Dead Silence

by Brenda Novak

  Silence.

  “Mom, you there?” he said.

  “According to his mother, you broke his nose and you gave him a black eye.”

  “Oh, well—” he studied his swollen hand “—that’s good, I suppose. I wouldn’t want it to have been for nothing.”

  “You think this is funny?”

  “Does it matter? I can’t change it now.” He would’ve added that the expression on Joe’s face had been kind of funny, but he didn’t want the boys to hear him acknowledge it.

  “So, why did it happen?” she asked.

  Kennedy let go of a long breath and walked over to the window. “We got in a fight. That’s all.”

  “That sounds like an explanation I might get from Teddy.”

  “Why elaborate? I’m not particularly proud of myself. How’d you hear about it so fast?”

  “Elaine called me less than five minutes ago. She’s nearly hysterical, saying they’re going to sue you, file charges for assault and work tirelessly to see that you never hold public office in this town. She even said they’re going to start a petition demanding your resignation at the bank.”

  “Is that all?” Kennedy said dryly.

  “Kennedy,” his mother replied. “What’s going on? You’ve never been in a fight before.”

  He had no answer for her. He was hiding evidence, sleeping with Grace, punching Joe. He’d be better off without any of it, but one thing seemed to lead to the next. And he couldn’t say he regretted sleeping with Grace. He knew he’d do it again if she ever gave him the chance. Last night had been satisfying in a very primitive way. He felt his body stir just thinking about it.

  “Is it your father?” she asked, lowering her voice. “Is this some sort of reaction to his illness? I know it’s affecting you. It’s affecting all of us.”

  “I gave Joe what he deserved,” he said. “What happened doesn’t have anything to do with Dad.” The fact that life could be fleeting, that he didn’t want to waste a moment of it, might’ve played a role. But that was only a small part of everything going on. Mostly it came down to wanting something he couldn’t have. He knew what it was like to love as deeply as he’d loved Raelynn. And he knew what it was like to lose the woman who’d meant so much to him. He wanted to fill the hole that had been left in his family when she died. Not just for himself, but for his children.

  Unfortunately, they seemed to have chosen a woman whose past made that impossible.

  “Elaine claims the fight was over Grace. That you were at her house at three in the morning.”

  This was where it all grew worse…. “That’s true.”

  “I can guess what you were doing there. What I can’t figure out is why Joe was with you.”

  “He wasn’t with me. He was lurking outside.”

  “Lurking?” She hesitated as though tempted to give up her antagonistic approach. He could hear her sigh. “You were still stupid to do what you did.”

  “Thanks,” he said with a grimace. “It helps to have you spell out the things I already know.”

  She ignored him. “We have to do something to stem the tide of public opinion.”

  “What can we do, except tell the truth? He was trespassing, he called Grace some unflattering names and I hit him. What more is there?”

  “We have to prove that Grace isn’t what everyone’s always thought, that she was abused, like you said. Then you’ll come off like a white knight for seeing the truth when no one else could. She’ll finally get the respect she deserves, and—”

  “She deserves?” he interrupted. “Don’t tell me you’re having a change of heart, Mother dear.”

  “Stop, will you? I’m working on damage control here. We have to make Joe look like the bad guy.”

  “Joe is the bad guy. He’s a complete—” Kennedy turned to see Heath and Teddy, listening to every word, and quickly amended his remarks “—moron. But we can’t do what you’re suggesting.”

  “Why not? You told me you have proof.”

  “Forget it. I won’t drag Grace’s most tragic moments out for everyone to see. If she wanted that, she would’ve done it herself.”

  “We’d be doing her a favor. What happened to her makes her very sympathetic.”

  “No.”

  “I’m willing to befriend Grace, Kennedy, but not at the cost of what it could do to you.”

  The automatic sprinklers came on, sending a spray of water against the window. Kennedy watched the droplets roll down the pane. “We have bigger things to worry about.”

  “Bigger than your future?”

  He shoved a hand through his hair. “My future will be what it is. How’s Dad feeling?”

