Oblivion (35 page)

“I thought I hated him, Lindsay,” he said as he looked out the window. “I thought this would feel different.”

“He was still your dad, Jace. You might have been disappointed but it wasn’t hate.”

“At least he’s with my ma now. I know she was waiting for him.”

“One good thing is you can leave here knowing you don’t have to worry about all of us, Jace,” she said and smiled. “We’re all going to be ok, don’t you see that?”

“Yeah, I got half what I came here for,” he agreed and looked subdued. “No matter what happens I’m leaving on Sunday. I’ve been having other people cover for me while I’ve been gone, making excuses why I took off. To stay any longer would put them in a tight spot.”

Lindsay wondered with some trace of jealousy if he referred to this Daphne she heard so much about. He regaled her with some of the tales from Oblivion, enough to know he told her only half of what his real mission there was.

“The party is tomorrow night after commencements,” she said and grabbed her purse as she got out of the truck. “We’re going to The Point afterward. It’s our last chance before you leave.”

“Whether he admits it or not, I don’t want you taking any chances Lindsay,” he warned. “Cameron is sick. He would think nothing of killing you.”

“Sheriff Wilson will be out there, you forget. I’m not as worried knowing you’ll be there.”

“You just keep your cool when you go to graduation,” Jace said and eyed her knowingly. “Don’t let them take that from you too. When you walk across that stage; you just think that’s your ticket out of here like you always wanted.”

“You know, all these years I just wanted out of this place,” she mused and shook her head. “Now I’m kind of sad to be leaving.”

“Just don’t ever look back, Lindsay,” he said softly and shook his head. “It’s a waste of time.”

“I know but we have so many memories here, Jace.”

“Go make new ones, Linds. That’s what it’s all about,” he urged and she could see in his eyes he wanted her to go.

She went inside and set the food on the counter, seeing the answering machine was flashing. It was Sheriff Wilson. She hit play. She called him back right away. He answered on the first ring.

“I got word from Dan that Cameron’s court date was moved to next month. We got some time now. Marianne told my wife she’s sending him to his grandparents until then. We got to do this thing and we got to do it now. He isn’t coming back until his court date.”

“I’m going up to The Point after graduation,” she told him. “He’ll be buzzed up and feel safe with all his friends around him. It’s perfect.”

“I don’t like it, Lindsay,” he said with a heavy sigh. “Lots of woods up there. Can’t you get to him at his house?”

“His Mom and Dad aren’t going to let me get anywhere near him,” she told him. “You forget I’m the one who turned him in? No, this is perfect. He’ll talk. I know he will.”

“I’m going to have a Hell of a time covering you if anything goes down, Lindsay. You need to take that gun,” he warned.

“I will, don’t worry. I’ve been practicing too.”

“He comes after you just shoot the little son-of-a-bitch,” the Sheriff told her. “Don’t take any chances.”

“We need to make sure that wire is set up,” she said and her eyes found Jace watching her grimly from the doorway of the kitchen. “I want to make sure you hear everything.”

“What time is graduation?”

“It’s at one-thirty. The party starts at eight,” she told him. “Meet me in my lot at three-thirty and make sure that thing’s working.”

“No problem. Lindsay, I don’t know how to thank you for doing this,” he told her solemnly. “I know it’s been hard on you. Just know Jace will get the justice he deserves come Saturday.”

“That’s what I want more than anything, Sheriff.”

She hung up and could see Jace was regretting his decision to give into her. He brooded over it now. She could see it in his eyes.

“Nothing is going to go wrong, Jace,” she told him with a fleeting smile. “I can do this. You just make sure you’re right there with me.”

~ ~ ~

Lindsay was up at nine in the morning on Saturday for a day of beauty with her mom and Sara. Her mom got money out of her dad and was taking her to the salon for a cut and a manicure.

She looked at the dress they picked out for graduation hanging on the back of her door wistfully. It was a rose-colored flower pattern. Her mother was so excited she could hardly contain herself. Her graduation party was planned for the following weekend. Her mom didn’t want Everett’s funeral to over shadow her daughter’s big day.

Jace rolled his eyes after Sara and Deborah arrived. “You’re on your own, babe. I’m out of here. I’ll meet you back here at three.”

