Black 21: (Golden Hills Legacy of Black 21 Book 1) (2 page)

Her aunt turned
to her and looked her straight in the eye, but every so often glancing down at
her semi-wrinkled hands. “I’m so sorry about tonight and what our dear friend
was asking of you, Daisy,” she began. “With what happened to you, I don’t blame
you one bit for talking that way to him, not one bit,” she said, shaking her
dark head. “Why, I’m sure you were scared to death to be alone in your own room
after that incident. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

But she wasn’t
okay. She would never be okay again. She finished the stew, almost licking the
bowl. She didn’t realize how hungry she was. She feigned a smile and responded.
“I know you understand and I appreciate that. Thank you for taking care of me,
Aunt Betty." The trust she felt for this woman was solid as a brick, a
virtue she had lost back home for most.

Aunt Betty
wrapped her soft arms around her slim body, compelling her to return the hug
after placing the empty bowl down on the nightstand. She laid her head on the
flowery patterned dress of her aunt’s shoulder and closed her eyes. She needed
this.

“I do have to
say, though, Daisy, that this young man they want you to meet is really nice as
can be. I’ve known him since he was a little boy running around the
neighborhood like he was king of the castle–”

“Now, Aunt
Betty, you’re not trying to talk me into the same thing, are you? I said I
would think about it." She pulled away and smirked, raising her eyebrow.
That ping again.

Her aunt
whispered like it was a secret. “I know it sounds crazy, but what’s the harm
with just meeting him? You actually did once when you were visiting a long time
ago, you know.”

“I did?”

Aunt Betty
nodded with a passion. “Oh, yes. Once when you and your dad and Gloria came to
visit. Oh, he was running around with a black cape on pretending to be a witch,
I think, and you walked in like a little princess ready to cast a spell on him.
Well, he stopped in the middle of the room with his golden cane, and that was
the first time I ever saw that boy be quiet,” she said, laughing at the memory.

“Why don’t I
remember that? Did we play?" Curiosity filled her with a need to know
more. She didn’t have a lot of friends in Chicago, always studying. Loneliness
was a part of her life. She accepted it.

“You know, I
really can’t remember that, but I will never forget the look on his
eleven-year-old face. We all had a good laugh seeing that. Your cousin, Dane,
was chasing him around the house when you walked in the door, and was not happy
with your disturbing his game,” she added, looking off to the distance as if
watching it all over again in her head.

A tightness
gripped her belly. “Where is Dane?" The deep mark on her back should have
still been there from when he took a bat to her on one visit, but it had
completely healed to her amazement. He used to sneak in her room at night and
try to crawl in bed with her. She had scratched him so hard one time it drew
blood. He just tasted it and laughed.

“He’ll be here
tomorrow sometime! Coming home for summer break. I miss him around here, but we
have to let them go, I guess." She patted Daisy’s knee and curved her
mouth up to the corner, waiting for her response about the ball. “So...?”

“Aunt Betty, I
don’t know. I really don’t feel comfortable doing this. I mean, the ball is for
his birthday, right?”

“Yep, the big
twenty-one. Such an occasion around here. Every young man who turns twenty-one
celebrates in the biggest way possible and then usually move on to wonderful
careers for themselves,” she said, clapping her hands. “I can’t wait for when
it’s our boy’s turn, just one more year,” she said, smiling with a glint in her
eye.

A shiver
trickled down Daisy’s spine as she watched her aunt go on and on about this
birthday bash. This town seemed too small to really hold that many boys, but
maybe they’re all grown, past their twenty-first birthday and got out. What
about the girls, though? What happened on their birthday?

“Please, for
me, Daisy? You know I would never put you in a position you weren’t ready for,
right? You’re the daughter I never had, really. Lord knows we tried for one,
but it just never happened." Aunt Betty wiped her eyes, but Daisy never
saw any tears.

She sighed and
threw her hands up in the air. “Fine, fine. Just for you, Aunt Betty. Not for
that man sitting out there – only you and Uncle Joe.”

