Happily Never After (26 page)

At first I wasn’t quite sure of what he said.
Slowly, as it sank in, I became speechless. Something I never dared
to dream of was suddenly close enough to reach out and touch. All I
wanted was a chance with him under normal circumstances. Here he
was giving me that chance, and a whole lot more.

“W—what about your career?”

He flashed his dimples and shrugged. “It’s
not going anywhere. I can take some time off, help you get adjusted
to life after Catherine.”

“I haven’t thought past my eighteenth
birthday in weeks. It felt dangerous to dream about what comes
afterwards. I could die tonight. You know that, right?”

“Yes, I do Quinn. I can’t stop thinking about
it. It’s why I needed to tell you this now. You have so much to
fight for. I would leave here with you today if you said the word
and take you anywhere in the world you wanted to go. You’d be
safe.”

I started to speak but he continued, “But you
won’t do that. It’s one of the things I admire about you. You’ll do
what’s right for that crazy family of yours.”

Hearing him say that, I knew I did love him.
I think I’d loved him since the moment I saw him as the cocky actor
with all the hidden layers. It only seemed to grow as I saw more
and more of who he truly was.

So, why was admitting I felt the same way a
more terrifying thought than the one of facing Catherine head on? I
took a deep breath and let some of my emotions out. “I’ve got very
strong feelings for you, too. You snuck in no matter how hard I
tried to keep you out. I can’t wait for this to be over and it's
not hanging over our heads all the time.”

We didn’t really do much the rest of the day.
We didn’t have to meet Travis until nightfall so Jason and Abby did
their best to keep me distracted. Still, it felt like a weight had
lifted off my shoulders. Jason’s declaration of love armed me for
the battle I was walking into.

As I left to meet Anna, I only hoped it would
be enough.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

After the article in the paper, I was
reluctant to meet Anna but I wanted to ask if she had any idea how
Suzie knew about me and Jason. In light of everything else going
on, I realized it wasn’t that important, but my curiosity was
winning over. I thought we’d been so careful.

When I arrived at Baubles, she was already
there surrounded by the remnants of ruined dresses. Even now,
knowing it was Catherine, I got an uneasy feeling in the pit of my
stomach. The amount of energy and hate put into doing this, well,
it wasn’t something I wanted to think about today of all days.

“Suzie is still absolutely convinced you did
this.” She looked up at me with a sad look on her face. “She and I
are close in so many ways but lately I don’t like who she’s
becoming.”

I was unsure of what to say to her. For
years, I'd witnessed the tight bond between them and never imagined
anything getting in the way of that, especially me. I wanted to
tell her it might only be a phase and not to give up on her sister,
but I started to explain, she cut me off.

“I didn’t have anything to do with the
article, Quinn. I swear to you. Suzie didn’t even tell me. I read
it in the paper and it made me sick. I can’t believe she did it. It
was mean and uncalled for.” She crossed her arms over her chest and
asked, “So, is it true? About you and Jason Preston?”

She appeared genuine so I stepped closer to
her and fingered a ripped swath of shiny fabric. Confiding in Abby
had always been so easy. It was hard to get used to talking to
someone else. I wanted to trust Anna.

“It is.” I watched her eyes grow big. “I
didn’t want to care for him at first. He was arrogant and stubborn,
but he wore me down. There’s been a lot on my mind recently so I’m
taking it one day at a time.”

Telling her I loved him would be too much. I
couldn’t even tell him right now.

“Wow,” Anna gushed. “You’re so lucky. He’s
gorgeous. I met him once, just walking down the street. He was
really nice and polite but I rambled on for, like, ever. I promise
if we stay friends after this, I’ll try not to drool.”

“I want for us to be friends, Anna, but I’m
afraid to give you too much. The last thing I want is for you to
tell Suzie and have her running off to the reporters again. Plus,
it’s not as easy as I hoped it would be forgetting what you both
put me through the last few years. In my heart, I’ve forgiven you.
My mind warns me to still be careful.”

“I completely understand. I don’t blame you.
We were pretty awful to you for so long. I hope one day soon we can
get past it. I want to. We’re not kids anymore.”

