Mississippi Heat, page 12
“Sure.” Her lips curved. “Let’s try it and see what happens.”
The day of the reunion started out like any other day for Lacey. Waking up early for her run, followed by coffee with Brooks before he started with his work. And since he’d informed her things would be noisier than usual at the house, she’d packed up her laptop and papers and headed to the library.
She missed knowing he was just in the other room, but she managed to get some good work done.
By early afternoon, she was submitting the articles she had finished, beating the looming deadlines by mere days. Feeling accomplished, Lacey checked the time and was surprised to see she’d missed lunch. She’d gotten so used to taking her breaks around the times Brooks took his that she hadn’t stopped her work.
Maybe she’d hit up the diner down the street, grab a couple of club sandwiches to take back to the house for the two of them.
Pleased with the idea, Lacey gathered her things, gave the librarian-a woman who’d been there since Lacey herself had been in grade school-a little wave, and headed for the door. She’d taken two steps onto the sidewalk when she collided with another body.
“I’m so sorry,” she began as she took a step back to give some space. But once she met the eyes of the other person, her apology died in her throat. “Ashley.”
Ashley Ballard, the one-time recipient of Lacey’s right cross, stood on the sidewalk, just as stunned to see Lacey.
“Lacey.” Clearing her throat, Ashley gripped the strap of her oversized shoulder bag. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.” Now she took a deep breath and appeared to attempt a smile. “I’d heard you were back in town.”
“Yeah. Been back a couple of weeks now.” Lacey hated, absolutely hated, that she felt like she was in high school again. The fact that she wanted to shuffle her feet galled her and the old feelings of animosity were coming on strong.
When a woman with a young girl approached the door to the library, Lacey stepped outside to allow them to enter. As the door swung closed behind them, Lacey turned back to Ashley. “I need to go. Guess I’ll see you around.”
“Lacey, wait.” Ashley closed the gap between them and laid a hand on her arm. “There’s something I’ve wanted to say to you for a long time.”
“Okay.” There was suspicion in Lacey’s tone.
“I’m sorry, so sorry, for the way I acted when Claire and Jo disappeared. I know you don’t have any reason to believe me,” she added when Lacey’s eyes narrowed. “But I apologize from the bottom of my heart.”
“You know, you were convinced Claire took off on her own. And you were pretty nasty about that. About Jo, too. What made you change your tune?”
“Some really hard life lessons and a hefty therapy bill.” Shrugging, Ashley breathed in deep. “It took me a while to realize I was not a nice person in high school. Back then, I was just trying to be the cool, popular girl. Only to realize later I was a total bitch. And that I deserved that punch you threw to my face.” She gave Lacey an amused half-smile.
“That’s what I told my parents when they grounded me for it.” Now it was Lacey’s turn to smile.
“Listen, I’d love for us to get together for lunch. Consider it a peace offering and a fresh start.” When Lacey hesitated, Ashley rushed on. “My treat, of course.”
“Oh, um.”
“I know it’s short notice, so if you’ve got plans, I totally understand. We can do it another time.” The expression in Ashley’s baby blue eyes could only be described as pleading.
“Yeah, another day would be great.” Not sure how to deal with this version of Ashley, Lacey struggled for something to say. “I have to get going, but I’m assuming you’ll be at the reunion tonight?”
“Class officer,” Ashley began with a roll of her eyes, “so yeah, I’ll be there. You?”
“That’s the plan. Maybe we can catch up a little tonight, if we get the chance.”
“Sounds good.” Hitching the bag a little higher on her shoulder, Ashley gave Lacey a genuine smile. “I’m glad I ran into you.”
“Maybe next time, you don’t do it literally.” Hefting her own bag’s strap to her shoulder, Lacey grinned as she gave Ashley a little wave. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Lacey replayed the encounter all the way through picking up lunch and the quick drive home. If someone had told her that she would be having a civilized conversation with Ashley Ballard today, she’d have called them a bold-faced liar. She was still amazed it had happened, even as she pulled into her driveway more than half an hour later.
Brooks straightened from where he’d been working on rechaining the swing that now sat on the wooden deck of the porch. Seeing her climb from behind the driver’s seat, he set aside his tools and wiped his hands on his jeans as he went down the short set of steps.
“Didn’t expect you back so soon.”
“Is it soon?” she asked as she opened the passenger door. “I figured I was running behind since I missed lunch.” Holding up the diner bag, Lacey tilted her head as she studied Brooks. “You eat?”
“Nope. Guess I missed lunch, too.” Meeting her halfway, Brooks took the bag and fell in step with her as they made their way back to the porch. Settling onto the top step, he handed the bag back to Lacey. “You didn’t have to bring me lunch, you know. I brought something, stashed it in your fridge.”
“I was stopping anyway, so I figured I’d get something for us both.” She pulled out a container holding a thick club sandwich, gave it a little tilt back and forth. “But if you don’t want it…”
“Hand it over,” he said with a mock growl. He was grinning as he took the first huge bite.
“You’re never going to believe what happened today.” After handing him a napkin, Lacey settled in with her own sandwich. When her statement was met with a questioning look, she continued. “I was leaving the library to go get lunch and literally ran into Ashley Ballard.”
