Chapter Fourteen

Magnolia

THE HOURS BLUR INTO days and the days blur into weeks and then a month. Then another. The intermittent chill of December is in the Florida air, and I’m a hollow shell of disbelief. I shut Aidan out completely. For only one reason: Kendall is getting better. She’s happier than she’s ever been now that my attention is solely focused on her. She confessed about her dalliance with an older teenager down at the beach, gave me very few details about him, but said he made her sad and confused. That was the reason she gave for the shared kiss. I had to accept it.

There are several voicemails on my cell phone pleading for a call back. I can’t bring myself to delete them, I listen to them every night before I cry myself to sleep. Aidan showed up to my work a week after the kiss heard round the world. My heart skipped a beat, but then my brain delivered the bad news, and it stopped altogether for a beat of two. Aidan is bad news. I knew it all along. A tiger can’t change its stripes. He begged me to listen to him. Pleaded on his knees, in fact. Told me a story about how some guy at his work poisoned Kendall’s mind and told her lies. That Kendall kissed him because she knew I’d see it. She wanted to destroy the relationship because she thought Aidan would hurt me in the end. He was tearful as he delivered his side of the story hoping I’d accept it…and him. Did I believe him?

I did. I think, anyway. But it didn’t matter. Kendall adamantly denied the whole thing. Given the option of believing my daughter or believing Aidan, he has to know I’ll always choose her side. I’ll always choose her. What message would it send to Kendall if I said, “I know you’re telling me that Aidan kissed you back and that you were confused and sad, but Aidan said something different and I’m not only going to believe him, but I’m going to continue dating him?” Aidan refused to give me the name of the SEAL in question, and as much sense as it makes, I can’t see Kendall entangling herself with someone that much older than herself. She knows better.

I’m cleaning the antique store, putting the finishing touches on the holiday window display which is a head tilt toward the Nutcracker ballet but formed entirely with small, ceramic trinkets. It’s been a welcome distraction. My love life is in shambles. It’s as if the universe said, “Here is your happily ever after, Magnolia. Just kidding. You don’t get one of those.”

Jenny comes in through the back door, her sing-song greeting alerting me to company. “It’s looking so good, Magnolia. How was your day?”

“Fine,” I reply. “What brings you here? I told you yesterday, I’m fine. You can’t just pop in all the time.” Every other day, without calling first, Jenny is by my side.

“No, you put on the ‘I’m fine’ face and attitude for Kendall. I get that. You’re definitely not okay and I’m here so you can tell me every single way in which you’re not fine.”

I shake my head and clear a speck of dust off a mirror which is acting as a skating pond. “I’ve been thinking a lot about that time he came here and told me his side of the story. It makes more and more sense as time passes, you know? I don’t see any way around this. Kendall is happy.” I say the last sentence because Jenny is a mother and she will immediately know the magnitude of that. “She’s even thinking of letting Paul visit her here. I’m not even sure if that’s a good thing or not, but it’s progress.” I swallow hard. “I can’t fuck everything up again. I’m too scared. I went out on a limb and look what happened. It broke.”

“It did. Snapped like a motherfucking twig, didn’t it?” Jenny says. She sits down on a low stool next to me after locking the front door of Magnolia’s Steals. “You do realize that’s normal, right? Broken trees and all? Relationships tend to be a little messy.”

“If you just came here for a pep talk or to make me feel bad about myself you can just go.”

Jenny groans. “You are such a drag these days. We have the fundraiser tonight, remember? I didn’t want to wait to meet you at Betsy’s because I have a name for you.” I glare at my best friend and she looks frightened, her eyes flaring wide. “I can’t believe I’m breaking her trust like this, Magnolia. Don’t make me regret it. I’m going to regret it. I wish I didn’t overhear. I mean, I’m glad I overheard. Oh, shit. I don’t know what I think anymore! I know the name of the boy Kendall was seeing. Down at the beach. The boy.”

“Tell me,” I yell, then cover my mouth. It came out louder than I anticipated. I think I have an idea, but a name would give me something to go on, and try to piece together this mess a little better.

“Now you want to be my friend. Jerk,” Jenny says, eyes narrowed. “I was listening in the other night and Kendall said something to Juliet about someone named Leo.”

