Heart Breaths (24 page)

Chapter · Twenty-Two

Why was she here?

The sound of heels startled me out of my attempts to breathe.

“You’re pathetic, you know that,” Jen said matter-of-factly as I leaned against the wall. “Pathetic. Everyone says so. You were already treading on thin ice with that ridiculous hallucination of yours about the car accident, but people were willing to let it go. And then there was the fact that you were going to school to become a teacher, of all things. Even if it was Bank Street that you went to. It was weird, and everyone knew that. But Mother was so good to you, and cleared over everything. And then how did you repay her? By turning into a hysterical wreck when Crawford dumped you. Pathetic, Maddie. Pathetic. If you weren’t related to me, I would be taking pictures of your trashy little outfit and sending it to every gossip rag in the country.”

“Dear God,” drawled a voice. “And I thought I had family problems.”

I nearly collapsed with relief. Mary Elizabeth.

“Je-sus,” drawled another voice. “Would you look at that hair? Dear God, I should start praying for whatever misguided fool told you that you looked okay.”

“Excuse me?” Jen snapped, whirling around.

Mary Elizabeth, Hannah, and Sam all stood there. I had never seen the three of them look so fierce. I had never been so happy to see the three of them.

“You know, darlin’,” drawled Hannah as she walked over to me, Sam and Mary Elizabeth flanking her. “Here’s something funny I thought I should tell you about Eno. You might be interested to hear about it.”

Her drawl thickened as she stared down Jen. “We might not all have the same fake, over-the-top, snooty, little voice that you seem oh-so-proud of, but down here, if you mess with one of us, we’re all taking you down. Gossip rags or no gossip rags.”

Sam leaned forward, her eyes flashing. “And isn’t it just lovely, Mary Elizabeth, how everyone is so friendly with each other down here?” she asked, her smile just short of vicious. “I mean, if someone’s botherin’ us ’round these parts, all we have to do is text the sheriff, who would be more than happy to get rid of the problem.”

Jen glared at her. “Oh, you all think you’re so cute,” she said, straightening up. “Look at all your little friends trying to help you out, Maddie. So cute, when none of you are ever going to be worth anything.”

I looked at her, her eyes flashing with contempt as she stood there, playing Queen of the Universe. Crawford was hovering near the car by the street.

A few months ago, I would have cracked. I would have let her win.

But now?

Looking at Sam, Hannah, and Mary Elizabeth, I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. I was about to tell her what I thought about her opinion of me. And where she could shove it.

And suddenly, a Southern drawl interrupted. “Really, Jennifer Anne?” I whirled around. It was Grandma Evelyn, her voice dripping, sugary sweet. “Funny, how you think none of them are going to be worth anything. Quite entertaining, since you’re looking at a licensed teacher, a future physical therapist, a nurse, and a top-notch beautician. All very fine, upstanding and worthwhile professions. All of whom have accomplished more in their lives than you can ever dream of accomplishing. See,” she continued, staring down Jen, “They’ve all earned where they are, which is more than anyone can say about you. You were just born into the right family, and now you’re leeching yourself onto a guy who will probably end up cheating on you before the ink is dry on your marriage license.”

Jen gaped at Grandma Evelyn for a moment, before turning her wrath at her. “Excuse me?” she hissed. “If I were you, I would rethink that statement. You see, you’re some stupid hick lady from the middle of Nowheresville. Having your little café closed down would take just one silly little phone call.”

Grandma’s smile grew. “If I were you, I would rethink
that
statement,” she said, her accent slowly dropping as she stared down Jen. “Because I could have your silly little house torn down with just one silly little phone call. Think you’re so special, Jennifer Anne Darlington-Gray? Just because your great-grandfathers knew how to play with money? Other people knew how to play with money, too.” She smiled, the kind of smile I had seen more times than I could remember on my mother’s face. The smile before she went for the kill. “Like my grandfather. You may be familiar with his name? Jacob Joseph Remington? And his business partner, and my other grandfather? Charles Beauford Bayliss?”

My mouth dropped open. Grandma Evelyn was a Remington-Bayliss? The Remington-Bayliss family ran the New York socialite scene. Rich to levels that most people couldn’t even fathom, and having more connections than a phone book. Having the stamp of approval from a Remington-Bayliss basically assured your position in life. If you got on the wrong side of a Remington-Bayliss? There were rumors of what happened then. And they were all true.

“I’m sure you know my brothers, Charles and Joseph Remington-Bayliss? And you may have heard of my late husband, James Alvin Bryar. I’m sure you have. Funny, what a small world it is, isn’t it? And even though I live in the middle of Nowheresville, as you so quaintly described it, we still have telephones down here, and I’m sure Emily, my sister-in-law, would be fascinated to hear about your visit down here. She so appreciates a good story like that, and if I hear anything back from all my friends up in New York? I will definitely be including that in the next chat I have with her.”

Jen’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times as she stared at Grandma Evelyn in disbelief. I knew her brain was working overtime, trying to figure out if Grandma was telling the truth, or was a truly excellent liar.

I had been in school with Charlotte Remington-Bayliss. We never really were friends, seeing as I was never cool enough for her. But I did remember hearing her mention something about an aunt who lived in the South.

By the look on Jen’s face, she had probably come to the same conclusion.

Her face ashen, she turned around and headed to where a clueless Crawford waited by the car. “Let’s go,” I heard her say. “I hope the new house is in a better neighborhood than this.”

I waited until the car drove off before bursting into tears.

