Chapter Twenty-Four
I didn’t look back and he didn’t call my name again. I headed down the stairs with my suitcase in hand. When I got to the bottom step, my dad came out of the living room and into the foyer. A frown was etched on his face. He looked fifteen years older since the last time I’d seen him. The past five years hadn’t been good to him.
“Don’t leave, Blaire. Let’s talk about this. Give yourself time to think about things.” He wanted me to stay. Why? So he could make himself feel better for ruining my life? For ruining Nan’s life?
I pulled the phone he’d wanted me to have out of my pocket and held it out to him. “Take it. I don’t want it,” I said.
He stared down at it and then back at me. “Why would I take your phone?”
“Because I don’t want anything from you,” I replied. The anger was there but I was tired. I just wanted out of here.
“I didn’t give you that phone,” he said still looking confused.
“Take the phone, Blaire. If you want to leave, I can’t hold you here. But please, take the phone.” Rush was standing at the top of the stairs. He’d bought me the phone. My dad had never told him to get me a phone. The numbness was settling in. I couldn’t feel any more pain. No sorrow for what we might have had.
I walked over and put the phone down on the table beside the stairs. “I can’t,” was my simple reply. I didn’t look back at any of them. Although I’d heard Georgianna’s heels click on the marble floor alerting me that she had entered the foyer.
I grabbed the door handle and pulled the door open. I would never see any of them again. I’d only mourn the loss of one.
“You look just like her.” Georgianna’s voice rang out in the silent foyer. I knew she meant my mother. She had no right even to remember my mother. Or speak of her. She’d lied about my mother. She’d made the one woman I admired above everyone else seem selfish and cruel.
“I only hope I can be half the woman she was,” I said in a loud clear voice. I wanted them all to hear me. They needed to know there was no doubt in my mind that my mother was innocent.
I stepped out into the sunshine and closed the door firmly behind me. A silver sports car spun into the drive as I made my way to my truck. I knew it was Nan. I couldn’t look at her. Not now.
The car door slammed and I didn’t flinch. I threw my suitcase into the back of the truck and opened the door. I was done here.
“You know,” she said in a loud amused tone.
I would not respond to her. I would not listen to her mouth spew more lies about my mother.
“How’s it feel? Knowing you were left for someone else by your own father?”
It felt numb. That was the least of my pain. My dad had left us five years ago. I’d moved on.
“You don’t feel so high and mighty now, do ya? Your momma was a cheap hussy that deserved what she got.”
The calmness that had settled over me snapped. No one was gonna talk about my momma again. No one. I reached under the seat and pulled out my nine millimeter. I turned and aimed at her lying red lips.
“You say one more word about my momma and I’ll put an extra hole in your body,” I said in a hard flat voice.
Nan screamed and threw her hands up in the air. I didn’t lower the gun. I wasn’t going to kill her. I’d just wing her in the arm if she opened her mouth again. My aim was spot on.
“Blaire! Put the gun down. Nan, don’t move. She knows how to use that thing better than most men.” My dad’s voice caused my hands to tremble. He was protecting her. From me. His daughter. The one he wanted. The one he left us for. The one he’d deserted most of her life. I didn’t know what to feel.
I heard Georgianna’s panicked voice. “What is she doing with that thing? Is that even legal for her to have it?”
“She has a permit,” my father replied, “and she knows what she’s doing. Stay calm.”
I lowered the gun. “I’m gonna get in that truck and drive out of your life.
Forever. Just keep your mouth shut about my momma. I won’t listen to it again,” I warned before turning and climbing into my truck. I tucked my gun back under the seat and backed out of the driveway. I didn’t look to see if they were all huddled around poor Nannette. I didn’t care. Maybe she’d think twice before she fucked with someone else’s momma. Because, by God, she better never talk bad about mine again.
I headed to the country club. I’d have to tell them I was leaving. Darla deserved to know not to expect me. So did Woods for that matter. I didn’t want to explain but they probably already knew. Everyone knew but me. They’d all just been waiting on me to find out. Why one of them couldn’t have told me the truth I didn’t understand.
It wasn’t like this was life altering for Nan. Everything she’d ever known hadn’t just been blown to hell. My life had just flipped on its axis. This wasn’t about Nan. This was about me. Me, dammit. Why did they have to protect her? From what did she need protecting?
I parked the truck outside the office and Darla met me at the front door.
“You forget to check the schedule, girl? This is your day off.” She was smiling at me but her smile vanished when my eyes met hers. She stopped walking and grabbed the railing on the porch of the office. Then she shook her head. “You know, don’t you?”
Even Mrs. Darla had known. I simply nodded. She let out a long-winded sigh, “I’d heard the rumors like most folks but no knew the whole truth. I don’t want to know it ‘cause it ain’t my business but if it’s close to what I’ve heard then I know this hurts.” Darla walked down the rest of the stairs. The commanding little firecracker I knew was gone. She opened her arms when she got to the bottom step and I ran into them. I didn’t think about it. I needed someone to hold me. The sobs came the moment she wrapped me up in her arms.
“I know it sucks, sugar. I wish someone would’ve told you sooner.”
I couldn’t talk. I just cried and clung to her while she held on tight.
“Blaire? What’s wrong?” Bethy’s voice sounded worried and I looked up to see her running down the steps toward us. “Oh shit. You know,” she said, stopping in her tracks. “I should’ve told you but I was scared to. I didn’t know all the facts. I just knew what Jace had overheard from Nan. I didn’t want to tell you the wrong thing. I was hoping Rush would tell you. He did, didn’t he? I thought for sure he would after the way I saw him looking at you last night.”
I eased back out of Darla’s arms and wiped at my face. “No. He didn’t tell me. I overheard. My dad and Georgianna came home.”
“Shit,” Bethy said in a frustrated sigh. “Are you leaving?” The pained expression in her eyes told me she already knew the answer to that.
I only nodded.
“Where will you go?” Darla asked.
“Back to Alabama. Back home. I have some money saved up now. I’ll be able to find a job and I do have friends there. My mom and sister’s graves are there.” I didn’t finish. I couldn’t without breaking down again.
“We’ll miss you around here,” Darla said with a sad smile.
I would miss them too. All of them. Even Woods. I nodded. “Me too.”
Bethy let out a loud sob and running over to me she threw her arms around my neck. “I never had a friend like you before. I don’t want you to leave.”
My eyes filled up with tears again. I’d made a few friend here. Not everyone had betrayed me. “Maybe you could come to Bama and visit sometime,” I whispered in a choked sob.
She pulled back and sniffed. “You’d let me come visit?”
“Of course,” I replied.
“Okay. Is next week too soon?”
If I could’ve managed the energy to smile, I would have. I doubted I’d ever smile again. “As soon as you’re ready.”
She nodded and rubbed her red nose with her arm.
“I’ll let Woods know. He’ll understand,” Darla said from behind us.
“Thank you.”
“You be careful. Take care. Let us know how you’re doing.”
“I will,” I replied, wondering if it would be a lie. Would I ever talk to them again?
Darla stepped back and motioned for Bethy to come stand beside her. I waved at them both and opened the truck door to climb in. It was time I left this place behind.