“Leo?” I furrow my brow. “I’ve never heard that name before. She’s never brought him up. She said he was older so maybe he’s at the community college a couple of counties north?”

Jenny shrugs. “Not a familiar name to me either. I overheard her say it was who she was seeing when they biked down to the beach. It sounds like they might still be seeing each other.”

“What? Fuck,” I cry out, putting my face in both of my hands. Is that the real reason she’s happy? Maybe her jubilant happiness has nothing to do with Aidan and me at all. Where the hell is the kid instruction manual when you need one? “What am I supposed to do, Jenny?”

“You find out who the hell this kid is and you talk to him,” Jenny says. “And you listen a little more specifically when the girls are talking at your house. About boys. Or the beach. Or anything remotely similar to those two things. You dig. You find the truth.”

I don’t want to spy. “I do need more information. What if Aidan was telling the truth?”

“Have you not considered that yet? I mean, to be honest, teenagers rarely tell the truth. You know that.”

“My teenager tells the truth,” I bite back.

Jenny holds up her hands. “Whatever you say. She tells the truth, but maybe she’s omitting something important. You’d be naïve if you don’t assume that.”

She’s right. Jenny is telling the dirty truth. Now I’m tasked with snooping and hoping Kendall doesn’t catch me. If she finds out, the trust will be broken forever. The possibility of having two untrustworthy parents is something I can’t contemplate. Sighing, I drag my hand through my tangled hair.

“Our appointment at Betsy’s is in ten minutes. Hair, nails. The works. You’ll feel like a million bucks after. Grab your sweater, Magnolia. We’re getting out of here. You don’t have a choice. I get it. Believe her until you figure out who that kid is. Move on.” It’s solid advice. It’s advice I would have adhered to several months ago. Now that I know what moving on looks and feels like, I’m stuck in this place filled with memories and regret. I’m not sure I’ll ever fully recover from Aidan Mixx.

We walk the block to Betsy’s and Jenny tells me about her last date with Harry. It’s so simple in the most mundane way possible. I wonder if that’s how she wants it, or if that’s where the comfort zone lies. There’s no passion or fierce desire to be with him when they’re apart. She dates him once or twice a month and they rarely talk in between.

“Do you love him?” I ask, turning to meet her gaze.

She wrinkles her nose. “Why would you ask that?”

“Because you’ve been seeing him for so long. Do you want to take the next step with him?”

Jenny scoffs. “Magnolia, please. Don’t fix what’s not broken. It works.”

I bite my tongue. Is the sex good? Does her whole body tingle when he kisses her? Does she miss him? None of that matters. It’s obvious she’s chosen what she wants in life. Would that change if she knew that out there somewhere in the world was a man who would turn her life upside down? Make her feel things she didn’t know were possible? Or is that too much of a risk? Having something so meaningful to only lose it. Having the rest of your life missing what you once had. I nod in agreeance and we enter the beauty shop.

I can’t remember the last time I styled my hair so when the young girl spins me around in my chair to face the mirror it takes a beat or two to adjust to my reflection. My brown hair is blown and curled at the ends and my face has a smooth layer of makeup that brings out my blue eyes. “Thanks, it looks great,” I say, fingering my hair.

“You look like a total babe,” Jenny says, paying Betsy. I hand her cash so she can pay for mine too. “What are you going to wear?”

I shrug.

“You haven’t picked something out yet?”

“I spent so much time trying to find Kendall a dress. She’s the one on the Princess Court. What I wear isn’t important. No one is going to be looking at me.”

Betsy tsks me. “That’s the wrong attitude to take, honey. Men are always looking. It just might be the night the right man looks your way.”

Sighing, I agree even if I don’t believe it for a second. Jenny covers a laugh with a cough and we leave for my house. Juliet and Kendall are waiting for a ride when we pull in. Both girls are in their sparkly gowns with painted faces and hair falling in curls. They look older than they actually are and my heart skips a beat. Kendall as a woman is something to behold. An adult man would be blind to not find her attractive, regardless of her innocence and her barely underage status. I close my eyes and try to shut out my accusations.