“You don’t say?”
“Here’s the weird thing, though. She was actually nice to me.” Lacey gave a quick shake of her head. “It felt like I’d stepped into an alternate universe.”
“Jo used to tell me bits and pieces about her. And something about you decking her once.”
“Yeah.” Smiling, Lacey nodded. “I did. To be fair, though, she earned it. A fact she admitted today.”
“Huh.” Brooks snagged a chip from the pile next to his sandwich in the takeout box. “Sounds like she grew up a lot.”
“It does. She invited me to lunch. A peace offering and fresh start, she said.” Considering, Lacey nibbled at a piece of bacon that had escaped her sandwich.
“Gonna go?”
“Maybe. We’ll see how tonight goes.” She eyed him as she took a drink from her to-go cup of sweet tea. “Speaking of tonight, what time should I be ready?”
“Reunion starts at seven, right?” At her nod, his brow furrowed a bit as he thought it out. “So, five-thirty? That’ll give us time to go eat and still not be the very first ones through the gym doors.”
“Works for me.”
“That means I’ll have to knock off early here so I have time to go home, shower and change.” His dimples flashed as he grinned at Lacey. “Think you can clear it with my job boss so I don’t get in trouble?”
“I think I can pull a few strings.”
“Good, I’d hate to get fired. This is a cushy gig.”
“Right. Finish your lunch and get back to work.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
11
In the cooling breeze of late evening, Lacey stood in front of her old high school, studying the front doors while she took long, calming breaths.
“Nervous?” Brooks asked from where he stood beside her.
“A little,” she confessed before turning to look at him. “It’s stupid, right? To be nervous about going back in there?”
“For most people, I’d say yes. But for you… well, you went through a lot. And a lot of it took place behind those doors. I’d say you’re justified in feeling some nerves.”
“Okay.” Another deep breath in, a hiss of air as she slowly released it. “Good.”
“You ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Lacey felt her confidence click up a notch when she felt the warmth of his wide palm at the small of her back. Just knowing that he was there, knowing that she had someone with her who would understand how she was feeling, did wonders for her nerves.
They followed the stream of people making their way through the front doors. After collecting their name tags, Lacey felt the pressure at the small of her back again as Brooks guided her to what looked to be a bar.
“Alcohol in school?” With a mock shake of his head, Brooks clicked his tongue. “What would the principal say?”
“Let’s not ask. I’m willing to risk getting suspended again.” She grinned at him. “What do you say? You with me?”
“Absolutely.”
Once they had their drinks in hand, they made their way into the gym. The music was already pumping and there were groups of people gathered along the court, up in the bleachers. Conversation flowed and occasionally a burst of laughter echoed through the room.
“You know, it’s almost like the dances in high school,” Lacey said as she looked around. “If you don’t count the alcohol.”
“Well, there was alcohol then, too. The teachers just didn’t know it.” He sent her a crooked grin as she laughed. “You ready to mingle?”
“God. Mingling.” She rolled her eyes with a smile. “Yeah, let’s get it over with.”
The last of Lacey’s nerves simply slid away as she reconnected with old classmates. She didn’t even feel those nerves hitch when Ashley rushed up and gave her a quick hug.
“I’m so glad you came. I worried you might not after I ran into you earlier today.”
“Trust me, I had second thoughts but they had nothing to do with you.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Brooks smirk just before he took a sip of his drink. “Ashley, do you remember Brooks Harding? He’s Jo’s older brother.”
“I remember bits and pieces. You were a couple years ahead of us, right?”
“Yeah, but I figured since there was nothing to do around here tonight, I’d come out and slum it with some of the underclassmen.”
Lacey watched as Ashley tried not to sputter, then laugh as she realized Brooks was joking with her.
“Well, we’re glad you’re here.” Her smile dimmed as she took a deep breath. “We have a small ceremony put together for Jo, Claire and the other girls.” Ashley met Lacey’s eyes. “We didn’t want them to be left out or forgotten tonight.”
“Thank you,” Lacey said softly as she took Ashley’s hand. “It means a lot.”
“It’s the least I could do, after what I did back then.” Her expression apologetic, Ashley glanced at her watch. “And speaking of the ceremony, it’ll be starting soon so I should go make sure it’s set up. If I don’t catch you after, I’ll reach out about lunch soon. Okay?”
“Sounds good.”
The remembrance ceremony, as Ashley called it when she took the stage twenty minutes later, was a simple but lovely arrangement. It included pictures the yearbook and school newspaper had taken, along with some video recorded at various school functions.
Seeing her friends on that screen-beaming, vibrant, alive-had Lacey’s throat tightening with tears. When the first one fell, Brooks wordlessly pressed a handkerchief into her hand, wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and pulled her into his side.
After the lights, dimmed for the slideshow, came back to full brightness, Lacey sighed.
“I’d all but forgotten what they sounded like,” Lacey told Brooks, her voice rough. “Then it all came rushing back.”
“Yeah.” Brooks cleared his throat. “For me, too.” He rubbed a hand up and down her back in gentle strokes intended to sooth. “Let’s go get some air.”
