Troublemaker (15 page)

Alexandria wished that the circumstances of Parker's relationship with her parents were different, because if they were, his presence here wouldn't be an issue. But as things stood, it was a huge issue, and an adversarial one at that. It was a conundrum she was afraid may not ever change.

Over the last year she'd grown to love Parker like a second father, and just as he'd accepted her unique gift, she'd accepted his unique ways. Unlike PJ, who affectionately called her parents Mom and Pops, Parker preferred to be addressed as Parker—which was actually for the best, as Ted would've had a problem with a fatherly title. And there were other things about Parker that she'd discovered and found quite interesting.

She'd come to learn that he was a little arrogant, a bit of a snob, and he had little patience for people or things who didn't understand the world as he did. But she also knew and admired the fact that he was fiercely loyal, loved his family, and was a man of his word. Parker was an authentic straight shooter who didn't pretend. Alexandria appreciated that last quality just as much as she did the fact that he'd raised PJ to be the kind of man she found so easy to love.

She'd believed Parker when he'd told PJ that he wasn't there to cause trouble, and that he would stay out of the way of their family's activities unless invited. After PJ had told him about her conversation with her grandmother, and the purpose of the trip, Parker's main priority was to make sure PJ was safe, and he was willing to put himself in harm's way to ensure that nothing bad happened to his only child. But Alexandria also knew that although Parker's main concern was for his son, he still had feelings for her mother, and she was afraid of where that could lead.

Alexandria watched as PJ texted his father back. “I told him to give us ten minutes and we'll walk over to where he is. But I can't lie, I'm not comfortable with the fact that he's here.”

“He probably isn't either, but there's nothing we can do about that now.”

“When I talked to him this afternoon, he told me that he couldn't explain it, but he felt like he needed to be here this weekend. He said his gut told him to come so he had to listen.”

Alexandria nodded. “I believe him, and I completely understand that feeling. Grandma Allene always says that your gut is God talking to you, and when He speaks, you have to listen. I can't blame him for wanting to protect you. You're his child. I'd go to the end of the earth and back to protect Gary.”

“Me too.”

PJ looked across the street at Victoria and Ted, who were laughing like little kids as Ted played the balloon and dart game, trying to win a prize for his wife. “We need to tell your parents that my dad is here.”

“Yes, I suppose you're right. It wouldn't be good if they accidentally ran into each other, so it's best my mom and dad know.”

Alexandria put on a smile as they walked toward her parents. Although Victoria and Ted were only a few yards away, the distance seemed as though it were a mile. Alexandria was in no hurry to approach them, though, because she knew that once she did their entire mood and evening would change.

“Hey, you two!” Victoria said with excitement. “Look what your father just won for me.” She held a huge teddy bear that had a big red bow tied around its neck in front of her. “Isn't this the cutest thing!”

Ted smiled. “Anything for you, my love.”

Victoria gave him a soft kiss on his lips as she held her bear tightly. “This is the best night I've had in a long time.” She smiled wide as she looked at Alexandria and PJ. “I hope you two lovebirds are having as good a time as we are. I'm so glad we all came here to Nedine. This is just what our family needed.”

Alexandria felt PJ's hand tighten around hers as he cleared his throat. “I wanted to come over and let you know that my dad is in town.”

Victoria looked at PJ as if he'd just asked her to solve a complex math equation, and Ted's expression was equally as puzzling.

“What?” Victoria asked.

Ted dug his hands into the pockets of his well-tailored khakis and stared at Victoria. “You invited him here?”

“Hell no!” Victoria immediately spat out. “Why would I do a stupid thing like that?”

Alexandria knew her mother was upset because she apparently hadn't taken the time to think about what had come out of her mouth, or how bad it would sound, before it had slipped out. Parker's presence made both her parents uneasy, for different reasons, but it ended in the same result—tension.

Alexandria wished she could turn back the hands of time. If she could, she would have never gone to visit her Grandpa John and Nana Elizabeth the summer that Victoria had narrowly escaped having an affair with Parker. She knew that her mere presence would have kept her mother from any free-time mischief. But hindsight was something she knew she shouldn't entertain because, as her grandma Allene had always told her, intervening in things could end up making a bad situation even worse.

“If you didn't ask him to come, why is he here?” Ted asked, looking at Victoria with suspicion

PJ spoke up. “Last week, I told my dad that Ali and I were coming here to Nedine, for a family trip before the wedding. When he asked me why we'd decided to plan a trip on such short notice, just two weeks before the wedding, I told him what Grandma Allene had told Ali.”

