Blackbird

by Abigail Graham

Oh. Oh God.

  He looked over at me and beckoned me forward. The girl with the bouquet turned red and scowled. Everyone was staring.

  “Come on, Eve,” Victor said, loudly.

  I looked at my father, but Karen grinned at me.

  “What are you waiting for?”

  Somebody whistled behind me. Catcalls started. I shuffled forward and stood stiff as a board, unsure what I was supposed to do. Finally I realized he was supposed to put it on my leg.

  Which meant I had to hike up my skirts. I did, and stuck out my leg. Victor knelt in front of me, and gently cupped my foot in his hand. He slipped off my shoe, and pulled the elastic band up over my calf, then up my thigh. I shivered as his fingers brushed the skin of my leg, and bit my lip.

  It felt… good. He held my calf lightly in his hand and put my shoe back on, and I lowered my foot to the floor. As I put my foot down he stood up, rising inches away from me, his face filling my vision as I stood to my full height.

  Karen was grinning. Father’s face was a stony mask, a false smile stretched over absolute, incandescent fury.

  The disk jockey started talking. Victor took my arm and walked me, briskly, away from the open floor. It was time for the first dance of the bride and groom. Karen was absolutely overjoyed, smiling so much it had to hurt. She put her head on Father’s chest as they danced, and he looked genuinely happy.

  Except for his eyes. His eyes never changed.

  The best man danced with the maid of honor, a girl I didn’t know, one of Karen’s people. I tried to slink into the crowd.

  Victor took my wrist and pulled me out onto the dance floor.

  “I’ve never danced before,” I blurted out.

  “Me either, not like this. It’s not hard. We just stand close together and walk around. No big deal.”

  I nodded. It was no big deal, until he put his hand on the small of my back, and clasped my hand in his. My heart started pounding and my throat went dry. There was a distance between us, maybe six inches between our stomachs, but it felt like we were touching anyway. I stared at his throat and didn’t look at anyone, aimlessly moving in a circle, shuffling my feet. He squeezed my hand.

  “Does he hurt you?” Victor murmured.

  “Who?”

  “Your father.”

  I shook my head and looked away from him.

  “Time for the cake.”

  He let go of my hand, and his palm fell away from my waist. He stood next to me, arms folded, as our parents fed each other sickly sweet wedding cake. I ended up with a paper plate in my hand, picking at a slice. The icing was too cloying sweet and I wanted to spit it out.

  “This cake sucks,” Victor grumbled.

  I couldn’t help it. I started laughing.

  There were a few looks, but no one paid me much mind. They probably thought I was laughing from happiness at the wonderful wedding. I dumped my cake on a random table and looked for a place I could hide. I never liked crowds and it felt like there was an itchy wool blanket on my shoulders, weighing me down. I tugged on my skirts and wove my way through the crowd, and ended up in front of the fire hall. I breathed in warm, humid evening air. Music thudded through the brick walls as I sat down on a narrow ledge running through the windows and plucked at loose strands of my hair. A shadow fell across my feet.

  I looked up and Victor pushed a glass of red liquid at me. There was a little umbrella in it.

  “I can’t drink.”

  “Me either. Not here, anyway. It’s a Shirley Temple.”

  I took it and sipped it through the little straw. It was too sweet, but it was cold and liquid. Victor had one, too. He seemed amused by the umbrella. After he finished the drink he took it out and was playing with it, popping it up and down.

  “These aren’t supposed to have umbrellas. Want another one?

  “I shouldn’t be talking to you.”

  “Why?”

  I was trying to think of an answer when I heard a piercing voice.

  “Victor!”

  I looked over to see a girl our age storm outside. Her dress made me blush. I was honestly wondering how it stayed up. It had no back or sleeves, just cups for her rather large breasts. She walked over and planted her fists on her hips, a long leg visible through a high slit in the side of her skirt.

  “Uh,” he said.

  “Amber.”

  “Right. Hi, Amber.”

