Deceptive Cadence (27 page)

The sound of the shower ceased. I turned around and saw the man in white sitting on the windowsill. “You called, sweet Cadence?”

I gaped at him for a moment, struck by a strange familiarity. I shook it off. “Yes. I have a question.”

He walked up beside me. “And what might that be?”

My lip quivered. I wasn’t sure if I wanted my question answered. I knew what the answer could be, and it frightened me. But I took a deep breath and asked, “What did happen to James, in the other timeline?”

The man smiled gently and gestured for me to follow. We walked out of the room and, to my surprise, I found us walking down James’ street toward his house. It seemed odd, considering we’d just been
in
his house.

“James barely graduated in this timeline,” the man in white said. “And he never went off to university or any forms of higher education. He settled for a mediocre life with a mediocre job.”

We walked in silence down the driveway and up the stairs. The man pushed the front door open and we stepped inside.

“Any money he earned he used to feed his party lifestyle. Gambling, clubbing, alcohol, and especially drugs burned his money up faster than he could bring it in. By the time he reached twenty-one, he had a $35,000 debt hanging over him, without anything to show for it.”

We paused outside James’ closed door. The man touched the door as he gazed into my eyes. “When he was twenty-three, he overdosed on a cocktail of drugs that landed him in the hospital, and he ended up like this.”

He pushed the door open and I stepped through. James sat in a wheelchair by the window. I rushed over and looked into his face, but it hung limp and his eyes were dull.

“Is he . . . dead?”

The man shook his head. “He’s a complete vegetable, as you would say. Not dead, but not alive either. The incident tore his family to shreds. His father left, unable to deal with it, and his sister ran off to England. Only his mother remained . . .” He trailed off as Karen slipped into the room and sat beside James.

I watched her as she spoon-fed him, but he didn’t even move. Not even his eyes registered her presence.

“James.” I reached over and touched his face as I cried. “All of this because I wasn’t in his life?”

The man gave me a slow nod. “You made him leave his friends and clean up his act. Because he had to prove himself to you, his life was set back on course.”

My head fell onto his lap as I sobbed. “I’m so sorry, James. If only I’d known . . . this shouldn’t have happened to you.”

As I wept, the light in the room faded, and I found myself leaning over the chair by the desk. I cried harder as guilt overcame me. How could I wipe that from my memory? How could I live with the knowledge that without me, James would have become
that
?

Karen burst in. “Cadence! What happened?”

“It was . . . and James, he . . .” I couldn’t think of anything to say. I couldn’t tell her what I just saw. I swallowed hard, and thought about what made me want to know in the first place. “Robbie was there before we left. He grabbed me and tried to strangle me, but James protected me. He’s done so much for me, he deserves better than that.”

She pulled me into her arms, not realizing the
that
I was talking about was a brain-dead James. “Sweetheart, you and James have gone through so much together, and all it does is make you stronger. He’s lucky to have you with him through all this. You mean the world to him.”

James walked in with just his jeans on, his hair wet and ruffled, with a confused expression. Seeing him so strong and alive set me off again as the image of his glazed eyes burned in my memory.

He sank down beside Karen. “What . . . ?”

“James, we need to do something about Robbie,” she said firmly. “He has gone too far this time.”

“Mum, I told him I’d hand him over to the police if he shows up again. Egging my windows and leaving threats for me is one thing, but as soon as he laid his hands on Cadence, he took things to a level I won’t tolerate.”

She stroked my hair. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. You didn’t deserve that. But let’s not dwell on it. Let’s have a pleasant afternoon together.”

I nodded and climbed to my feet. She slipped out of the room first, and I threw my arms around James. I clung onto him, trying to force the images of his limp face out of my mind. More than ever, I felt grateful he’d pursued me so determinedly so he wouldn’t have to face that reality. I wanted to tell him everything, to explain that his choice to change his life was the right thing, but I knew I couldn’t. If I did, everything would return to how it was.

I couldn’t risk it. More than ever, I realized so much was at stake if I slipped up and told someone their future. It wouldn’t just be Austin and Melody gone, it would be Geri from my life, Melanie would be broken, James might as well be dead, and his family would be destroyed.

“Hey, Cadence, you’re crying again,” James said softly.

I looked into his eyes and took them in, making his vibrant, living eyes wipe away the memory of his dead ones. “I’m sorry. Maybe I’m PMSing or something.”

He smirked. “That would do it.”

TWENTY-TWO

Geri and I stood together in the bus bays after school. Mid-winter made it cold again, so we wrapped our arms together and huddled up. Her teeth chattered as we stood, temples pressed together.

“Where’s your boyfriend when I need him?” she asked. “He’s like a prewarmed blanket, and he has a car.”