“You look beautiful, sweetie,” I say. I dropped her off at home after school and she’s been getting ready ever since. “I love your makeup and hair. The dress looks perfect.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Kendall squeals. “Juliet helped with my makeup. Do you think it’s too much?”

A wistful smile forces its way to my lips. “It’s perfect.”

“You look so pretty, too,” Kendall says, her smile falling. Her gaze darts to Jenny. “You guys have hot dates tonight?”

Jenny laughs. “Just trying to bring up her spirits, Kendall. Your mom is my hot date. What do you say, Magnolia? You coming home with me tonight? A sleepover? All night?”

“Ew, Mom, that’s disgusting,” Juliet says, wincing. “We need to go. We’re supposed to be there early to get our jobs for the fundraiser. They’re going to auction the Princess Court for ice cream dates! I hope one of the hot guys buys my date.” Jenny perches her hands on her hips and glares at her daughter.

I was so caught up in Juliet that I didn’t see Kendall staring at me, hard. Studying me like a textbook she needs to memorize. “Are your spirits down?” Kendall asks, quietly, leading me to the car by my elbow.

“No sweetie, Jenny was just being Jenny. Nothing is wrong,” I reply. “I promise,” I say, meeting her crystal blue gaze the same as my own.

“You’d tell me if you were upset, right? About Aidan and everything that happened?” she says, and her eyes do that thing they used to do. The haunt. The memories flooding in, no doubt. “You’ve seemed so happy.”

I lay a hand on her cheek lightly, careful not to disturb her makeup. “I am happy.” I smile, but I’m sure she notices it doesn’t reach my eyes.

Kendall nods. This was my time to bring it up. To ask her again about Aidan’s story and if there’s anything she has to tell me, but I’m a chicken, too scared to rock the boat of Kendall’s delicate stability.

Jenny drives the girls to the school while I waft through my closet half-heartedly. Jeans. I should wear jeans and a t-shirt and call it a day. At least my head looks pretty. The rest of me can be comfortable to even it out. My fingers land on the delicate blue dress I’ve never worn. I hold it out, look at the tags that are still attached and decide to at least try it on.

It was game over when Jenny got back to pick me up and I was wearing the dress. She insisted I wear it. It’s loose, but it also exposes small sections of skin. It’s not too scandalous yet still comfortable so I agree, and we leave.

We walk into the town hall, a big white building that has changed very little over the decades. The interior is already filled with music and laughter when we enter. There are vendors set up, a band is playing low on the stage as waiters and busboys ready the tables for the fundraiser dinner. Jenny and I bought our seats as soon as they went on sale. The organizers chose where you will sit. We find our table cards and make our way through the bodies to the cash bar.

I can smell dinner from the nearby kitchens as I tell the bartender to go heavy on the vodka in my mixed drink. When Jenny gives me a look I say, “You’re my date tonight, right? You’re sleeping with me. The least you can do is drive me home first.” The guy pouring the drink looks uncomfortable as he hands me my drink. I pay him and throw a bill in his tip jar and grin at my friend as I turn from the bar.

That’s when I see the uniforms. I’ve never seen so many of them together. A sea of black suits with ribbons littering their chests. They’ve taken over two of the tables in the large dining hall, their voices loud and boisterous as they talk to each other and survey the room around them, smiles wide and presence demanding. They’re striking and realization dawns. He’s here.

“Fuck,” I whisper under my breath. Jenny comes up beside me and links her arm with mine. “Did you know they were going to be here tonight? Don’t lie.” My voice shakes.

“I didn’t know for sure, but come on Magnolia this is a small town. You don’t think the Mayor would want to show them off given the chance? The SEALs in Bronze Bay are like his prized pony.” She clears her throat. “I assumed they would be here, though.”

“Thanks for reminding me about this earlier. I appreciate it.”

She shrugs and pulls us toward our table, but I can’t keep my gaze from wandering—from seeking Aidan out. “We’re going to have a good dinner and then we will go home and the high school benefits from it. You know how badly they need the new gymnasium.” Jenny is trying to distract me by giving facts.

“This is awful,” I say, taking a large draw out of my drink and coughing when I taste the strong vodka. “I can’t stay here. I’ve been good at avoiding him this long, there’s no reason that can’t continue.”

