For a moment, she studied me. Then she reached into the pocket of her dark slacks. A moment later, she produced her cellphone. I watched as she sent several texts. Then she slid the phone back into her pocket. I waited, wondering if she would explain.
“Don’t look so worried, Meg.” She smiled at me in reassurance. “Your friends will be here soon.” I must have looked at her like she’d grown a second head because she laughed gaily. “They are your friends, Meg, or they will be if you let them.”
I swallowed once. “Who?”
“Annie, Quinn, Drew and Amy.”
At least they knew part of the story. Besides, Miss Serena trusted them. My gut said I could too and Mom had told me to trust my gut.
“Now let’s get you upstairs. You need to rest some before everyone arrives.”
Miss Serena waited. Suddenly tired, both mentally and physically – not to mention emotionally – I nodded. Not that I expected to be able to rest. Mom’s letter and the contents of the file Annie gave me filled my brain with too many questions and my emotions were all over the place. Even so, maybe by the time everyone arrived, I’d have a handle on what was going on.
And maybe pigs would learn to fly.
An hour later, I woke to a soft knock. At my call, the bedroom door opened and Annie stepped inside. She closed the door behind her and crossed the room. A moment later, she sat on the edge of the bed. She watched as I scooted into a sitting position. Her eyes seemed to take in every detail of my appearance. Then she nodded and handed me a plastic sack.
“I thought you might appreciate your own clothes, or at least some new ones.” She smiled as I pulled out a pair of grey loosely woven pants and a red tank top. “They should fit a bit better than Lexie’s stuff does.”
“Thanks.” I’d pay her as soon as I could get to the bank and get some cash. But she was right. I would feel better with my own clothes, even if I hadn’t picked them out. “Annie,” I said once in the bathroom, the door closed behind me.
“Yes?”
“Why?”
“Why did I bring the clothes or why am I here or why something else?”
“Yes.” My voice was muffled as I stripped out of the shirt I’d been wearing and then pulled on the tank top.
I heard her chuckle before she answered. “I figured you might be like me and hate not being in your own clothes. I don’t accept help easily or, so I’m told, gracefully. You’ve had a tough time since getting to town. I wanted to try to make up for it.
“As for the rest of it, I – as well as the others who will be here shortly – want to help. Before you protest, I’ll admit that part of that is because of Miss Serena. We all love her and we owe her. Part of it is also because you haven’t asked for help. I doubt you would.”
Well, she had me there.
“Meg, there’s another reason. We want to be your friends. Then there’s the fact you’re an Other and, except for Drew and myself, so are the rest of us.”
I smiled slightly as I studied my reflection in the mirror. I wasn’t as convinced as she seemed to be that she was a normal. I washed my face and returned to the bedroom. Annie stood and nodded in approval. Then, as she walked across the room in my direction, her expression showed her concern.
“Miss Serena said you read your mother’s letter. Are you all right?”
“I’ve been better, but I understand more now.” Not enough, but it was a start. “And I could use your help.”
“As your attorney or as your friend?”
“Maybe both?” I hadn’t meant it to be a question and relaxed when she simply nodded. “Before we go downstairs, will you answer a couple of questions?”
“Of course.” She motioned for me to sit on the bed. Once I had, she sat next to me. “I want to help you, Meg, if you’ll let me.”
I started to decline and then I shook my head. Annie had been right about one thing. I hated asking for help, especially when I needed it. And boy did I need it right now. If I’d been hurt and angry after Mom died, I was confused and angry now. At least my anger with Mom had eased some. It was hard to stay upset with her after learning how her parents had treated her. But I might as well have been in a foreign country. I didn’t know Mossy Creek, its citizens or history. I needed someone on my side, someone who could help guide me as I tried to figure out why Mom had sent me here.
“I think I am going to have to avail myself of your legal services, Annie. I need someone who knows where to look to dig and dig deep into my mother’s family. Start with the information you gave me and go from there. I can do searches into what happened after she left here, but even some of that you’ll have better luck with than I will.”
She nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face. “All right. What are you looking for?”
I gave a bitter laugh. “I wish I knew. I think right now the focus needs to be on finding out where the family is, all of it, and what claim, if any, they might have on one another legally.”
“That’s easy enough to do.” The grin she gave me had me lifting a brow in question. Her grin widened and she promised to explain later.
“I also think I’d better find out if my so-called accident has anything to do with Mom and my coming here or if it was random.”
“Drew and Lucas can handle that,” she assured me.
There was more but I wasn’t ready to think about it, much less talk about it. Maybe later or maybe never. But this was a start.
“Meg, I know this has been a lot for you to deal with in a short time.” Annie carefully levered herself to her feet. Then she held a hand out to me. “None of us blame you for that deer in the headlights look you’re wearing. Hell, I’m impressed you haven’t run for the hills yet.”
I laughed. I had a feeling she knew not only the look but the feeling all too well. Maybe one day she’d tell me more about it. But, for now, it was enough to know she understood.
“Now, let me tell you about what’s about to happen.”
My eyes narrowed and I looked at her with more than a hint of suspicion. Before I could say anything, she motioned for me to wait.
“Miss Serena’s worried. That doesn’t happen often. Part of it is that she doesn’t like what happened to you. Mossy Creek might be more than a bit strange compared to other towns, but we don’t have folks running down others and leaving them for dead. The fact it happened to you, the daughter of someone she cared a great deal for, doesn’t help. So, she has rallied the forces to help find out not only the answers to your questions but to hers as well.”
“You make it sound like a war c0uncil, Annie.”
“In a way, it is.” She paused and I had a feeling she was trying to figure out how much to say. Then she blew out a breath and gave a slight nod. “Meg, even if you were someone just passing through, we’d do what we could to find the person responsible for hurting you. Believe me, Lucas does everything he can to keep out town safe. Drew’s the same way. They’ll use every resource available to find the driver.
“But you’re one of ours, whether you realize it yet or not. Your mother grew up here. Even if Miss Serena wasn’t championing you, my father-in-law and son already are.” When I looked at her in surprise, she chuckled softly. “You won Robbie over the moment you met. It isn’t often a grownup, especially one who rides a really cool motorcycle – his words – treats him like an adult. You made him feel special and that earns you big points in my book and Sam’s.
“As for my father-in-law, he remembers your mother and all she went through when they were younger. He’ll stand for you because of her, just as Miss Peggy and Janny will. But I’ll warn you, he also isn’t above having his own plans – nothing underhanded, I promise. Of course, I might be a bit prejudiced there after my own homecoming.” Another chuckle, this one obviously aimed at herself.
“I have a feeling there’s a story there I want to hear.”
“And you will, later. Let’s just say that once Mossy Creek gets its hooks in you, you never really escape.” She coc
ked her head and listened as the sounds of a car pulling up in front of the house reached us. “Come on, the others should be here by now.”
Chapter 8
Ten minutes later, I found myself sitting at the dining room table, Annie to my right and Miss Serena to my left. Drew and Quinn found their places opposite us while Amy and Lexie Smithson carried bowls and platters filled with food in from the kitchen. Then they joined us. Once they had, the food was passed and Drew, with an ease that proved he’d been here enough to be comfortable, stood and moved around the table, pouring wine for everyone.
For the next few minutes, I let the conversation flow over me. Annie and Quinn talked about their children and an upcoming school event. Lexie and Miss Serena discussed Lexie’s high school students. Amy and Drew joined in with the others. They were friends, family in every way that counted. Their love and respect for one another shone through their good-natured teasing.
What surprised me was the fact I didn’t feel left out. Even though they didn’t try to force me to take part in the conversation, they made me feel comfortable. Lexie, who I quickly learned was another of Miss Serena’s “students”, asked me not about what I did but about how I started riding motorcycles and why I’d chosen the Harley SuperLow. As I warned up to the subject, Drew joined in. His enthusiasm for his own Indian Scout Bobber had his sister rolling her eyes.
