Stepbrother Untouchable

by Masters, Colleen

  My fears are realized as my mom waves me over to where she and Pierce are standing with two guests. I'm introduced to the couple, who turn out to be higher-ups for the State Department, and my accomplishments are trotted out while they murmur enthusiastically, though I have to wonder if anyone could possibly be genuinely interested in such self-serving prattle. As we talk, my mom breaks away to greet the guests that are now pouring in. I listen politely as Pierce chats away, impressed with his wit and charm. Clearly Nate gets it from his dad, even if he does insist that it's a learned skill.

  I manage to slip away and head over to the buffet table. Like any good Maryland girl, I absolutely love crabs. As I pile my plate high, I feel a hand on the small of my back. I turn to see Jackson grinning at me. With his open, friendly face, it's hard to keep in mind what Nate told me about him, and what I experienced for myself.

  “Hey, Brynn!” he says, brushing a kiss against my cheek.

  “Jackson, good to see you,” I reply politely.

  “You disappeared so fast the last time I saw you! I was worried,” he replies.

  “Sorry about that,” I respond, wondering if Nate gave him any explanation.

  “We ever going to go on that date?”

  I'm saved by the sight of Allison walking out onto the deck. “Could you excuse me for a moment? My best friend just got here and she doesn't know anyone else,” I explain as I slip away. I wave at her as I approach, but she's looking around nervously and doesn't register my presence.

  “Allison!” I call out, just ten feet from her.

  “Oh! Oh my gosh, I didn't recognize you,” she says. I give her a hug as I walk up. “This party is really fancy! And this house! I mean you said it was big, but I didn't think it was this big.”

  “I know,” I groan. “I'll give you a tour later if you have a couple hours,” I add wryly. “Come get something to eat with me—I was just filling up a plate. I'm so glad you're here. I don't really know anyone else, and none of the interns have shown up yet.”

  “The interns?” Allison asks as we head back over to the buffet, where I pick up my abandoned plate.

  “Yeah, Pierce invited all the interns from the office.”

  “Oh, that was nice of him,” Allison comments, picking up her own plate. “Wow, I think that guy's a senator…the one in the blue seersucker jacket.”

  I glance over. “From Georgia, yeah,” I confirm. “I think he and Pierce served in Congress at the same time.” I start giggling and Allison looks at me with a questioning smile. “Sorry, I just can't believe I'm talking about my stepfather serving in congress.”

  “This is your real life!” Allison says, laughing. “When do you think it'll sink in?”

  “No idea,” I reply as we head toward a couple empty seats at one of the tables.

  “Your mom looks really happy,” Allison observes as we sit. I watch her for a moment, flitting between conversations, so beautiful and animated.

  “I think she is. And she's just really good at cocktail-type conversation, too. Like Nate, though he says it doesn't come to him naturally.”

  “Brynn…” Allison says, raising an eyebrow at me.

  “No, I mean, I'm just, you know…” I reply, trailing off. Definitely not the time to tell Allison that Nate and I kissed, though I don't know if that time will ever come. I love Allison, but thinking in shades of grey is not her strong suit.

  “Thought you two could use some drinks.”

  I look up to see Greg, the cute intern with the strawberry-blonde hair, standing next to us, three martini glasses carefully balanced between his long fingers.

  “Greg, hi! I'm so glad you could make it.” I indicate the chair next to us and help him place down the glasses so that they don't spill their contents. “Greg, this is my friend Allison. We go to college together.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Allison says.

  “You too. Hope these drinks are OK with you. I forget what the bartender called them…”

  “Freedom Martinis,” I answer, rolling my eyes. “The name sucks, but they’re really good.”

  “So where are you from originally, Greg?” Allison asks.

  “Raleigh, though I hope to move to DC after I graduate.”