“They’re going to his grandparents’ for the first few days of the holidays, and they live up at Coffs,” I replied. I couldn’t believe we reached July already and we were about to start our winter break.

“What’s the point in going to Coffs? You can’t go to the beach ’cause it’s freezing cold.”

I shrugged. “There’s a giant banana.”

She burst out laughing. “A giant banana? Oh yeah, that’s something he wants to think about when you’re not around.”

I slapped her shoulder.

“Hey.”

I grinned up at Dusty. He’d sprouted almost overnight and now stood a whole head taller than me. He loved that he stood eye to eye with James—it made him feel like more of a man.

He scratched his sandy blond mop of hair and looked down at Geri. “You’re not coming to our place, are you?”

Her gaze turned up to him, her surprise about his sudden height written all over her face. “Holy cow, kid! Did someone trade out your legs?”

He smiled his wide grin that looked so similar to mine. “Nah, growth spurt. About time too.”

She grabbed his chin. “Cadence! Does your little brother have . . . facial hair?”

“A little, yeah.” I laughed.

She tapped his cheek. “How did I not notice this happening?”

Dusty smirked. “Well, it sounded something like”—he cleared his throat to put on a higher voice—“Cadence! You’re bratty brother is hovering again. Cadence! Watch him, he’s trying to steal all the good food. Cadence! Doesn’t your brother understand personal hygiene? Cadence―”

“Yeah, yeah, I get the point.” She scowled.

“If you like what you see, we could go out sometime?” He winked at me.

Geri gagged. “That’s disgusting. You’re a ninth grader, and you’re . . . well, you’re you.”

“Aw, come on,” Dusty said, enjoying taunting her. “You always go on about how pretty my sister is, and I look just like her in boy form, so
obviously
you find me attractive.”

I burst out laughing. This was the Dusty I knew as an adult. Cheeky and a giant tease, but clever as a whip.

Geri elbowed me in the ribs as she turned on Dusty. “You’re so full of yourself. And no, I don’t think you’re attractive at all.”

He shrugged. “Pity. I think you’re pretty cute for an old bat.”

He walked away from us as Geri smoldered.

My bus pulled up and I gave her a quick hug. “He’s just playing with ya, Geri. I’ll call you, okay?”

“Yeah, you better,” she said as I turned and walked away. “I expect as much time as James gets!”

James was gone longer than he expected, so I spent most of the winter break between Geri and Harper. Harper, hungry for my time, had me stay overnight on several occasions. On the last Thursday of the break, she convinced me to stay over again, and once our parents left, she whipped out a fake ID for me.

“Harper . . .” I pouted.

“Oh, come on, Cadence,” she said with a huff. “We’ll be with my friends the whole time and I won’t let any guys hit on you. It’s just a club. Come on, we’ll go dancing and—” She paused. “Okay, maybe we’ll skip the drinking part, but I
really
want you to come.”

I sighed. “Mum and Dad will kill us if they find out.”

She shrieked with delight and threw her wardrobe open.

An hour later, I somehow managed to pass as a believable eighteen-year-old, and found myself dancing with Harper’s high school friends. Although surprised to see me, they didn’t make a fuss.

I stuck close to Harper, convinced someone would point at me at any moment and say, “Hey, she’s only sixteen!” and I’d be tossed out, my parents called, and end up grounded for a year.

Then, I saw him. Daniel. I paused, startled to see him after so long, and to see him so
young
―only twenty-one. Being Italian, he had olive skin, dark hair and dark eyes―and those eyes were fixed on Harper.

I looked at her. She hadn’t noticed. I wondered what to do—point it out or just let it happen? I couldn’t believe I was going to be there when they first met!

One of her friends noticed him and subtly pointed. I held my breath as she turned around and laid eyes on him for the first time. He smiled a cautious smile as their gaze met. She smiled and blushed before turning away. I bit my lip as he straightened and locked his focus entirely on her.

He finished his drink, then handed the empty glass to one of his friends. He made his way through the crowd on a beeline for her. I couldn’t help myself and I tugged on her arm. “Harper, there’s a guy coming over.”

Her hand clamped on my arm as her eyes widened. “That tall, dark and handsome one?”

“That’s a pretty good description.”

“Oh my . . .” She took a deep breath to compose herself. “Is he headed for me or someone else do you think?”

“I, ah . . .” I hesitated as he appeared behind her. He looked her over before touching her shoulder.

She turned with surprise and he gave her a coy smile. His hand rested on the small of her back. “Hey, I’m Danny.”

Direct and to the point. No pickup lines. I always knew I liked him.

She blushed and bit her lip. “Harper.”

“Harper? That’s unusual. Unless it’s a cover name because you think I’m a creep.”

