Red Flags

by C. C. Brown

  “Just have a good time,” then turning to Jason, “take care of my baby girl and get her back here in one piece.” He was stoic as ever, but reached his hand out, and actually pulled Jason in for one of those half-hearted man hugs. My mouth dropped, but my cheeks warmed as I saw my dad and Jason actually embrace. It was a sight for sore eyes because I couldn’t recall a time that my dad had been openly accepting of a guy that I’d brought home.

  Jason patted my dad’s arm and answered, “You’ve got my word, Sir.”

  I blew a kiss to my dad, and waved goodbye to my mom as we strolled away, hand in hand, glancing at one another with smiles of admiration marking both of our faces. Although the trip ahead would be a short one, I felt like I was crossing an unforeseen threshold in life, and the thought excited and terrified me all at the same time.

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  The three hour non-stop flight into the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport would have felt excruciatingly long had it not been for first class, and Jason’s big, warm body to rest on. Chelsea and Hunter decided to take a later flight, so that she could spend some time with her grandparents who had flown in from Florida. I didn’t mind the alone time, because I knew Jason wasn’t thrilled about vacationing with her, and I wanted to soak up every inch of him before we were surrounded with all of his family and all of Heath.

  Walking hand in hand, following behind the cattle line of people making their way to the baggage claim, I spotted a sharp man in a black suit, holding a sign that read: Bradley & Pinkston. Jason looked down at me and smiled, while pulling me closer to the man. They obviously knew one another because the man tipped his hat at Jason, then gave him one of those man hugs that I had grown accustomed to. Jason introduced me, and introduced the man as Richard. I nodded my head and gave a polite smile, never letting go of Jason’s hand. The amount of drawl in Richard’s voice had me slightly chuckling, and mildly embarrassed by it. We made our way to the car and after weaving in and out of horrendous airport traffic, Jason finally relaxed in the back seat with me.

  “How long until we get to your parents’ house?”

  “It’s a little under an hour’s drive, so kick back and relax.”

  I took my cell phone out and started snapping photos of the highway, the metropolis that was Dallas, and anything else that caught my eye. Jason let out a deep sigh, and threw his head back on the headrest.

  “Or not.” He mumbled sarcastically.

  “Believe it or not, I’ve never been to Texas, so I want to document every inch of this.”

  He didn’t argue, and I continued snapping away. My photography session didn’t last long and I found myself falling asleep in Jason’s lap as he massaged my head. The drive could have been as long as the flight for all I cared; when he got his fingers in my head, I felt like the stresses of life just melted away.

  Not long into my nap, Jason gently tapped my thighs and softly whispered my name, breaking me from my brief, but satisfying sleep. I sat up and caught a glimpse of the white, marble encrusted sign Country Club Estates that bordered the entrance to the exclusive neighborhood. The homes were an impeccable display of wealth and class all rolled into one. The magnificently tree lined streets hid towering brick homes, masterfully centered on no less than acre large lots. The neighborhood was peaceful, with a few kids here and there playing, but for the most part, people were just sitting on shaded porches, talking, drinking, and relaxing.

  The Texas heat was stifling, with humidity that could choke the life out of a beach girl. I stepped out of the car and immediately felt sweat beads begin to form on my arms, hands, and forehead. The stickiness that had layered itself on my skin was unbearable, and I ached to get inside of the house, pending the use of central air conditioning. I stood in the circular driveway of a white flanked brick mansion with a large fountain placed in the middle of a perfectly manicured lawn. The garage looked like it could house six cars, and that was without the knowledge of a tandem or not. I took a sweeping view of the house, the surrounding homes, and the neighborhood in general, and felt overwhelmed and swallowed by the amount of wealth and luxury currently bordering me.

  My parents live in an upper middle class home in the San Diego suburbs, and Jason’s home is in an exclusive area in La Jolla, but neither compared to the richness of the setting that we were currently immersed in.