“Where are you going?” she asked with unease in her voice.

“I’m going to check in on Cam and see how the ghosts have been treating him,” Jace replied with a gleam in his eye. “If I know Artie and Sal they probably drove Cam out of his mind this week.”

Lindsay nodded and watched as her boyfriend walked through the wall. She was shaking her head to know so many ghosts wandered around Little Bend. Knowing that gave her the willies, despite his assertions they were harmless.

Within an hour Deborah and Sara arrived, both looking delighted to go to the salon. The downside was Cameron’s mother owned the only salon in town. Deborah assured her she’d keep an eye on Marianne if she was working that day. With it being graduation the place would be packed by noon. Even with appointments it would be a zoo up there.

They left then and Lindsay started feeling excitement finally. Just knowing Jace would be there to share her special day with her was enough for her to allow the facial and massage her mother insisted upon.

Lindsay allowed herself to be pampered today, knowing what the night had in store for her. Tonight would be the last opportunity to get to Cameron. Jace was leaving to return to Oblivion tomorrow. A lump formed in her throat to think of him going back there. He assured her it wasn’t so bad.

They arrived in the nick of time, getting in right before the waiting area filled up. Lindsay was in the chair next to Sara when Rosemarie and her friends came in. They saw Lindsay and rolled their eyes, whispering and making comments behind their hands. She ignored them, smiling reassuringly at Sara as she got her hair trimmed.

“Don’t pay her any mind, Lindsay,” Sara warned her and eyed the girls with a disgusted expression. “After today, you never have to see them again.”

“Yeah, I won’t, will I?” she asked and smiled as she got up from the chair and went to the back of the salon to get her massage and pedicure. She was relieved she wasn’t anywhere near Rosemarie for the duration of their stay in the salon.

The nail tech worked in the back. By the time her pedicure was done; the girls were gone. She was relieved, not wanting their day spoiled with snooty girls from school. It stung to know everyone turned on her after Jace died.

While she got her facial and massage and reviled in the reduction of stress, she saw Rosemarie returned alone. She ignored her as she came in the back and sat down for her pedicure. Rosemarie looked over at her and looked definitely catty.

“I’m surprised you’re even showing up at commencements, Lindsay,” she noted with a smirk.

“Why? I earned it, Rosemarie. Trust me I won’t be paying you or anybody else any attention while I’m there,” Lindsay snapped and was grateful her massage was done. She sat up and returned to the dressing room to get her shirt back on, holding the towel around her chest.

“You might want to think twice before showing up,” she said as Lindsay came back out.

“You can have your little friends boo me all you want, Rosemarie,” she said as she advanced on her, glaring at her in disgust. “I’m graduating today whether you like it or not. I have just as much right to be there as anybody else, maybe more. Since I tutored half our class at some point; I’m sure they realize that too, so back off!”

Rosemarie’s smirk faded and her pretty face turned an angry red. “You’re going to pay for what you did to Cam! He lost the scholarship because of you!”

“No, he lost the scholarship on his own because he was dealing drugs!” Lindsay snapped. “You can blame me all you guys want. I don’t even care anymore. In another month I’m out of here, and never have to see you people again.”

Lindsay turned on her heal and left before Rosemarie had a chance to say another word. Deborah and Sara looked at her in approval as she joined them at the nail tech’s station. After the first coat of polish, her mother looked over with amusement in her gaze.

“You get that from me,” she confided as she looked down at her nails. “Good for you.”

“I’ve had enough, Mom,” Lindsay said as she selected a color of nail polish and watched as the tech buffed her nails and filed them. “I can’t wait for this day to be over.”

“You just enjoy this, honey. It’s your day and you earned it.”

Sara lowered her voice and bent near. “I overheard them saying they were all going to boo when you walk across the stage.”

“Let them, just shows their intelligence,” Lindsay said and rolled her eyes.

“I don’t know if I could be so brave, Lindsay,” the girl whispered and looked sad. “I know what you tried to do for Jace. I got a plan of my own today.”

“What are you going to do?” Lindsay asked and smiled as Sara had a secretive look on her face.