And he just killed it.

“No.” She smiled. “It’s my real name, and this is my sister, Cadence. All the girls in our family are given musical names.” She grabbed my arm and pulled me forward.

He looked at me with a hint of confusion. “You’re really sisters?”

“Yes, we’re twins,” Harper answered, a little too quickly.

“You look nothing alike.”

“It’s the hair,” I answered. “When she’s her natural color, we actually look related.”

She dug her heel into my toe.

But he smiled, amused by our playfulness. “Well, then, musical twins, may I borrow Harper to dance?”

Wow, so formal. He asked permission in a club where people usually just jump right in.

Harper didn’t seem to mind, and she eagerly took his arm.

I watched her from among her friends, delighted to see her and Daniel getting along perfectly. Both flirted like crazy, and slowly, they danced closer and closer together. Then it happened. He kissed her. I bit back a shriek of delight. I witnessed Harper falling for Daniel!

On the way home, she talked excitedly about him, and I encouraged it. I wanted to know everything she’d never told me and to feel the excitement of her fresh new love. I knew it would be another two years before they were married, but the beginnings felt exciting and intoxicating.

In her room, I faded to sleep while she continued talking about him, and my dreams were filled of things to come for her.

James picked me up from my netball game covered in mud and sweat. He had an early game, and with the rain we’d had on and off through the break, the ground was slick and easily churned up by the cleats.

I sat, and before I had a chance to buckle, he grabbed my arm and pulled me in to kiss me. My elbow hit the center console and I slipped, causing our teeth to knock. I pulled back and touched my mouth. “Ouch.”

“Sorry.” He clasped my face and held it firmly while he gave me a long kiss. When he pulled back, he said, “I can’t believe they extended the trip
three times
! So much for just the weekend, try almost two weeks! I missed you like crazy.”

I smiled as my heart fluttered, having not seen him in so long. “I missed you, too. But I have so much to tell you, starting with what happened with Harper on Thursday night . . .”

I monopolized the conversation all the way to James’ house, filling him in on everything that happened with Harper’s blossoming relationship with her future husband, and occasionally throwing in something about Geri and Dusty.

When we arrived at his house, he turned on the TV for me so he could take a shower and rinse off the mud. I flicked through the channels, and paused to watch the last of the Saturday morning cartoons.

When he came out, he tossed a towel at me and I hurried to shower off my sweat. When I’d finished and dressed in jeans and a comfortable T-shirt I’d packed in my sports bag, I found him in the kitchen making canned pumpkin soup for lunch.

I walked up behind him and rested my head on his shoulder. “Where are your parents?”

“Grocery shopping and such. I think they said something about visiting my aunt.”

I took a deep breath to smell his freshly showered fragrance.

“You’re smelling me again, aren’t you?”

I giggled as I stepped around and leaned against the kitchen counter. “Maybe.”

A flattered smile swept across his face. I stared at it while he mixed the soup. He was hot beyond reason, and I couldn’t believe I’d never noticed him the first time around.

“I love this stuff.” He flicked the spoon at me, spraying my face with orange goop. He laughed as I scowled and wiped it off. “It’s perfect for a lazy Saturday afternoon.”

“How was your soccer game, by the way?”

“How was your netball game? Did you kill anyone today?”

I giggled and his smile grew. I almost melted. “You know, I don’t
usually
maim people.”

“Every game I’ve been to you have.”

“Ha ha,” I said sarcastically.

He grabbed two mugs and poured the soup into them. “We won, like usual. The wind was pretty intense though. My lips got pretty chapped.”

“Maybe I’ll just have to kiss them better.”

He looked at me with a grin and leaned in. “That would be nice.”

I touched his cheek and softly kissed his lips. He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. “That wasn’t a kiss! Come on!”

I giggled and kissed him openmouthed. He held tightly to me and pulled my hair out of the ponytail so he could run his fingers through it. I wrapped my arms around him, loving the way he felt―his warmth, his strength. He pushed me against the counter as his hand ran down my neck and over my shoulder.

I pulled away. “James?”

He knew he had pushed his limit and sighed. “Yes?”

“Your soup is getting cold.”

He grinned and kissed my cheek. “But things are just starting to heat up.”

I giggled as he kissed my ear. “Seriously, stop.”

He huffed and pulled back from me. He reached across so his whole arm and shoulder were right in my face. I gnawed at my lip, trying to force back my intense desire to jump him.

He handed me a mug and we walked into the living room to sit on the couch. He turned on the TV again and I snuggled up against him as he flicked through the channels.

“Nothing,” he said. “Well, it
is
Saturday. We could watch rugby or AFL?”

I shrugged. “Whatever.”