by Vivian Wood
“No,” he said as he cut her off. “You don’t get to say that. I trusted you. And not that it matters, I didn’t ‘go through’ your phone. I was trying to use your phone, the one you were too stupid to even lock, to call your goddamned sister and wish her happy birthday because mine died! Jesus, Rebecca, you couldn’t even delete the texts? You really think I’m stupid, don’t you?”
“I didn’t know you’d be going through my phone!” she yelled. A fresh torrent of tears threatened to fall.
“Fuck this. We’re not getting anywhere,” he said. “Just tell me who he is! And ‘Mary’? You saved his name as Mary? What kind of idiot do you think I am?”
Rebecca started to choke on her tears while Alex sat down in the matching chair and dropped his head into his hands. He was too angry to fight anymore.
He heard the jingle of keys, looked up, and saw Rebecca stomping barefoot to the door. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?” he yelled after her, but she slammed the door.
He only waited a minute before he jumped up to follow her. Surely she was going to his house—whoever it was she was fucking. You gotta find her, he told himself.
He didn’t have to go far. Her little Nissan was flipped at the end of the road, lights still on. Alex knew she was dead before he even got to her. His own headlights lit up her mangled arm, which stuck out from below the crumpled metal.
Alex bolted upright in bed, covered in sweat. Jesus. Even after all this time. Some nights he knew he was remembering, dreaming, but he still couldn’t stop it. If I’d just stopped her. If I’d followed her right away—
The clock told him it was three in the morning, but he didn’t care. He needed to run. Alex jumped out of bed, grabbed some socks out of the drawer, and bounded downstairs. No lights needed to be turned on; he knew every nook and cranny of the inn.
As soon as he started to round the house toward the trail out back, he heard a boat engine running. Fishing? At this time of night? Unfamiliar men’s voices erupted nearby in hushed tones. Alex slowed, pressed himself against the house, and peered around a corner. A trio of masked men approached the inn like they owned it. They didn’t even try to be careful.
What the hell? However, it didn’t seem to be the house they were after. They went directly to the cross Mama had erected in the front yard alongside the flagpole. One of the men tossed a bucketful of liquid onto the old hewn wood, while another lit and threw a lighter.
“Hey!” Alex called out instinctively. Any trace of fear was gone.
One of the men turned toward him and fired a pistol aimlessly.
“Fuck,” he cried as he jumped back behind the house and covered his head.
The shot rang in his ear, but he heard the thud of their feet as they departed. Caleb, Lee, and Matt’s voices burst through the front door. “What the fuck?” Caleb cried. Alex rounded the corner and saw their faces lit up by the flames.
“Alex!” Matt yelled.
“It’s okay, they’re gone,” Alex said.
“What the hell is this—”
“Look at this,” Lee said as Caleb ran for the house. He picked up a piece of plywood beside the fire. Written in crude Sharpie was, “Go Home Upity Bitch.”
“Nice spelling,” Matt commented. He stepped aside to let Caleb douse the flames.
Alex felt eyes on him. He looked up and saw his mama and Faith as they peered through the windows. Both appeared worried, with his mama’s hair wrapped in a silk scarf and Faith with her long hair in a loose braid that hung across her faded Pepperdine T-shirt.
Uppity bitch. Obviously the warning was for Faith, but why? She stared at the cross, confused and horrified.
What the hell is this all about?
Chapter 5
Faith
As Faith stood beside Mae in the middle of the night and watched the men put out the flames, Mae rubbed her arm. “It’s probably just teenagers,” Mae said reassuringly.
Faith wasn’t convinced. “I don’t know,” she said. “It’s not like Greystone is the most opportunistic location.”
“Don’t worry, honey,” Mae said. “Maybe you, you know, made an impression on someone while you were traveling. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you don’t exactly look like a local.”
Faith pulled a face. She knew that was true, but so what? Since when did teenagers go on cross-burning rampages because someone was wearing a suit instead of cargo shorts?
“You should go back to bed, dear. Try to get some more sleep.”
