Whispers from the Past (15 page)

“Tuesday night. Dave’s jet will pick us up around noon. The limo will arrive at the guest house by five to take us to the Kennedy Center.”

Wow. “How did you get Benita’s parents to agree to that?”

“My security detail will follow us.” Gabrielle smiled. “And my mom and stepdad will be staying with us at the guest house.”

Benita patted my hand. “Come on. It’ll be fun, and it’ll get your mind off—”

She stopped speaking abruptly when Jesse jabbed her in the side.

This might be the perfect way to get Susanna out of my head for a little while. “Yeah, maybe I will.”

Gran and Granddad had their monthly cookout at the lake house on Saturday. Marissa showed up, late as usual. She had a guy with her.

Susanna hadn’t come. Of course. We hadn’t been a couple for three days. I hadn’t said a word to my grandparents, but Mom would’ve told them. So they knew. They looked sad and bewildered. Like me.

Granddad kept staring at Marissa’s car, as if expecting Susanna to emerge at any moment. Gran frowned and turned away.

There was still plenty of conversation, mostly focused on Dustin, the guy with Marissa. He was new. Real new—since she’d been dating a different guy at last month’s cookout. My parents and grandparents spent a lot of time asking about his education and job (Emory and lawyer).

Nobody talked about the breakup. Susanna’s name wasn’t spoken. I couldn’t decide if that was good or bad.

We were nearly through with the meal before Granddad started heading in a direction that might not be welcome.

“How’s the college search going, Mark?”

“Fine.” So that’s how he wanted to work around it. Marginally subtle. He knew that I’d added Duke almost at the last minute. They had to have known location played a factor. “I’ve been accepted at three schools, and I have two more to hear from.”

“If they all accept you, which way are you leaning?”

I put down my fork. That question twisted me up inside, even now. “I’m not sure.”

“When do you have to let ’em know?”

“May first.”

“The decision’s easier now.”

I froze, every last muscle locking down to the point of pain. He meant Susanna without saying so, but I knew.

All of us knew.

“If you have something you want to say, Granddad, go ahead.”

Eating stopped. Gran whispered something in his ear. He gave her a fake smile and shrugged.

“Susanna took herself out of the way. One less thing for you to consider.”

I stared at him, hardly able to take it in. Was that really what my grandfather thought? That I even remotely saw my college decision as improved by the ruin of my life? “Why does that sound like you blame me?”

“She thinks you turn the planets. Why would she get herself out of the way? What did you do?”

Gran didn’t try to shut him down again. She must be curious enough to overlook his bluntness.

“Susanna says we’re on different paths.”

“She’s right,” Mom said.

My grandparents frowned at her, but she didn’t back down. “It’s true. They’d reached the point where they were making decisions based on each other instead of what’s right. They’re young. They need to live their lives.”

“You met Dad when you were seventeen.” Marissa’s voice was soft and clear.

“Yeah, and I didn’t marry him until I was twenty-four.”

“How’d that go for you, Mom?”

Mom and Dad locked glances. The stories about teenaged Sherri’s fights with my grandparents over college-aged Bruce were legendary.

Everyone shifted uncomfortably. It hadn’t been great for them, either. How could she have forgotten something like that?

“Mark?” Gran asked. “Maybe it’s hurt feelings over a slight. Have you tried talking to her?”

“Yes. It didn’t go well.” What was wrong with everybody? Susanna gave up on me. Not the other way around.
I didn’t want this
.

“A little time has passed. Why don’t you go over there and talk to her again?”

“
No
.” Marissa and I said the word at the same time.

Her cheeks flamed.

My sister knew something. I stared at her. Hard. “What does that mean?”

She gave a little shake of her head. “She doesn’t want to see you. You have to know that.”

“Why not?” It was like picking at a scab.

“She feels less competent around you.” Marissa turned toward Granddad. “Susanna doesn’t mind making mistakes, and Mark goes a little crazy when she does.”

Wow, really? There was something wrong with
me
? Because I wanted her to be safe?

I folded my napkin, put it next to my plate, and pushed away from the table. No one said a word as I exited the house.

Outside, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I couldn’t walk on my favorite trail through the woods. Too many memories of her with me.

I jogged down the path toward the lake, barely visible in the twilight, until my shoes thudded on the planks of the dock. I sat at the end, watched night fall over the water, and waited for the numbness to return.

The Tuesday trip to Washington proceeded according to the perfect plan of the ever-present PR person, Olivia. The plane took off precisely at noon. We arrived on time, rode in a limo to the huge townhouse where we were staying—and then on to the Kennedy Center for the gala.

The instant we entered the gallery, Gabrielle was swarmed by people, some that I recognized and some that I didn’t, but they all wore formal clothes and looked important. Jesse, Benita, and I found a spot against the wall to hang out. Watching the insanity was fun for about a minute. I lost interest, overwhelmed by noise and hunger. Unfortunately, the only food they seemed to be serving up there at The Roof Terrace was pretty but not filling.