  “What are you doing out here?” she demanded.

  “Getting some air. I brought Eve something to drink.”

  I looked at her but she ignored me. Instead she tugged his arm.

  “Come inside. What was that about, giving her the garter?”

  He shook loose of her grip. She scowled at him.

  “What are you doing here?” he said.

  “You invited me,” she said, folding her arms under her impressive bust.

  “I did?”

  “Yes,” she growled.

  I stood up. Neither of them noticed me. I took my cup and Victor’s, and walked back inside. I found a trash can, tossed the little plastic cups and looked at the clock. When would this be over? I just wanted to be alone.

  The reception had moved onto the dance floor, so I walked back into the dining room and sat down at my seat. It wasn’t five minutes before Victor slunk in and sat down next to me. In my father’s seat, I noticed.

  “What do you want?”

  “You look upset.”

  “Shouldn’t you be occupied with Amber?”

  “Don’t worry about her. She kinda crashed the wedding.”

  “I see.”

  I folded my hands primly in my lap. Maybe if I just sat there he’d leave.

  “I’m sorry if I got you in trouble.”

  “About what?”

  “The car. The day we met. I wouldn’t have done that if I knew your father would flip out.”

  “You wouldn’t?”

  “Maybe I would have. Mom was worried about you. She said you were really upset. Did I piss you off?”

  I look over at him, then away, and sigh. “No. Not me.”

  “I know he was upset, but I do know what I’m doing. You want some more cake? Something to eat? A drink?”

  “Why?”

  He shrugged. “Look, I’ll be honest. I don’t know most of these people. The ones I do know I hate. Three of my ex-girlfriends showed up, invited by my mother. Your father tried to kill me with his eye lasers when I gave you the garter.”

  “I don’t think that was appropriate,” I said. “Our parents are married now. We can’t…”

  “What?” he said, smirking.

  “Nothing.”

  “We can’t nothing? That’s a double negative.”

  Flustered, I rubbed at my temples.

  “I know, it’s shocking. I read a book.”

  “I can’t talk to you,” I blurted out.

  “Why? Did somebody threaten you? Your dad?”

  “Why do you keep asking me that?”

  “Why’d you come up to the widows walk? You want to tell me, you just won’t. Look, this guy just married my mom. If he’s trouble I need to know.”

  I look around the empty dining room. The crowd in the dance hall starts to blur as my eyes burn.

  “He disciplines me. That’s all. I broke a rule. I needed punishment.”

  Victor looked at me intently.

  “Punished you how?” he said, softly.

  I covered my mouth with my hand and stifled a sob.

  “I can’t. Don’t make me tell you. I can’t.”

  “I don’t want to make you do anything.”

  I sat there and sniffed quietly until he found a clean napkin and handed it to me. I snatched it and rubbed at my eyes and nose. It only made my nose raw.

  “You moved into my house. My roof. Your father married my mother but the house is mine.”

  “Are you mad at her? For getting married again?”

  He sighs. “Yes, but don’t tell her that. It’s not… she’s been a
lone for over six years. She doesn’t fit into my dad’s social circles. She was a waitress before they married. She’s completely alone. Your father spent a lot of time with her. They got to know each other, started seeing each other, I was fine with it. I think he had me fooled.”

  “Fooled?”

  “You don’t have to tell me what he does to you. It’s probably better if you don’t. He does hurt you though, doesn’t he? You’re scared shitless of him.”

  I started wringing the napkin in my hands. “He spanked me when I was younger. That’s all.”

  “When you were younger,” Victor said, carefully.

  “A-after the car ride,” I choked out.

  “With his hand?”

  “No. He uses a belt.”

  His hand clenched into a fist, his knuckles bleeding of color as he crushed the tablecloth in his hand. “Not anymore. He puts a hand on you again, or a belt or anything else, you come to me, understand?”

  I nodded, not knowing what to say.

  “I wish you’d told me before. I would have put a stop to this.”