The look in Mae’s eyes was one of pure motherly love. Faith’s throat tightened at the sight. She couldn’t remember her mother, of course, and her dad’s way of showing affection had always been stunted. Is this what it feels like to have a mom? “No, I’m okay,” Faith told her. “I don’t think I could sleep much anyway. Besides, it’ll be light soon.”
“At least try. Trust me,” Mae said.
Faith spent thirty minutes tossing in bed before she gave up. Outside, she could hear the running water and low voices of the guys as they put out the last of the flames. What time is it in California? Faith checked her phone. Nearly two in the morning, but it was Saturday. Natalie would probably be buzzed and lined up for pizza somewhere.
You up? she texted her. Immediately, she saw ellipses appear.
Not for much longer. WYD? Natalie replied.
Faith debated how much to tell her, if anything. Typing out, NM, just watching a burning cross with a threat for me to get put out looked insane and horrifying. Besides, surely it wouldn’t be as crazy come morning. Faith settled for, Nothing, miss you.
As Natalie talked about the night’s events, from getting kicked off the bar she’d been dancing on to seeing a recent fling at a club who ignored her, life back in California suddenly seemed tame compared to Saint Rose. What time is it there? Natalie asked.
Close to 5.
In the morning?
Couldn’t sleep, Faith replied. Outside, she heard someone put the hose away. She itched to tell Natalie. Maybe someone from the real world could make her see it wasn’t so wild. Want to know something weird?
Always.
Middle of the night, some guys came and burned this cross in the front yard. And left a sign that said, “Go home, uppity bitch.”
Wait, what? Was it for you?
Seems like it.
Hold on, I’m calling u.
No, don’t. Can’t talk now, people are asleep.
But WTF, Faith? That’s straight up some KKK shit. I knew it was Georgia, but WTF?
Idk, Faith replied. Maybe it wasn’t a big deal after all.
You need to get out of there, Natalie said. How long does it take to get an estate in order anyway?
It wasn’t like Faith hadn’t thought about it. After all, it wouldn’t look strange if she left early. She could blame work and nobody would know. Still, she’d never backed down from a challenge, and that’s exactly what the night had been. Working on it, she finally replied.
I’m worried about you. How did checking out the prop go?
Was weird, too, Faith said. I’d totally forgotten about that place, but as soon as we landed, all these little jigsaw pieces started to come back to me.
Landed?
Took a little plane. One of the guys here flies.
Ohhhhh. There be men on the island, huh? Now I’m really worried about you. Or them.
Faith grinned. Don’t be. He’s a total moody douche.
Ew. Anyone there know your fam? I mean the nonbitchy side?
Natalie really did know everything about her. Not much, she replied. But I keep thinking about this little girl I used to play with here. One person said I used to play with a cousin here but didn’t know her name.
Weird. You need me to come out there? I have two years of vacay saved up.
No! It’s fine, really. Go to bed.
By the time she’d reassured Natalie that she would be fine, there was no denying it was dawn. Mae had been right, she should have tried to actually
sleep. Today she was supposed to be taking a day trip to Savannah, and the thought of running errands all day was daunting. It would definitely be a multiple-cups-of-coffee kind of day.
Downstairs, she could hear someone turning on the stove while pans were pulled from cupboards. Faith dragged herself out of bed and to the shower. As she was standing in the clawfoot tub with the white curtain encircling her, sunlight poured through the windows. When she turned off the water, birds sang outside. Maybe I was overreacting, she thought. And telling Natalie when she was drunk at two in the morning? Not exactly the best person to provide some assurance.
By the time Faith had blown out her hair and applied her SPF-infused makeup, she could hear Mae talking to some of the guys in the kitchen.
“Smells good!” Faith said as she entered the kitchen. Her silky maxi dress and wedge shoes made her feel a little more like she belonged.
