Southern Seduction

by Alcorn, N. A.

“No,” I whispered.

  “Drew didn’t even freak, not a single feather ruffled, because he was too high to know what the fuck was going on.”

  “Oh my god.” It was all I could say.

  “Don’t look at me like that Maddie. Believe me, everyday I wish I could go back and have a redo, I’d never have gone to that party.”

  He was full out crying now. Right or wrong I didn’t like seeing my brother in so much pain. I squeezed my brother as tight as I could, “It’s not your fault,” I said.

  “Yeah? Because I disagree. I know Drew, I knew he would rather get drunk than be responsible for an hour or two.”

  “It’s not your fault,” I repeated.

  My brother pulled away from me and wiped his eyes with his shirt, “Camille is Drew’s cousin, the kids mom.”

  “Ohh.” It was all I could say. It made JR’s reaction to Drew completely understandable. He’d tried to save Drew’s cousin while Drew did nothing.

  “Did Drew give the kid the drugs?”

  Brayden shrugged. “He said he didn’t, but it has divided the Thompson household, Camille believes Drew could never do anything so devastating, while her husband Donald thinks Drew is a spoiled rich kid nothing sticks to.”

  Thompson? Wasn’t that Wesley’s last name? Could this kid have been his brother? It explained so much. “No wonder Wesley freaked when JR came down to the stables.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Wesley and I were hanging with Thunder, and JR came in and Wesley hid because he didn’t want to see JR and now it makes sense if Wesley’s little brother was drugged and drowned and JR didn’t save him.”

  “You talk to Wesley?”

  “Yeah, he’s one of the only people who’s been really nice to me since arriving here.”

  “But Maddie,” Brayden’s eyes were wide, “Wesley was the kid.”

  “But, but, but …” I couldn’t find the words, couldn’t breathe. Now JR’s reaction to my proclamation earlier made sense. I fell to the ground. Brayden hovered over me. “He died at the lake.”

  For the next two days I didn’t leave my room, afraid of seeing Wesley again. Margo brought me food but I mostly picked at it. Brayden came by once. We didn’t talk, he just crawled into bed beside me. We laid there curled up facing each other like we used to do when we were kids and mom and dad would fight. He apologized. For what I don’t know but I forgave him.

  This never happened before. Yes, sometimes it took me longer to realize a person was a ghost, but I always caught on. If Brayden hadn’t told me I don’t think I ever would have figured out Wesley wasn’t real. It raised another question; how in the world was he related to the Jean line?

  I rolled onto my side and stared out the window. The sun was high in the sky, it had to be noon. JR hadn’t called or texted. No surprise there. I’m sure my Wesley declaration freaked him out. If he didn’t know about my special gift before, he had to now. I should go home back to Palo Alto. I wanted to go home. But I wasn’t sure where home was anymore.

  I rented an apartment near campus with a six month lease that was up in a month. Mom left her house to me and Brayden, but I’m not sure I could live in it without her. To be honest, a part of me wanted to stay here, in Texas. I didn’t have that many friends. And I really missed Brayden. Yeah he got on my nerves and drove me insane, but he was my brother and when he was close I didn’t feel so alone, so broken. I was even getting accustomed to having my overbearing father in my life.

  In truth, I missed my dad. Judgmental or not I was never afraid to tell him things like I was with my mom. Sometimes it felt as if her love hinged on my choices. Like if I didn’t make a choice she approved of she might stop loving me. Uncle Ollie was proof I was on to something.

  There was a loud knock before Gram burst into my room. “I have no clue why you been hiding up here like a spinster cat lady but that ends now.”

  I sat up, “Hey Gram, good to see you too.”

  In four long steps she was at my bed, pulling back the covers. “You’ve got ten minutes to get ready and be downstairs. And trust me you want to be downstairs because you wont like what happens if you’re not. Now hurry up.” Gram turned heel and left the room closing my door behind her. You’d expect by Gram’s attitude she dressed in t-shirts and jeans, had a buzz cut and a cigarette hanging out her mouth. And you’d be wrong. Her blond hair was perfectly coifed, her make-up always just right and dress suits that would make Jackie O proud. You’d also expect threats from a sixty-seven year old woman no taller than 5’4 not to be intimidating or in the least bit menacing. And again you’d be wrong. Gram could break a brick just by staring at it.