  There was a long pause. “He’s going to be fine.”

  “Just take care of him, okay, Mom?” Kennedy said, imbuing his voice with some of the urgency he felt. He didn’t want the decisions he’d made to affect his parents at such a critical time. “I can take care of myself.”

  He expected her to respond with something like, “You haven’t been doing a very good job of it lately,” but she didn’t.

  “I know it was hard to lose Raelynn,” she told him. “But your father’s going to make it.”

  “I’d better go,” he said. “I’ve got to get to the bank.” He could predict the kind of day he’d face as the story of the fight spread through town, but he figured he might as well get it over with. It beat talking about death with his mother. All the talk in the world wouldn’t stop the Grim Reaper if he was on his way.

  “Are you bringing the boys over here, or to Grace’s house?” she asked.

  He turned to watch Teddy gather up his money. “I won’t be seeing Grace anymore.”

  “What about the fireworks tonight?” Teddy cried, overhearing.

  Kennedy covered the phone. “She’s going with her sister. She’ll see you there.”

  “No,” the boys cried, almost in unison.

  Kennedy gestured for silence. “You’ll see her, I promise.”

  “Isn’t it a little late to give Grace up now?” Camille asked.

  He thought of what Janice had told him and wondered where Clay had hidden Barker’s car. “The stakes only go up from here,” he replied.

  Camille Archer perched on the couch in her living room, facing her husband, who sat across the coffee table from her, drinking the green tea she’d made for him. “So what do you think?” she asked.

  Otis ran a hand over his jaw. He hadn’t shaved yet, but he’d decided to edge the lawn before the sun grew too hot. The scent of fresh-cut grass lingered on his clothes. Camille had tried to talk him out of exerting himself. She didn’t know what she’d do if they couldn’t get his cancer into remission. She didn’t want to live without him and constantly pleaded with him to take it easy. Kennedy had promised to edge the grass tonight, since the boys weren’t old enough to do that part of the yardwork. But Otis wasn’t the type to sit around. As long as there was half a breath left in him, he’d work at something. She supposed he had to, for his own peace of mind. He probably enjoyed the menial tasks he insisted on doing now that he wasn’t feeling well enough to spend many hours at the office. At least he took what he did slowly, at his own pace, and often came in to rest.

  “Sounds to me like he cares about her,” he said simply.

  “He and Raelynn had a good relationship. He could be on the rebound.”

  “I think it goes deeper than that. He’s fighting it, but no other woman’s even turned his head since Raelynn.” Otis stared off into space before focusing on her again. “And if I don’t make it—”

  She stiffened. “Don’t talk like that.”

  “Listen to me,” he said gently. “If I’m not going to make it, I want to die knowing my son is happy.”

  “But would you trade happiness now for sorrow later?”

  “She was only thirteen when Barker disappeared. I suspect she’s as innocent as he claims she is.”

  “What about her family?”

  “It’s time
this town forgot the past and moved on.”

  “That’s easy for us to say. It’s not our loved one who’s missing.”

  “I want to support Kennedy in the relationship. It might be the last thing I’m able to do for him.”

  Camille had talked to Grace several times since the boys had started going over there so often and had begun to like her in spite of her earlier prejudice. Heath and Teddy worshipped her. And Kennedy was, at the very least, infatuated with her.

  “If only he’d give us the proof he told me about,” she said. “The fact that he attacked Joe, who nearly drowned saving his life, tells me he’d sacrifice anything to protect her. But I think it might be best for both of them if the truth finally came out. It might be the only way they can be together.”

  Otis winced as he shifted his position, and worry burned like hot acid in Camille’s stomach.

  “Are you okay?”

  He grinned slightly. “Stop worrying, woman. I’m fine.”

  “Maybe you should lie down—”

  He put up a hand to stop her fussing over him and went back to their conversation. “Can’t you talk Kennedy into telling you what this proof is?”

  “I don’t think so. I’ve tried.”

  “Do you want me to speak to him?”

