by Maddie James
Allison’s mother’s jaw dropped along with her eyes like large globes as she glanced at her daughter. “Oh my. I can’t believe some of the stuff that comes out of that woman’s mouth. I’m just glad she’s not my mother, although, I don’t think your father pays much attention to her.” Her mother stepped closer, grabbed George and her daughter’s hands and gave them a squeeze. “Will you two please make sure she makes it home tonight? Alone.”
“Yes Mom,” Allison replied with a chuckle. When her mother turned and walked away, Allison couldn’t help but shake her head. The idea of her mother thinking her grandmother could actually bring home one of the wedding rehearsal guests was beyond funny.
Throughout drinks and dinner, Allison kept her distance from Ryan. His concerned words about her relationship with George struck a chord. Uneasiness forced her to find him every few minutes and make sure there were at least five people between them. She was sure she’d spill the beans if he confronted her again. A few more hours and she’d be home, in her bed, safe from wandering eyes.
After dessert of either chocolate mousse or strawberry shortcake, Sarah’s maid of honor presented a slide show. The lights dimmed leaving only the glow of the candlelights as images of Sarah and Adam as babies began the show. Displayed before everyone were cherished family photos. Oos and awws filled the room. Allison’s brother grew up before her eyes again. From toothless smiling pictures to photos of him trying to act mature and not smile. There were family photos, sport pictures and eventually images from dances. A showcase of good times with the past several years shared between the couple.
The final photo appeared of Adam and Sarah. Allison hadn’t seen the picture before and when the words, “and they lived happily ever after” scrawled beneath the close headshot the room erupted in claps and whistles until the waitress turned the lights back on.
“That was so lovely, don’t you think?” Her grandmother asked from her side.
“Yep,” Allison said with a lump in her throat.
Her grandmother looked over at her as if she noticed the change in the young girl’s voice. The grandmother’s face turned from its usually light, blissfully unaware expression to close drawn eyebrows. “Are you all right, dear?” she whispered.
Allison swallowed, clearing her throat and smiled at the woman. She loved how her eyes were a brilliant shade of green, which she thought brought out the darkness in her hair. Allison always wished she’d taken after her and her father when it came to eye color. She’d been happy with a muted shade or even hazel. Instead, she looked more like her mother with dark brown hair and eyes.
“Yes, Grandma. Just choked up by the memories.” She quietly responded. The room once again filled with sounds of talking and laughter. Music played in the background through black speakers hanging from the ceiling.
“I saw a few of you in there.” George’s body leaned close with his arm hanging on the back of her chair. She wondered if they looked like a couple. Could people tell if something were off with them?
“And you can never share what you saw with anyone,” she joked.
“Aww, but honey bunny. What would the fun in that be?” His wink pinched his cheeks. A red flush filled his face and she wondered if it were his turn to drink too much.
Grandma Daughtry pushed herself up from the table. “Well. I think there are a few gentlemen at the bar that I haven’t met yet. If you’ll excuse me.”
“Just be careful what you say to those guys. Some of them might take you seriously.”
“Pst. I’ll be fine. Everybody acts a little silly when they’re drinking. Heck, look at your mother. She likes to talk about boobs. I swear. Some of the stuff that comes out of that woman’s mouth. I love her and all but I’m glad she’s not my blood.”
Her grandmother walked away with a wine glass clutched in her hands. Allison shook her head and smiled thinking how the two women were more alike than they knew.
“Hey,” Audrey slid into the seat her grandmother vacated. “Bill took the kids home and I’m free the rest of the night. Let’s go get our drink on.” She grabbed Allison’s hand and pulled her from the seat.
“I don’t know.” Images of margarita glasses danced in her head. Her stomach rolled thinking about lime juice and salt.
“Come on. I thought we were trying.”
“And drinking is your way of doing that?”
Audrey fisted a hand on her hip. “Alcohol loosens people up and it’s a start. So let’s go. I’m crashing at the house anyway.” Her fingers dug into Allison’s arm, wrinkling the material of her shirt. Allison’s heal caught a few times against the floor, trying to keep up with her sister’s forceful hold. Thankful for George who kept a gentle hand ghosting along her waist. After an almost face plant, he muttered something. She grabbed her sister’s hand, allowing her to pull her to the little satellite bar set up in the party room. George followed behind muttering something about not wanting to miss this.
Outside darkness fell all around, blocking out the images of trees and brilliant colored leaves. Now, blinking lights from passing boats shined across the ripples in the water. Faint stars popped up in the sky around the moon hanging high, casting a white glow. Back in their private room, candles still danced across the tables, reflecting in the wall of windows. Allison wondered what it looked like from the outside with all the candlelight dancing across the tables.
At the bar, her sister ordered two shots of tequila. “Starting off a little tough, aren’t you.” A voice asked from behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to find Adam with a raised eyebrow. “Didn’t you learn the last time?”
“Those were margaritas. These are shots. Besides. This,” she waved a hand across the two short glasses of liquid, “is Audrey’s doing. In fact, you should join us.” She turned back to the female bartender. “Can we get another one, please?” Holding her glass of clear liquid, she tipped her drink at her fiancé and winked. “George?”
