time? You know nothing about him, what he has done or where he came from. You don't know him at all. Why shouldn't she want him? He is nice, smart, funny and deserves to have a beautiful woman. Unlike you, you prick! You get stuck with me." I say spitting venom. I was so mad at his hate and cruelty.
I stormed out and made my way to the restroom. I looked at myself in the mirror and cried when I saw my reflection. This is my life and it sucks. I take a tissue from the counter and dab my eyes. Thank God I don't wear much makeup, or this could have been a messy situation.
When I finally emerge from the ladies’ room, Kade is nowhere to be seen. I walk to the entrance and find him standing outside. The black sedan is there waiting for us, no more carriage. I guess the date is over.
I get in the car and stare out the window. Kade gets in and does the same. After a few minutes he decides to break the silence.
"So much for a nice nigh
t. I was just trying to give you something you wanted, I thought it was going to be easy. Take you to dinner, I know you like food. Romantic carriage ride, to woo you. Finish strong with that shit hole museum and take you to bed. It was great till that tool showed up. Why is he always around? He should just go back to wherever the hell he came from. Makes me sick, people like that. Losers."
I sit here staring out the window trying to hold back my tears. I do not want him to see me crying, it would just fuel his fire. He continues the rest of the ride back to my place. A slew of insults toward Jonas and everyone beneath him.
I try opening the door before the car has actually stopped but it wouldn’t let me. Stupid car. I jump out as soon as I can get the door open, and almost run up the steps to the building door. I can't get the key to go in because I am so upset and shaking.
"Wow, you sure are in a hurry to get away from me."
I ignore him. Finally, I get the key in and open the door. I slip in and make sure it closes behind me, Kade looking at me through the window. "Screw him" I mumble to myself as I walk up the stairs. I have to calm myself before I go in. I know Spence will freak out if he sees me like this. Deep breath in. Out. In. Out.
I open the apartment door and step inside. It is almost 10pm, normally Spence is on the floor in the living room getting his outfit ready for his next show. He is nowhere to be found. I go to my room and climb into bed not bothering to take off my dress. I snuggle up with the stuffed animal Jonas won me and cry myself to sleep.
Chapter 7
Ember
“It’s Sunday bitch!” Spence says as he swings my bedroom door open.
I roll over and put my blanket over my head to ignore him. I love our Sunday dates but it’s too damn early for this shit. He insists on waking me up as soon as he is up. Sometimes, like today, it is six in the freaking morning. Why he thinks either of us need to be up this early is beyond me.
My bed has begun to shake like an earthquake as Spencer bounces on his hands and knees to keep me from my beautiful slumber. Asshat.
“Why? Why must you do that? Why do I need to be awake on a Sunday at six it the God damn morning? The shops don’t even open till ten! I just want to sleep!” I yell as he pulls the blanket off of me completely.
“Well, if you must know, I made you breakfast.”
“I don’t want it.”
“I didn’t ask if you want it or not, I made it so you will eat it.” he says as he crosses his arms over his chest.
“Ugh, whatever.” I say as I use my pillow to cover my head.
“Why must you be so difficult?” he says as he steals my pillow as well.
“Fine, I’m up. Happy?” I roll out of bed and drag my feet as I walk to the bathroom to do my morning thing.
Sundays have always been our day. It used to be the day I would spend with my dad, but ever since I met Spence he has taken that sad empty space. Which I am eternally grateful for, otherwise I would be extremely depressed every Sunday. Not that I like when he decides to start the day this early, but I love him, so after complaining I always get up.
After my shower I get dressed in a pair of acid washed skinny jeans, converse and my one of my concert shirts. It was tradition with my dad to always give thanks to our musical Gods on Sunday, and I have never strayed from that. Somehow, I still have every concert t-shirt he ever bought me, granted some of them are from grade school and don’t fit. I plan to make a blanket out of them someday.
“Oh, it’s a Warped Tour kinda day?” he says when I emerge from my room ready for breakfast.
“This was the year I finally got to see The Used! Bert was so amazing, he was telling off the douchebags in the crowd. Said they needed to stop groping and trying to remove clothes from the girls that were crowd surfing.” I say proudly remembering one of my favorite bands and how awesome that was of him.
“Do you remember every concert you have ever been to? I swear you have a story for every shirt you own.”
“Of course, I do. It would be such a waste if I went and had no memories to tie to it. Besides, that was the last year I went to Warped Tour.” I say as I pour an unhealthy amount of syrup on my fluffy waffle.
“So, I was thinking we could go over to the new thrift shop down the street. They had a sequin dress in the window last week and that just screams Camila.” he says as he takes the syrup away from me. What a killjoy.
“Oh, that definitely sounds like her.” I say laughing at the thought of his drag queen alter ego.
“Then the fabric store to get the odds and ends I’ll need to create her perfect look.” he claps his hands and bounces on the stool he is setting on.