  “Don’t worry about all this, it’s purely superficial.” Jason said observing my facial expressions.

  I was certainly overwhelmed and feeling inadequate in the Country Club Estates.

  “I’m enamored Jason… Chelsea would be in her element here, but I’m a bit out of my league.”

  He laughed, and wiped his brow with the back of his hand; obviously the Texas heat was getting to him too. “I still have a few hours to not have to think about her, can we please keep it that way?”

  I tried to laugh, but my nerves had gotten the best of me, and sweat began to coat the palms of my hands. I playfully wiped them on his shirt.

  “My mom is a little bat shit crazy, but she means well, and my dad, well, he’s my dad – a good man, with a bit of asshole mixed in.” His descriptions of his parents had me a bit worried, but I pretended that everything was just fine, and made my way back to the car, sweaty palms intertwined in his hands.

  Richard was unloading our belongings when we walked back and a few other guys made their way out to help.

  “Where am I storing ya’ll’s things Mr. Bradley?” Richard asked, and the more I heard his southern drawl, the more at home I felt.

  There was something about the true authenticity of that drawl that felt so welcoming, and warmed my already scorching blood.

  ‘We’ll be in the guesthouse Rich, and with a nod, Richard instructed the guys to take our things to the side of the house that led to a trail where the guesthouse was located. I giggled slightly, and nudged Jason with my nose on his chest.

  “Your drawl has already gotten thicker and we just got here.”

  “I can’t help it, it’s engrained in me.”

  Between the driveway and the time it took us to walk back to the guesthouse, my shirt looked like I’d participated in a wet t-shirt contest. The sweltering heat had my lungs feeling like a fire had been set to them, and made breathing nearly impossible. Sucking air by the time we reached the guesthouse, I spotted a lake just on the backside. At this point, the lake might be worse for my condition, but the sight of water excited me in the most trivial of ways.

  Richard opened the front door to the guesthouse, and I saw that it surpassed the beauty and luxury of even Jason’s house. It dawned on me that this was why he thought nothing of his digs back in La Jolla, because where he came from swallowed that house in comparison. The entry way had large cathedral ceilings, and chandeliers that rivaled what I’d seen in most fancy restaurants. Mahogany hard wood floors covered the ground, and sparkled giving off that just polished look.

  Richard led us further into the house, describing the home’s specifications, but I was in a trance at the fact that it was someone’s guesthouse, so I missed almost all of what he said. Jason stopped him after reaching the living room, and thanked him for his services. I sat on the chocolate suede couch, and glanced around the room, trying to take in all that my brain could possibly filter.

  Jason opened the slider doors that led to a large, barren field, stopping adjacent to the lake that only a few moments ago, I was hoping to find myself indulging in. He motioned for me to join him, and I peeled my lazy, lethargic, body from the couch and made my way back out to the blistering heat.

  “This is where the gala will be held. Tomorrow mornin’, this area won’t even be recognizable to you.”

  “Well, today, while I can still see it, can we please make our way into that lake? My insides are begging on hands and knees to get some liquid satisfaction.”

  “Oh, well, if that’s the case, why didn’t you say anything?” His eyes drooped low and dark. “I’m always up for providing you with liquid satisfaction.” T
he hunger in his eyes told me if he had his way, I’d be just as short of breath inside of this air conditioned home, as I was whenever I dared to brave the sauna that was outside.

  “No. Not right now.” His look went from wanting to deflated in a matter of seconds. “You need to show me around this house, and then I need to meet your parents. Where are they anyway?”

  “They’re in the main house. I told them I wanted to get settled in before making our way up there.” He took my hand and continued to show me around the house.

  The living room had an elegant display of deer heads adorning the walls. Jason said he, Jacob, and his dad were avid hunters and each of the heads were their very own kills. The fireplace was large enough to sleep in, but in this heat, who would want to get anywhere near it?

