Lies Beneath the Surface (Buried Secrets #2) (31 page)

“I’m sorry I brought it up, I just worry so much about you and the kids. Does he know you’re going to South Carolina for the wedding next week?”
I ask, shoveling a scoop of peanut butter cup ice cream in my mouth. Mmm, now I understand why I’m getting so chubby.

“He does. I even asked him to go with us, hoping for our own family vacation of sorts, but he refused; said he had too much work to do. It’
s probably for the best, you hate him anyways.”

“We’ll all
have a good time. Thanks for letting us use the beach house. Heidi Jo is so excited to spend the entire week with her new cousins.” Daddy left his house in Myrtle Beach to Savannah. It sits on a secluded section of the beach, away from the commercial hotels and resorts. The beach house is three stories and has ten bedroom and eight bathrooms. Since the wedding party is relatively small, it just makes since for everyone to stay together.

“It’s your home to use anytime you want it.
”

We finish up our treats and
say goodbye. With the Tahoe loaded down with half of
Babies ‘R’ Us
, we make our way back home for Colton to unload it all. Yep, I ain’t lifting a finger. I picked it all out and watched the stock boys load the vehicle, the least he can do is pack it in the house for me, right?

Pulling
in the driveway I see the side-by-side still atop the trailer hitched to the back of Colton’s truck. Heidi Jo rushes in the house, giggling. Walking into the living room, I hear Luke and Colton laughing with Heidi Jo from down the hall. What the hell are they doing back there?

“Y’all better not have tracked mud in my damn house, Colton. Luke, I’m still pissed at you, so pack your sorry ass home.” I say waddling down th
e hall, following their laughs into Colton’s gym room. Pushing the door open, my mouth drops and I quickly encase it with my hands.

“SURPRISE!” They all three screech. Tears fall down my cheek
s rapidly as I take in the baby’s nursery. Luke walks over and puts an arm around my shoulder, half hugging me.

“
Sorry about my comment earlier. I really meant nothin’ by it, beauts.” Nodding his head to Colton he steps out of the room, disappearing through the house. Colton approaches me next, wrapping his arms around my hips and pulling me tight against his chest.

“That comment has bothered that asshole all damn day.” He snickers,
rubbing my belly softly. “What do ya think, darlin’?” He asks burying his face in my neck. I grip his arms, melting into his chest.

I am in awe of this room.
The walls are painted a bright turquoise blue with bubblegum pink polka dotted curtains stretching from the grey ceiling to the floor. I look around at the various pictures hung on the walls. My favorite is a simple wooden sign, hand painted with a monkey riding the waves on a surfboard. It reads, “If you want to know how much I love you, count the waves in the sea.” Circling around the room I take in the white sleigh style crib, decorated with funky polka dot sheets and a multicolored chevron printed bumper pad. A surfing monkey mobile hangs above the crib. Looking up my eyes catch the white wooden letters hung on the wall above the crib.

“
RYLEE.” I whisper to myself.

“When I asked you what names you liked, that was the first name you mentioned. Is that okay?” He questions.

Turning around I tip up on my toes and press a soft kiss to his lips, “It’s perfect.”

Opening up the front door to my childhood beach home brings back so many memories that a wide smile splays across my face. The fresh scent of peach cobbler wafts through my senses and I’d swear one had just been freshly baked. I step inside and look around the ginormous entryway in wonderment. Savannah steps inside behind me, linking our hands together and rests her head on my shoulder. “Feels just like home.”

And she’s right…it does feel like home. The only thing missing is Daddy
smoking a cigarette on the front porch swing as he watches the tide roll in.

“Welcome home, girls!”

“MOMMA!” I screech when Momma makes her way from the kitchen. Latching my arms around her neck tightly, I giggle over this little surprise. “I didn’t think you could make it!” Colton and Luke carry in the luggage from the Tahoe, working their way around us as we embrace this moment.

“Savannah and I wanted to surprise you. I’ve been here since last week. Came in and cleaned the house, stocked the kitchen full of groceries and I have supper waiting for y’all now.”
The boys come racing back down the stairs shoving each other out of the way at the mention of supper. Colton pauses mid stride kissing Momma on the cheek and saying hello as he rushes to the dining room table. Savannah and I get the kids washed up and together we all sit down together for a family supper. Everyone that is important in our lives is here to celebrate our union together. Savannah, Brailee, Braden, Emma, Bill, Momma, and Luke. I can’t help but to smile seeing my family among us, feeling all of their love and support.

