She couldn’t believe him. “But it’s a two-second job!”
“Come on, sweetheart. Time to go.” He pulled on her arm and headed toward the door, with the two bodyguards and Eugene following behind, all laughing.
“I’m not your sweetheart,” Melody said.
“You are today. You have to play the part, remember?” He helped her into the back of the limousine, followed by Dennis and Dawn. Eugene shut the door, then walked to the driver’s side of the car, got in and began driving away from the house.
“I need to talk to you about how to behave at the country club,” John said, turning toward Dawn.
“Me?” she said. “I know how to behave.”
“No, you’re new. I have this chat with all my new employees. First, you call me Mr. Spencer or sir whenever we’re out of the house. Otherwise, you can call me John. The same goes for the way you treat Melody. She’s either Miss Gray or Melody at the house. Also, you don’t speak unless spoken to. If anyone asks you anything about either of us, you know nothing. Your job is to protect Melody from the reporters or stalkers. If there are stalkers, they’re going to be underhanded. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help from Dennis or someone else. These people are out for blood.” He stared at Melody’s head. “Or hair.”
“Hair?” Dawn asked.
“One of my fanatical fans tried to beat her up yesterday and pulled her hair,” he answered.
“So are you two dating, engaged or what?” she asked. “According to the papers—”
“They’re wrong,” Melody said. “We’re friends.”
“As for you,” John said, facing Melody. “We have to act like we’re getting married in front of my mother. If she’s disappointed, she’ll make sure your life is horrible forever. She has connections like you wouldn’t believe.”
“What kind of connections? More than your dad?”
He smiled. “My mother’s father is none other than Senator Jenkins of Massachusetts.”
Melody felt her mouth open, and her cheeks heat up. “The Senator Jenkins? The one who’s always causin’ problems and is in the news almost every day?”
“The same one. Good old Grandpa.”
“I really can’t marry you now,” she said, inching away. “My father hates that man like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Why?”
She couldn’t believe he didn’t know all about this. It was common fact in the south. “Because of your great-grandfather and his money. He stole it from people in the south, tryin’ to make property deals. Daddy also hates your grandfather for his politics. My dad is on the other side of the political spectrum. If my father only knew—”
“He hates my grandfather and his politics? You’ve got to be kidding, right?”
She shook her head. “You have to understand southerners. They’re very true to their beliefs. He doesn’t like your mother, either, and thinks of her as a social climber, willing to step on anyone she can find. Her name’s Nancy, right?”
“Yes. She kept her maiden name because she thinks it’ll get her a better social status. But he hates my mother, too?”
“Sure does.” She lowered her eyes. “I never should’ve told you. I’m so sorry.”
“Do me a favor and don’t tell my mother any of that? Don’t talk politics and if she mentions it, I’ll try to stop her somehow.” He stared out the window for a moment, then faced her. “Do you think he’d hate me too, just because I’m related to these people?”
“I have no idea. Daddy’s not always with us in the real world, and even less so, lately. Sometimes I wished I knew how his brain worked.”
“I feel the same way about my mother,” he murmured. “Anyway, act like you’re in love with me, since you are, then—”
She sat up closer to his face, determination filling her thoughts. “Since I am? What was that comment?”
His smile was all knowing and almost smug. “I know how you really feel. It’s obvious to me and to everyone who’s ever met you. Now, feel free to talk to me like you’re in love, but don’t touch me too much or Mom will smell a rat.”
She raised one eyebrow. “I’m a rat?”
“Not at all,” he said. “Not even close.” He put his arm on her shoulder and leaned close to her face. “I do love you, no matter what happens today.”
Melody stared at Dawn and Dennis, who were trying not to stare. “We’re not alone,” she whispered.
“Oh, yeah.” John took his arm off her shoulder and faced Dennis. “Melody doesn’t believe she was screaming in her sleep last night.”
Dennis raised his eyebrows. “You were yelling for someone not to hit you and to please not break your arm.”
“I was?” she said, sitting back in the seat. “Did I say who the person was?” She knew right away who would do such a thing.
“Your father,” Dennis said. “You kept asking him for forgiveness for a dirty plate in the sink.”
She lowered her eyes. How embarrassing was this? It had happened to her when she was ten years old and he’d done horrible things to her because of it. Tears filled her eyes, just thinking about it.
She felt John’s stare boring a hole through her, until he finally wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to his chest. “Tell me about it,” he whispered into her ear, then kissed the side of her head.
“There’s nothing to tell.” She wiped her tears.
“Did that happen in real life?”
She forced herself to move out of his embrace and look out the window.
He touched her arm, but she moved it away, startled.
“I understand,” he said.
She said nothing but just stared out the window. She didn’t want him to know what kind of torture she’d endured in her life.
John started talking to Dennis and Dawn, but Melody tuned them all out. She started thinking about the next morning, taking the train back to West Virginia. It was going to be strange going back, after all she’d been through in New York. She welcomed the anonymity, but didn’t welcome going back to her father’s house. She knew what she’d find, too. Her father probably fired the woman who was watching over him, and was probably asleep with a pile of empty beer cans all around the couch. He’d probably relieved himself on the couch, like he’d done so many times before. No daughter should have to see the horrible things she’d seen from her father, or have to stand him up in the shower every day before work, just to get him sober enough so he wouldn’t vomit all over himself.