Aunt Betty
clapped her hands together and squealed like a little girl. “Really? Oh, my
goodness, Daisy. You won’t regret it, honey. Christian is so wonderful. He
hasn’t had a girlfriend since high school, had a bad experience and all, so you
don’t have to worry about him trying anything with you. He likes to date a lot
of girls at once. Nothing serious.”

“A bad
experience?”

Aunt Betty’s
head snapped toward her as if coming out of a trance, remembering Daisy was
even there. “What? Oh, yes. He used to have a sweet girlfriend, Tara Brown.
Very pretty and popular. Maybe he’ll share the story with you sometime, not for
me to gossip about. He just hasn’t been interested since that ended so
tragically. And, well, the other girls from around here are a little used, if
you know what I mean. You’re such a good girl, and that’s what Christian
deserves on his birthday. A good girl. Just like my boy deserves.”

Shock filled
Daisy’s green eyes as she stared off for a moment before returning to her. She
then touched her aunt’s arm to prompt her to continue. “I think he just wants
to leave after his birthday bash, honestly. He’s already graduated, you know.
Very smart kid,” she added. “Yeah, just too many bad memories here for him, but
again, not for me to talk about." She winked and stood. “I’ll let Bill
know the good news and let you get some sleep. Oh, and his birthday is on
September Fifth, so you have some time.

“If you ever
want to talk about what happened at home, you let me know. I’m always here for
you, sweetie. Your father said you were pretty shaken up,” she said, bending to
look at her necklace. “What a pretty cross,” she noticed, peering at it through
slitted eyes.

“Thank you. It
was Mom’s. Makes me feel safe,” she admitted, caressing it.

“Well, isn’t
that nice. Night, dear,” she said, disdain crossing her face.

Daisy nodded,
once again ignoring that ping, too tired to care. She yawned and scooted under
the covers, ready to let the day go. Her door closed, and she felt sleep creep over
her, but not before hearing cheering going on in the other room.

Her eyes popped
open, fearing she made a mistake. The deal was done. No backing out now. As a
long wave of howling echoed from outside, twelve bells tolled from a distance.

Dread overwhelmed
her, bringing her heart to a dull thud pounding in her chest. More cheering and
clapping, clinking of wine glasses from the living room.

Shadows crossed
back and forth below her door in the light on the other side. She then heard
the living room door open and close…then quiet.

Except for one
more clink of two glasses.

As Daisy
stepped out of the shower to grab a towel, she screamed. Dane stood there with
a haunting look, holding her towel out for her. His blond bang swooped over one
dark blue eye and that same mischievous grin.

“Get out,
Dane." She scrambled to get the towel wrapped around her and close it, a
rage building.

“Hey, Daze.
Heard you had some trouble back home. Everything okay, I hope?”

“I said leave.”

Desire haunted
his eyes as he backed up. “Thought I’d say hello first before you met the whole
tribe.”

“Tribe?”

“Yep. See you
out there.”

After he left,
she ran to the door to lock it. She swore she had already locked it. Dane
hadn’t changed. If anything, he’d gotten worse. How could she stay here? She
just couldn’t.

And tribe?

Before going
out there, she made her bed and pretty much stalled. Her skin felt damp even in
the cool air-conditioned room. She chewed on her thumb nail, thinking about her
plans. Just the summer here until the big event, and then she would start
teaching kindergarten at Lincoln Park Elementary. It was her old school, which
made her more excited to teach. She had interviewed with her old teacher, Mrs.
Burke, who now was the principal.

She planned on
finding an apartment close by the school and finally leave home. That was a
relief to her. She would miss her dad, but that was it. Things could be better
with her stepmother. This was her father’s idea for her to come here, but now
she didn’t know if that was the best idea.

The birthday
party was prior to Labor Day, and then back to the city to begin her new life.
And the thought of dealing with Dane again made her sick. She couldn’t handle
him right now, not after what she had been through at home. He was the last
thing she needed.

