Vision of Shadows (8 page)

“Stuff.”

“Not good enough
, sister,” Maggie complained.

I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes for a moment. I needed to tell Maggie something because she wasn’t about to let up, but I couldn’t tell Maggie about what was really going on. 

“Maggie,” I said. “What we talked about wasn’t romantic. Not even close. It was more… family related. Payne wanted to speak to me today because of a family situation. One he thought maybe I could help with. That’s all.”

Maggie nodded as I spoke
. She waited a beat when I was done, considering what I said.

“Family stuff?” she echoed. “What kind of family stuff?”

“Private family stuff,” I answered. “His, not mine. I’m supposed to meet up with him after school in the same place. Just to talk. Nothing more. I can’t tell you anymore. It wouldn’t be right.”

“Oh
.” Maggie wore a contemplative look. “Okay, I get that.”

I waited for the next array of questions to begin, but they didn’t come. I breathed a sigh of relief. Before long, we each pulled out homework and got busy. When the bell
rang, I realized it was the last class of the day. It was time to head home before meeting Payne in the woods. Alone. 

E
arlier, when I was with Payne, I was certain with all my heart he meant me no harm. But all of the visions of him in my dreams squeezing the life out of me kept flooding back to my mind ever since, as did all of the other far more romantic images of us together. I wasn’t sure what to make of it all. Last night’s nightmare hadn’t helped calm my nerves either. 

“Maggie, can I tell you something?” 

“Are you nervous,” Maggie asked, “about Payne? I think I understand. Ever since you explained it to me, I’ve been rolling it around. I’ve got to say, I don’t think I like this. This could be bad.”

“You think?” I asked. 

“Yeah, I do.” She nodded. “I could be wrong, of course. I hope I am. But considering we’re talking about Payne McKnight and his history, I have to wonder what his intentions are.”

M
y grip tightened on my book bag, and it was all I could do to keep myself from shaking. 

“Maggie,” I said, “listen.
There’s just something about Payne…I don’t know how to describe it. I may be wrong. I hope I am, but I’d feel better knowing that you know I’m going to be alone with him. So, if something should happen, and I disappear, you tell my uncle what I told you. Okay?”             

Maggie’s eyes grew as wide a
s saucers, and her mouth formed a perfect O. Her hand flew from her open mouth to her beating heart and then back again several times.

“You think something might happen to you?” Maggie asked. “That’s crazy! I can’t believe…”

“What do you mean you can’t believe?” I asked. “After what you just said to me about being worried about his intentions and his history? What was that all about?”

“I was afraid
he was going to pull the ‘
can’t we just be
friends’
card on you,” Maggie explained. “It never occurred to me you were
really
afraid of him.”

I couldn’t believe it. What
was it about this girl that made me keep putting my foot in my mouth? It must be the fact that she gotme to talk more than any other livin
g
—
emphasis on livin
g
—
person.

“What did you mean by his history?” I asked.

“Bristol, he’s had a rough life. I figured that was part of what you were talking to him about?”

“Keep going
,” I demanded.

“You know,” Maggie answered, “about the car accident.”

“What about my parents?” I asked.

“Not
your
parents. Payne’s Mom was killed in an accident. He was thrown clear from the car and survived. But his Mom…” She shrugged and shook her head, unable to finish her sentence.

Was it his mother’s grave
he was visiting? 

“Ok
ay.” I sighed. “I think I get some of what was going on. He hadn’t told me that part yet, but let’s just say I sensed something. I was just…misinterpreting things.”

Maggie nodded. “Ok
ay, I’ll leave it at that, but listen. Blackburns and McKnights have a long history, and it’s not a good one. Be careful. Call me tonight and tell me what happened. Okay?”

I nodded. “Ok
ay.”

“Really
, Bristol,” Maggie said. “Call me. Tell me.”

I could
tell she wasn’t looking for gossip. She was just trying to be a good friend.

Looking her straight in the eye
, I said, “I promise to call. As for telling you, if it’s private, I may not be able to give you details. But I’ll do my best.”

“Ok
ay, good,” she said as she headed for the door. “But if today ends with any kind of kissing that involve two sets of lips, I want details! No excuses.”

S
he wiggled her eyebrows one last time and ran out the door. 

* * * *

“I don’t like it.”

I was in my room, getting ready for my rendezvous with Payne. Obviously, I wasn’t alone.

“Really, Jay, I’m sure everything is going to be all right,” I said while I tried to decide what to wear. I needed something a bit more comfortable to move in while with Payne. And I guess I wanted to try to look nice for him at the same time. I don’t know why, since there was absolutely no chance of anything romantic happening between us. Guys like Payne didn’t kiss girls like me.

“Bristol, are you listening?” Jay asked. “I don’t want you to go.”

Jay had heard me telling Maggie about my scheduled meeting with Payne and was worried. He waited until we were alone to approach me. 

“I’m listening,” I said
. “And I think you’re sweet for caring, but I’m sure everything will be fine. Besides, Maggie knows where we’re going, so if I should suddenly disappear…”

“
If
you should suddenly disappear…” Jay interjected while lying on my bed. “Are you listening to yourself, darling? There would be a very excellent chance the good sheriff will be able to arrest Payne for your murder, but you’ll still be dead.”

I stopped brushing in mid stroke and met his eyes in the mirror. “Yeah, I get that but…I’ll be fine.”

