Hildreth 2-in-1

by Denise Hildreth Jones

  O ne man exited each side of the city morgue van. They opened the back and pulled out a gurney with a wadded black mass laying on top. I looked over at Amber,who was looking in horror at the scene. Maybe she would forget all about the fact that Joshua and I had been standing there together.

  I watched her eyes get wider and reluctantly turned my attention back to the door of the house. I resisted the urge to watch the events play out through cracks in my fingers. A petite, disheveled blonde young woman in jeans and a T-shirt was being led from the house by two police officers. Her hands were behind her back as they walked to the back of a patrol car.

  “That’s her, Savannah . That’s Courtney White,” Amber said in total disbelief. I had never seen her so subdued.

  “Miss Chatham County United States of America?”

  “Yes, Miss Chatham County United States of America,” she murmured.

  As soon as the police car pulled away with Courtney in the back, the two men from the van exited the house with their gurney and what was undeniably a body underneath the black bag.

  “Oh my Lord, Savannah! He’s dead!”

  I couldn’t move . The insides of my stomach begin to churn. I instinctively turned my head away. “Are you sure it’s her boyfriend under there?” I asked over my shoulder.

  She didn’t move either . We carried on our conversation staring straight ahead. “I’m absolutely certain . You know my friends Tina, Miss Swainsboro United States of America, and Trina, Miss Sandersville United States of America. The twins.” I knew them. Sad but true. “Tina said he was cheating on Courtney; that’s why she shot him.”

  The twilight zone that surrounded me had begun to play music in my head . Things were coming in and out of focus. Before my rationale returned to extricate me from this entire experience, Amber interrupted the Muzak.

  “Oh, Savannah,” she said, a moment of genuineness transforming her.“She was such a nice girl.”

  “Amber, do you even know for sure if it’s her boyfriend?”

  She looked at me as if I were absurd.“Savannah,Tina and Trina live with police scanners attached to the sides of their heads . Trust me, if they say it is Miss Chatham County United States of America’s boyfriend, it’s Miss Chatham County United States of America’s boyfriend.

  “Let’s get closer.” She jerked at my sleeve. I jerked it back.

  “No way, sister. I was just about to leave.”

  “Well, I can’t go over there by myself; it would look too inconspicuous.”

  I patted down my sleeve and kept my face turned from the scene playing out in front of me.“I think you mean suspicious. And why do you want to get closer anyway?”

  She came around to look at my face. “Just because,” she said, trying to tell me something with her tilted head, pursed lips, and wide eyes framed with fake eyelashes.

  “Because why?” I pressed. But I knew. Her eyes darted over my shoulder. I turned slightly to see the man eagerly scribbling down information on his stolen legal pad.

  But there was no need for us to go to him; he was now coming to us.

  “Hello,Amber.” He nodded politely.

  “Joshua.” She was unable—or maybe simply unwilling—to hide her attraction.

  “Savannah, you ready? I think I have everything I need.”

  “Oh?” Her eyes became wider.“You two came together?”

  “Well . . . we . . . actually . . .” I started.

  Joshua finished.“Yes. I needed to get here to cover this story, and Savannah was the first person I spotted with a car.”

  Truthfully, coming from his lips, it was clear how totally uninteresting her discovery actually was. And it seemed to be enough for her.

  “Well, I’m glad you are getting to know my new best friend. Isn’t she the greatest?” She grinned from ear to ear so we could both enjoy the glow of her Crest Whitestrip–bleached ensemble.

  “The greatest. Okay, Miss Wonderful, I really need to get this story back before I’m too late.”

  Before I could help myself, I blurted out, “Oh, just go ahead and take my car. I’ll catch a ride with Amber.”

  He looked at me as if my personality number two had just effectively risen to the surface. But this would rest better with Amber. And it would prove to anyone in doubt that I had no interest in Joshua North whatsoever.

  “That would be just fabulous,” Amber offered.

  “Whatever.” And with that he was gone with no hesitation.

