The Tour (13 page)

“Mia?” he says. “Mia! Come on.”

“Okay,” I say, pushing on the buckle release and standing too fast, stepping on my dress and nearly falling to my knees. I yank the fabric up, nearly ripping it under my foot, and jump down the steps, ignoring his helpful outstretched hand. “Let’s get this over with.”

I’m breathing heavily as all of us walk toward the double doors. My heels click along the cobblestone path, up the stairs, and then through the entrance held open by a tall, dark-haired man. As we step into the foyer, I have to blink. The whiteness of it, blatant in its message of worth and its serious tone. Everything in here is shiny, especially the marble catching and releasing the light. It’s too bright in my eyes—I’m literally blinded by his uncle’s wealth. This place is, crisp and sanitary; the scent is clean, like a hotel. The double cast-iron winding staircases wrapped in evergreen and light welcome us. A tall Christmas tree reaches up to meet the light of the twinkling chandelier in the middle.

“You must be Mia,” a voice says. I shake my head and look up. The man in the doorway, is this his uncle?

“Yes,” I nod slightly, letting him take my hand. He leans in and kisses my cheek, smelling like expensive cologne. It warps my nostrils for a moment, overcoming them with his scent.

“I’m Tedd, Tedd Royce. Welcome,” he greets all of us as we gather in a circle around him. I adjust my dress, and stick my chest out to keep myself fully covered. “Thank you all for coming to our little soiree,” he adds, either genuinely, or condescendingly. It’s hard to tell. He puts his hand on Kolton’s shoulder.

“Thanks Uncle Tedd,” Kolton says. “This is Deloris and Mia’s sister, Riley, too,” he introduces us, and then Kolton looks up toward the balcony at the top of the stairs. I look up, too, seeing a beautiful woman dressed in a plum colored cocktail dress, her dark hair tied up in a French twist as she gazes down at Kolton.

I don’t like the look in her eyes, like he’s dinner, and she hasn’t eaten in years.

“Welcome home,” she calls, her voice echoing off of the pure white walls, the white marble, and sliding themselves down the metal banisters. Her eyes dart toward me for a second, and then away. He purses his lips as she walks down the stairs, and gives her a smile that says he’s uncomfortable.

“Let’s all go into the living room,” she steps off the stairs and starts walking under the staircases and into a room hidden on the other side. The floor is slick with wax, and there are no rugs anywhere except under the seating arrangement. When Kolton takes my hand, I wonder if people have fallen. I kind of want her to, for some reason.

As we walk into the tall, dark wood trimmed room filled with two large couches, four chairs and dented with two sets of double doors and windows on one side, I elbow him. “
Who’s that
?” I mouth, but he doesn’t reply.

“Have a seat, please.” She’s smiling with the fakest smile I’ve ever seen, which is saying a lot because everyone used fake smiles on
The Stage
to get votes. Whose vote is she trying to get?

I’m grateful this room is darker and not so white; the white made me uneasy. I choose to sit on one of the beige linen wingback chairs rather than the couch. I feel like my posture will be better here, and there will be less chance of me spilling out of my dress. I let go of Kolton’s hand and watch him walk toward the couch. A lady brings wine on a tray and sets it down on the coffee table.

I check her out, because …is she
the
housekeeper? It’s like I can’t get a good look at her face with the fancy lady standing in the way, whispering to her. When the plum-dress lady turns around, the housekeeper walks out a side entrance to the room, and I never get a good look at her.

“My name is Vivien,” she says. She’s reaching for my hand as I catch Kolton’s expression. He knows what I’m thinking, and he’s not going to give away the secret. “You must be Mia,” she adds, looking down at me because I’m sitting.

“Vivien, are you Tedd’s wife?” I ask, watching Riley pick up a cup with ice and a dark red liquid.

“It’s cranberry,” Deloris clarifies.

“Would you like some wine?” Vivien asks me.

“She’ll have cranberry, too,” Kolton says.

“Oh?” she says. “Aren’t you allowed to have a glass of wine, Mia?” I look at Kolton, who’s glaring at both of us.

“She’s not twenty-one.”

“Neither were you,” Vivien smirks, moving a sly finger up to her mouth to hide her scoffing expression.

“That’s beside the point,” Kolton says. “She’s going to do things a lot different than I did.” The look on his face is defiant; he’s angry with her. Is this the lady who helped raise him? He never mentioned an aunt. I’m so freaking confused.

“My tummy hurts,” Riley says. “I’m hungry.”