  “He’d kill me,” I blurted out.

  Victor looked up. “What?”

  “I didn’t mean it. You know how people say ‘he’d kill me,” I added quickly.

  “No. You meant it.”

  I swallowed.

  “I’m thirsty. Will you get me something to drink?”

  “Yeah.”

  He came back from the bar with another sweet, alcohol-free cocktail. I drank it quickly. I thought he brought the second one for himself, but he gave that one to me, too.

  “You were home schooled,” he said.

  “Yes.”

  “You weren’t around any other kids? Ever?”

  “No. I wasn’t allowed.”

  He scratched his neck. “Jesus. You’re supposed to start college this fall?”

  “Yes.”

  “I want you to call me if you get in any kind of trouble.”

  “Why?”

  He shrugged. “I guess I’m your big brother now.”

  I scowled at him.

  He touched the back of my neck lightly with his fingers. It turned into a caress.

  “I wish we weren’t.”

  I stood up. “I should go back to the dance floor. I’ll be missed.”

  “Wouldn’t want that, would we? You go, I’ll wait a bit. Wouldn’t want Daddy Dearest to think we were making out in the bathroom.”

  I was a mess, but it was dark out there. People were milling around more than dancing. I thought it would be over soon. I hoped so.

  Chapter Ten

  Evelyn

  Moving day.

  I didn’t take all my things. I packed two large suitcases, two small ones, a bag of toiletries and few odds and ends, like bed linens for a twin mattress. Karen went with us. Victor did not. The topic was never raised and I never asked what he was doing at the time. The Firebird was gone from the garage on the day I moved. The servants carried my things out to the car. Father purchased a new one not long after the wedding, a BMW sedan. I rode in the back seat, while Karen sat next to Father. I didn’t want to sit next to him. I kept my face a mask, but the whole world felt itchy. I was giddy and terrified at the same time. I was going to be free. I was going to get away from him. I had no plans to do anything radically different, but it would be a relief not to watch every word I spoke, every gesture, every movement for fear he’d see some wrong in it and punish me. He didn’t even go through my bags, so my books were coming with me. Karen even let me take a few from the library.

  So far, this was my second trip to the college. There was a tour in July. I went, with Father, and saw the dorm where I would be living, but I hadn’t been assigned a room yet. I was on the second floor, in an all-girls dormitory. When we arrived I had to check in first. Father blessedly let me handle that, walking around a row of tables in a conference room. It was a small institution- a single large X-shaped complex of four halls and a College Center in the middle, four dormitory buildings and one detached hall of classrooms. Registration took place in the main building, near a little store that sold snacks. I was terrified the entire time, staring at my feet. I’d never been with so many people my own age. We arrived early. Check-in began at eight in the morning and I walked in at seven fifty-three. I had my official identification card by eight thirty. Then we walked to the dormitory, to get my key and start moving in.

  “This is a lovely campus,” Karen said. “Nice town, too. I think you’ll have a wonderful time here, Eve.”

  I was growing closer to my stepmother than I anticipated. She spent most of her day doing things, in a way I never really experienced before. She had a dozen hobbies, all sorts of interests, and she read and had a sharp mind. I understood why Victor’s father married her.

  I thought I was starting to understand why my father married her, too. It unnerved me. He’d bought a whole new wardrobe, new watches, the new car. I wasn’t stupid. I knew he was spending her money. I didn’t have an idea about their finances. My understanding was that Victor was the heir to the family fortune, but I didn’t ask about it. I wasn’t interested. I just wanted out.

  My key was in a small envelope in a box with my name on it. The Resident Director gave me papers to sign. I promised to attend a Freshman Mixer, whatever that would turn out to be.

  The room was small, barely eight feet wide, but almost fifteen feet long. A bunk bed sat in the corner, opposite from that two desks sitting next to each other, and two armoires- there was no closet built into the wall. We all carried my things in. It took all of ten minutes.

  Father put his hand on my shoulder and I flinched.

