Ann placed the chicken on the platter and scooped the corn out of the pot they had been simmering in.
“You really do look like her,” Ann said from behind me.
Even beneath the tears, I couldn’t wipe the absurdly gigantic smile off my face if I tried. To finally have someone to talk about my mom with, to tell me crazy little facts about her was a million prayers come true.
We ate, laughed, and I learned so many little tidbits about Evie Prieto. She came to America after her mother died from cancer. She never knew who her father was, either. The American language was still new to her and at times she would replace a word in a sentence with the Spanish equivalent and never even realized she was doing it. She loved to dance and had taught Wes how to Salsa dance. Ann said they looked like a graceful gazelle and clumsy monkey trying to mate when they danced together. She had eaten so many strawberries when she was pregnant with me they were sure I would come out red. Her favorite piece of clothing was a Member’s Only jacket Jennifer had given her.
Learning about my mother after all those years was almost euphoric, but I still had one giant piece missing from the puzzle of my life — who my father was. I asked Ann one more time if she had any idea who he was. Once again, she didn’t answer, she simply told me about the time Evie caught the oven on fire. Maybe, I am my mother’s daughter.
Most of my happiest memories had been with my granny and at that house. To see Annie there, laughing with my granny was the happiest one of all. To have been able to give her a piece of her past not only thrilled her but me. She had to see not all of me was a jerk.
“Are you going to the big cookout tomorrow?” Annie asked.
I’d forgotten my granny even mentioned that. Why the city of Carterville even pretended to hold an election was a fraud within itself. The only officers in the whole county were members of families where the roots on the old family tree ran deep in the Carterville soil and the money ran even deeper. But to keep up with the facade of a real election, the candidates held a giant cookout for the entire population of town the Saturday before every election.
“I don’t think I have much choice. I’ve got to be the proud son.” Even I noted the sarcasm in my voice. Proud and son were never two words my brain wanted to connect. However, pretending had been the one trait my father had taught me.
“I take it you don’t like your dad?”
“He’s not in my top ten of favorite people ever.”
“Your granny is super.”
“Yeah, she is.”
Granny was the best part of my family, but I couldn’t see how Annie felt that way. After all, it was no doubt she knew who Annie’s dad was and made a conscious decision not to tell her.
Chapter 17
Annie Prieto
Election Day in Carterville was a bigger deal than Super Tuesday in a highly-contested primary race for president.
Mr. George Jones won the mayor’s race for the eighth time. Mike Tracy went unopposed in the sheriff’s race. It was his first election. On a side note, his dad held the office for the last thirty-six years. In addition, Wes Carter once again won in a landslide the office of county judge. The race once again proved that a newcomer wasn’t the most welcome commodity in town.
With every candidate and the entire election board emptying out in the Downtown Cafe, Bob had me work the kitchen for the first time in weeks. Which, first of all, I was thankful for — it kept me in the shadows once again. Secondly, it kept me from running into any Carters. Except for Lucas who made a thirty-minute appearance and spent fifteen of those minutes in the back with me.
“Hey, chickadee, you want to help me clean up out here? You would think the town had a party or something.” Will slid a tray of empty glasses down the steel counter, letting them land into a sink full of soapy water, splashing me.
“Only if you promise to load the dishwasher. All this dish washing is killing my manicure.”
I held up my hands and wiggled my fingers to show my lack of any kind of manicure, and laughed.
“Is that fancy manicure how you got the golden boy to come back and wash dishes for you earlier?” Will asked and turned his back to me with the excuse of wiping off the top of the fridge.
Will still had a touch of jealousy where Lucas was concerned. I was learning every boy in town had the same issue. Will, however, had gotten over the hurdle of him seeing me as anything other than a friend, and I have learned what a bright and capable future Will had.
Will had a thirst for anything newsworthy, and constantly had a book in his face. Reading was his escape from reality. That and devouring anything political. He was majoring in political science and dreamed of being a political analyst for a top news channel one day.
We had spent hours discussing our opinions on so many subjects, and we were both open-minded enough to listen to the other’s point of view. We were discussing the latest presidential election and what our view was on Hilary’s email scandal — Will believed she was guilty, me not so much — when I noticed Will’s eyes kept drifting over to the only table still occupied. I glanced over my left shoulder to see a table of girls; all I’d seen hanging around Lucas at one time or another. One of the girls was plainer than the other five with her mousy-brown hair pulled up in a tight bun. She wore glasses, which happened to be going for her. She had that sexy school librarian look going. I halfway expected her to stand up and toss those glasses across the room before breaking out in some sexy striptease. That one was making bedroom eyes at Will.