  Which is why I scurried out of bed and rushed to be ready and downstairs in ten minutes.

  We pulled into the North Park Center up to valet at Nordstrom’s. Gram handed over the keys to a young guy no more than twenty-five with a sexy wink. Cool air hit me when we pulled open the store-front doors and went inside.

  Gram ushered me towards the dress section, “May as well find a dress for the Rutherford’s party tomorrow night.” I could hear the eye roll in Gram’s voice just as I actually rolled my eyes. “Your dad even gave me the black Amex … so go crazy.”

  “Gram, why don’t you like the Rutherfords?”

  “Same reason I don’t like anyone. Bunch of fakers,” she pulled off her gloves and tucked them into her purse, “act like the sun rises and sets around them. Annoys the shit out of me.”

  She hurried ahead of me, heels clicking on the marble. “I’m gonna grab a replacement lipstick and then I’ll come find you.” She flapped her arms in the air and hurried off towards the make-up counter.

  I completely forgot about the Rutherford’s party. Was it really Thursday already? Ugh. I started rifling through racks, not giving any particular dress my attention. Would JR be there? I grabbed a knee length black, Hailey Logan cutout. Of course he would. It was customary, no matter what happened behind closed doors you always showed a united front outside. I would have to face him or he’d have to face me as the case may be.

  My hand closed around a blue Alice & Olivia. I could feel the expense in the fabric.

  It soothed me.

  Would he talk to me if he saw me? More, I needed more. A Jean Paul maxi-dress. Red, St. John, KENZO were flying off the racks and into my arms. I wasn’t even paying attention to price or anything just the feel of the fabrics. If a fabric felt rich, soft, luxurious, I grabbed it. The weight of those fabrics on my arm settled the butterflies.

  A sales clerk kindly took my dresses to the sales counter leaving me empty.

  Shoes. I needed shoes. Dolce Vita, Ugg, Anyi Lu all came to me in a size eight. They were piled with my dresses. I went to purses. Marc, Kate and Michael all hung on my forearm as treasured best friends.

  It was in the jewelry while looking at a Betsy Johnson bracelet, on the brink of thinking I could handle this party, that shopping was easing my tension, when I heard the names Rutherford and JR simultaneously. I moved around the counter. It was the two girls from the restaurant the other night. I moved behind a rack of scarves closer to where they were standing, hoping it hid me while I listened.

  “Have you heard from JR?” It was the blond.

  The brunette snapped her gum and picked up a pair of earrings. “No, but you know how he is. Only calls when he wants something.”

  “Think he’s busy with that redhead from the restaurant?”

  “Maybe, she was pretty cute.” The brunette twirled towards the blond, “What do you think?”

  “Totally works with the Vera dress. Do you know what that girl’s name was?”

  The brunette snapped her gum again, “Maddie I think. I know she’s Brayden’s kid sister.”

  Kid sister? Ugh.

  The blonde’s eyes went wide, “Are you serious? That was Brayden’s sister?”

  “Duh, that’s what I said.”

  “Don’t you remember what Drew said Brayden told him about her? That s
he was like special or something.”

  “What? Like special needs?”

  “I don’t know she didn’t look retarded.”

  “Oh my god you’re such a bitch.” The blond fluffed her hair and picked up a necklace, “But seriously you think he’s banging her?”

  The brunette shrugged, “Who knows. JR thinks with his dick a lot.” She discarded the earrings and picked up a bracelet, “And what a lovely dick it is too.”

  “Oh my god are you two still banging?”

  “Shut-up. Of course not. Come on I think I need some shoes.”

  The shoe department was behind me. I ducked down behind the counter and scooted around to the left hoping they wouldn’t see me as they passed. They didn’t. Their voices faded into the noise of the store. I sank down to the floor and sighed.

  Special?