  Camille thought Otis could get the information out of him—if anyone could. But she didn’t want to force Kennedy to choose between the woman he desired and the father he loved. If only she could figure out what he had, she’d know whether it could help them in some way. Then, if it turned out not to be worth the pain it might cause Grace, she’d forget about it. “Maybe later,” she said. “I’m going to talk to Buzz.”

  “You think Buzz might know something about it?” Otis asked in obvious surprise.

  “He and Kennedy have been close for years. If anyone knows anything, it’ll be Buzz.”

  “Have you seen Joe’s face?” Grace asked as she, Madeline and Irene carried a blanket, a picnic basket and a bag of fireworks through the gate of the Stillwater High football field. The fact that one of the town’s mayoral candidates had left her house in the middle of the night and beaten up the guy who’d once saved his life had started a big scandal. Grace didn’t want to be here tonight, giving all the gossips a focal point. But Madeline and her mother wouldn’t hear of her skipping out. Besides, Teddy had called to make sure she was coming. She didn’t want to disappoint him and Heath.

  “Not yet,” Madeline said. “But I’ve heard plenty about how bad he looks. I’ve even heard that Joe filed assault charges.”

  “Those won’t stick,” Grace said. “Joe was trespassing. Besides, Judge Reynolds knows both of them.”

  “And in this town, a fight is still just a fight,” Madeline added. “They happen occasionally at the tavern. As long as it’s one-on-one between two grown men and no one’s permanently injured, the police pretty much ignore it. Especially when one of those men might be their future mayor.”

  “He’ll be fine,” her mother responded. “Joe got the worst of it.” She smiled triumphantly. “His nose is crooked and swollen, he has a cut on his cheek, and both eyes are puffy.”

  “Sounds like Kennedy made his point,” Madeline said.

  Irene raised her chin. “Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.”

  Grace agreed, but she also felt horrible about it. Kennedy had tried to go home earlier in the evening, but she’d asked him to stay.

  Madeline moved the picnic basket to her other arm. “That kind of violence is so unlike Kennedy.”

  “He’s always been calm and rational,” Irene said.

  He wasn’t very rational last night, Grace thought. They’d both lost all inhibitions, thrown everything they had into their lovemaking. Knowing their affair couldn’t last had made it that much more frenetic.

  “What set him off?” Madeline asked.

  “I don’t know for sure,” Grace admitted. “I heard some hollering and came rushing outside to find Joe bleeding.”

  “Kennedy wasn’t hurt?” Irene asked.

  Grace lowered her voice because they were entering a more crowded area. “He seemed fine last night, but Teddy told me his hand was swollen this morning.”

  “I hope he didn’t break it,” Irene said.

  Madeline found them a nice spot on the grass and began to spread out the blanket. “No, from what I heard, Dr. Phipps X-rayed it this afternoon. It’s just a bad sprain.”

  “Then we can still be happy about Joe getting what he deserved!” Irene said.

  Grace would’ve been happier if she hadn’t seen the glint in Joe’s eyes last night. He’d retaliate in some way. She knew it.

  Cindy was with her sister on a blanket nearby. Sensing her attention, Grace was tempted to move to a new location. Cindy had tried to warn her to stay away from Kennedy, and instead of taking her advice Grace had created more problems for him.

  She was embarrassed about that. But there was nowhere else to go, at least nowhere that would be any more private. Everyone seemed to be whispering and watching her.

  “I hate this,” she muttered.

  “Really?” Her mother fluffed her hair. “I love it. So, are you meeting Kennedy after the show?” she asked far too loudly as she arranged their picnic.

  “Stop it,” Grace muttered under the breath. “I’m not going to see him at all.” But then she spotted the object of their conversation only three blankets to their left. His T-shirt and baggy shorts revealed his lean, muscular build, but it was the memory of what lay beneath those clothes that made her cheeks burn.

  He met her gaze and held it for several seconds. She told herself to look away, but couldn’t. Finally, he bent to answer Teddy, who was tapping his arm.

  “Let’s go,” Grace said, turning back to her mother and sister.