I turned back around and went back to stacking dirty glasses onto a tray. This had to be the worst part of my job. People could be repulsive and the way they often left the dining area only emphasized that fact. I picked a fork out of a full glass of tea and French fries. And this was left behind by the high-falutin’ members of society. Definitely, people were gross.
Mousy Brown turned to take something out of her purse and I elbowed Will. “Hey, Will, Miss Sexy Librarian over there has been eyeing you. You should try to hook that one.”
His cheeks flamed brick-red in embarrassment as he scooped up the last glass off the Formica table-top and placed it on the tray. “She’s country club, and in case you didn’t know, I’m not.”
I smiled, aware that they both had been checking each other out for the past I was sure twenty minutes. “Country Club is overrated. Plus, in case you didn’t know, you’re no slouch, either.” I picked up the tray and winked. “And some of us girls prefer the latter.”
The two pink splotches on his cheeks deepened, and he cut his eyes over to Mousy Brown. “You prefer country club.”
“Since when?” I asked and tapped his hip with mine.
“Lucas Carter is the epitome of country club.”
“That is why he's been friend zoned.” I glanced back at the girl. “Talk to her, Will, I happened to know she will probably say yes.”
“I wouldn’t know where to start.”
Did Will not see what a catch he was? Why do people always see the worst in themselves and the best in everyone else?
I slammed the tray down on the nearest table. “You’re a great guy, and she looks like a nice girl. What do you have to lose? You talk to her; she says yes or no. If you don’t talk to her, it’s a no by default. I think your chances are better with a ‘hey’ myself.” I hauled the tray up to my hip. “If you ask me. She’s the lucky one. I heard country club boys suck in bed. All money, no dick.”
I turned to leave when he laughed.
Man, I’m good.
I started to open the kitchen door when I heard them. I should’ve turned and not listened but my mad eavesdropping skills had me hanging on to every word.
“Thank you for keeping her in the back tonight.” It was Wes Carter talking. Was he talking about me? Did Lucas and I really cause that much revulsion in him?
“It wasn’t for your benefit believe me,” Bob answered. “She deserves more.”
“It hurts so damn much to be near her. She’s just like h
er,” Wes said and rubbed the corner of his eye.
“She sure as hell is. I sometimes wonder if God isn’t giving us a second chance to get it right. E would want us too. She would be proud of her,” Bob said.
“Yeah, she would.”
“How’s she doing?” Bob asked.
“Not good. The pneumonia has taken its toll on her this time. She’s back on a vent again.”
Who the hell was he talking about? Did it matter? However, it was breaking Wes in two. I peeked through a crack in the door. Wes Carter, the man who commanded the room earlier, stood against a table a hollow shell of himself. There was no joy in his eyes, no happiness, no brightness. He appeared mired in the very center of this deep, choking misery that didn't seem to have any end.
“You should tell her. She deserves to know the truth,” Bob said.
“What if she hates me. I know I deserve it, but she’s the only happiness I’ve had the last twenty years. She’s the only good in my life.”
“Lucas, he needs a father too. You promised Jennifer you would be that.”
“We both know I’ve sucked in that role.”
I became memorized by a single tear running down Wes’s cheek, evoking me to drop the entire platter of dirty dishes.
Both Wes and Bob looked over at the door and caught my deer in a headlight look. Bob was at my side instantly but my eyes stayed glued on Wes’s. He was drinking me in and seemed to grow more lost every second.
“Annie …” Bob shook my shoulder, drawing my attention from Wes. “I’ll clean this up. Why don’t you leave it and meet me in my office? I need to talk to you about something.”
He was telling me in not too many words; it was time for me to crawl back into my own little world. I wasn’t welcomed into the world of the Carters, and my eavesdropping had crossed a line I might not be able to backtrack from.
I crisscrossed my arms over my chest and looked down at my feet. I wasn’t sure looking at either one of them was a good idea. I couldn’t take the stares they both were leveling in my direction. I’d had enough. I spun around and headed for the safety of the break room before the tears welled up in my eyes and broke free.
I washed my face and gathered my stuff together to head into the office. Bob and Wes stood in the dining area in what looked like a heated argument when I walked out. They didn’t even notice me.
I glanced down at my watch. The time crawled by at a snail’s pace. It had only been twenty minutes but it seemed more like hours had slipped by.
The door clicked open and I stood to face Bob. He appeared his usual calm self and even managed a smile. It gave me the courage to smile and take a seat again.
“Relax. First, whatever you thought you heard in there, you didn’t. Wes and I go back too far and sometimes the past comes back to haunt us.”
I had no idea what I heard in there and didn’t want to spend any more time trying to figure it out, either.