“Tastes even better, ma’am,” Lee said. His espresso-colored eyes lit up when he saw her. She knew the expression. Lee was cute with his mop of nearly black hair. He stood out from Matt, Caleb, and Alex with their all-American looks, dishwater blond locks, and light eyes. Maybe in another life Lee would have piqued her interest by now. But there was something about him that gave her pause.
“Faith, honey, go on and sit down. Gwen and I will—”
“Oh, actually? I was planning on going into Savannah today and do some exploring. I think the ferry leaves soon, so I don’t want to miss it.”
“Alone?” Mae asked. She stopped stirring the batter in the yellow Pyrex bowl she held.
“Well, yeah . . .”
“Nonsense, I won’t hear of it. Especially not after, well, you know. Caleb!”
“Yeah, Mama?” Caleb replied from the doorway. Faith jumped at his voice.
“Faith needs to go into Savannah today. Take her? Y’all can take the Land Rover on the mainland.”
“Oh,” Caleb said slowly. The disappointment in his voice was palpable. “I would. Really, Faith, I’d love to. But remember, Mama, we got guests coming today? I still need to prep the boat, and—”
“It’s fine,” Faith said as she cut him off. “Really, I’ll be okay.”
“Now, just wait a minute,” Mae said. As if on cue, Alex tried to sneak through the foyer and outside. “Alex! Come here a minute.”
“Yeah?” he asked sullenly as he poked his head into the kitchen.
“Faith is going to Savannah today and needs some company.”
“Mama, I—”
“That wasn’t a question. Y’all get going, and take her wherever she wants to go.”
Alex shot her a look, and Faith shrugged her shoulders. What would Natalie do? She stuck out her lips and tried to look pitiful. Maybe these southern men needed a little damsel in distress to make them agreeable. “Fine,” he said begrudgingly.
“Oh, yay! Thank you,” she said.
“But we’re taking the Mustang.”
Faith wasn’t surprised that the drive to the ferry and the short crossing was spent largely in silence. What surprised her was how quickly she’d become accustomed to his moods. She sneaked glances at him as they leaned against the railing. The perpetual five o’clock shadow couldn’t hide the hard lines of his jaw. His white shirtsleeves were rolled up to reveal tanned, muscled forearms. She knew he wasn’t the type to load up his hair with product, but the salty air had mussed it up perfectly.
“Y’all coming back from a honeymoon?” Faith jumped at the question. A middle-aged couple, sunburned and smiling, stood beside them.
“Honeymoon? Uh, no—”
“Oh, I’m sorry, sweetie,” the woman said with a thick Georgia accent. “It’s just, that’s what most couples go to Saint Rose for.”
“We’re not a couple,” Alex said gruffly. It was the first time he’d spoken since they’d hopped on board.
“Oh well. Y’all enjoy yourselves,” the woman said. Faith watched them inch away out of the corner of her eyes.
The same crew worked the ferry. The young boys rained smiles down on Faith as they passed by. “Already headed back home, ma’am?” one asked.
“No, just a day trip to Savannah,” she said.
“Good to hear, good to hear. Saint Rose could use a little more beauty on the island.”
She laughed and stole a look at Alex, but he seemed fascinated by the water.
When the boat docked at the mainland and the familiar worker took her hand and called her Angelina, Alex raised a brow. “Angelina?”
“Like Jolie,” she told him as they walked toward the long-term parking garage across the street. “When I came to the island, he checked my ID. I was blonde when it was taken. He told me he liked me as a brunette and that I reminded him of Angelina Jolie. It was silly,” she added. Why do I care if he thinks I’m vain?
“No, I don’t think so,” Alex said. “I can see it.”
Is he flirting with me?
He didn’t offer any other comments; just unlocked the gate and held it open for her. “Why do you keep your cars here instead of just boarding them on the ferry?” she asked.
He shrugged. “We have our reasons.” They stopped at the end of a row of aluminum doors, and Alex pulled a remote out of his jeans. She couldn’t help but notice the sliver of toned abs that peeked out at her.
The doors complained loudly as they were pulled up. Alex snapped the black cloth off the car to reveal a gorgeous cherry-red vintage Mustang.