  The title didn’t even bother me. The fact Brayden was talking about me to others did. I banged my head back against the laminated wood over and over. A woman’s face peeked over the counter. “Do you need some help?”

  Special indeed. “No. Sorry.” I got up and made my way over to the make up counter to find Gram.

  “All right we’re out, you spent over five thousand on clothes and you still look the same. So tell me what’s crawled up your ass and died,” Gram said, easing onto Broadway. She’d traded the motor-home for a Cadillac ATS but drove it like we were still in the tank. “You seemed to be coming out of your shell and now you’re back in.”

  “Gram, nothing’s up I’m just tired.”

  “My ass you’re tired you’ve done nothing but sleep the last two days away and you ain’t sick. No, I’ve got a funny feeling it has to do with that Rutherford boy.”

  “JR?” Ugh, I inwardly rolled my eyes. Even saying his name made my voice perk up.

  “Yes, him, what happened?”

  I sighed and threw my head back against the head-rest. “He doesn’t like imaginary friends I guess.”

  “Oh Maddie, I thought you were done talking about that stuff.”

  I didn’t mean to, but I blew, “Look Gram, I know you don’t want to think I can talk to the dead because you believe the devil owns me or something, so you rather live in your ignorance, but that doesn’t mean I can. That I have the same luxury.”

  We pulled up to a stop-sign and Gram turned to me. “Is that what you’re thinking? That I believe you’re the devil?”

  “Of course you do,” … oh god my lip was quivering … “that’s why you always change the subject and never listen …” great tears were stinging my eyes, “… why Brayden’s your favorite.” I couldn’t help the tears. I wiped at them but more came, “Why he’s everybody’s favorite.”

  “Is that what you really believe?”

  “I don’t believe it, I know it. He’s golden boy and I’m ghost girl.”

  “Your brother is no saint. He shits like the rest of us and it don’t smell like roses either. Girl I love you, but I cannot lie your gift freaks me out.”

  Gram pulled through the stop and continued. This was the most she ever admitted to my sixth sense without cutting me off. “It freaks everyone out,” I muttered.

  “It does, you’re right,” Gram said, no hint of mirth, all seriousness, “but use it as a gauge, as a way to know who’s worth your time and whose not.”

  “Yeah okay.”

  “Don’t yeah okay me. I mean it girl. Sure talking to the dead is freaky as hell, but it’s a part of you and somebody who loves you will take it on the chin.”

  I dried my eyes and lay my head against the glass. “It’s so tiring, you know? I put all this energy into something and it ends the minute death comes up.”

  Gram glanced at me and then back to the road. Her voice was low and I strained to hear, “I’m sorry. I’m your grandmother and I love you and I should be more supportive. I will fix that in the future.”

  “Sure.”

  Gram took my hand and gave it a squeeze, “I mean it Maddie.” She let go of my hand and squeezed my knee before putting her hands back on the wheel.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled and closed my eyes.

  Shopping took a lot out of me and when Gram and I got back home I went up to my room and took a nap. There were too many thoughts swirling in my head and not enough room to make sense of it. And thinking about any of it gave me a headache and made me tired.

  When I woke up it was six and I decided to take a walk. Outside, my dad was seated at a cabana with a drink and a magazine. I walked up to his table, “Are you … relaxing?” It was Forbes magazine but still.

  Dad looked up at me from over the top of his magazine and smiled. “You sound surprised.”

  “A little. Mom said you ate, slept and breathed work.”

  Dad laughed to himself. “I did. And your mom did nothing but enjoy life. Decided when she died I needed to take a page from the Charlene playbook. Where you heading off to?”

  “Thought I’d go for a walk. And don’t worry I won’t go down to the trails.”

  “Mind some company?”

  Was my dad asking to spend time with me? Oh god did Gram talk to him while I was sleeping?

  “Sure, why not.”

  He put down his magazine, finished off his drink before standing and offering me his arm. We headed down towards the stables. “I want to apologize.”

  “For what?”

  “I went down to the basement. I saw your photographs. You are very talented.”

  “Really? Thanks.”