  As the people began to clear, I saw Miss Tina and Miss Trina themselves walk down the street and hop into matching yellow VW bugs. Amber and I proceeded to her luxury vehicle, a perfect replica of my mother’s except for the color.

  Amber turned the car in the direction of the paper . We were both peculiarly quiet. As we pulled up to the sidewalk, I opened the door and turned back to notice a tear had formed in the corner of her eye.

  “What’s wrong,Amber?”

  “A man just died. And a girl I know killed him.”

  “I’m really sorry.”

  She never looked at me, just stared straight ahead.“I know we seem catty and petty. But we’re like family, really. Even though you want to win and think you hate the person who does, you still want the best for them.”

  I couldn’t help but smile at her simple view of life. “But you never wish this on anyone,” she continued. “I mean, you wish ripped seams, or broken straps, or even dresses put on backward, but nothing like this. I’ll have to go see her . Yeah, that’s what I’ll do; I’ll go see her.”

  “I think that would be nice.” I said as I held the car door in my hand.

  Crocodile tears began to fall down her face. She looked at me.

  “You think so?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “And I’ll encourage her, Savannah. I’ll encourage her like you encourage me.”

  “Well . . . I . . . I don’t quite know what to say, Amber. Thanks.”

  “Do you want to come with me?” she said, begging with her deeply set aqua-colored eyes.“You could encourage her so much better than me.”

  “No,Amber, I think this might be something you need to do yourself.”

  “Should I take Tina and Trina?”

  “Probably not.”

  “Okay. I’ll just go by myself. I’m glad you were there, Savannah. It just made the whole thing easier.”

  “I’m glad I could be there too,” I blatantly lied . Well, it was almost a lie. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

  She pulled a tissue out of her purse, dabbed her eyes, and then blew her nose like a foghorn.“Thanks for being my friend.”

  “Thanks for letting me. Call me if you need me.” I knew she would.

  Making my way up the stairs to get a Coke, I knew what the headlines would read in the morning: “Beauty Queen Kills Boyfriend.” And yet the world wouldn’t stop. Even now, as a family was about to hear tragic news, the world would keep moving. People would keep laughing. Men would keep telling coarse jokes. Children would keep learning lessons in schoolhouses. Businessmen and women all around this city would keep on working. Vicky would stay chained to a monument.

  And me, well I’d keep on climbing stairs, going to vending machines, and drinking Cokes.

  But one family’s world would be changed forever. Dinners would never be the same. Holidays would miss a person to open presents. Grandchildren would never have their son’s eyes. As brutal as the reality was, it was still reality . The world stops for no one. Even on days like September 11, when the majority of people were paralyzed in front of their television sets, mothers were still in hospitals, giving birth, and doctors were still on call to make sure that life entered the world.

  It felt downright wrong to continue living. I’d never seen a body bag. I’d never been that close to death. Burying a pet gerbil named Dufus just doesn’t count . The guy in that bag was somebody like me . The girl who shot him was somebody like me. As real as the death was, so for a brief moment was the murderer. A girl for a mo
ment gone crazy. Her life would never be the same either.

  My phone rang.

  “Are you getting excited?”

  “Excited? About what?”

  Paige reacted in complete horror.“Savannah? You have got to be kidding me.”

  “Oh my gosh, yes, I almost completely forgot . This has been a . . . well, shall we say, rather eventful day.”

  “Well, I don’t know how something could be more eventful than what you are about to embark on tonight. Do you have everything ready?”

  “Yes, everything is ordered, outfit is pressed and lying on my bed, and every womanly weapon I own, checked.”

  “You have womanly weapons?”

  “I thought I did. Do I not?”

  “I haven’t seen or heard from them in a while.”

  “Me either. But they’re ready . Maybe a little rusty, but they’re ready.”

  “Well, I’ll be there on time, so you just make sure you’re ready.”

  “I’ll be more than ready, honey.”

  “Okay, call me if you have any questions.”

  “I will. Bye.”