“No, I’m good. I think this is best kept in the family.” His smirk spoke volumes of the amount of fun he was having at her expense. He was due she figured.
“I don’t think so. I don’t want to get trashed the night before my wedding.” Adam chimed in, mimicking George’s sentiment.
“So don’t drink more than one,” Audrey said with a saltshaker ready in her hand. She licked the back of her palm, shook on some salt and passed the condiment to her sister who did the same. She was vaguely aware that the alcohol in margaritas was the same as what she planned on consuming. But seeing Ryan standing across the room looking handsome in his striped shirt and black slacks stirred up more than a burning below her belly. His dark hair falling haphazardly across his forehead accented the deepness in his eyes. The alcohol would dull her senses enough to keep her from running over to him and spilling her secrets, embarrassing herself and George.
She grabbed George’s hand, giving it a squeeze. When she looked into his blue eyes, she made a private promise to make things up to him when they returned to Chicago.
Allison released his hand and held out the shaker to Adam, she stared at him and stuck out her bottom lip. “Please.” She fluttered her eyelashes.
“First, that crap doesn’t work on me and second, if I’m sick tomorrow, I’m blaming you both. This is like harassment or something. You’re ganging up on the young kid. Totally not fair.” He snatched the salt from Allison and followed her lead.
The three siblings raised their shot glasses in front of them with the unsalted hand. “To Daughtry family drinking,” Adam said before the three licked their hands, drank their shots and sucked on their limes.
They each had on matching puckered faces. “Oh, hold that face,” George called out before clicking a photo with his cell phone.
With eyes closed and a burning in her belly, Allison stumbled forward with her hands stretched out, reaching for the bar.
“Umph,” she said bumping into a hard body. The stars in her eyes began to evaporate, showing the pale-lit room. She focuse
d on the face of the person she’d run into. A shadow casted across the person’s face, hiding features. Except for his eyes. Dark brown eyes stared back at her.
“Excuse me,” she confessed stepping back. “I’m sorry. The lights from the camera were…bright.”
“Not a problem.” Ryan ordered a beer from the bartender. His eyes remained on Allison as he tipped the bottle back.
The two watched each other with Audrey, Adam and George laughing behind them. She didn’t know what caused their good mood but she was too distracted to turn around to find out. Since the lunch encounter and her confession to forget, she wondered where they stood. Partly, she didn’t think their relationship mattered since she’d be leaving town after the wedding, only to return for holidays. But she didn’t want to leave with him hating her.
“Doing shots?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah, Audrey doesn’t have to go home and she wanted to party.” Allison shrugged off her comment, acting as if it wasn’t a big deal. “You wanna join us?”
She wasn’t fooling anybody and Ryan knew it. “You. And Adam. Hanging out with Audrey. Hmm. I guess anything is possible.” A twinkle in his eyes said more than him observing a simple drink among family. He knew better than most the relationship between the sisters had been strained or non-existent. “Be careful. Or have you forgotten how things ended the last time? I have a feeling Adam won’t let you sleep in his room again the night before his wedding.” He winked and walked away only to look back at Allison.
What did his wink mean? Did she still have a chance if George were out of the picture? Her eyes focused on George who leaned against the bar, playing on his cell phone. If she pretended to break things off with him, for her family’s sake and moved home, would Ryan still be an option. Would her heart get a chance at love?
She shook her suspicions away and faced the small party developing at the bar. Adam and Audrey leaned in close, talking. Were things still strained between them, she wondered. She’d been away, only to return on holidays when everyone was cordial to each other. With Adam living at home, had he gotten closer to Audrey? Did they have a common subject to talk about now that Allison was removed from the picture?
More importantly, if Adam and Audrey could move past their age differences and their lack of time spent together when they were younger and have a relationship, could the same be true for Allison and Audrey? Sure they agreed on trying at the church but words and actions were two different ideas. Watching Audrey and Adam laugh at a joke for their ears only, a smile tugged at her lips. A yearning in her heart burned to have more with Audrey. A feeling she hadn’t been aware she wanted until it blew up in her face.
Feeling eyes on her, Allison glanced over her shoulder. Standing across the room with his arm wrapped around her mother while she talked to a couple nearby was her father. Same color hair as Allison but with her brother’s matching height he smiled back at his daughter. A softness around his green eyes reminded her of a time when she was younger. She’d lied about something and as if she were Pinocchio, he knew. He always knew more than he let on. Her mother ran the house, keeping her and her siblings in line but her father was the silent watcher. One look from him and her composure collapsed and she remembered not only confessing to her lie but to previous ones he hadn’t even questioned. She wondered if he had the same effect on her after all these years. Would a minute alone with him break her will, forcing her to divulge her lie?
Allison returned his smile and turned back toward her siblings, avoiding any more face time with him. Her will was slowly collapsing between Ryan and now her father.
She squeezed into a spot beside George and leaned against him. His arm wrapped around her shoulders and she knew she could never risk what they shared.