“Uh-huh,” Ted said in an even voice.

“I think the unique circumstances of this visit made him feel a little uncomfortable and overprotective. That's why he wanted to come here.”

Victoria bit her bottom lip and listened, still looking confused and now slightly agitated. Alexandria could tell that her father was doing a remarkably good job of maintaining his composure, even though the vein in his right temple had popped up and was waving hello.

“He's not here to cause trouble,” PJ continued. “He said he's not going to come around unless he's invited. He just wants to make sure that I'm okay.”

Victoria shook her head. “You're a grown man. Why does he feel the need to come look after you like you're a child?”

Alexandria could see that Parker's arrival in town was more upsetting to her parents, especially her mother, than she'd thought. She knew she had to step in. “Mom, if someone like me told you that Christian or me, or anyone you love, was going on a trip because a nearly two-hundred-year-old ghost told them to, wouldn't you be concerned about our safety?”

Victoria turned her head to the side and looked off into the distance as she mumbled to herself.

“Where is he?” Ted asked.

“He's up the street on the corner of Second and Main . . . waiting for us . . . Ali and me.”

Ted took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “Then I guess you better not keep your father waiting.”

Alexandria wanted to say something that would ease the tension, but she knew there were no words that could bring back the happy feeling her parents had experienced just moments ago. “We're going to go now,” she said quietly. “If you're in bed when we get back, we'll see you bright and early for breakfast in the morning.”

Victoria looked as if she'd gone from exuberant to exhausted in a matter of minutes. “Okay,” she responded, trying to pull herself together. “Be safe and we'll see you later.”

Ted nodded, told them to enjoy the rest of their evening, and then stood stiffly next to Victoria as if someone had just erected a concrete wall between them. Alexandria hated seeing her parents like this, and she wished there were something she could do that would bring them back to where they were.

As she and PJ walked away, she felt sad and disappointed for the second time today.
First the outburst with Christian and now this,
she thought to herself. She hoped that once she and PJ met up with his father that the evening would get better and they could all share a few laughs. But as they approached Parker, standing on the sidewalk up the street, she knew her night was going to take another nosedive when she saw her brother standing beside him with a wild look in his eyes and a grin on his face.

I
f anyone had told Samantha that she would practically beg to go on a weekend getaway to a town with a total population equivalent to her local mall, she wouldn't have believed them, and if someone had told her that she'd actually be having fun, she'd have laughed right in that person's face. But here she was, smack dab in the middle of Nedine, South Carolina, having the time of her life.

Her day had started early. Samantha had never been a morning person, and rising before dawn had always been a challenge. But this morning it was Samantha who had risen and dressed before Tyler or Chance had even gotten into the shower. She had been more than ready to begin their weekend, hoping that Alexandria's words and the next three days would bring about a great change for the better. “I can't believe you're dressed and ready before I am,” Tyler had said as he walked out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist.

Samantha looked at the tiny droplets of water that clung to her husband's skin, and smiled. After seventeen years of marriage, she loved that Tyler still made her temperature rise below her waist. “I'm ready because I'm excited,” she said with a mischievous grin that let Tyler know what she wanted.

“Sam, we've got to hit the road, and we've got to pick up Victoria and Ted, plus drive out to Dunwoody and get Uncle Maxx before we even get on the highway.”

Samantha pulled off her shorts and T-shirt as she watched Tyler shake his head and smile. She walked up to him and unfastened his towel, letting it drop to the floor. “This'll be a good pick-me-up for the road.”

“Mmmm,” Tyler moaned as she kissed his neck and flicked his skin with her tongue.

“Ten minutes won't put us too far behind, and it'll give me just enough of what I need,” she purred.

Tyler embraced her, kissing her softly until they both fell against their queen-size bed. “Just ten minutes, huh?” Tyler said in between heavy panting. “You know I like to take my time.”

When he slowly eased himself inside Samantha, she let out a soft moan that rose up from the back of her throat. She relaxed her body as Tyler gently kissed her skin and made love to her slowly, taking his time as he'd said he would. His deep, penetrating thrusts filled her with the kind of pleasure that made her thighs tremble. His rhythm and skill was so precise and knowing that it didn't take long for her to reach an orgasm that shook her body into a wave of ecstasy.

Samantha loved that Tyler's mission was to always please her, and she was glad to say that every time they made love he achieved his goal. She moaned softly as he continued to stroke her, increasing his pace. Once he reached his breaking point and found the gratifying place she'd just discovered, they lay wrapped in each other's arms for a few minutes before they had hurriedly pulled on their clothes and packed their SUV.