“Let me see about those hors d’oeuvres,” Tedd says, walking through the exit the housekeeper took.

“Where’s the restroom?” I ask, really just wanting an excuse to get ‘lost’ and ‘find’ the kitchen so I can spy on the housekeeper instead.

“I’ll show you,” Kolton stands, moving toward me and taking me by the arm.

“I can go by myself,” I say, as he walks me into a hallway and opens a heavy door where the bathroom is. He ushers me inside and shuts the door, the air crackling with his energy.

“Knock it off,” he says, his face stern.

“What?”

“I want you to stop trying to figure this out. The housekeeper isn’t here.”

“Who’s Vivien?”

“She’s my uncle’s wife.”

“Did she help raise you?”

His eyes squint and he leans in toward me. “Yes,” he whispers into my ear. “Do you want to see my room?” he asks as the tip of his fingers ease up on the outside of my arm. A shiver runs up my spine as my body responds to his touch, to his tone.

“No.” I force the negative response. “I won’t be going up there with you today.” He smirks, looks down at the nakedness my dress implies, and bites his bottom lip.

“Take your time,” he says, opening the door, leaving me in peace. I wash my hands, since the warm water calms me, and I fix my dress. I walk back down the hallway and into the living room. They are laughing at something Tedd has just said.

“Congratulations are in order,” Tedd proclaims. Is he talking about me? I look at Kolton and then back to Tedd.

“I think you can take it this year,” Vivien says.

“Take what?” I ask.

“Kolton’s album was just announced. He’s nominated for EMA’s best male pop performance of the year,” she adds, proudly.

“When?” I ask, looking at Kolton.

“Yesterday,” he says, and looks down.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask.

“You’ve had a lot on your mind.”

“But, this is a good thing,” I exclaim, and when I look around the room, I realize my reaction is such a downer. “Congratulations, Kolton. God, I mean, you should be so proud.”

“I am,” he smiles.

“His single hit number three today, too,” Tedd says and I’m reminded that he had a single release the night of the finale. The album being released, it all happened without us. Like a chain reaction. The publicity, regardless of the fact that it’s negative, probably did wonders for his career. I mean, the song is amazing. It’s very special to me, of course, since he wrote it for me.

“So, you’re next, Mia,” Tedd says.

“I—”

“She hasn’t signed with anyone, yet,” Kolton says, crossing his ankle over his knee and taking a sip of some dark liquor.

“It’s been crazy for you, Mia. But the deal we’re giving you…”

I don’t want to talk business, so I cut him off. “I don’t want Kolton to be my boss.”

“We’d be partners. I don’t want to be your boss,” Kolton says.

“You don’t know how to—” I start, thinking about how he always tries to control everything. He treats me like a child. How does he think he’s going to let me be his equal at something he has more experience in? And he would have a contract binding me to him, too.

“It’s Christmas Eve,” Deloris chimes in, thankfully interrupting me. “Maybe we can talk business another day.”

“Of, course,” Vivien says. “We have so much to celebrate. We can discuss your future later,” she smirks and I put my hands up to my chest.

“Dinner is ready,” the lady who’d served the drinks earlier says from the doorway and I finally get a good look at her. She’s Hispanic, probably in her fifties. Her hands have seen hard work. Her face is lined and her eyes are untroubled. I know it, she’s not the one, but I’m sure Tedd has other staff.

“So, is your sister a vegetarian, too,” Vivian asks.

“No,” I say, trying not to trip over the long chiffon as I walk. I don’t want to talk to her. For some reason she gives me the icks all over my skin. When I feel Kolton’s hand come up to the small of my back, I’m able to take a breath.

The dining room is large with a heavy wood table surrounded by tall-backed tufted chairs. A huge chandelier looms over the table, its crystals shining in my eyes, blinding me from the truth. I’m mindful of my naked breasts as I sit down, and Kolton pushes in my chair. I hold myself in my dress and watch him walk around with his back too stiff and sit across from me. Riley and Deloris sit next to me.

From across the table, Kolton looks relieved when I’m uneasy and it bothers me. We are served by two other women. They are really young, probably my age, so I know they’re not the one, either. They wouldn’t have worked here long enough.

“We had our cook make you a Portobello mushroom,” Vivien says. “Do you like those?”

“Yes. Thank you,” I say, and my plate is set down. When I look up, something happens between Vivien and Kolton. A silent, face-only message was sent. He didn’t seem happy about it and his eyes dart to mine then away. When I don’t look away, his settle back on mine. He tries to smile, but he knows it’s too late.