“Yes, please.”
They’d gotten halfway to the doors when a petite brunette stopped them.
“Brooks Harding?”
“Yes?”
“Carrie Vaughn.” She held out a hand out of what seemed to be habit. “I’m one of the class officers. Ashley wanted me to give you a message.”
“Sure. Shoot.”
“Um.” Carrie held out a USB drive. “Once she realized you were here, she wanted to make sure you had this. It’s a copy of the slideshow, for you and your parents. If you think they’d want it,” she added in an uncertain rush.
“Yeah.” His tone sober, Brooks nodded. “Yeah, I think they’d appreciate it very much. I know I do.” He closed his hand into a fist around the drive. “Please thank Ashley and the other officers for this.”
“I will. I hope you both enjoy the rest of the evening.” With a little wave, Carrie disappeared back into the crowd.
“That was really nice of them,” Lacey murmured.
“Yeah, it was.” He studied the drive for a moment before tucking it into his pocket and pressing an absent kiss to Lacey’s hair. “I’ll make sure you get a copy, too.”
“Oh.” Thrown off by the casual intimate gesture, Lacey just nodded. “Okay. Thanks.” As they made their way to join others on the small front portico, she looked up at Brooks. “If you don’t want to stay, I’ll understand. We can leave whenever you want.”
“No, I just need a minute.” He led her over to a short bench, tugged her down to sit beside him. “That was harder than I thought it would be.”
“I know. I keep it expecting it to get easier but--”
“--every time it feels like a punch in the balls.”
“Well,” she said, laughing for the first time since before the ceremony, “not knowing how that feels personally, I’ll just go with my original thought and say it’s still painful.”
“Definitely painful.” He nodded as he stared off into the distance. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about my sister. I know it’s the same for you, with her and with Claire.”
“Yes.”
“And it’s painful. I don’t think that’s ever going to change. But things like this...” He patted the pocket that held the drive. “They help keep their memories alive for us.” Brooks took a deep breath before reaching over to take her hand in another absent gesture. Twining his fingers with hers, he gave Lacey’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Ready to get back in there or would you rather head home?”
“I’d like to stick around for a little while longer, if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
They spent the next hour sharing stories about students and teachers, about the shenanigans they’d gotten away with during their time at the school. And those they hadn’t and the punishments they’d faced.
When the last group they’d spent time with invited them to the after-party at a nearby bar, Lacey was grateful when Brooks declined.
“Gotta get up early for work,” he explained when they tried to convince them to come along, “and since I’m not as young as I used to be, I don’t quite bounce back like I once did.”
“You could have gone, you know,” Lacey said once they were back in his truck and heading for home.
“Yeah, but I’m just not feeling it tonight.” Brooks cruised through the green light and made the turn that would take him down Lacey’s road.
“Tired?”
“Some.” He took his eyes off the road long enough to glance in her direction. “You?”
“A little.”
“See? I don’t think either of us would’ve had, or been, much fun.”
“You’re probably right.” She watched his headlights sweep over the landscape as he turned into her driveway. Neither of them said a word as Brooks killed the engine, came around to open her door, and walked her up the front porch.
“There’s something I’d like to say.” When her inquisitive eyes met his, he simply said, “I’d like to take you out.”
“What was this?” she asked with a laugh. “A trial date?”
“Sort of, I guess.” He tempered his one-shouldered shrug with a grin.
“Where are we going to go around here?”
“They built a small bar and dance hall just down the road a couple of years ago.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “It’s where that group is heading for their after-party.”
“Huh.” She tilted her head as she considered. “When?”
“Tomorrow too soon?”
“I don’t know. It’s awful last minute.” She laid her accent on thick as she batted her eyes. “I might already have plans.“
“But you don’t.”
“No,” she replied in her normal voice. “I don’t. But I do have a question.”
“Shoot.”
“Are you just trying to sleep with me?”
“Hope springs eternal.” He smiled fully, dimples flashing as she sputtered out a laugh. “But if that were the case, I could have made the move right here.”
“Uh-huh.” Humming quietly, she bit her lower lip as she gave the idea a few seconds of thought. “All right, Mr. Handy Man. You and me, tomorrow night. Seven too early?”
“Nope. Works just fine for me.” Leaning down, he pressed a quick kiss to her cheek before jogging down the porch steps. Turning back to where she still stood under the porch light, he grinned again. “Hey, Lace?”
“Yeah?”
“Make sure you wear some dancin’ shoes. I plan to get you out on the dance floor where I can put my hands on you.” With a devilish wink, Brooks climbed into his truck and drove until his tail lights disappeared into the darkness.
Across town, a killer studied the Tatesville High School social media feed on a second-hand laptop, sitting at a scarred and dented desk.
There were plenty of photos of the night’s class reunion. Images of old classmates getting back in touch, dancing, and remembering the good times. And there was a photo of a woman who, in his opinion, should never have made it to adulthood.
He could tell by the image, one where she stood next to a dark-haired man and talking with a blonde woman, that she’d had no idea her photo was being taken.