“It’s okay,” Sam crooned as she rushed over to me and hugged me. “It’s okay.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Mads, but your sister is a bitch,” drawled Mary Elizabeth.

I laughed through my tears. Mary Elizabeth, as always, was right.

I turned to Grandma, who was standing there, looking the same way that she always did. “You’re a Remington-Bayliss?” I asked, sniffling a bit.

She nodded. “Honey, family is only a name if you make more of yourself than they do,” she said. “James and I moved down here a little after we got married—neither of us were interested in the New York social scene, and bless their souls, my family forgave us for it.”

“Forgave you?” Hannah asked. “What did they have to forgive you for?”

“Moving to North Carolina,” Grandma said, her drawl returning.

I took a deep, shuddering breath. “Thank you for sticking up for me,” I said. “You didn’t have to.”

“Didn’t have to,” scoffed Mary Elizabeth. “Considering your sister, maybe you never learned this growing up. That’s what families do, silly girl. They stick up for each other.”

“That’s what we do for the people we love,” Sam said, echoing back the words I had spit at Diane when she was in the café.

Grandma walked over and put her hands on my cheeks. “You okay there, love?”

“I think so,” I whispered.

“Take the time that you need before coming back in,” she said, heading back toward the café.

“What are you three doing here?” I asked, leaning back against the wall.

Sam scowled. “I walked in a minute after she did, for my second cup of coffee. Once I figured out who she was, I texted Hannah and Mary Elizabeth to get over here, because I thought that she might start something like that.”

She shook her head, disgusted. “Jesus, Maddie, no wonder you left.”

I smiled shakily. “And you never met my mother,” I said, feeling my lips quirk up.

“And please God we never will,” Hannah drawled. Coming over, she gave me a fierce hug. “I have to get back to studying,” she said. “But when you’re feeling up to it, we’ll go back to Farley’s and test his amps.”

I hugged her back, grateful on more levels than I thought possible. “Thanks. Thanks for coming to kick my sister’s butt.”

She smiled. “Anytime, darlin’. Next time we’ll bring the boys—they do love a good show.”

I laughed as she jogged off, back to studying.

“I should go, too,” Mary Elizabeth said, hugging me. “You’re gonna be okay, Maddie?”

“I think so,” I said, smiling.

She squeezed my hands. “You’re gonna be fine, hon,” she said. “I promise.”

“How did I get so lucky?” I asked as Mary Elizabeth walked away.

“You’ve got good karma,” Sam said, leaning on the wall beside me.

“I never thought I did,” I said thoughtfully. “But you may be right.”

“I’m always right,” she said, a smug smile spreading across her face. “That’s why we’re friends.”

“That must be it,” I replied.

The sound of Sam’s phone jolted me out of the bubble of thankfulness I had been floating in. “Oh, shoot, it’s Jessica,” Sam said, glancing at her phone. “Jess? I’ll be back in a few. Sorry, something came up… sure. Thanks.” Hanging up, she looked at me. “I’ve got to go back to the salon,” she said.

“Not without your caffeine,” I said, leading her through the back door. “You deserve a medal, Sam.”

She laughed. “No, honey, I deserve coffee.”

“Always,” I said, handing her a cup. Sobering up, I looked at her and could feel the tears start again. “Thank you, Sam,” I whispered, leaning over and hugging her. “Thank you.”

Hugging me back, she smiled. “We’re going to fix everything, Maddie,” she whispered. “And soon you’re going to be the one with the sexy stories.”

“Oh my God, you and your dirty mind!” I laughed, trying not to think too hard about any sexy stories I could have. “Don’t worry, Sam. Really.”

She shook her head. “Not having this conversation now,” she said, picking up her coffee. “I have some hair to cut. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

I nodded and watched her breeze out of the café.

“You okay, Maddie?” Grandma asked me that night as we cleaned up the café.

I shrugged. Was I okay? I didn’t know.

“I guess so,” I said, picking up a chair.

I swept under the table, thinking. “Grandma?” I asked.

“Hmm?”

“Did you know?”

“Did I know what?” she asked.

“Who I was, when I came here the first time?”

Grandma smiled. “The first time you walked in? I didn’t know who you specifically were, but I knew where you were from,” she replied. “You can’t really hide an upbringing like yours so easily, Madeline. But when you asked me about the job, and told me your full name, I realized who you were.”

“It didn’t make a difference to you?” I asked.

“Why would it?”

I shrugged. It had always made a difference. Always. Be it positive or negative, having someone know who I was always changed things. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “But it seems to always have a way of creeping up on me.”

“Honey, everyone’s past has ways of sneaking up on them,” she said. “You just have to be in a place in the present that you’re strong enough to deal with when your past comes to visit.”

“I don’t know if I’m strong enough for that.”

“Your past just came knocking this afternoon. You’re fine.”

I tilted my head to look at her, trying to figure out if she was serious.

“You have people who love you here, Madeline. You have family here. The family that you chose for yourself. Trust me when I tell you, you’re strong enough.”

I had family here. I did.

A real family this time.

Walking over to her, I leaned over and hugged her. “I love you, Grandma,” I said, feeling myself get choked up.

“I love you, too, darling,” she replied. “You know you always have me now, don’t you. Wherever you end up—if you decide to stay here or keep going. You can’t lose me now, baby girl.”

“I’ll try not to,” I said, sniffling.

Handing me a handkerchief, she patted my back. “You won’t,” she said. “I promise.”