“Then tacos!” we both say.
We walk to the thrift shop and spend almost three hours rummaging through the racks to find the best pieces to use. As we walk around I get this uneasy feeling like I am being watched. I look around and there is no one around, but I can shake the feeling.
Finally, he settles on a magenta sequin dress, a pair of silky cream dress pants, a sheer cream button up, three feather boas and a killer pair of pumps. I am always so amazed at how he can pick out a bunch of random items and make them into something fit for a queen. Drag queen that is.
From the thrift shop we walk to the fabric store where he gets a zipper, thread, gold ribbon and a few other random things. It’s a quick trip, but I still feel eyes on me. It’s starting to creep me out, but Spence seems to be unbothered by it when I mentioned my uneasy feeling. He just brushed it off as another homophobic asshole sending hate his way.
Now on to my favorite part of Sundays. Tacos! Most people have taco Tuesday, but we have taco truck Sunday. After we do our shopping…well his shopping, we make our way to the best taco truck this side of the US.
“Holla! Ember, Spencer! I think you may not come today?”
“Marco, you know not even a natural disaster could keep us away.” Spence says as we make our way to the window.
“True story, we live for your tacos Marco.” I add.
He smiles and hands us our order, which he started as soon as he saw us. I pay him and drop him a nice tip, like always.
“Thanks.” we both say as we make our way to one of the folding tables Marco has set to the side of the truck. He waves us off and helps his next customer.
Spence has a taco in one hand and his phone in the other. He always checks the website to make sure the drag show hasn’t been canceled, though like us and these tacos, Sam would sooner die than cancel the show for anything less than the end of the world.
I have that feeling again, like eyes are on me, watching me. I look across the street but it’s clear. I turn in my chair and look behind me and see a blond head peeking around the corner of the building. He suddenly disappears when he sees he has been caught. I stand to go follow him when a blood curdling scream comes from next to me.
“OH MY FUCKING GOD!” Spence yells.
I look at him waiting for him to tell me to kill a spider or something. “What?”
“McHotstuff.”
“Come again?” what the hell was in his taco?
“Emmey, your McHotstuff. He will be the guest host for the show tonight.” he says as he shoves his phone in my face.
“Special announcement. Jonas Drakos, European runway model, fashion trend setter and designer has graciously volunteered to be the special guest host tonight. This incredible man had walked the runway for many of the top designers, and at the age of twenty-two began his journey as a shoe designer in Europe, and has now come to Shoreline to break into the American market. I hope all of our queens and fans are able to make it out to see the show tonight, it’s going to be one to remember.” I read out loud as Spence squeals and squirms in his seat.
“Emmey, what did I tell you? Fate.”
I roll my eyes at him and hand him back his phone. “Coincidence.” I correct him.
“Whatever you say, princess. Just know that you can’t escape your fate.” he says with a creepy smirk.
&n
bsp; I can’t lie, I am really excited to see him. I can’t get him out of my head…like ever. It’s a constant thing. I think about him all day, and at night I dream about him. It’s almost scary. I mean I don’t really know him that well, so why is he consuming my every thought? We have only had a few encounters. I have a boyfriend, granted I may hate said boyfriend most of the time. And he has a beautiful girlfriend, so I don’t even stand a chance. So why?
“Earth to Emmey.” Spence says as he waves his hand in my face.
“Sorry, what did you say?”
“Your phone is ringing.”
I finally pull myself out of my thoughts and reach in my bag to find it. My mood sours when I see the caller. Kade. He never bugs me on Sundays. He knows this is my day with Spence, no Kade allowed.
“Hello?”
“Em?”
“Yes. Did you mean to call someone else?” why does he sound so stressed?
“Em, I need you. It’s…um it’s…my dad.” he is freaking out in a weird confused kind of way.
“What about your dad, Kade? Is he ok? Where is he?” he is the only one in that damn family I can stand, more than stand. He has always been so kind to me, never treated me badly like the rest of them.
“I…I don’t know. Please can you meet me at my parent’s beach house? I'm not doing so good here.” he sounds upset but not the kind of upset that I would have associated with something happening to his dad, maybe he is holding it in. I should go, if not for him, then at least for Mr. Graham.
“Ok, I will be there as soon as I can.” I hang up and look at the time, it's almost 4:00PM and I know Spence will be working on his costume for tonight.
I look to Spence and he smiles. “Go, I know how much you love his dad. I hope he is ok.”
“Yeah me too.” I say as I kiss his cheek and head back toward the apartment where my Jeep is parked.
It’s a thirty minute drive from my place to the beach house. When I get there Kade is waiting on the front steps. He walks to me as I get out of my car. He looks sad, scared even. Shit something bad must have happened. When he gets to me he wraps his arms around me and buries his face in the crook of my neck. We stay that way for a few minutes before he lets me go.
Ribbon of Fate: Love or lust? Page 6