“Do you think you’re going to be able to repair your Harley?” Lexie asked.
For a moment, I didn’t answer. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen how bad the damage is.” When I glanced across the table at Drew, his expression didn’t reassure me. Damn it. I really liked that bike. Not to mention I still owed on it.
“My guess is your insurance company’s going to want to total it, Meg,” he said.
I sighed. Even though I’d reported the accident and had given them Drew’s contact information, I’d done my best to put it out of my mind. Now it was front and center again. Someone had purposefully caused the wreck. I’d been fortunate, but my poor bike apparently hadn’t been.
Before I could say anything, Lexie spoke. “Before you sign off on it, if that’s what your insurance recommends, let my dad take a look. He’s got a special touch when it comes to anything mechanical and he keeps not only Drew’s bike but my own Ninja 300 running smoothly. I promise he’ll tell you the truth about whether you’d be better off totaling the Harley or not.”
“That’s a good idea, Meg,” Miss Serena said. “Jacob is a very gifted mechanic.”
I thought for a moment and then nodded. “Thank you, I will.” I turned my attention to Drew. “Where’s my bike now?”
“At the impound lot,” Drew said. “We need to hold onto it for a bit longer while we investigate the accident. But, if you like, I can call Mr. Smithson and ask him to drop by and have a look at it.”
“Thanks, I’d appreciate it.” I’d be taking my own look at it as well.
“I’ll let Papa know.”
Lexie pulled out her phone and sent a quick text. Then, as if feeling Miss Serena’s eyes on her, she looked up. Apologizing, she returned her phone to her pocket and promised to leave it there until after dinner. I smiled slightly. Miss Serena had turned much the same look on her that Mom had on me whenever my phone came out during a meal.
“How is your papa, Lexie? I haven’t seen in for several weeks.”
“He’s as good as possible, Miss Serena.” Something about her answer had me looking at her in question. In most circumstances, I’d assume that meant he was ill. But Lexie’s tone and her resigned, albeit amused, expression told me it was something else. Seeing me looking at her, she sighed softly and then smiled. “My family is a bit unusual, even by Mossy Creek standards, Meg.”
“I’m beginning to think that being unusual is the normal state of affairs here,” I said, remembering snatches of conversation with both Annie and Amy.
“True,” Amy chuckled. “But Lexie’s family is special.”
“Really?” I looked from Amy to Lexie, inviting an explanation. “C’mon, you can’t say something like that and not explain.”
Miss Serena chuckled and refilled my wine glass and then hers from the crystal carafe on the table. “Let us just say that Lexie’s mama has yet to learn the error of her ways.”
“That’s putting it mildly.” Lexie snorted in derision and I had a feeling there was little love lost between her and her mother. “Let’s just say my mama made the mistake of listening to my older sister when I was all of ten or so. Patty accused Miss Serena of putting the evil eye on her. Mama, in all her righteous glory, grabbed Patty and me and took us into town to look for Miss Serena. Mama found her and right in the middle of Main Street threatened to sic the sheriff on her if Miss Serena didn’t apologize and take the evil eye off.”
I gasped and looked at Miss Serena in surprise. Of all the things Lexie could have said, that ranked down among the last things I’d have expected. I couldn’t imagine Miss Serena ever using her gifts for anything negative. Besides, the evil eye was something people made up to scare their kids at night.
“It gets better, trust me,” Amy chuckled.
“Mama made a spectacle out of herself. Nothing new there.” Lexie rolled her eyes with an air of long suffering. “Miss Serena let her rant. Then she said she’d done no such thing and suggested Mama apologize. Mama being Mama refused and bundled us back home. Not long after that, certain members of the family started returning home.”
“Isn’t it a good thing when family comes home?” At least for most families?