I was very happy that Emma was able to talk Bill into coming. After his heart attack,
Emma refused to let him go to work for a week. During that time, he and Colton had a few small trips up to the pond and judging by the way they react to each other now, I think they’ve buried a few of their outlying issues. Naturally, Colton hasn’t mentioned any of their tension to me at all, and if that’s how he prefers it, I’m fine with it.

After supper,
Momma and Emma get the kids ready to go fishing on the pier with Colton, Luke and Bill, while Savannah and I clean the kitchen. Once everything is in its place and the counters are spiffy clean again, I cut four slices of peach cobbler and we make our way outside to relax on the front porch with Momma and Emma. Walking out the front door, Savannah stops and runs her hand down the molding on the door. “Look at this!” She exclaims. “Goodness, I don’t ever remember bein’ this small, do you?” I look at the uneven notches that Daddy carved into the door frame with his old pocket knife each summer.

T
railing my hand over the splintered wood I say, “It’s strange looking back on our childhood; especially knowing the things we know now, right?” Catching myself, I shake my head then proceed to the front porch swing.

“What do you mean?” Savannah
ask, on my heels. Shit. I was really hoping that she didn’t catch that comment.

“Things change, is all.” She accepts my reply with a sweet smile.

She lays her head back against the old rocking chair, extending her legs to the ottoman. On a breathy sigh, she gazes out at one of God’s most beautiful creations and smiles. “It’d be so nice if my life could be as simple as it was when I was a little girl. I always loved coming here in the summer.  I’d cry when we’d go back to Kentucky.”

“
Okay girls,” Momma says clapping her hands to catch our attention, “Enough reminiscing, we have a wedding in a week so let’s get down to business.”

“Yes ma’am.” I mock, trying to sit up a little straighter. I’m so happy that Momma is here with us this week. When I called and invited
her to the wedding she declined the invitation, saying that she and Garrett would be traveling this week.

We go over the details for the wedding, Momma making sure we don’
t miss the tiniest of details. “Carolina Jo Simon, I can’t believe you didn’t even consider flowers.”

“Momma, who the hell’s gonna catch the bouquet? Everyone’s married!” I laugh.
So I forgot a few minor details, who cares!?

“Don’t you use that tone with me, young lady. You will carry a bouquet, and Brailee and Heid
i Jo will have flowers to toss on the aisle runner. The men will each have a boutonniere and the ladies will each have a simple corsage. A wedding can be simple yet elegant, dear.” She huffs a frustrated breath with her neatly shaped eyebrow arched high upon her forehead. Damn, I know that look…that’s the same look I give when I’m pissed. Oh shit. I have my momma’s mean look!

Gathering my resolve that this is a battle I will not win, since this old woma
n is good at her game I give in, dramatically tossing my hands up in the air for show. “Fine, Momma. There will be flowers. Now, anything else you’d like to request for MY wedding?” Emma and Savannah look back and forth between Momma and me silently laughing.

“Did you remember to order a cake, or to have dinner catered?”

“Yes, Momma. Savannah handled all of that for me. There will even be a photographer here to capture every waking moment of the wedding. Anything else?” I smile with my teeth, batting my eyes hoping that she’ll pick up on my annoyance.

“
Okay, sweets. I just want your big day to be perfect. You understand that don’t you?” She tilts her head to the side, speaking sweetly.

“Momma, the entire reason I chose a beach
wedding is because I just want to marry Colton. I’m not concerned about all of the bells and whistles, all the charades. I want us to bask in the beauty of the ocean, the wild wind blowing through our hair as the warm summer sun looks down on us and smiles when we say our vows.” I pause, drawing up a sip of sweet tea. “I have a very busy life. I’ve become a momma to Heidi Jo, I’m pregnant with your grand-daughter, and I have a company to run. All of that in itself is enough stress to turn my pretty locks of brown to grey. One look at a wedding magazine and panic ensued. I don’t have time for panic. I don’t have time for stress. So please, order whatever flowers you like, my favorites are lilies, tulips and hibiscus. But leave me to enjoy my beach vacation with my family.”