Juliet bounds up to us. “Can I have some money?” she asks her mom.

“For what?” Jenny sighs out.

“The SEALs are selling t-shirts for our fundraiser and I want one,” she says, proudly.

My breath lodges in my throat. My worlds are mixing. This was never supposed to happen. In my mind, I’d be able to dutifully ignore Aidan until he moved away. Far away. Never to be seen or heard from again. That request would make my life too easy, obviously. My chest aches when Juliet snatches the twenty-dollar bill from her mother’s hands and bounces away. I follow her with my gaze to the t-shirt table and I see Kendall. She’s talking to a uniformed man, her grin wide and if her lashes batted any faster, she’d take flight.

I don’t even pause to consider the consequences. Marching toward my daughter, my mind is on only one thing. Getting her away. Saving her.

“Kendall,” I say, breathless. She turns to me with wide eyes. Deer in the headlights.

“Mom,” she replies. “Uh,” she mumbles. “Can I buy a t-shirt?”

I clear my throat, looking at the man she’s talking to. He’s tall, broad like his friends, but unlike his friends he has a different air, a more devious aura seeps from his body. Also, he is so much younger. “Introduce me to your friend.”

The man smiles. My stomach sinks. He extends his hand. “I see where Kendall gets her beauty from.” His tone drips with sarcasm. “I’m Leo Callaway.”

Leo. Leo. Leo. It connects. Kendall must read it on my face. Or she’s intuitive enough to know she’s in trouble after all of this time. “No,” I say, taking my hand from his. “You can’t buy a t-shirt, Kendall. Go sit at my table next to Jenny right now. I need to talk to Leo.” Kendall doesn’t say a word, she leaves quickly, her heels clicking as she finds her way to Jenny. My breathing quickens. My pulse hammers. I see red. When I’m confident Kendall is safely with Jenny, I meet Leo’s gaze.

“Looking for your ex-boy toy?” Leo slides in, licking his lips.

“Excuse me?” I say, furrowing my brow.

“He decided on something a little younger. Sally?” Leo says, tapping his chin like a condescending asshole. “No, wait.” He snaps. “Polly. That’s it. Polly. He’s probably fucking her in the bathroom again. I can’t believe he tapped your old pussy for so long. We all like them young. Everyone knows that.” His nefarious gaze flits over to Kendall.

My stomach sinks and my brain does that funny swimming thing that happens before I faint. It’s only happened once before many years ago. I steady myself on the table next to us and take several deep breaths. Leo walks away, cackling under his breath.

“Is that little asshole bothering you, Mrs. Sager?” a low, southern voice rolls over me.

“I’m fine,” I say, keeping my face down.

He clears his throat, so I force myself to acknowledge the voice. It’s Aidan’s friend, Mercer. He smiles a lopsided grin. “Don’t believe anything he says. He’s been fighting with Aidan for months. Rabid. Fucking. Fighting. Are you sure you’re okay ma’am?”

I’m not okay. “Don’t call me ma’am. Or Mrs. Sager. I’m not married. It’s Magnolia!” I scream, and people turn to gawk at me. “Is he with Polly?” I choke on the name of the girl who came to his house the first night I was there. The memory is hazy because it has been replaced with good things, but it’s funny how much I overlooked at the start. Why? Because his touch felt like magic. Because his words were a salve to my soul. Because I fell in fucking love with the devil himself.

Mercer looks uneasy. “I’m sorry, Magnolia. I didn’t mean any offense,” he drawls, holding up two palms. “Can I get you anything?”

“Answer my question,” I growl.

He glances away toward the table of SEALs, and then back toward me. “I don’t know,” he whispers. “I don’t know what game Leo is playing at, but it’s dangerous.” Mercer walks away, and leaves me alone in a crowded room, my body turned inside out. Others have to be able to sense my vulnerable state, it has to be on display. It shouldn’t affect me. Aidan has moved on. Or moved back to his old ways. I was a fool to believe I’d changed him. I was merely another stop on his whore train to pound town. I bet he does the falling act for every woman. It’s how he hooks them. Makes himself seem like an honorable, desirable candidate.

Mercer may not know what game Leo is playing at, but I’m about to find out. Not for myself, no. For my daughter.