“Did you used to cook, Vivien?” I ask.

“I’m sorry?” she tries, taking a sip of her white wine.

“I know I’m not much of a religious man,” Tedd stops me from inquiring further. “But I’d like to say grace.”

“Sure, sure,” Kolton says, slapping his hands together, his long fingers pointed up in mock prayer. Vivien bows her head. As I watch her, she keeps her eyes on Kolton a little too long before closing them.

“Dear God,” Tedd starts. I don’t close my eyes. I hear the prayer, and I make one of my own.
Please don’t let Kolton lie to me anymore. Don’t allow me to be tainted, to think walking in here naked and uncomfortable, just because he needs me to, is fair, or is what I deserve, because I don’t. And please help me find out the truth about what happened that night without making me break my promise.

As the room says, “Amen,” my shaking hand picks up the fork and the knife. I cut myself a small bite of the juicy mushroom. My knife squeaks against the shiny plate. I slouch for the first time all evening and Kolton’s eyes dart to my nearly exposed breasts.

Right now, I can’t be strong for him. I resent him. I resent his pain, even though it’s similar to my own, because he hurts me with it.

I say nothing throughout dinner. Tedd makes a few jokes that Vivien laughs a little too loud about. After the last one, Deloris whispers to Riley and they laugh.

“What’s so funny, Riles?” Kolton asks.

“Deloris said a duck joke.” she giggles.

“What kind of duck joke?” I ask. Their conversation must be the best one at the table.

“What do you call two ducks and a cow?” Deloris asks.

“Hmmmm?” Tedd says.

“A farm?” Devon guesses.

“Nope. Quackers and milk!” Riley says, and laughs.

When I look up, Kolton is smiling, chowing down on the turkey and ham. He still looks uncomfortable, but it’s good to know Riley and Deloris can help us break the ice. “That’s a good one, Riles,” I say. After we’re served pumpkin pie with some whipped cream, Riley asks to go to the bathroom, so I push my chair out. “I’ll be right back. I’ll go show you, Riles.”

But instead of walking back toward the hallway, I walk Riley toward the kitchen. Vivien calls out to me. “Do you need something from the kitchen? Irene!” she calls to one of the women who’ve been serving the food. My dress gets in the way as I walk, so I pick it up in front and walk into the kitchen.

“Irene?” I ask the young lady with the long black hair.

“Yes? Can I help you?” she asks.

“Is there a bathroom here?”

“Yes,” she says. “Behind that wall.” Riley runs back there by herself, and I wait in the kitchen.

I tap the tip of my toe on the wood floor. “Um, what’s the other lady’s name? The shorter lady?” I don’t want to say older.

“Norma?” she asks.

“Yes, Norma. Is she, like, a house keeper? Or…”

“She is. We both are.” The puzzled look on her face is making me feel bad for her. She seems uncomfortable I’m in here.

“How long has she worked here?”

“I don’t know. Ten years, maybe more.” Just then, Norma walks into the room.

“Can I help you, miss?” she asks, abruptly.

“No. We just got turned around and Irene let us use the bathroom behind the wall.”

“Oh, no problem. Do you want some coffee while you’re here?” she asks. She’s probably in her fifties. Her face is lined.

“Please. Have you worked here long?” I ask as if it’s the last thing on my mind.

“Yes. Yes, I have,” she says. “I’ve worked here so long. Watched Kolton grow up; he was such a nice boy when he was little. Still a nice boy.”

“Have you always had help? Like there’s two of you all the time?”

She stops, as she’s pouring the coffee. Her back is toward me, and she stiffens. “Oh,” she says, turning toward me. “Have a seat.”

“Did Kolton tell you?” she asks, all a whisper.

“Yes,” I tell her, but I don’t know if I should be upset. I’m trembling all over from nerves.

“Miss Vivien. She was the housekeeper with me, about five years after I started here.”

“What?” I have to take a breath. “Vivien was the housekeeper?” It all makes sense. Beautiful housekeeper becomes beautiful wife. And she’s the one. I know it. I’ve known it all night.

“But, you said you knew,” Norma says, guiltily. “Oh. No. I shouldn’t have said a word.”

“He told me. Just in a different way—and I got confused. Don’t worry. Okay,” I say, as Riley comes out of the bathroom. “Ready, Riles?” I ask. “Should I put this in the sink? Or can I bring it with me?”