There were so many opportunities out there for her, but her job was back home. She couldn’t shirk her responsibilities because she’d promised her mother.
“Melody, do you want something to drink?” John asked.
“No, I’m fine,” she said, still looking out the window.
He put his hand on her back and leaned up to her ear. “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothin’.”
“Oh, like love?” he asked.
She shot him a dirty look. “Sure. Love and nothin’. Same thing.”
“But only on the court and don’t ever forget it.”
They drove for a while longer and finally pulled up to a very posh country club. Women were walking into the place wearing white tennis outfits with coordinating jackets and visors.
Melody looked down at her white t-shirt tucked into her jeans shorts. At least she was wearing a little bit of white.
John helped her out of the limousine, followed by Dawn and Dennis.
“John? John Spencer, is that you?” A very pretty woman pranced over to John. She gave him a hug and a fake air-kiss to each cheek.
“Bitsy? I haven’t seen you since high school,” he said. “How’s it going?”
“Well, we’re doing just fine.” She turned to Melody and gave her a once-over. “Who’s this?”
John smiled and pulled Melody to him, his arm on her waist. “This is Melody.”
The woman put her hand to her neck in fake surprise. “The one from the newspaper? Your fian
cée?”
“Well, we’re not engaged yet,” he said, looking down at Melody. She shot him a look that clearly told him not to mess with her, but he continued with a grin. “But soon.”
“You’re gorgeous,” the woman said to Melody. “Who’s your plastic surgeon?”
“Plastic surgeon?” Melody answered.
The woman began to titter. “What an adorable accent! I bet you’ve been discovered, haven’t you?”
“I didn’t know I was missin’,” Melody answered.
The woman began to howl in fake laughter and Melody wanted to belt her.
Dawn leaned up and whispered into her ear. “Want me to take her out for you?”
Melody joined in the laughter and considered nodding to Dawn. She bit her lips instead and leaned toward John, wrapped her arm around his waist and watched him smile.
“Change of heart?” he asked.
“Nope. Protection,” she whispered. “I’m going to keep the cat claws out of you.”
He leaned toward her ear. “I think that’s what Dennis is for, right?”
“I’m his backup.”
“Yeah, right,” he answered, hugging her closer.
They started to walk away, but Bitsy stopped them. “Melody, I’d like you to meet an old flame of John’s.” She turned, raised her arm and waved. “Eleanor! John’s here!”
“Oh, no,” John whispered. “Let’s get inside.”
They walked toward the door, but Bitsy grabbed John’s arm. “Not so fast. Eleanor has to see you, or she’ll never forgive herself.”
“We’re kind of busy,” John said. “We have plans.”
“It’ll just take a minute,” she said with major attitude in her voice. “You were always so driven. It’s time to stop and smell the roses.”
“Or Eleanor,” he whispered into Melody’s ear.
Melody started to giggle, inching slowly to the door with John in the lead.
A beautiful dark-haired woman with her hair pulled back in a French braid walked up to John in determination. “You! I’ve been looking for you for almost ten years.”
“Eleanor?” he asked.
She hauled back and slapped him, hard. “That’s for what you did to me ten years ago.” She stormed off, with imaginary smoke coming from her head.
“What did I do?” John asked Bitsy, holding his cheek.
“I think she’s still upset about you leaving her at the prom.”
“Leaving her? She left me for another man! I was left all alone!”
Bitsy leaned closer. “And she got pregnant to that other man ten years ago, and had to marry the guy to give the kid a name. Their divorce was just finalized last month.”
“Oh I see.”
“Ta-ta,” Bitsy said with a fake grin, moving toward the front door. She waved to some other woman and ran to talk with her.
“Drama, drama, drama,” Dawn muttered. “I’m glad John’s not my mark. I’d have taken her out.”
“She wasn’t worth it,” Dennis murmured. “It would mean his name would go through the papers and he’d look like the bad guy.”
“You’re right,” John said, still rubbing his cheek.
“Are you okay?” Melody asked, turning him toward her. She touched his red cheek, just shaking her head. “That’s mean. And you grew up with those women?”
“Yep.” He took her hand away from his cheek and held onto it, walking toward the door. “Let’s go see Mother.”
Dawn leaned up to Melody’s ear. “I’ll protect you. If you think it’s getting too tough, just let me know and I’ll get you out of there.”
Melody nodded in agreement, but dreaded the thought. The media thinking they were engaged was one thing, but this was his mother, the daughter of Senator Jenkins who had half the government in his pocket. What was she going to do now?
~~~~~
Chapter 6
“We’d like to see Nancy Jenkins,” John told the woman at the front desk. “She’s expecting us.”
The woman looked up and smiled. “John Spencer. It’s so nice to see you again.”
He looked puzzled, studying her face. “Do I know you?”
“Sure. I was your neighbor when you were in fifth grade. Remember? Suzie McKenney?”