“Then why are you worried about being alone with Payne?” Jay asked. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” I insisted. “Look, you’re worrying for nothing. I’ll be fine.”

Jay looked unconvinced. “No, darling, I don’t think you should go. Stay with me.”

“I promised Payn
e I’d meet him.” I sighed. “Now turn around.”

“What for?”

“I want to change my top,” I said, pulling out a soft pink blouse that showed off my attributes a little without being overly obvious. “C’mon now, turn.”

“Is that really necessary considering the circumstances?” Jay asked as he passed a hand through the wall near him. “It’s only me, darling.”

“I don’t care that you’re a ghost,” I said as I twirled my finger. “I am not letting you watch me get changed. Now turn or disappear.”

With a heavy sigh, Jay closed his eyes and turned away. I quickly changed tops, keeping an eye on him. He might be dead, but he was still a guy.

When I was done, I moved over to the table where I kept my makeup. I didn’t really wear much on a regular basis, but for special occasions I put a little on. Did meeting a smoking hot guy, who may or may not murder you, to try to talk to the ghost of his cousin count as special enough for eyeliner or lipstick?

“I don’t know why you’re bothering with that stuff, darling,” Jay said.

“I guess you’re right. A little lipstick isn’t going to help, is it?”

Jay came to stand before me. He was so close I would have felt his body
’s heat, if he had a body. He looked me in the eyes and something deep within my heart twitched. 

“That’s not what I meant,
darling,” he said. “You just don’t need it. You have no idea how beautiful you really are.”

I felt my cheeks flush. I broke eye contact, unable to keep looking and see the raw attraction there. It was not only flattering and embarrassing, but it was also deeply sad. Jay was so young. Whenever it was that he had died, something he had yet to share with me, he was too young to have ever married. I wondered if he’d ever really fallen in love.

“I’ll be fine,” I insisted again. “I’m supposed to meet him at four.”

Jay sighed. “Then you better get a move on.”

With a huge sigh and an unbelievable amount of apprehension, I waved goodbye and shut off the lights to my room.

* * * *

I walked along the stream, trying to ignore the battle of butterflies going on in my belly. As if meeting with Payne McKnight wasn’t bad enough, I was about to attempt to talk to a ghost in front of him. I never thought in my life that I would ever do such a thing. I learned at a very early age that speaking to the dead was something to be kept private, because as far as the living were concerned, it was really freaky. 

I found Payne waiting for me in the spot where I had seen his cousin yesterday. The little boy whom Payne called Jared was nowhere to be found, nor was his dog named Eli.

“Hi,” he said. “I’m glad you came.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t?”

“I figured you’d show. I got a pretty good feeling of the type of person you are.”

“Oh? Wh
ich type is that?”

Payne took a step closer and I tingled. “The amazing kind,” he said, looking into my eyes with that
melt my heart
stare. “The kind that is willing to reveal her secret because it means so much. The type with a very beautiful heart and soul.”

“So
, I have a beautiful heart and soul, huh?” I wondered if that was the first sign Maggie was right.
That Bristol Blackburn sure has a beautiful heart and soul, but she’s kinda plain to look at.
 

Payne reached out and fiddled with my hair
, and my mind filled with images of visions I’d had of us over the years. How his fingers would start in my hair and then slowly go elsewhere.

“Among other things,” Payne said. “
I could stand here and look into your eyes all day.” Payne kept gazing at me, never breaking eye contact. As each second ticked away, I felt more and more wobbly. 

Finally
, I backed away a few inches. “This isn’t going to help,” I explained.

Payne nodded. “Sorry,” he muttered with a grin. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear there was a twinge of regret on his face that we were here to do more than ogle each other all day.

Payne sighed as he looked around at our surroundings. “So what do we do? Should we call his name? Light candles? Is there a ritual?”

“No
.” I smiled. “That’s just stuff from the movies. If he feels like showing up, he will. It might help if we’re thinking about him, but no promises.”

Payne nodded. “I know you can’t guarantee anything. And I do appreciate your coming here to try. It means a lot.” 

“By the way, about Maggie, I told her we were talking about some private family stuff,” I explained. “Just in case she says something to you.”

Payne smiled. “Why didn’t you just let her think that we were meeting for a good make out session?”

My eyes opened wide at the suggestion. “Oh my God! Because we’re not. And I didn’t want to lie. Besides, who would believe me?”

Payne
walked toward me, this time with a gleam of mischief in his eyes. “You don’t think I’m someone you’d like to kiss?”

Ok
ay, now I was getting very warm and flustered and more than a bit queasy. “Uh, no. I mean… yes. Of course you are… I mean… Ah!” I snapped. “That’s not what I meant and you damn well know it.”

I expected Payne to laugh, but instead he just got close
r
—
and I’m talking
really
clos
e
—
and started twirling my hair again. 

“Then what did you mean?” he asked.

I stared up at him, determined not to gulp or babble. “I meant a girl like me doesn’t usually get a guy’s attention, especially a guy like you.”

Payne listened and didn’t s
ay anything, but the finger he had used to twirl my hair was now softly stroking my face. I was having one of those
Oh, dear Lord
moments. I put my hands on his chest and pushed him back an inch. “So, why don’t we talk about Jared?”

Payne nodded. “Why don’t we?” 

“I saw him wearing the same cap as in your picture,” I said. “Plus a T-shirt that matched. Were the Giants his favorite baseball team?”

“Football. Not baseball,” he corrected.