“I really didn’t hear anything. If that is what you wanted to talk to me about.” I stood up. “I guess I’ll go.” I pointed over my shoulder with my thumb. “I need to help Will finish the cleaning.”
Bob waved his hand up and down, motioning for me to sit. “I asked you in here to talk about the ball at the club this weekend.”
Bob pulled his desk chair in front of his desk instead of behind it, telling me this wasn’t a formal boss/employee exchange but more a mentor/friend thing.
“I know Lucas and you have formed some kind of friendship …”
“If this is about me not listening to you,” I interrupted him to say and held up my hand.
He shook his head. “No, I’m past that. But I hired you this weekend for the ball because I know you can make more in that one night than you can in a week here. You’ll represent not only my catering company but the club. This particular ball is a charity fundraiser for the under privileged children's fund.” Bob lightly giggled. “The members are so giving. They spend thousands of dollars to attend an event to raise a few hundred for some cause. But how else are they going to be able to stroke their egos?” Bob scratched his forefinger over his chin. “Candice is a being presented this year.”
“What?”
“Between the ages of eighteen and nineteen, all female members are presented to society. This ball is one of the many they get introduced at.”
Okay, that small fact did nothing to ease the nerves inside of me. If anything, it made them worse.
“I haven’t seen the lineup, but if Jennifer had anything to do with it, Lucas will be her escort. So, whatever Lucas and you have going on, you leave it at the door. Every girl in that club has grown up with the intention of landing Lucas one day. The club doesn’t need any drama. No matter how it was supposed to be; he’s a member and you’re the hired help.”
“We’re both well aware of that. In case you missed it, he always chooses them over me.”
“You really don’t see it, do you?”
“See what?”
“He’s not choosing them, he’s protecting you. Those times you think he’s ignoring you when they’re around, he’s keeping them from attacking you. But he’s doing a horrible job. He never takes his eyes off you. He smiles every time you walk into the room. They see it and view you as public enemy number one.”
I slumped over and buried my face into my hands, not knowing how to digest that information.
“The club doesn’t need any unnecessary drama and sure as hell doesn’t need a catfight. The girls there will do everything they can think of to push your buttons. It will be in your court to ignore it.”
I raised my head. I’d been the new girl at four different high schools; I knew how to handle myself and bite my tongue when the need called for it.
“I understand. Lucas will be a total stranger to me. And only honey will drip from my lips. And no matter what anyone said, I’ll smile and say ‘yes, ma’am’.”
Bob walked closer and reached out to lightly squeeze my shoulder. “I know you will, and it will be worth it when you get your paycheck. Annie,” he said, and I glanced up at him. “Lucas is a smart man. He sees how special you are.”
“Thank you.” I only wish I believe you.
“Head on home. I’ll help Will clean up.”
The sound of Annie's laughter was better than any of the drugs Dr. Gore injected into my body. The newest medicine he added into the mix had wiped me out but still couldn’t keep me away from her.
It was election day and the candidates always convened at the Downtown Cafe to listen as the results came in. Even though the nerves in my legs were numb and it took all my effort to stand upright, I needed to know Annie was safe from any of their venom.
She was.
Bob had enough sense and forethought to place her in the back. I stayed as long as I could but it wasn’t long. I needed my cane, and I still wanted to keep that fact my dirty little secret. Men my age wasn’t supposed to need the aid from little gadgets like a cane. It was a reminder that the only desirable thing about me was my bank account.
I pulled the covers up over my shoulders and sent Annie a text.
Me: Sorry, I couldn’t stay longer, but I’m allergic to politics.
I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d ever have the guts to admit the truth to her.
Chapter 18
Annie Prieto
The grocery store wasn’t my idea of an exciting night, but the lack of food in my pantry said otherwise. I’d only picked up enough food to easily carry on my walk home, but it was more than enough to last me a few days when I eyed him waiting in line at the pharmacy window.
Long, thick hair with just enough curl to make it appear messy was pulled back into a luscious man-bun. A green plaid shirt hung loosely from his broad shoulders as he hunched over supporting his entire body weight on a wood cane. Lucas and a cane wasn’t a sight I thought would’ve gone together. But there he was.
I laid my food stash on a nearby shelf to be able to reach out my hand to tap his back, but pau
sed. I hadn’t seen Lucas in three days and he had been a little distant on the phone. He had something going on, maybe, he got a job as an extra on the set of The Walking Dead. He looked the part.
Dread suddenly festered up in me and got caught in my throat as the idea that Lucas had slipped into his past life of drugs. I shook my head, not allowing my mind to wander down that path until I had more concrete proof.
And no, I wasn’t living in denial, but I needed to be able to trust someone.
Lucas stumbled and barely caught himself before falling over. Whatever it was, he needed help.
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