“You’ll see,” was all the girl would tell her.

~ ~ ~

The school parking lot was packed and overrun with students, teachers, and parents when they arrived. Bill Morgan and Margene arrived and kept a respectful distance. Her father approached her alone and kissed her cheek, looking down at her proudly. He handed her a velvet box and a card.

She forgave him for being a jerk as soon as she opened the box and saw it was a beautiful strand of pearls. The card was encouraging and enclosed was a crisp one hundred dollar bill.

“I’m so proud of you, Lindsay,” he said and hugged her briefly before he exchanged pleasantries with her mother. She was surprised to see them being so cordial. The divorce was final that week.

“I’m proud of you too, Mom,” she said as she saw Deborah Morgan seemed unaffected by Margene’s presence there. “You’re a class act.”

“I got Jack now, Lindsay,” she said with a laugh. “I’m the lucky one here.”

Seeing Margene wearing a tight tacky dress that did nothing for her pregnant shape, she had to agree. The younger woman didn’t hold a candle to her mother and everybody saw it but her dad. It was his loss.

“Now you just don’t worry about anything, Lindsay,” Sara was saying as they walked to the football field where everyone was lining up. “I got this.”

Lindsay smiled and put on her dark blue gown. Her mom fussed and fretted over her cap, bobby-pinning it to keep it on. She adjusted the white and blue tassel and smiled proudly.

“God, it seems like yesterday I was taking you to kindergarten,” her mom said and got teary-eyed.

“Stop Mom, you’re going to get me going again,” Lindsay said and smiled, feeling butterflies in her stomach now.

Her mom was joined by Jack and Dougie by then. They were parking the car and joined them. The next few minutes were spent taking pictures with her parents and with Sara and Dougie. Margene was surprised when she insisted she be in the photos with her dad.

Lindsay realized Margene was going to be her stepmother whether she liked it or not. Her dad refused to listen to Lance when he told him about the affair. He believed Margene when she said he made it all up to ruin their relationship. Lindsay figured he deserved to find out on his own, disgusted he would take her word over his son’s.

Finally it was time to find her place in line. She was nervous as she approached, glad she was in the M’s and everybody who hated her was up front. She was startled to see Jace dangling from the bleachers above. He grinned as he looked down at her and whistled.

“Lookin’ good, Morgan,” he called out. “You just walk and keep your head up. I’m here and I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Lindsay smiled at him and he winked down at her. She was nervous despite his words, hoping she got through this without falling apart. She was prepared to be booed when she walked; knowing Cam’s friends all planned it. She was determined she wouldn’t let them spoil it.

The graduation address droned on and on and suddenly the line started moving. Scattered applause was heard as students went to collect their diplomas. By the time it got to her, Lindsay was shaking in her new beige leather pumps. Jace was at her elbow by then.

“This is it, Lindsay,” he was saying as he walked with her to the steps. “You better keep that smile on your face. Don’t even sweat this.”

“Easy for you to say,” she mumbled under her breath as she fidgeted with her tassel, shoving it out of her face. “You’re not about to be humiliated before the whole town.”

“Lindsay, I go this,” he said smugly, sounding just like Sara had earlier.

Before she could ask him what he meant her name was called. She was overwhelmed with the racket as she walked across the stage. Bull horns, whistles, and loud cheering greeted her, drowning out the rude booing of a half dozen of her classmates that dwindled away looking embarrassed as her parents, their partners, Marnie, Lance, and the kids made so much noise it was all you could hear in the vicinity of the stage.

She accepted her diploma and the noise grew louder, making her smile widely as she saw Jace waiting for her on the other side of the stage. She eyed him with a glimmer of tears in her eyes as the flashes of cameras went off.

“You did good, thank you,” she whispered as she walked to the other side of the stage where he waited for her.

“Nobody’s gonna mess with my girl today,” he said proudly as he walked down the steps with her.

Lindsay felt like she was ten feet tall at that moment and knew she’d never forget it as long as she lived. She returned to where the other graduates sat, glad none paid her any mind as she took her seat. Jace was sitting in the space next to her, grinning ear to ear.

“I’m glad I got to be here for you, Linds.”

“Me too,” she said under her breath.