Derailed

Everett reclined in the pool, the heavy tropical Louisiana air making him lazy. He didn’t have too much work to consider these days. It was the southern way—
he who is laziest wins the game
. Once he’d made partner at the Boston firm his workload had diminished by more than half.

Courtney walked out onto the back porch of their childhood home. Only Courtney wasn’t a child. Neither was Parker or Julian. It baffled Everett that they still lived at home. Unlike him, they had no ambition. He smiled, satisfied with himself and his accomplishments. He would have done anything that would have led him far away from Louisiana.

Courtney dove into the pool, splashing water onto his prized pre-season release Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses. “Dammit Courtney, you splashed water on my glasses.”

“Have you become that much of a pussy, Everett? Boston’s made you soft.”

“I just didn’t realize you were so rude and uncultured.”

“I’m uncultured?”

“Yes.”

“What’s the last book you read? Law tomes don’t count.”

“Whatever.”

“Why are you still here anyway? Aren’t you afraid the southern Louisiana stink is going to get into your perfectly cleaned pores?”

Yes, Everett was in fact leery of certain aspects of the South—the gun-slinging backwoods conservative zealots for one. “If you must know I’m here to support Parker and Julian.”

“They seem to be doing just fine without your support.” Courtney laughed deeply, and then pushed a wall of water at Everett.

“You’re going to pay for that, kiddo!” Everett pounced on Courtney and pushed her until they were both underwater and in need of oxygen. They made it to the surface and gasped for breath.

“Good to see you’ve matured, Ebbwet.”

“You splashed me,” Everett said around a cough. “And don’t ever call me that.”

“What will you do?”

“I’ll tell Marcus Peterson that you want to have his babies.”

“Eww.” Courtney’s nose scrunched. “You’ve just got your panties in a twist because you can’t get Maura’s friend to go out with you. I believe they call that a shutout.”

Everett balanced precariously on a pool lounger. He’d made some gains with Fiona. They’d had a blast together in New York. He’d taken her to a bar after
Phantom of the Opera
. They’d both had a little too much to drink and the rest was history, as they say. But he wasn’t going to tell his little sister that.

“I’m going to have more time to work on her.”

“How so?” Courtney sat on a pool step and applied sunscreen to her arms.

“I’m working on a gig at the Baton Rouge office.”

“
You
accepted a Louisiana gig?”

“I was requested.”

“By whom?”

“Ashton.”

“Loony old Ashton David?”

“He’s not that much older than we are.”

Courtney frowned, “No but he’s totally screwed in the head.”

“Like you aren’t.”

“At least I can function in modern society. When’s the last time he even set foot outside of that dilapidated plantation?”

“Dad says he doesn’t ever leave.”

“I guess he doesn’t have any reason to leave. However, his snubbing of Mom’s holiday invitation every year is starting to piss me off. We share a property line with the guy—besides, he’s our cousin.”

Everett looked across the property in the general direction of Ashton David’s plantation. “It must be hell on him to be so tormented at so young an age.”

“It must.” Courtney followed Everett’s gaze, and then they shared a knowing moment of silence for their estranged cousin who in his mid-thirties had been through as much suffering as Dante Alighieri when he descended into the ninth circle of hell.

“Still, I’m going over later today to get his estate in order. He’s got some oil leases he wants me to look over. Do you want to go with me?”

“Yeah, I’ll go.”

***

“Why are we taking the long way around?”

Everett looked upon his sister with measured disdain. “I’m not driving the BMW across a field.”

“Pretentious much?”

“It doesn’t belong to me, Court. It’s the firm’s car. I don’t want to scratch it, or worse.”

“Fine. We could have taken the mule, you know.”

“Mule?”

“Never mind,” Courtney huffed.

“I climbed into Dad’s old Ford, but the battery was dead.”

“Strange.”

“It’s what happens when vehicles sit up.” Everett shrugged.

“So you’re back indefinitely?”

“Seems so.”

“Well I’m glad. I’ve missed you. I don’t like you so far away from the rest of us.”

“You could come visit me more than you do. Of course that would require you to leave your beloved Baton Rouge.”

“Plane goes both ways, you know. Plus I have my job. It’s hard to get away.”

“How’s the real estate biz going?”

“It’s picked up. Parker and Bailey finally moved into their new home. It’s nice. Whenever you’re ready to settle down with Fiona, give me a holler.”