  Going from the living room to the kitchen hung numerous family photos, some I’d seen before in Jason’s home, some I had not. The kitchen was an immaculate show of wealth. The black, marble countertops were flanked with gold specs, leading to stainless steel sinks, and peppered with stainless steel appliances. The pristine shine of all surfaces led me to believe that the kitchen got very little use, but it was impressive nonetheless.

  Heading down a long corridor, we made our way to two spare bedrooms, that looked like they would fit mine and Chelsea’s bedrooms combined. The last door at the very end of the corridor was the master bedroom, which is where Jason and I would be staying. The sheer size of the room left me breathless, and I threw my hand over my chest as I caught my breath. The enormity of the room left me feeling like a small fish in a big pond, and standing at the entrance, swallowed was the only word that came to mind.

  Jason rolled his eyes, and took me by the hand, leading me further into the room. “This is nothing out of the ordinary; it’s just like our room back in La Jolla.” He made sure to emphasize the possessive part of his statement, still hoping that if he said it enough, I would go for it. “When I moved to California, my dad said I could keep my standard of living, that’s why I said the house wasn’t anything special.”

  “Did you live in the guesthouse while you lived here?”

  “Yes.” He restlessly ran his hands through his hair, “it’s just a house Cara, drop the astonishment.” I noticed the veins in his neck starting to bulge, and I felt the thickness in the air constricting us. The distress of being back home was overtaking him, so I took him by the hand and led him into the marble encrusted bathroom and started a shower -- hoping it would ease some of the discomfort that had suddenly crept into his body.

  The shower seemed to have done the trick. Never in life have I settled for a cold shower because a hot one would only make me feel even more miserable. The shock factor behind the cold water loosened Jason up, and without speaking a word on his swift mood swing, I could see his muscles visibly relax. We dressed quickly; he said his parents were anxious to meet me. I remembered how he described them, and tried to psyche myself up for meeting them, careful to not lose any of my manners. Jason had instructed me on the way to the airport to use sir and ma’am, as they were in keeping with Southern mannerisms.

  The walk to the main house, while relatively short, felt like walking the plank. I didn’t khow I’d be received… I didn’t know how I would receive them, especially Jason’s dad, who I recently found out was a source of antagonism in his life. I looked myself over before taking the turn that led to the back door of the house, where Jason said his parents were awaiting us. I surely hoped cut off shorts and a tank top were presentable to meet your boyfriend’s parents in, because the thought of anymore clothing brought me to the brink of heat stroke.

  Jason tightened his grip on my hand as we made the last turn towards the house, and before I could see what had him so bothered, a curly haired, little blond girl ran and wrapped her arms around his legs, yelling, “Uncle Jason, Uncle Jason.” I recognized her to be his niece, Abigail, and while the sight of her and her outward pouring of affection was heart melting, I knew her parents weren’t far behind. Jacob and Heather were the source of tension that had Jason squeezing my hand like he was hoping to get water out of rocks.

  Chapter 19

  I couldn’t even say anything before Jason’s mom had her arms wrapped around me, and was squealing about how excited she was to finally meet me. She was a gorgeous woman, her tanned skin, similar to Jason’s, was beautifully contrasted with platinum blond hair that was cut into long layers that fell to her shoulders. She wasn’t much taller than me; in fact, we stood about equal to one another. When she pulled back, I gave her a vibrant smile, and couldn’t help but notice the dark hue of green that twinkled in her eyes. She moved aside and motioned for me to meet her husband, Mr. Bradley.

  “Jim, I want you to meet Cara.” Jim Bradley was a man that exuded power. He was tall, maybe a couple of inches taller than Jason, and had big broad shoulders. His hair was the same mocha frap color of Jason’s, but showed signs of grey around his temples, and was cut low. His eyes were low, but twinkled with the same hue of green just as his wife’s, and even though there were slight wrinkles on his face that further gave away his age, he looked impeccable in his Dockers shorts, and blue polo shirt. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how he could stand to be in that thick cotton mess, given the atrocious climate the sun and humidity had graced us with, but I quickly swept that out of my mind and held out my hand to greet him.