The tension, headache, and stress Samantha had felt over the last two weeks melted away as they hit the road and headed to Nedine.

Now as Samantha stood in the middle of downtown Nedine, looking at African art with Tyler, she couldn't remember the last time she'd had this much fun.

“This is unique and well-crafted,” Tyler said as he picked up a large wooden mask. “It would look great in my office. How much?” he asked the vendor.

“A hundred dollars,” the man said.

Samantha reached inside her handbag, opened her wallet, and was ready to give the man her money.

“Not so fast,” Tyler whispered. “We can negotiate a better price.”

Samantha turned to face her husband. “I know that. But I think this beautiful mask is worth it, and I know you certainly are, so I don't mind paying full price.”

All Tyler could do was smile and accept his wife's gracious gift. “Thanks, Sam.”

After the vendor wrapped the mask and handed it to Tyler in a large bag, they walked up and down the crowded street, taking in the sights and sounds of the night. Samantha was surprised by the amount of people who had come out to celebrate the Flower Festival, and even though the crowd wasn't as diverse as she'd hoped, she was glad there were a few black vendors, like the one she'd just patronized, and one or two others sprinkled throughout the area.

She and Tyler hadn't eaten since lunchtime, so they walked over to the barbecue stand for a taste of Southern comfort food. After they made their selection—hickory-smoked barbecue chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, collard greens, and cornbread—they found a place to sit that was close to the music stage, allowing them to keep an eye on Chase. Samantha watched as her son danced to the rhymes the hip-hop group was performing.

As Samantha studied Chase, she paid close attention to the girls around him. They stared and flirted boldly. And to Samantha's surprise, even some of the twenty-something young women were checking him out. She secretly wished that Chase weren't so handsome, tall, and charismatic, and she definitely didn't want his voice to be as deep and seductive as it was. She knew this was the reason his cell phone battery was always low. Girls texted and called him nonstop.

“Damn, this food is good,” Tyler said as he bit into his chicken, pulling Samantha from her thoughts.

“It sure is. I so wish I could cook like this.”

“Me too.” He laughed. “You can't boil water, but it's all good, baby.”

Samantha shook her head and laughed. Among the many things she loved about Tyler was that he was honest to a fault. If there was one thing she knew she could count on, it was that her husband would always be truthful with her no matter what the situation. Tyler had suffered many losses in his life, from losing his parents when he was a young boy, to becoming a widower when his first wife and college sweetheart died of a rare kidney disease. And when he hadn't thought his heart could ache any more, he'd had to bury his aunt Beatrice, who had raised him and had been the only real family he'd had left. In spite of his struggles, Tyler's spirit and positive energy had kept him going, even when he hadn't wanted to.

“I'm glad you asked Victoria to let us tag along,” Tyler said “This town is pretty cool. This is what you call a down-home Southern good time.”

Samantha smiled. “It sure is.”

“Chase seems to be having a good time, too.” Tyler nodded in the direction of their son, who was talking to a young woman who looked to be a few years older than him.

“He better not have too much of a good time. That's what's got him in trouble right now.”

“Having a good time isn't his problem—it's the decisions he makes while he's having fun that worry me. I'm gonna have a straight-up man-to-man with him tomorrow. No holding back.”

“Good, and I pray he listens to you this time.” Samantha had finished her food while Tyler was still working on his plate. She drank her sweet tea, which tasted like a dessert, and watched as her son laughed and flirted just a few yards away. “I made a lot of mistakes when I was his age, and even as a young woman, and I don't want Chase to follow down the same path.”

Tyler nodded. “He's a good kid. We're gonna get through this.”

“I hope so.”

“After we get back home, I'm calling David Carpenter to arrange a trip up to D.C.”

Samantha nearly choked on her tea. Just the mere mention of the man's name made the contents in her stomach rumble with anxiety. She'd been checking her phone every few hours to see if she'd received another inbox message from David, but thankfully he hadn't contacted her since yesterday. She was hoping she wouldn't hear from him this weekend, much less have to meet with him as Tyler was suggesting. But she knew she'd eventually have to. The more she thought about the situation the more tense her body felt, and she knew she needed to step away and calm herself. “I need to go to the restroom,” she told Tyler. “I'll be right back.”

Samantha walked in the opposite direction toward the public restrooms and lingered around the food stands as she took a few deep breaths. She reached inside her bag to check her phone again, and sure enough, David had sent her another message. She braced herself as she read.