“Suzie McKenney…with the braces and braids?”
“Same one. We moved right after that year, and now I’m back. So are you married?”
He glanced at Melody. “Soon.”
Soon? Melody had to bite her tongue, remembering his mother and how she believed the tabloids.
“Oh, I didn’t see you there,” Suzie said to Melody, then turned to John. “She’s with you? Is that why you’re here to see your mother, to introduce her to your fiancée?”
“That’s what Mother thinks,” he whispered.
“Now it makes sense,” Suzie said. “She’s been here for hours getting ready for your visit.”
“Getting ready?” Melody whispered.
“They have a spa here,” he whispered back, then turned to Suzie. “Has she been drinking?”
Suzie nodded. “A lot,” she whispered.
“Great. That’s all I need yet,” he murmured.
Melody faced him. “I can leave if you want.”
“No, you’re the reason she wants me here. We’ll make it brief because we have plans back home.”
“We do?”
He leaned close to her ear, his arm still on her waist. “I want to take you to the best hot dog stand in the city.”
“Hot dogs? I love hot dogs!”
“These are so good; you’ll never want any other kind.”
“You can go in,” Suzie said. She glanced at the bodyguards, then back at John. “You might need more security, though. It seems people are all excited to touch fame.”
“I’m used to it,” he answered.
“I was talking about her,” Suzie said, pointing at Melody. “She’s become a new sweetheart on all the newsstands.”
Melody couldn’t believe her ears. “Me? I’m nobody.”
Suzie grinned. “With that accent, honey, you can write your ticket. Now, Ms. Jenkins is sunning herself beside the pool.” She lifted her hand to show that the woman was still drinking, taking a drink out of an imaginary cup.
“Got it,” John answered. “Thanks for the warning.” With his hand still holding hers, they walked through the doors and down the sidewalk, lined with beautifully landscaped roses on both sides. To the right were six tennis courts and to the left was an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
“This was my first club,” he said. “I learned how to play tennis here when I was really young.” He glanced over at the people hitting the ball around. “If I knew then, what I know now, things would’ve turned out differently.”
“How?” Melody asked.
“My mother loves the idea that I’m in tennis, because it makes her doubly famous. If I’d thwarted that to begin with, I’d be in a better position today. But, it makes her social status rise, and even though she’s nothing by herself, she always has her father and me to fall back on. ”
“Your father doesn’t help her social standing?”
“No. He’s a businessman, and they’re frowned upon in her social circles because they work too hard to socialize. She loves him, but keeps him at a distance when she’s networking. It drives me nuts. She doesn’t even want anyone to know she’s married to him, outside of New York. She’s disowned me the same way, pretty much.”
It was worse than what Melody was going through back home, in her mind.
They walked around the pool, with people stopping them along the way to say hello, especially to Melody. She didn’t think any of them were reporters, so they were kind and didn’t take up much time. Melody was sure the other guests were staring at her and making comments, but she didn’t care. She had her bodyguards and John, so she was safe.
On the far side of the pool, an older thin woman with perfectly coiffed gray hair sat under an umbrella talking to another older gra
y-haired woman. They were both dressed in bikinis, but wrapped in thin jackets, sitting with their feet up on long lounge chairs. Melody stared at both women, trying to figure out which one was Nancy Jenkins, because they both looked so similar. She finally saw the diamonds on the thin woman’s wrists, and knew right away that was Nancy. She’d been all over the few news programs Melody had seen, trying to get support for her father, and Melody remembered all the diamonds the woman wore. The weight from the jewelry alone probably doubled her weight; she wore so much.
“John!” Nancy hopped up from her lounge chair and ran to John, her high-heeled sandals slowing her down. She gave him the same fake hug and air-kisses that Melody had seen from Bitsy, then stood back to see him. “You’re so handsome! I bet the girls are just falling at their feet over you!”
He gave Melody a sly glance, making her raise an eyebrow. “Mom, I’d like you to meet Melody Gray. She’s from—”
“West Virginia.” She turned to Melody and gave her the fake hug and kiss. “It’s so good to meet you.”
For some reason, Melody didn’t believe her. Her tone was very condescending, as if Melody was being judged, and definitely beneath the social class of the woman standing in front of her. She didn’t like the woman, from all she’d learned about her past.
Nancy raked her eyes over Melody. “So are you here to model? I’m sure you’ve been snatched up by the biggest modeling agencies, right?”
“No, ma’am,” Melody answered.
“Well, you should. If you want, I’ll pull my clout and get you an appointment on Monday morning.”
“That’s okay, Mother,” John said.
“Come over here and talk to me,” she whined to him. She took his arm, leaving Melody and the bodyguards standing behind.
“I guess we follow,” Melody said.
“We could always leave,” Dawn murmured. “I don’t think she’d realize it.”
Melody laughed, just as John turned toward her, beckoning her with his eyes to save him. She walked toward him and sat down on his right with his mother on his left. The other older woman had left, leaving the row of seats empty.
“No, dear, come sit beside me,” she said to Melody while pointing to the chair on the woman’s left. “I want to talk to you privately.”
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