“Mark.” Gabrielle showed up in front of me and clutched my wrist, a faintly panicked look in her eyes. “Want to go outside?”

I nodded at Jesse and Benita, and we headed for the gallery doors. It was nice out here—a little cool, but we’d traded loud laughing voices for the muted sounds of traffic during the DC rush hour. I followed Gabrielle to the railing and enjoyed the view. Before us, the sun was setting over the Potomac River.

Jesse and Benita wandered along the terrace’s perimeter, holding hands. They stopped often to point out something in the DC skyline and ended up kissing.

Garrett and another security guy assigned to us stood a short distance away while Olivia wandered in and out of the gallery, glaring obviously.

Gabrielle turned to me, her hands fisted. “Thanks for coming out here with me.”

“No problem,” I said, ignoring the frustrated signals from her publicist. “How did it feel to see Korry?”

“Like crap.”

I almost laughed at Gabrielle’s response. That was serious cursing from her. “That bad?”

“I knew he’d been invited. Olivia heard a rumor that he was bringing Lissa, so I expected her too. She was one of my handmaidens in
Flight Risk
.”

“And now one of Korry’s.”

A hint of a smile curled Gabrielle’s lips. “I’m glad you’re here. It would’ve been horrible to have shown up without a date.”

“Glad I could help.” A week ago, I had refused the invitation. I’d wanted to spend every possible moment during spring break with Susanna. I still couldn’t get over how quickly things had changed.

There was a shriek of laughter. Benita ran past us and then darted around a corner of the building, Jesse in hot pursuit.

When Gabrielle made a small gesture at Garrett, the extra bodyguard disappeared around the corner, too.

“What was that all about?”

“I let him know to keep an eye on them.” She paced a couple of steps away and then swung around to face me, arms crossed. “So, how are you doing, Mark? Have you seen Susanna?”

My gut clenched at the memory. “I tried, but it was a disaster.”

“I have the opposite problem. Korry followed me into the ladies’ bathroom.”

“Why?”

“He wants us to get back together.”

“What did you say?”

“I can’t trust him. Ever again.”

“Apparently, neither can his date.”

“Exactly. Why can’t he see that? Beautiful women are always trying to give him anything he wants, and sometimes he doesn’t refuse.” She held out a shaking hand. “Hold me? Please?”

I pulled her lightly into my arms. I wasn’t entirely sure why Susanna broke up with me, but at least it wasn’t because either of us had cheated. “I’m sorry, Gabrielle.”

Her whole body was trembling now. She wasn’t crying, but sadness seemed to roll off of her in waves. I hugged her closer, my hands sliding across the warm skin of her back. She really had a thing for backless dresses.

I waited quietly, thinking how easy it was, for a change, to touch a girl without worrying about whether I’d crossed personal boundaries or whether anybody was watching. PDA with Susanna had been such a big production that I’d had to think through every angle. Gabrielle wanted contact, and she didn’t care who saw.

She made a humming sound in her throat and wiggled against me. “I told Korry that the next person I dated was going to be normal. I don’t need any of the crap he put me through.”

“What did he say to that?”

She leaned back to look up at me. “He thinks you’re next.”

“Really?” Wow. Korry Sim thought that
I
could interest Gabrielle? That was unbelievable. How could an ordinary, former fat kid from North Carolina compete against the world’s most gushed-over actor? “Why did he assume that you meant me?”

“You escorted me to homecoming, and we’re here together tonight.” She sighed and stepped back. “To him, that adds up to my new boyfriend.”

“Do you want him to believe that?”

She laughed a little bitterly. “I don’t mind.”

“Then I’ll play along tonight.” When I offered my arm, she took it.

We walked into the gallery together, looking like a couple. Gabrielle spent the rest of the evening introducing me to dozens of celebrities, people from politics, movies, and the theater. It was cool and crazy. But she was completely aware of where Korry was—because we never got within ten feet of him or his handmaiden the whole time.

Wednesday was a lazy day. We woke up late, had brunch beside the pool, and then headed to the airport.

A private plane was the only way to travel.

I watched out the window for most of the flight back, not really interested in talking. Instead, I went over my schedule for the rest of spring break. I’d have a few lawns to check when I got home. Granddad had asked me for help with repairing some loose boards on the dock and deck. Boring stuff, but I was kind of looking forward to mindless repetition.

Jesse mumbled something in his sleep in the seat opposite me. Across the aisle, Benita was pointing at something on Gabrielle’s iPad.

“Oh my god, Gabrielle, how did that happen?”

I looked over at them. Benita was shaking her head and staring at me.

“Olivia!” Gabrielle winced at the screen and then met my gaze. “Mark, I’m sorry. I didn’t put her up to this.”

“Up to what?” I asked.

She handed the iPad over. The web browser was open to an online gossip magazine. The page held a photograph of me and Gabrielle on the terrace last night, wrapped in each other’s arms. From the angle of this shot, it looked as if we were about to kiss.