  I tune out slightly as Allison and Greg talk across me. I've just seen Nate cross between groups of people, seeming to make conversation effortlessly. I look around to see if there's a girl trailing him, but I don't see one. This might be the first time I've seen him without a date at any kind of gathering. The idea that it could be because of me comes to my mind, but I quickly quash it. I can't let myself think like that. Nate doesn't want that kind of relationship with me, probably even if I weren't his stepsister. I bet his date just got a cold last-minute or something.

  “Be right back,” Allison says. “I have to get a second helping!”

  My attention snaps back to Greg as she stands and leaves. He scratches his cheek and clears his throat. I smile as a blush sneaks onto his freckle-dotted skin.

  “You look…um, that's a nice dress,” he finally says.

  “Thanks.” I smile, careful not to linger on the subject, “So, you think you'll want to work in politics after school ends?”

  “Well, in government,” he says with a smile. “Though I'm learning that one doesn't seem to exist without the other. I guess I need to work on the whole…you know…” he waves his hand vaguely.

  “Kissing babies thing?”

  “Exactly,” he smiles. “So, ah, I was wondering…”

  My attention drifts from him again as I see my mom and Pierce talking urgently by the house. My mom covers her face with her hands and Pierce turns back to the party, his frown turning into a smile as if by magic.

  “I'm so sorry, Greg, could you excuse me? I think my mom might need me.”

  “Oh, sure,” he replies kindly as I rush toward the door into the study.

  My mind runs through the possible scenarios as I hurry through the study and up the stairs. As I climb the second set of stairs up to the master suite on the third floor, I decide it must be my father. The last time I saw my mom look that upset, it was because my dad was back in town and pressuring her for money.

  I knock softly on the closed double door of their bedroom. “Mom?” I whisper quietly as I let myself in. “What's wrong?” I gasp as I hurry in. She's curled up on top of the bedspread, like a broken doll.

  “It's Pierce,” she murmurs without moving. “His lawyer just called him. A woman has come forward accusing him of sexual harassment. It'll be on the news tomorrow.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “Oh no,” I whisper, sitting next to her on the bed. “I'm so sorry, Mom.”

  “Is it…is it me?” she asks, turning her head as a tear drops down her cheek.

  “What? What do you mean?”

  “Maybe it's me…maybe it's my fault. It's like I'm a curse.”

  “No, Mom, no,” I whisper, leaning down and pulling her hair out of her eyes. “This isn't happening because of you. I mean, when did this even go on? The, you know, the…” I reply, unable to repeat those two ugly words: sexual harassment.

  “Several years ago,” she replies.

  “Long before he ever met you,” I point out. “So, what? This woman's going on TV?”

  My mom nods. “One of those investigation shows is doing a piece about sexual harassment in politics, and she's going to be interviewed.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Well, we'll have to batten down the hatches. We'll probably have to stay in the house for a few days, though luckily tomorrow's Saturday anyway.”

  “No, that's not what I meant. I mean, if Pierce sexually harassed a—”

  “I don't want to think about it.”

  “Mom, you have to,” I sigh. She's always been like the child in our relationship. I'm tired of the dynamic, but I don't know how to break the pattern without our entire relationship falling apart. “If Pierce did that, then maybe you have to—”

 
; “Don't say it. Pierce and I are staying together. That's not a question. And even if he did do it, I’m sure it was a momentary weakness. It was just something that happened a long time ago, and he's changed.”

  I shrug, feeling helpless. “I want that to be true, Mom, I really do. Not for his sake, but for yours. I did hear a rumor at work, though,” I say hesitatingly.

  “What do you mean? What kind of rumor?”

  “That…Pierce has a certain reputation.”

  “Why didn't you tell me?”

  I want to tell her that it's because she's so fragile, but instead I just reply, “Because it was just a rumor that I heard from one person. I had no way of knowing if it were true.”

  “Well, until there's some evidence or something, I'm going to believe Pierce. He said she was a woman at work who was denied a promotion she wanted, and now she's starting a jewelry line, and thought she might as well put her bitterness to good use and drum up some publicity.”