Something came over me. I felt myself moving
forward and giving her a tentative hug. Anna hesitated for a second
before returning the gesture. It might be the first step towards a
real friendship. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever trust her a hundred
percent, but at least we were headed in that direction.

I drew back and surveyed the room. “What’s
going to happen to all this stuff? The pageant is in a week,
right?”

“Yeah, in eight days. I told Suzie I wasn’t
going to do it, that I never really wanted to in the first place.
I’ve done pageants since I was five. I’m so over it. She, of
course, threw a fit. She likes being in charge, being the alpha
female. You know what I mean?” Anna shrugged. “She’ll have to do it
without me this time, if she can salvage anything.”

It was impressive to see the changes in Anna
over the last few weeks.

“Should we walk about tonight?” I asked her.
I sensed we were both avoiding it.

She nodded reluctantly.

“Travis wants to keep you and Jason out of
the way to make sure you’re safe. I’m the only one who will be in
harm’s way. Travis said he might have to use you to give your mama
a little jolt. I’ll let him explain that later. It’s going to be
scary, Anna, but I promise Travis and Jason will do their best to
keep you safe. You have to listen to them.”

“Jason is going to be there?”

“Anna, you’re going to have to concentrate on
what is going on, not on Jason. He’ll be there because he won’t let
me do it on my own. I think he’s a lot more scared than he’s
letting on. He wanted me to run away.”

“You’re not the running away type. If you
were, my sister and I would have run you off a long time ago. Even
Mom was so mean to you, but I don’t know how much of it can be
blamed on this Catherine lady. And I promise I’ll be all business
tonight.”

I checked the time on my cell phone.

“Alright, we should head back to Abby’s and
get Jason. Then we can head down to Colonial Park.”

Anna followed me out and we walked in
silence, each lost in our own thoughts.

I was more afraid because now I had so much
to lose. Not only did I have a great guy who'd professed his love
to me, I had taken the first steps towards gaining a sister.

Things were more complicated than ever.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

As darkness came, the living and non-living
shadows woke to claim the streets and squares of the city. At
night, Savannah looked much more populated than during the day. The
cooler temperatures brought everyone out of their homes and hotel
rooms to enjoy the fresh air, unless the heat still lingered
stubbornly, as it did tonight.

The humidity clung to everything as the sun
sank in the sky and there wasn’t anyone milling around the cemetery
as usual. I assumed Jason must have pulled a few more strings.

We met Travis at the entrance to Colonial
Park. He carried a large backpack and a flashlight in his hand. His
look was all business as he studied us. I introduced him to Anna,
who’d been very quiet since leaving Abby’s house.

“Are you guys ready? Are you sure you want to
do this?” We all nodded. “Okay, just remember what I told you. All
I need is to have her subdued. Hold her down, and then I can do the
rest.”

“Hold her down?” Anna squeaked.

Travis fixed his ice blue eyes on her. “I
don’t mean ‘pin her down to the ground’. We only need to make sure
she doesn’t run away because if she leaves, Catherine leaves with
her.”

This seemed to satisfy Anna and she went back
to glancing nervously at her surroundings.

Then he turned his stare to me and said, “Are
you ready to make the call?” I nodded. “Good. Do whatever you can
to stir her up enough so she’ll come straight here.”

I took a deep breath before making the call
to Marietta. But instead of talking to her when she answered, I
addressed Catherine and hoped it would work.

“Hello Catherine, its Quinn.”

The long pause on the other end led me to
believe I had gambled right.

“Quinn,” she drew out my name in her dark,
creepy drawl. “And to what do I owe the pleasure of your call?”

Here it goes.

“I know what you want and what you have
planned for me. I’m willing to fight for what is mine; my house, my
freedom, my life.”

Her laugh sent chills shuddering through me.
“Poor foolish Quinn, what makes you think you have the right to
challenge me? I’m sure you remember how powerful I’ve grown.”

“I’m well aware of your powers.” I forced my
voice to sound flippant, like I didn’t care. “Why don’t you come
and meet me so we can finish this once and for all? I’m giving you
the chance to make good on your threats.”

“Have I given you reason to doubt me?” She
sounded amused. I wasn’t getting the reaction I’d hoped. “Why
should I come to you?”