Everyone but Lexie laughed. Drew’s hand pounded the tabletop and Amy laughed so hard I thought she might pass out. Obviously, I was missing something. But what?
“What Lexie isn’t saying is these are dearly departed members of the family,” Annie said and everyone started laughing again.
My eyes felt wide as saucers as I looked around the table. Had they lost their minds? Maybe I had. What they were talking about had to be impossible.
“Z-zombies?”
“No, child,” Miss Serena said. “But they are dead, and they keep the local undertaker busy with his monthly treatments for them.”
“I don’t understand.” And that had to be the understatement of the day, the week, the year and possibly the decade and the century.
“The very short version is my mama has never approved of Papa’s family. His side is heavily Other. Mama’s family, at least her immediate family, wasn’t and when she and Papa married, they basically disowned her. She never forgave my father for that or for not using his talents to get rich. She also resented my granny, who owned the house we lived in. I think the happiest day of her life was when Granny died. The worst day was when Granny returned.” Hurt softened her voice and I had no doubt she had often taken the brunt of her mother’s anger and resentment.
“I don’t know, Lexie. The day you threw fireballs at the back of her car might be in the running as far as your mama’s concerned,” Amy teased.
“You what?” I couldn’t help it. A burst of laughter escaped, and I clapped my hand over my mouth.
Lexie rolled her eyes again and shook her head at Amy. “We’ll sit down later, away from my best friend—” She glared at Amy— “and I’ll tell you the whole story. Basically, I grew up thinking I was a normal. Then, when Mama decided to make a scene here on Miss Serena’s front porch, I lost my temper and the rest, as they say, is history. My talents burst forth in the form of fireballs aimed at Mama’s car as she and Patty sped off. That was a little more than five years ago.”
I wondered what it would be like to suddenly discover you weren’t the same as everyone else. All my life, I’d known Mom and I were different. Mom made no attempt to hide the fact she was an Other, even though she knew it would mean most people in Maxon’s Mill would ostracize her. Now, knowing a little more about her background, I wondered if that’s why she did it. After being hurt so badly by her own family, had she tried to insulate us – me – from those like them? I
f so, why hadn’t she come back to Mossy Creek?
“Meg, are you all right?” Annie rested her hand on mine and looked at me in concern.
I managed a slight smile and nodded. “Just thinking about my mother.”
“Meg.”
I looked across at Lexie and inhaled sharply to see the sympathy reflected in her eyes. “Your mother loved you. I can tell that just from the way you talk about her. Hold that close and never forget it.”
“I won’t.” I closed my eyes for a moment and steadied my emotions. “If Miss Serena didn’t send your dearly departed back home, who did? And are they still coming?” I couldn’t help it. Part of me wondered if there was a way to bring Mom back. Then I mentally shook my head. It wouldn’t be the same.
“Mama did it herself, or at least she caused it.” Lexie played with the stem of her wineglass for a few moments before continuing. “My granny was a kitchen witch. She also detested Mama as much as Mama did her. When she heard how Mama disrespected Miss Serena, she told Mama she’d one day regret it. What I didn’t know until later was Mama snuck into Granny’s room right before Granny died and told her how, as soon as it was her house, she’d make sure no trace of Granny remained. Well, Granny took that as a challenge and the day after her funeral, she returned. She’s been holding forth in her kitchen ever since.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or run for the hills. Part of me wanted to believe they were joking but they weren’t. For one, I couldn’t see Miss Serena taking part in such a thing, not when it was something that could be used to discredit our kind. For another, who in their right mind would make up such a story? Besides, it did explain a few things Amy and Quinn said earlier.
A few minutes later, we retired to the living room. Amy poured wine for those who wanted refills and Miss Serena poured bourbon for Drew and myself. Annie grumped a bit, one hand resting on her swollen belly, about not being able to enjoy a drink. Lexie chuckled and handed her a cup of herbal tea, reminding her it wouldn’t be long before the baby was born.
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