  “I guess that could be it,” I say without conviction.

  My mom nods. “I think I just want to be alone for a while. Do you think you could go back to the party, and sort of act like the hostess for me? You know, make sure everyone's having a good time and all that? Just say I have a headache if anyone asks after me.”

  “Um, alright,” I reply, not knowing what else to say.

  “Thanks, honey,” my mom says, settling back onto the pillow. I stand and head for the door. “I just can't believe it,” I hear her murmur as I close the bedroom door behind me. I wish I didn't believe it either, but there's a telltale knot in the pit of my stomach that's telling me I do.

  I head back down to the party, taking the stairs slowly. I'd rather be doing pretty much anything else right now than plastering a smile on my face and pretending everything's fine. But I know my mom's right—it will look odd if both of us disappear during the party. I reemerge out back and take a deep breath as I cross back over to Greg and Allison.

  “Sorry about that. My mom has a headache, I just wanted to check on her,” I relay dutifully. Greg and Allison murmur sympathetically. I finish the rest of my food quickly, and with only one ear on their conversation, before standing up with my drink. I excuse myself and begin to mingle, trying to circulate and play the part of the hostess like my mom asked.

  I watch the fading light impatiently; willing the sun to set as fast as possible so that this party can finally be over. The chipper event organizer I met earlier appears quietly at my side as I force a laugh at a partygoer's joke.

  “Have you seen Mrs. Thornhill?”

  It still throws me to hear my mom referred to like that. “She's not feeling well. Can I help you with something?”

  “Would you like the lanterns to be lit now, or should we wait?”

  I glance around at the dimming light. “Now would be fine, thanks.” She hurries away and I spot Nate across the party, frowning at me. I avert my gaze quickly. If his dad hasn't told him what's going on yet, I don't want the task to fall on me. I see him making his way over, and excuse myself from my current conversation to disappear into a large group of people around the pool. Just another hour or so and the fireworks will be done, and everyone will leave.

  The caterers move throughout the party, lighting candles on the tables and mini Chinese lanterns strung in the trees. I take a moment to admire the scene: the beautiful white lights, the well-heeled crowd, the murmur of easy conversation. My mom does know how to throw a good party. I grab another drink as the twilight turns into night and people begin heading down to the lower lawn to get a better view of the fireworks.

  With a sudden boom, the display begins. There are a few exclamations of excitement and some clapping as the crowd gathers to stare downriver at the explosions of color. I'm making my way toward the rear of the crowd when I feel a hand on the small of my back. I know before I even turn around that it's Nate.

  “What's going on?” he asks quietly, as I turn to face him.

  “It's nothing. My mom just isn't feeling well,” I reply.

  “You're pulling at your hair,” he points out, and I drop my hand, feeling caught. The crowd cheers as an especially colorful firework goes off above us.

  “So?”

  “I can read you like a book, Brynn,” he replies, leaning in. I can feel his breath on my cheek and step back, feeling flustered.

  “I just think it's something that your dad should tell you,” I say, and turn back to the fireworks, but I feel his hand on my elbow.

  “Would you just tell me? You and my dad are both acting strangely, and now your mom disappears…I just want to know.”

  “And here I thought I was covering well,” I say, stalling for time.

  “Maybe to other people, but not to me.” I stare at him for a moment as his features are illuminated by the light of one of my favorite, willow-shaped fireworks.

  “There's a woman…she's going to go on the news tomorrow and say that your dad sexually harassed her.”

  “That's crazy,” he hisses at me.

  “I'm just the messenger—you insisted I tell you—” I stammer, taken aback by his tone.

  “My dad, he's a great man. He's a pillar of the community—”

  “A pillar of the community?”

  “What? He is!”

  “It's just, sometimes the way you talk about him…he's not perfect, Nate.”

  “You don't know anything about him. When my mom abandoned us, he took care of me all by himself. He's always been there for me.”