“Don’t hold your breath.”

“A girl can dream.” She sighed.

“Shit, I passed the entrance.”

“I didn’t see one.” Courtney turned back to glance over her shoulder.

“It’s overgrown.” Everett U-turned and doubled back to the barely visible gravel lane. As soon as he made the turn onto number two David Way, long gangly fingers made of oak scraped against the fancy car creating a sickening squeak. “Shit.”

“So much for not scratching your Beemer. Why does he not keep up with the yard?”

“I don’t know. Look at this place!”

Alley after alley of oaks lined the gravel road that snaked up to the home. Each three-hundred-year-old tree reminded Everett of Medusa, with its many long and twisted limbs that almost seemed to reach out and grab him. The canopy beneath the trees was so thick it had triggered the automatic headlights to engage.

Courtney whistled, “This place is ultra creepy.”

“Tell me about it.” The winding gravel lane seemed to have no end. “Where’s the house?”

“There”—Courtney pointed straight ahead—”I think I see it.”

Ahead, Everett saw the house slowly come into view. It was a double balconied monstrosity. “I think it used to be white.”

“It’s ghastly.” Courtney added a dramatic gasp to round out her summation. “Does he have anyone to help him care for the place?”

“Not from the look of it.”

Courtney frowned, “Maybe he can’t afford it.”

Everett scoffed. “This clan has more money than we do.”

Courtney shrugged. “I just don’t get it.”

“Do me a favor, don’t say things like that when we get in there. Dad said this is the first time Ashton has reached out to anyone since the incident.”

“Hold on,” Courtney mimed putting on a halo. Everett rolled his eyes at her, and then in true southern country fashion, put the car in park in the middle of the massive lawn.

Walking up to the front of the towering structure Courtney leaned into Everett, “You couldn’t pay me to live in this place.”

“Hey … I thought you were wearing your halo?”

Large blue eyes blinked back at him. “That’s my last thing. I promise.”

“Good, because we’re here.” They climbed out of the car and waded through knee-high grass and weeds to the rotting wooden steps leading to the porch. Maneuvering the steps required a fair amount of skill to avoid falling through. As they reached the door Everett pressed the illuminated doorbell button.

“I didn’t hear the bell,” Courtney said.

“Well you wouldn’t hear it out here.”

“I think you can hear our bell from the porch,” she haughtily countered.

“Our bell is ridiculous. It plays
Rodeo Hoedown
.”

“I like our bell.”

“You would.” Everett rang the bell again.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She poked a sculpted nail into his neck.

Everett swatted her finger away. “You like ostentation.”

“Oh, please! If that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black!”

Everett engaged the ornate lion’s head that was the doorknocker. “Weird.”

Uncomfortable, they both turned and looked back across the lawn at the BMW. A loud crack of wood reclaimed their attention as they turned to see the door opening, sticking after years of weathering.

A little intake of breath could be heard emitting from Courtney. It was small, but Ashton’s narrowing eyes ensured he’d heard it. She was so not being cool.

Ashton’s eyes tightened further on Courtney. “Don’t move.” His voice was grave and harsh.

Ashton lunged at Courtney, his hand cupping her collarbone. Her eyes wide she searched for Everett. Stepping forward he prepared for an altercation, but before he could throw a punch Ashton pulled his hand away, enclosing his fingers around his palm. He bent before them and lifted his dirty work boot, smashing whatever he held in his hand. When he moved Everett saw a horsefly the size of a dollar coin.

“Horsefly’s are as big as buzzards around here. Suck the life right out of you.”

“Ashton, it’s been a long time. Much obliged. Love what you’ve done with the place.” Courtney laughed and just like that she had proceeded across the threshold leaving Ashton and Everett staring at one another.

Fiona Miller was proud of her accomplishments. And she’d accomplished much, given her baptism by fire into adulthood. However, none of her accomplishments could be attributed to a man—except for one. Ryder was her life. Her
greatest
accomplishment. Her most exceptional creation. She would give her own life gladly for his. She’d never let anything or anyone come between them. That’s why when she received the third text of the day from Everett David, she became more than a little annoyed.

“Quinn,” she hollered, but received no affirmation in return. Fiona walked down the hallway of the tattoo studio she owned.

“Quinn.” Turning the corner into studio A, she found him doodling into his composition book.