“I love you, you know.”
“Oh, I know. And you know the feeling is mutual.” George offered, kissing the top of her head.
His familiar cologne lingered after she stood firmly against the bar. She slapped down her hand, looked to her brother and sister. “Okay, next round is my choice.”
Chapter Eighteen
Water pelted against the wall of the shower indicating Grandma had vacated the bed she shared with Allison. Taking full advantage, she rolled to her back, stretching her arms and legs wide. The sheets, chilly against her warmed skin, forced her to pull back, shake and then ease her body back to the cold side.
Allison consumed less drinks the night prior than she did partying with her family enjoying margaritas. Only a faint nagging tugged inside her head. She chalked the beginnings of a mild headache to the tequila. The devil liquid had that effect on her.
And she wasn’t sleeping in her brother’s bed, so she figured she’d came out ahead.
Ignoring the slight rumble in her head, she rolled to her stomach, buried her face between the two stacks of pillows and breathed deep. She’d eventually get up, take some aspirin and hit the shower. For the time being, she inhaled the reminiscent scent of her grandmother’s perfume, White Shoulder, and enjoyed the last few minutes of quiet before the craziness of the day.
Knock. Knock.
“Come in,” she called with her face still buried.
Moments later her bed dipped from the weight of her visitor. Covers were ruffled sending a chill against her bare legs. She wasn’t sure who her visitor was yet but since they knocked, she was certain she was okay.
A body snuggled close beside her. “I’m getting married today.” Her brother’s breath blew across the back of her neck.
“Hmm.”
A second later, his fingers grabbed at her sides pulling a loud shriek from her. “Stop,” she yelled as her brother tickled her. She twisted and turned, breaking his hold on her. “Okay. Stop.”
“Well, when your little brother tells you he’s getting married…today, you better offer up more than a muffled acknowledgement.”
“Fine.” Covers flew from her body when she kicked her arms and legs in the air, shaking them. “Woohoo! Adam’s finally making an honest woman out of Sarah.”
“Ha, ha.”
After a few moments of listening to each other’s breathing slow to a normal pace from their cheering and the continual patter of water from the shower, Allison pushed herself to a sitting position. “Seriously. You know I’m over the moon happy for you two, right?”
“Yes,” he said patting her leg. “It’s too much fun to watch you squirm.”
“Thanks.”
“Anytime.” The water in the bathroom shut off. “Can I ask you a personal question?” Adam rolled over onto his side. His brown eyes stared up at her causing tightness in her stomach. In all their years together, he’d never asked her permission to ask her about something personal. He’d always just asked.
“Um, sure.” With one finger, she pushed the corner of her lips against her teeth and chewed on the soft skin, preparing herself for his next words.
“Are you happy? With George?”
He’d asked her the same thing a day earlier and she figured her answer was enough to satisfy him. She loved George. As a friend. She always had fun with George. As a friend. Her answer to her Adam wouldn’t be a lie. Yet she wondered if throwing in the additional information would make her feel better. The guilt of her secret ate at her insides.
“Before you answer, hear me out first.” She nodded for him to continue. “You told me yesterday that you kissed Ryan and that it was no big deal and not to say anything to George. And I like George. I’ve told you. He’s a really nice guy. But after your confession, I watched you two yesterday and I don’t know. You two don’t really act like a couple. You smile and lean into each other, but it seems more as friends than two people planning on spending their entire life together. And when you look at your hand and that ring, I swear, it looks like you think your skin is on fire. When Sarah and I are…”
“Yeah, not everybody can be like you and Sarah,” Allison snapped. As soon as her sister-in-law’s name left her lips, she clamped her hand acr
oss her face. Heat licked along her skin from her emotional outburst. Keeping up her lie were getting the better of her. “Adam, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it like that.” Taking a note from her childhood memories, she scooted back beneath the covers, matching her brother’s position. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. I guess I wasn’t prepared for your question.”
“This is what I’m talking about. What’s going on with you? And before you tell me I’m wrong. I know you better than anyone, even after all these years, and I can tell something is bothering you. Tell me.” Adam’s eyes zeroed in on her.
Telling him would be easy. Making him understand would be hard. Could she do that to him on what was supposed to be the happiest day of his life?
Her resolve cracked.
“Adam don’t do this to me today. Not on your day.”
“Who gives a crap whose day it is? You’re my sister and obviously something’s bothering you. Just tell me. Maybe I can help fix whatever it is.”
“You’re not supposed to be the one to fix things. I’m the older one.”
“Bull and you know it. That’s not how we roll in this house. Especially between you and me. Remember in grade school when Bobby Simpson wouldn’t let you play tetherball at recess? For an entire week, he’d push you aside, not letting you have a turn and none of the teachers did anything about it. What did I do?” Allison nodded her head, remembering his reason for detention that following week. “I pulled down his pants and showed everyone that he still wore Spiderman underwear.”
“But you got into a lot of trouble.”
“Totally worth it. You know why? Because you got to play tetherball with your friends. I’d do anything, short of murder, for you. Especially when you’re hurting.”