  Dad’s grip on my arm tightened pulling me closer to his side. “Your mom was the encourager. Always knew what to say, how to say it, and when to say it, whereas I’ve never been good with emotional delicacies. I know it seems I ride you harder than Brayden, maybe I do, but you’re tougher than Brayden. Unlike your brother you’ve never needed me or my approval. Always lived your life by your rules alone made me feel useless.”

  He thought I was tough? Can’t say I wasn’t preening under dad’s praise. “I always need you dad.”

  Dad looked down and smiled at me. “You’re full of it, but thanks.”

  I knocked shoulders with him. When we reached the stables we turned and headed down towards the juniper maze. The air was moist, clouds shifting to gray and a subtle scent of rain hung in the air. A storm was coming.

  “It wasn’t always bad between your mom and I. There was even a time or two I thought she’d come back to me, but she was too stubborn to admit her own faults,” dad said pulling my attention away from the sky. “

  More raindrops were falling. “Dad,” I said, “did you know mom forbid Uncle Ollie from talking to us?”

  “Yes. Your mom called and told me, she was real upset and I may have said some things to her that weren’t very nice. It was the last time I spoke to her and I used curse words.”

  “She never told me, acted like Uncle Ollie wanted nothing to do with us. How could she?”

  “I miss her. You know? The world feels a little colder without her in it somewhere. I was wondering, since your mom … passed,” the word rolled awkwardly off his tongue, like he didn’t believe she was gone either, “if she’s come to you?”

  “No.” I didn’t count the night in Tanya’s room. “I kind of expected to see a lot of her too. I’m supposed to be sad because she’s gone, but I’m struggling to shake this anger.” A raindrop hit my shoulder.

  Dad put his arms around me and pulled me to his chest. “I’m sorry you were forced to see all your mother’s imperfections at one time, but never forget good or bad she loves—loved you. Which brings up something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about …” big raindrops were falling now, dad pulled away and looked up, “… we better get inside.”

  Together dad and I ran through the rain back to the house. As he closed the back patio door he said, “Maybe we can try for that walk tomorrow?”

  “I’d like that.”

  “You hungry?”

  “I could eat.”

  “Me too, should we order out? I gave Ma
rgo the night off?”

  I nodded and followed my dad through the living room and family room across the hall to the dining room and then into the small dining alcove attached to the kitchen. We agreed on chinese takeout and a movie. Dad ordered while I picked out a movie on pay-per-view.

  Several doors slammed and Brayden’s cursing reverberated off the walls of the hallway. He hollered my name and I said, “in here.”

  Brayden threw his briefcase on the floor next to the couch. He loosened his tie as he plopped down besides me. “Bad day?” I asked

  “What are you watching?”

  “Don’t know, but I’m leaning towards something with car chases and shit blowing up.”

  “Then I’m in.” Brayden pulled off his tie and threw it on the coffee table. A few minutes later dad joined us on the couch. Some small talk about work, a relay of what was ordered for dinner, a couple of jabs about Gram’s cooking later, and we were watching an action flick and sucking down lo-mien. Halfway through the movie Gram showed up and joined us.

  We laughed.

  We teased.

  We ate.

  I think it was safe to say the air between me and my dad was clear. I even forgave Brayden for telling others I was special. I had a great time. It was one of the best nights I’d had with my dad and brother. I wanted more nights like it. More time with them. When the movie finished we called it a night. It was nearly ten and both dad and Brayden had work in the morning and of course the Rutherford party tomorrow night.

  I stood up. “All right I’m going to bed see you in the morning.” Gram hugged me first then Brayden and lastly dad.

  Dad whispered in my ear, “Thanks.” I squeezed tighter before pulling away and heading up to my room.

  “You look beautiful,” Brayden said when I met him at the bottom of the stairs. I decided to wear the black lace Alice and Olivia dress. The dress was tight in the chest and the straps were see-through lace.

  “Thanks,” I said, “You look good too. Tuxes suit you.”

  “I hate, no scratch that, loathe suits. Why can’t a man wear jeans and be considered dressed up?” Brayden played with his collar and tie. “JR’s gonna die when he sees you tonight you know.”