She grabbed her
purse and glanced around the room. Anxiety filled her once again before opening
the door and heading out to the living room. The smell of bacon and eggs
drifted to her. She opened the door, and what greeted her took her by surprise.

William stood
from his seated position, along with whom she presumed to be Christian. “Daisy,
I want you to meet my son, the famous Christian.”

Christian Stone
took a few steps and held his hand out to her.

“Hello, Daisy,”
he responded, carrying an impish grin. “Nice to finally meet you.”

Recognition
flashed in her eyes as she stared at the man she met yesterday in the woods.
She scanned both father and son and then took his hand into hers to shake it.
“Nice to meet you as well, Christian,” she said, playing along with his little
game. She returned his polite smile, his worldly presence filling the small
room. It wasn’t the same man running in the woods, but a more polished one
standing before her.

Dane stood in
the corner, amused with a toothpick between his lips, and a few other nameless
faces sitting on the couch. Her aunt and uncle looked on with smiles as wide as
the ocean. Everyone in the room claps for the couple.

Dane claps long
and hard at Christian. “Aren’t you glad it’s not one of my cousins from my
mom’s side, Chris?”

The others
snickered and shuffled their feet, casting their eyes to the floor.

“Dane Joseph
Lock!” Aunt Betty said.

Christian
glared at Dane with a hardened jaw and intense, black eyes.

Daisy
simultaneously snapped her head at Dane in disgust. It had to kill that poor
woman to see her son behave so ugly. Her heart went out to her. He was
everything to his mother.

The light
fixture above Dane’s head suddenly dropped, almost knocking into Dane. He
jumped out of the way and steadied it at the dangling cords, emitting a nervous
laugh coating his anger. “Dad, you really need to look into that.”

“Right, son.
Will get on it today,” Uncle Joe answered, contempt passing across his face.

She caught
Christian’s questioning eyes, as he gave an impish grin to her little trick. He
also seemed to understand it more than she did. She could do things like that
since she was little, but never to that extent. Only things like turning lights
off and on, making the doorbell ring, or making papers fly up in the air. Easy
stuff.

“Daisy, I’d
like you to meet some of my old friends. We’re like one big, happy family
around here.”

Daisy nodded to
them to which they bowed to her in return. She drew her brows together in
confusion.

“How about some
breakfast, everyone? I’ve got plenty!" Aunt Betty said.

Mr. Stone
cleared his throat and looked at his son. Christian took his cue. “I thought
I’d take Daisy out so we can get to know each other better,” he said, more
telling her than asking.

“What a great
idea! Yes, you two go off together,” Aunt Betty agreed.

“Right now?”
Daisy asked. “Isn’t this a little rushed?" But everyone in the room seemed
to be in agreement, waiting for her to give in. “Fine." She glowered at
her aunt who looked away.

“Great! I know
this quiet little diner in town.”

She collected
her purse and headed to the front door, pushing the screen door open. She
snapped on her sunglasses and strode to the truck in the driveway.

Christian
caught up with her and helped her up into his truck before getting in on his
side. He pulled out of the gravel driveway. The little rocks sprayed everywhere
as they crunched under the weight of the tires.

A cold silence
filled the truck. It must have rained that morning because everything looked
wet and smelled of musty water. The warm air blew in her face with the windows
down, her long auburn hair flying all around.

Different-sized
houses whizzed past them, some brick, some with siding, some with both, some
Georgian, Victorian, and Ranch, but all with pretty landscaped gardens and
well-groomed lawns. All exactly the same. Then mansions, one by one, came into
view.

She closed her
eyes to take in all the sounds and smells of the country when she was startled
by the sound of his voice. “Sorry – what?”

“I said thanks
again for doing this. It almost seems ridiculous to even have something like
this. I mean, a ball for a birthday, right? Crazy,” he said, shaking his dark
head.

“No, it’s fine.
If that’s what you do around here, then I respect that. I wish I would have had
something like that for my twenty-first birthday,” she admitted.