  Irene and Madeline hadn’t seen Kennedy yet, which made her think she might have a chance of convincing them. Clay was supposed to be coming tonight, with Alexandra, whom he’d been seeing off and on lately. They could find him if they were lucky. But it was no good. Irene and Madeline were far too pleased with the reversal in their situation to want to be discreet about their presence.

  “Are you kidding? This is perfect,” Madeline said.

  “Just about everyone can see us,” her mother added.

  That was the problem. Grace didn’t want to be so close to Kennedy. And she knew that if Teddy and Heath saw her, they’d make a big deal about coming over, which meant she’d be even more visible.

  Sitting down, she did her best to hide behind the people between them, and once again felt Cindy watching her from the other direction. She turned, prepared to stare her down. But Cindy didn’t appear to be angry. As soon as their eyes met, she nodded to her right and Grace followed the direction of her nod to see Joe. He was talking to his parents about thirty feet beyond Cindy, but even from that distance, Grace could tell that his face was as beat-up as Irene had said.

  Grace glanced back at Cindy to find her smiling broadly—and couldn’t help smiling back.

  Joe watched the crowds visiting the restrooms and the concession stand located to one side of the football field, searching for Buzz. He hadn’t wanted to come tonight. But, as his mother had pointed out, it was important that he let as many people as possible see what Kennedy had done. He also needed to work fast to insure that all his friends, who were also Kennedy’s friends, didn’t immediately side with Kennedy. If he could reach Buzz before Kennedy did and give his side, Buzz would probably stay out of it, and Ronnie and Tim and the others would likely follow his lead.

  That was all Joe hoped to accomplish. He didn’t want to feel isolated. He wouldn’t allow Grace—or even Kennedy—to do that to him.

  Walking restlessly back and forth, he glared sullenly at anyone who dared get too close. Unless it was someone he felt he should acknowledge. Then he’d grunt and wave as though he was in too much pain to do more.

  And he was. But that wasn’t the worst of it. He looked terrible. People wer
e treating him like Frankenstein’s monster….

  Where the hell was Buzz? He had to be here somewhere. The fireworks wouldn’t start until twilight deepened into darkness. They had at least fifteen minutes, and if he knew Sarah Harte, she’d have Buzz at the concession stand, getting her something calorie-laden. If she’d been his wife, Joe would’ve put a stop to the weight gain right away. But when she acknowledged her widening hips, Buzz simply laughed and called it “happy fat.”

  Joe just called it fat. And he didn’t find it appealing.

  A laugh came from somewhere behind him—a laugh he immediately recognized—and he pivoted to see Grace standing next to Madeline at the cotton candy machine not ten feet away. “I haven’t had this stuff since I was ten years old,” she said.

  Joe’s stomach knotted with a mixture of resentment and admiration. Maybe Grace was white trash and liked to pretend she wasn’t. And maybe she’d cost him his best friend—he’d never forgive her for that. But she sure was beautiful, and getting prettier every day. Since she’d come to Stillwater, her skin had tanned to a deep golden color and looked soft as satin, and her eyes had begun to sparkle with a liveliness he’d never seen there before. In that sundress, she was the epitome of feminine. She always exuded sensuality, but tonight more than ever. Knowing that Kennedy had been in her bed last night drove Joe crazy. His muscles bunched as he imagined Kennedy pumping into her….

  “Remember mixing butter and sugar together and eating it when Mom wasn’t home?” he heard Madeline ask.

  Her voice carried to him as easily as Grace’s had. They were in a good mood, enjoying themselves.

  Joe resented that, too. He was miserable because of Grace. Why should she be having fun?

  “Yes!” Grace licked a piece of cotton candy from her lips and laughed again. “Wow, that brings back memories.”

  Circling wide, Joe came up behind them. “What about those bleachers?” he said, speaking into Grace’s ear.

  Her spine practically snapped as she whirled around to face him. “What about them?” she challenged, the levity gone from her wide, thick-lashed eyes.

  “Do they bring back memories, too? That was our spot, remember?” He licked his fingers and rubbed them in front of his bandaged nose. “I can still smell you, Grace.”