  Five o’clock found me walking to my car in attack mode. But the smell of my forgotten lunch had turned into a disastrous stench. Driving down Bull Street, however, my mind was so focused on my evening of resurrected love that I forgot the smell and nearly hit the flowery mass that walked right out into the street. Slamming on the brakes, I was propelled with such force that my lip hit the steering column and started bleeding. I looked up to see my bumper only inches away from Joy. Déjà vu.

  I jumped out of the car and ran to her, instinctively throwing my arms around her.“Joy, are you okay?! I could have killed you!” Stepping back to survey her, she seemed fine as a Georgia peach. “What in the world were you doing just walking out in the street?! Did you not see me coming?!” I reprimanded her like a child.

  She smiled her silly grin.“Oh, Savannah, I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I just wasn’t paying attention, I guess. But I’m okay.” She giggled at my arms, which were still holding on to her.

  “Well, I’m glad. But you have got to be more careful.” I released her from my grip.“Now, why don’t you just get in the car and let me take you home?”

  “No, baby. I’m fine. I’ve got a few places left to go today, and a few people I need to see . You just get back in your car and head on home. I promise I’ll be more careful.”

  “You’d better . You scared the heebie-jeebies out of me.”

  She reached her hand up to my face.“Your lip’s bleeding, baby. Are you okay?”

  I touched my lip, which felt like it had swelled to half the size of my head.“Yes. It won’t make for an attractive evening, but I’m okay.”

  About that time a car honked having obviously discovered we were both okay. I looked back and gave them a raised right eyebrow and walked Joy over to the sidewalk.

  “Now, Savannah, you need to be careful too. You seemed rather preoccupied. And preoccupation is often a sign of misplaced priorities.”

  “Okay, Joy, thank you. But I’ve got to go now . You be more careful.” I walked back to my car and opened the door, then glared at the obnoxious car behind me.

  “I will, Miss Savannah. But remember, nothing’s worth consuming yourself over. Everything has its place. And when everything is in the right place, nothing is out of place.”

  “That’s real good. Now, stay on the sidewalk.”

  I watched her climb onto the sidewalk and begin to sing quietly. I drove home trying to figure out how much makeup it would take to disguise my ever-growing lower lip.

  Life was going on.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  T he lip protruded like a bad collagen job. But by six o’clock I was cascading down the front staircase and back to my car looking, shall we say, like “a Southern lady fit for dining.” Which was pretty much exactly what I was about to be.

  “Well, what do we have here?”

  I stared straight into the face of my father and tried to regain any amount of composure I might have possessed. I had taken great lengths to avoid anyone who knew me, because such attire at six o’clock on a Tuesday evening would pose questions for which there were no appropriate answers.

  “Oh, I juth haf a meething thif evenith.”

  That wouldn’t do. He took a stance like he had nowhere to go fast. “What kind of meeting?” He scanned my pale blue stretch-cotton skirt with white embroidery and white capped-sleeve v-neck sweater.

  “Oh, jthuth a thinner meefing. Buf ith’s nofing importhanth.” I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, causing a searing pain to shoot through my lip.“Ow.”

  “What did you do?”

  “Jthusth a booboo.” I answered, dodging eye contact and starting in the direction of my car, trying to walk gracefully in white two-inch heels with only two thin straps holding them into place. “I’ll thee you lafer . Mayfee I’ll come fee you and Muffer,” I added shamelessly.

  “Savannah Phillips.”

  I hated it when he did that. I turned around, reminding myself to look nonchalant . The shoes prevented it.“Yef?”

  “I hope you aren’t up to something you shouldn’t be. And I will expect to see you this evening.”With that, his suspicious stare disappeared with him into the house.

  How in the world do they always know? It’s downright sick, I tell ya. And why in the world would he think the worst of me? I’m a grown woman just going to a meeting . What would he want me to wear, blue jeans and flip-flops? Heaven forbid I would actually take pride in my appearance.The monologue continued down six alleys, past three squares, and into a safe parking place an entire street removed from Jake’s coffee shop.

  I made sure the coast was clear and entered the coffee shop with a wonderful story about why I was there, should anyone need to hear it. I was thankful that all parties had departed. All the front blinds were closed, which was a blessed sight. It would prevent Jake from passing by and seeing anything out of the ordinary going on inside his little retirement office.