  “It’s nice to meet you Mr. Bradley.” He took my hand, in an overly firm grasp and kissed the top, making me skin tingle, and not in a good way.

  “Sorry I don’t carry all of the excitement that Tina does. But it’s a pleasure to finally meet you Cara. Glad you got my boy down here for something good for a change.”

  I had no idea what he was talking about, and from the slap on the pecks that Tina gave him, I could see it wasn’t something to be discussed within the first few minutes of meeting a total stranger.

  Jason walked Abigail over to where we were standing, and took the same warm greeting from his mom that I had just received; only she kissed him a few times on the cheek. He tore away from her embrace to reach his hand out for a handshake with his dad, and a very awkward looking guy-hug. His body went from being limp and relaxed to rigid like stone. No one seemed to notice the awkwardness brewing between the two men, so I swept it aside and just chalked it up to business as usual.

  Out of the house came Heather Bradley and I knew it was her from the pictures I had previously seen. She was much prettier in person, with long flowing blond hair that was curled at the ends. Her sun dress flowed as she made her way out of the house and over to me.

  “Nice to meet you Cara, we’ve been hearing a lot about you.” Her tone was also laced with a hefty dose southern drawl. I felt the force of Jason’s accusatory eyes before he made his way over to Heather and gave her a genuinely, warm hug. Abigail tugged on my shorts before I leaned down and gave her a big hug; she was the sweetest little girl, with the most angelic of faces. Her soft voice could melt ice, and it seemed she did just that – from right around Jason’s heart.

  “Where’s Jacob?” I blurted out, without even thinking. I felt Jason’s hand tighten on my back, and he let out a deep sigh, but didn’t say anything.

  “He ran up the road to their house, ya’ll meet in a minute.” Mr. Bradley announced, as we all walked into the main house.

  I was in awe from the second I walked into the house. I felt my knees shake and Jason caught me before repeating, “It’s all superficial,” in a low and husky voice, that was littered with irritation. The house looked like something you would find in Beverly Hills, not in the pastoral openings of Texas. The same mahogany wood that was placed in the guesthouse was also used throughout this home. The living room looked more like a ballroom from an extravagant hotel than a living room for a family to sit and mingle in. Tina Bradley raved about her design aesthetic, and how some man with a fancy name helped her design every aspect of the 50,000 square foot home. I had to catch my breath at the mere mention of the squa
re footage; it seemed unreal to be standing in a home of this magnitude.

  We walked around to the entryway where crystal, China, and silver were on full display. Jason’s grandmother had passed away and left all of it to Tina, and it was her pride and joy, waiting to be admired from the second a guest entered the home. The staircase was made of wrought iron that was shaped in elegant swirls all the way to the top. I didn’t need to make my way to the top floor to see that there was essentially another home on the upper level.

  In a hallway leading to one of the many guest bathrooms on the first floor, Mrs. Bradley showed me pictures of Jason and Jacob when they were kids. Happy, smiling boys: playing soccer, and football, holding guns, and riding in a boat. They looked like your normal, All-American kids. The pictures of Jason in his teen years showed rebellion. It wasn’t anything shocking, but the earlier smiles had faded, he wasn’t as clean cut as Jacob, and it almost looked like getting a picture of him was no easy task. I softly laughed. I could remember Ryan hitting that stage, and how frustrated my mom had been with him.

  On our way back to the living room, which opened to the opulent kitchen, I heard the front door shut, and when I turned to the sound, in walked Jacob Bradley, looking just as hot as Jason, only with shorter hair. He looked me up and down with a devilish smile that made me wholly uncomfortable. Stalking over in my direction, like he was ready to devour his prey, I reached out my hand for him, but he bypassed it and wrapped me up in an almighty, semi-inappropriate hug, that had me lifted from the ground.