  “Alright, Eve. We’re going to go now, so you can get settled in.”

  Karen looked at me.

  “Can I have a minute alone with her?”

  Father nodded, and stepped outside. I heard his shoes on the hallway floor.

  Karen threw her arms around me.

  “You call me if you need anything, or you just want to talk. Alright, hon?”

  “Yes, Karen,” I said.

  My chest tightened and my eyes burned. I was supposed to be happy? Why was I starting to cry?

  “This is going to be a big shock for you. I mean it. Call me for help if you need it,” she reached into her purse and handed me a slip of paper. “Or call Victor. He’s closer.”

  I took the paper.

  “He likes you.”

  My eyes snapped up to meet hers.

  “My son has always been difficult,” she sighed, lowering her voice. “He has quite a reputation, and with good reason. When he grew older, without his father around, I had a lot of trouble controlling him. There were fights. There were a lot of girls. I never saw him look at any of them the way he looks at you.”

  “We can’t, he’s…”

  “He’s my son. You’re not my daughter.”

  I wilted, looking at the floor.

  She rested her hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “I didn’t mean it that way. I wish you were.”

  Tell her, I screamed at myself. He’s a monster, you married a monster. He wants something from you, or else he’d never touch you. He hits me, he hurt me. Say something!

  I didn’t. She hugged me again and I hugged her back, no matter how awkward I felt. I wondered what it would be like to have my own mother here, holding me. Then I walked out of the building with her, and waved goodbye as they drove off.

  When I got back to the room there was a stranger in it. She startled me.

  For a brief moment, I thought she was a man. It was the height. She was six feet tall, even in flat tennis shoes, and simply towered over me, but there was nothing else manly about her. Her clothes were as baggy and unflattering as mine, and she didn’t appear to be wearing any makeup, but she was pretty anyway, in a natural way. The most striking thing about her was her hair, wound in a long braid that hung almost to her waist, a rich auburn that shone like beaten copper when the sun hit it. She looked as started as
I was, and for a moment she just stood there and stared at me. Then she thrust out her hand and took it.

  “Hi. I’m Jennifer.”

  We’d emailed, but there wasn’t much to say. She moved gracefully around the room, left and came back with a suitcase.

  “Don’t you have anyone to help you?”

  She shook her head.

  “I will,” I said.

  She had a car, a battered little Toyota. It was stuffed with suitcases and boxes and bags, like she’d packed all her worldly goods into the back and the seats. It took us an hour to unload it all. I started moving my things to the top bunk when we finished, and she stopped me.

  “You got here first.”

  “That’s not really fair.”

  She shrugged. “Maybe we could flip for it?”

  “Well, you’re bigger, you should be on the bottom.”

  She blinked a few times. Her lip trembled.

  “I don’t mean bigger like fat,” I said, quickly. “You’re taller than me, that’s all.”

  This was getting off to a first class start.

  “I’ll take the top,” she insisted.

  After she made up her bed, I was shocked by how easily she got up there, with a fluid grace I wasn’t expecting from someone of her height.

  “Are you going to that mixer thing?” she asked, leaning over the side.

  I was still making up my bed. I had to put hospital corners on my sheets. “Of course. I signed a paper promising I would.”

  “I don’t think they really care,” she said.

  “Are you going?”

  “I don’t want to,” she shrugged, and leaned back onto her bed. “I hate parties.”

  “I’ve never been to a party.”

  She let out a long sigh. “Consider yourself fortunate,” she said.

  That was a rather odd thing to say, but I didn’t want to pry.

  I really, truly was not planning to go, but I signed a form. They would know if I didn’t. It was scheduled for six o’clock, in daylight, so there were no worries there. Around five thirty I got up from reading on my bed.

  “I’m going to go to the thing,” I said.

  “It’s across the street. You’ll be very early.”

  I shrugged. “On time is late.”

  She rolled over and looked at me. She had gray eyes too, I noticed.