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 thefundraiser. 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 are 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 halfheartedly. 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, and 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 ponies.” 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 highschool 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, and 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.