Momma pats my leg and turns to Emma, quickly changing the subject from the wedding to their newly expected grand-daughter. Sighing in relief, I
sit back and enjoy the evening, listening to the girls chatter about. The warm wind blows briskly through my hair and before I know it, the sound of the ocean crashing against the shore line lulls me to sleep.

The week
flies by quickly. Colton and I wake up early each morning to watch the sun rise and the dolphins playing in the ocean. After breakfast, we take the kids down to the beach. Heidi Jo loves it here. She and Brailee have been hand in hand since we arrived, as if that’s a surprise. Even little Braden is having fun, shoveling sand in his Tonka truck and backing into the girls’ sandcastles. Little twirp is so rotten, but ya gotta love that snaggle tooth grin he shoots ya. The week has been relaxing, which is just what I needed.

I’ve just come up from the beach
to get out of the blistering heat. Momma is sitting on the front porch reading a book. “Hey, Momma.” I say opening the screen door.

“Carly, do you have a few minutes to talk to me?” She asks, her voice laced with concern. Wonder what’s bothering her?

“Sure, Momma, let me run to the little girls’ room and I’ll be back down.” She nods. I hurry off to the bathroom, then stop in the kitchen to fill my glass with sweet tea. I pad out to the front porch, ready to plant my ass on the porch swing when Momma stands and walks off the porch.

“Come on, sweets. Let’s go for a walk.”

A walk? In hundred degree weather? I’m seven months pregnant. Is she stupid?

“Momma,” I call, trying to catch up to her. “Momma, it’s awfully hot out here. Can’t we talk on the porch in the shade?”
She continues to walk towards the beach, waving me towards her. “Well slow down at least. Goodness I’m a waddlin’ duck here.” She stops, shooting me a deadpan glare as I trudge through the hot, white sand catching up to her.

“Momma, what’s bothering you?” I ask when I reach her side. She continues to walk, making her way to the w
arm water kissing the shore line.

“I’m worried about your sister. She just doesn’t seem like herself.
She’s been cooped up in her room all day, hasn’t even eaten a bite of food.” Oh. “Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary with her?” She questions, searching my eyes for the truth. Shit.

Savannah’s on the brink of shattering. I can see it in her dimly lit eyes, the glimmer of all hope gone. She’s
plastered on her mask all week smiling happily for everyone among her, too proud to show her pain. Yesterday evening as the kids searched for sea shells on the beach, she walked the shoreline in deep thought. Luke, being the broken soul with a loving heart approached her. Luke is empathetic. If someone around him hurts, he hurts with them. I brought the kids up to get them cleaned up and when Savannah came in, I could see that she had been crying. She said she had a headache and went to bed. I hate seeing her hurt, but only she can change the position she’s in.

“Momma, Savannah’s just struggling with some things that are a bit personal right now. Believe me when I say, if she needs you, she’ll let you know. But it’s not my place to tell her story.”
Momma sighs, shaking her head. I know that’s not the answer she’s looking for, but I can’t break Savannah’s trust by telling Momma what she’s going through.

We walk in silence for several minutes, when Momma speaks up again.
“You know my story, Carly; why I left you girls. I never wanted to tell you girls anything damaging about John, because I never wanted to taint your memory of him. But I can feel your strength, I can see it in your eyes. Savannah is weak. I don’t know that she can handle so many secrets being unleashed at once.”

“I agree.
That’s why I haven’t told her about Drew yet. But I gotta tell her sometime, Momma.” I know that’s not what she wants to hear but I owe Savannah the truth as soon as I can find the strength to break her a little more. Poor girl has enough heartache to live with.

“Why, Carly?”

“Momma, Josh works for Drew. Drew has been a part of Savannah’s life as long as Josh has. He knows Savannah is his sister and so does Josh. They’re just playing a sick, twisted game with her. I’m worried about her. I’ve tried to find the courage to tell her for months now. I just don’t want her to hate me for keeping the secret."

Momm
a sighs, looking up at the clear blue sky. Not a cloud in sight today. “I never have liked Josh. He reminds me too much of your father. He always plays the perfect husband, but I can see the sinister look in his eyes. I’ve asked Savannah before if he’s good to her. I know she lies, hiding behind a mask. Acting like everything is perfect; hell, I did it myself.”

Linking my ar
m through hers, we walk back to the house. I don’t have to tell Momma what she wants to hear. She has known all along that Josh abuses Savannah, she was just hoping I’d confirm it.