Samantha was furious and she knew she needed to end her back and forth with David. She searched her phone's contact list where she'd stored his number yesterday and dialed him. He picked up the phone on the first ring.

“Hello.”

His voice was still slow and easy with a down-home Tennessee drawl that used to drive Samantha wild. But she knew what kind of snake he was and it made her blood pressure rise. “Who the fuck do you think you are, threatening me?” Samantha asked.

“That's no way to greet an old friend,” David answered with sarcasm. “But then again, we were never friends, were we?”

“Cut the bullshit, David. Why are you acting like an asshole? There's no reason to threaten me.”

“Like I said, it wasn't a threat, it was a warning. Honestly, I was hoping I'd never lay eyes on you again, but now that this disaster has happened with my daughter and your son, here we are.”

“Yeah, motherfucker, I feel the same way. But you don't see me contacting you with crazy bullshit . . .”

“Hold up,” David interrupted. “You need to stop with the motherfuckers. I haven't called you out of your name and I damn sure don't want you calling me out of mine.”

“I don't give a shit what you want and I can say whatever the hell I want to, bitch!”

David let out a snide chuckle. “Now it all makes sense.”

“What?”

“With a mother like you, it's no wonder your son has no morals. I'm sure that after following your example he had no problem taking advantage of my daughter.”

Samantha was so livid she felt like screaming. She let out a deep breath before she unleashed her next words. “You have some nerve. First of all, you don't know shit about how I parent my child and you have no room to judge. You don't hear me saying that with a booty busting father like you, it's no wonder your daughter spread her legs like you spread your ass! You act like your past isn't littered with dirt.”

“Fuck you!” David said in an angry voice.

Samantha knew she'd hit a nerve but she didn't care. She wanted to put an end to what David was trying to start. “Why did you contact me and threaten me?”

“Because I know you're a loose cannon and you're angry about our children's situation. I am, too, but I know how to control myself and I know what's at stake.”

“Motherfucker, you don't know shit about who I am or what I feel. I know that my son's future is at stake and stands to be ruined by a baby that might not even be his.”

David drew in a deep, frustrated breath. “There you go again. I told you about your disrespectful language, so you need to stop. And furthermore, if my daughter says your son is the father, he is.”

“And I told you that I'll say whatever the hell I want to,” Samantha shot back, ignoring his last comment. “Now tell me why you even contacted me in the first place.”

“Because I want to make sure that our understanding is still intact.”

Samantha wanted to jump through the phone and wring his neck. “Seriously . . . are you kidding me? It was you who threatened me from the very beginning, back then and now. I didn't say a word about what I saw your trifling ass do with those men. After I took a STD test and it came back negative, I didn't give a damn then and I still don't today. That's Millie's problem, not mine.”

“Leave my wife out of it.”

“And you leave my father out of it.”

David chuckled. “Your father, that's a good one.”

Samantha had had enough. “Okay, so this is what's gonna happen. I'm burying the past so I can start new beginnings, and in order to do that I need to bring the truth to light—my truth. You continue to keep your secret, but I'm gonna tell mine.”

There was a moment of silence on the phone before David spoke up. “So what you're saying is that you're not going to tell what you saw?”

“No, I'm not. Contrary to what you think, I've grown and evolved. It's up to you to tell your wife that twenty-plus years ago you were in a threesome with two other men, doing shit I couldn't dream up even if I tried. The fact that you like sucking dick, taking it in the ass, and using kitchen gadgets to get off, is on you. So don't send me any more messages, you bitch ass punk.”

“You expect me to believe that you're going to expose your secret, yet keep mine? You must think I'm a fool.”

“No, I think you're a troublemaker with no conscious,” Samantha quickly replied.

“Speak for yourself. I'm not the one living a double life.”

“Oh, but you are. You're no different from me because you're pretending to be someone you're not.”

He'd just confirmed that he was still on the down low, living a double life while deceiving his family. Samantha knew he couldn't be reasoned with so she didn't try. “Like I said from the beginning. Do what you feel you have to.”

“Oh, don't worry, I will.”

Her head was beginning to hurt. She was tired of going round and round with David and she was ready to end the conversation. “I'm going to clean the skeletons out of my closet. What you do with the bones in yours is your business.” She hung up the phone, dropped it back down in her purse, and headed back to the table where Tyler was sitting.

She walked up to him and gave him a kiss. As Samantha looked into Tyler's loving and trusting eyes, then over to her son, who was now making his way toward them, she knew it was time. She was going to tell Tyler the truth tonight so she could start a fresh new beginning.