“I don’t doubt you at all. I just want this
to be over and I’m sure you do, too. Think about it Catherine, it
will be you and me. You won’t have your mother or Jackson swooping
in to save me from you. As long as you come after me in that house,
you won’t win.”

I waited through the silence, hoping I’d be
able to lure her out of the house. I had felt her desire to have me
dead and I was gambling everything on that.

“I promise you, I will finish you. I never
got my happy ending and neither will you.”

“Whatever, come to Colonial Park Cemetery.
I’ll be waiting at your grave. Unless you’re too comfortable hiding
behind such a weak woman.”

“You’ll regret that,” she said with a
growl.

I ended the call and dropped the phone. It
was a miracle I’d been able to hold on to it that long. My hands
were shaking badly and I had no control over them at all. Jason
came over and put his hand in mine. Slowly, they stilled and I
could breathe again.

“She’s coming?” Travis asked.

All I could do was nod my head.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

I stood alone in the cemetery waiting for
Catherine to arrive. Everyone else hid out of sight behind a row of
tall tombstones. My palms were sweaty and my chest tightened as if
it were in a vise.

It was too late to back out now. She was
coming. One way or another, this was going to be over. Sure, I
feared for my life but I’d almost become accustomed to it. What
worried me was the lives of the others. I’d never forgive myself if
anything happened to them.

Walking in a tight, nervous circle, I made
note of the spirits and entities around me. On a rare whim, I
opened my mind to them. I let them in, drawing in their desperation
and their need. It temporarily distracted me and their emotions
chased away my own.

I heard a footstep behind me, then another.
It was Marietta. I knew it before I turned. Her face was blank,
telling me that Catherine had full control. All I could do now was
hope Anna stayed put.

Marietta stopped a few feet away from me but
Catherine’s shadow advanced closer.

“Well, well, look who has decided to show
some courage. I’m almost impressed.” The voice echoed through the
clearing on its own. “Who would have thought? This won’t end the
way you hope, Quinn.”

“I’m not hoping for anything. I just want
some answers and for this to finally be over. I’m sick of
constantly looking over my shoulder, waiting for you.” It surprised
me how strong my voice sounded considering I was trembling on the
inside.

She seemed to consider this. “I think I can
allow you a few questions before I end this.”

That, I had not expected. As I thought about
it, the darkness grew thicker and the air chilled. It was a hot,
humid August night. It should have been stifling but goosebumps
started appearing on my arms.

“Is Marietta okay?” Not the first question I
thought would pop in my head.

I watched as slowly, Marietta came to and
took note of her surroundings. Confusion flooded her face but it
changed to fear as she realized where she was. Then she noticed
me.

“Quinn?” she sobbed out. “How did I get here?
What is going on?”

Not caring about how close Catherine was, I
walked up to Marietta and grabbed her ice cold hands. “Are you
okay?”

She was frightened half to death, her eyes
darting frantically. Anna popped into my line of vision and my
heart sank. Jason and Travis wrestled her back into place with one
of their hands over her mouth.

Please stay quiet, I prayed.

“I-I don’t know what’s been going on.” At
last her eyes came to rest on mine. “I didn’t mean to hurt you,
Quinn. I saw what was happening but I couldn’t do anything about
it. When I told your daddy I would take care of you, I meant it. I
didn’t mean to do this to you.”

Her words made me tear up. I hated crying at
a moment when I needed to be my strongest. The desperation in her
voice broke my heart

“I know it wasn’t you doing those
things.”

“I’ve missed so much. I feel like I’ve been
walking in a fog for months. I’m not even sure what day it is.”

“Marietta, listen to me. I need to ask you
something.” Her crazed eyes landed on me again and I asked in a
soothing voice. “What did you promise her? Why did you let her do
this to you?”

Frantically, she shook her head in quick
motions. “She said she would help me become a more important member
of society, that she knew how badly I wanted it. I was distraught
after your father died and didn’t want to be a single mother to
three teenage girls. Two were bad enough. She said she’d make sure
you were out of the picture. I never thought she meant for you to
die. I swear I didn’t.”