“Oh my God. Is this yours?” she asked as he raised the door of the tiny garage.
“That’s what the title says.”
“It’s beautiful,” she said. “What is it, a sixty-six? It looks pristine.”
“It’s not a big deal,” Alex said as he opened the door for her. “Just part of who I used to be.”
Now that is interesting. The engine roared to life, and they pulled onto the main road. “So what does that mean? Who you used to be?” she asked. Signs for Savannah had already started to appear.
“Nothing,” he said. “I just used to live in Atlanta; lived a different lifestyle.”
That’s all?
He was silent and stared down the road. Maybe she wasn’t used to him after all. It had been easy on the ferry with other people around. Now it felt like she needed to engage a brick wall. “I think living in Atlanta would be fun,” she said to fill the silence. “It’s funny, people think San Francisco’s like this big city, but it’s actually so small. You know?”
“No, ma’am,” he said without a glance in her direction.
“Well, I mean geographically the actual city is small. But it’s not just that. All the attorneys and firms know one another. My ex, we broke up a year ago, but I’d still run into him all the time. That’s part of why I came here for the summer. I mean, not because of him, I’m totally over that. But just for some change of scenery. You know?”
“No, ma’am,” he said again.
She had started to get flustered but couldn’t stop talking. “I’ve been thinking about it since yesterday. I think it would be good to renovate the house on Saint Rose. But you know, maybe keep the land wild.”
Alex’s eyes widened, but he still didn’t look at her. Finally, a reaction. “Surprised?” she asked. “What, you didn’t think I heard you?”
“No, I know you heard me,” Alex said. “I just didn’t expect you to listen.”
Faith laughed. “Well, after you talked about all those endangered species . . . I’m a Californian, not heartless. There’s a difference, contrary to popular belief.”
“Will wonders never cease,” he said as he transitioned onto a freeway.
“That’s the main reason I’m going to Savannah today,” she said. “I figured I’d try to look up a couple of contractors while we’re in town.”
She looked at him expectantly, but he wasn’t going to budge. And I gave him the perfect opening, too. Surely Alex knew contractors or someone in the industry, and he wasn’t even going to offer that up.
Faith gla
nced at her phone. Finally, a strong signal. The reception on the island was hit or miss.
She busied herself with googling contractors in the area. “It says that George Stephanos is the best contractor in town,” she said aloud.
Alex let out a little growl.
She looked at him, surprised, and he had a scowl across his face.
“Who says?” he asked.
“Uh, Yelp?” Faith replied. She tried not to laugh. “Why? Do you know him? Do you have another recommendation?”
Alex just shook his head.
“You don’t think I should look him up?” she pressed. “It lists his mobile number on his website.”
“I think you should do whatever you want. Now, do you mind?” Before she could reply, Alex cranked up the radio to the jazz station. Nat King Cole filled the car.
What is his problem?
She spent the rest of the drive into Savannah checking out contractor bios, websites, and portfolios. Fine, let Alex act like a child.
He was a mystery, all right.
Chapter 6
Alex
He couldn’t believe she even mentioned George, let alone the idea of hiring him.
Alex thought he’d wiped George Stephanos from his memory, but as soon as the name had dripped from Faith’s plump lips, it all came back to him. Labor Day weekend six years ago, when he’d brought Rebecca to the island for the first time. When Mama had demanded the whole family go to the beach for the annual barbeque, he hadn’t argued. It would be a welcome change from watching Lee moon over Rebecca while she egged him on with her flirtations.
“Alex!” George appeared by their picnic table and clapped him on the back as if they were old friends. “Well, I can see what lured you away from Georgia. You must be the wife?” George looked at Rebecca as if he were about to sit down for a meal.
“Hi!” Rebecca said, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. “It’s always great to meet one of Alex’s old friends.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that, ma’am,” George said. “We went to high school together is all. I live in Savannah now, where I operate my contracting business. Just in town for the festivities.”