  I opened my bag of goodies and sat them on the counter, releasing a sigh of relief at the fact that I had carried these to the car earlier . The questioning with my dad would have resulted in downright accusation had he seen me bearing picnic gear. The back table that sat against the far wall would be the safest. It would prevent anyone on the street from seeing the flickering of the candlelight through the closed blinds.

  I shook out the white linen tablecloth and smoothed it with my hands. I retrieved two beautiful yellow bamboo candles, borrowed from Mother’s stash, and placed them in two silver candlesticks. I placed Mom and Dad’s white china trimmed with silver neatly at each place and finished it off with Baccarat stemware.

  “Wellf fath looths faubulus.” But my lip did not. A quick glance in the mirror made it clear the swelling wasn’t going down. Cramming a piece of ice into a paper towel, I placed it gingerly on my lip and headed to Bistro Savannah to pick up the dinner order I had inconspicuously placed last night on a trip to the bathroom. While picking up two seared beef tenderloins with shiitakes, scallions, and crisp corn pancakes topped off with horseradish sauce, I tried to avoid as much conversation as possible. By my return it was already seven fifteen.

  “Are you ready?” Paige’s voice came over my phone.

  “Yesf.”

  “Why are you talking like that?”

  “Don’th askf.”

  “You’ve hurt yourself,haven’t you? Miss Grace, you might need to get checked. Do you at least look okay?”

  “I lookth butiful.”

  “Well, do you have it on ice?”

  “Yesf.”

  “Good . Well, don’t worry; it will be okay . We’ll be there at exactly seven thirty. Have the door unlocked . Your life’s about to change, sweetheart.”

  Bathroom to window, window to bathroom, I paced, trying about fifteen different locations in the store for ideal placement upon Grant’s entrance: leaning against the counter
looked too desperate; sitting daintily at the table looked too not-me. I even tried a striking pose across the bar . That just plain hurt too bad. Anyway, all would have proven fruitless anyway, because I had to go to the bathroom . Thus, I was officially indisposed when I heard the bells on the door.

  As I came from the back room, I could hear Grant’s shock. “Why did you bring me here, Paige?”

  Then his eyes caught a glimpse of me. From the neck down I looked pretty good. From the neck up, well, let’s just say I could have done a commercial for an ambulance-chasing attorney suing over a plastic surgery catastrophe.

  Paige’s eyes caught a glimpse of the same and rolled.

  His poor green eyes protruded frighteningly and made their way from me to Paige, eventually returning back to me.“Savannah, what are you doing here?” Then his eyes caught a glimpse of the table and the candlelight and the dinner . The expression that began in the eyes and worked its way down to his beautiful mouth made it altogether clear: Grant knew he had been set up.

  “Well, my job is done . You two have a wonderful evening,” Paige said, patting Grant on the back. She left with a wink and a thumbs-up. He protested. She wouldn’t hear of it. And she left us there all alone.

  There we stood . Two familiar strangers. I decided to break the awkward silence. “Wouf you wife thoo thith thown?” I asked, motioning to the two chairs that flanked the cozy table, arranged in such a way that two old loves could rediscover one another.

  Grant stared at me and walked slowly to the table and sat down.“What did you do to your lip?”

  Well, at least we could get that out of the way early.“I hadth a liffle affithenth . Wuff you life sofing thoo thrink?”

  “That would be nice.” Then, as if he had come to his senses, he stood.“No, Savannah, I don’t want something to drink. I don’t want anything but to know what this is all about.”

  I looked at him in disbelief. This wasn’t part of the script for the evening. I had gone over it a thousand times, and this wasn’t in it. “I thjuth wanfed thoo thalk wif you.”

  “Savannah, this isn’t about talking.” He motioned to the room, then picked up one of the silver forks at the table.“This, Savannah, is about far more than talking. And this isn’t part of what we do anymore. Now, either you can tell me what this is about, or I’m going to have to leave.”