  “OK, I'm just—”

  But Nate storms off back to the house. I stand in shock for a moment. I knew that conversation wasn't going to be fun, but I didn't think he'd turn on me like that, as though I were attacking Pierce, or something.

  I turn back toward the crowd just as the finale begins and the sky lights up. I glance at the people around me, their faces upturned, their expressions joyous. Maybe it was silly of me to look forward to everyone leaving. Because now I realize that tomorrow, it will be back to the four of us alone in the house—and no buffer zone.

  My eyes fall on Pierce and I realize he's staring at me. He smiles quickly when he realizes that I'm looking at him, and leads the applause as the last firework dies out.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  I was half-worried that the plan was for all four of us to watch the TV program together, but thankfully there's no such expectation. Or at least, I haven't been told of it. It's the first time in a while my mom hasn't insisted on a family dinner. She's been holed up in her room most of the day, while Pierce fields calls from his attorneys in his study.

  I decide to grab some leftover pasta from the fridge to eat in my room, and peer into Nate's room as I pass. No sign of him.

  I shut my door behind me and open my computer to check out some of the coverage online. I feel nauseous as I read the woman's claims, though slightly relieved that she isn't accusing Pierce of any kind of violence. She talks mostly about lingering touches, shoulder massages, and being stonewalled by management when she complained.

  I finish eating and click around the internet for a while, feeling restless. When I can't stand my boredom any longer, I take my plate and walk back down to the kitchen and put it in the dishwasher. The phone on the counter rings as I'm headed past it. I pause for a moment, waiting to see if someone else is going to answer it. What if it's a reporter? Do I just say 'no comment,' like they do on TV?

  On the third ring, I decide to bite the bullet. “Hello?”

  “Hi, is Nate there?” a female voice asks breathlessly. Ah, another admirer.

  “Sorry, I don't think he is,” I reply honestly. “Can I take a message?”

  There's a slight pause. “Is this Holly?”

  “No, this is her daughter, Brynn. May I ask who's calling?” There's another long pause, and I begin to feel uneasy.

  “It's Eileen…Nate's mom.”

  I almost drop the phone in surprise. “Oh, um, I don't—”

  “Wait! Please, please don't
hang up. I just saw the news, and thought that Nate might be willing to talk to me now.”

  “I don't understand.”

  “Because he'll know the truth about Pierce, and then maybe he won't believe whatever he says about me.”

  “I'm sorry, I don't think I should be in the middle of this.” Whatever it is.

  “Please, please…” I hear her gasp and the clear sound of crying. “I haven't talked to Nate in so long…he's my son, he's my son.”

  “But you chose to leave him…”

  “Is that what Pierce told you?”

  “No, Nate.”

  “He heard it from Pierce. I left Pierce because he was cheating on me. But Pierce is used to having everything his own way, and he was furious. He was the one with the money, I came into the marriage with nothing, and signed a pre-nup. I mean, I barely even looked at the thing at the time—I thought we'd be together forever. He had an expensive lawyer and managed to get full custody in the divorce. I never had a chance. I've been trying to get in touch with Nate for years to tell him the truth…I left Pierce, not Nate. I would never leave my son. I never would have divorced Pierce, even though he was cheating on me, if I had known I'd never see my son again. I thought after seeing this woman on TV, maybe he'd believe me…” She dissolves into sobs.

  “Eileen, Eileen, it's OK,” I whisper, feeling sick. Something about what she's telling me rings true. I can feel it in my gut. “I want to help you, but…Nate, he's really touchy about his father. I don't know what I can do.”

  “I know, and I'm sorry to put this on you. I call the house now and then trying to get Nate, and I was just hoping that he would pick up tonight and not hang up on me.”

  A sound behind me makes me fly around. Pierce is standing in the doorway to the dining room.

  “Everything OK?” he asks.

  “Yep, everything's fine, Pierce,” I reply so that Eileen can hear me.