His head
snapped at her words and then stared straight ahead of him, clenching his jaw.
“No, you don’t. Trust me.”

“Excuse
me?" She had to strain to hear his words of warning.

“Nothing. Here
we are,” he said, pulling into a restaurant parking lot with a big sign on the
building that said Jack’s Den. A picture of a wolf overlooking a fire pit was
painted on the sign. The architecture of the building was designed like a
castle of medieval times.

They were
seated as soon as they walked in after the whole staff greeted Christian with
smiles. She noticed they bowed to him and gave her a curt smile, which she
returned.

When the
hostess placed the menus down, she turned to Christian. “Sarah will be right
with you, Christian. Let us know if you need anything else." She bowed
before she scurried to the kitchen area.

Daisy gazed at
the impressive dining area. The dark atmosphere, touched by torches erected at
booths, drew in her breath. A beautiful stone fireplace took center of
surrounding black leather couches. She could see why he frequented it here.
With the clinks of dishes and the smells of sausage and eggs and coffee, she
relaxed a little more.

She wanted
coffee more than anything, something she started drinking in college. The
caffeine got her through some tough study nights and also through some night
terrors that would awaken her. Sleep was an enemy after graduation.

After they placed
their orders with Sarah, the waitress, she turned toward Christian before
leaving. “Sorry about the other day, Christian. The kids were just–”

He put his hand
up to stop her and shook his head. “No worries, Sarah – really. I shouldn’t
have snapped at you. I apologize.”

Sarah smiled
with relief while pouring their coffee, and bowed to him before walking away.

Daisy stared at
him with questioning eyes.

“Just a bad
day. Spilled hot coffee on me and I lost it. Had other things on my mind. Sarah
didn’t deserve that.”

Daisy nodded
and opened up and added two packs of Splenda and Hazelnut creamer, enjoying
every bit of it after cooling it off. She looked up and caught him watching her
with interest and a speck of laughter hidden in his eyes.

“What? I like
it sweet." She placed her cup down and continued to look around.

Over the
fireplace was a brick wall lined with men of importance, it seemed. Big
beautiful oil paintings. They each had an air of superiority, as if they were
looking down at the patrons who ate there beneath them. They all seemed to have
the same piercing blue eyes. Christian’s eyes were dark brown in contrast.

He turned
around to see what she was so engrossed in and looked back at her. “Those are
just men who basically run this town." He drank his black coffee.

“Is your father
one of them?" She persisted in knowing more.

“Yes. Only the
most prominent men here in Golden Hills. He’s right there, see?” he asked,
pointing all the way down to the beginning of the men, William Stone, staring
down at her with the bluest eyes. He seemed entirely too young to be the first
painting.

Daisy dragged
her gaze away from the painting back to Christian's. “So your picture should be
up there one day then?” she asked before sipping her coffee.

“Unfortunately."
He pushed his plate away of unfinished scrambled eggs, looking a bit tense. He
leaned his chin on his folded hands and studied her face, making her squirm in
her seat.

The torch flame
flickered behind him, almost going out. She cleared her throat and ignored it.

“So why do it
at all? If you don’t want it, then why…”

“Why all these
questions? I’ve been groomed for this position all my life. End of story. Why
did you say yes to going?”

The staff
rushed around, some wiping nearby tables to hear their conversation. Daisy
lowered her voice to answer. “Sorry. You’re right. It’s none of my business.
It’s part of being a teacher, I guess. And I felt I had to do this for my
uncle." She glanced at a waitress who looked away.

“Same page,” he
said.

“Can I just ask
one more question, Christian?”

“The woods?”

“Yes. Did you
know I was there?”

“I saw you
driving and followed you. I was worried about you going into those woods.
They’re not safe. I followed to make sure you’d get out okay.”

“Well, thank
you, but I’m pretty capable of taking care of myself.”

“Not in those
woods. Please don’t go there again. Let’s just say I know them a little more
than you do. Deal?”

She eyed him
before finally agreeing. “Deal." After glancing around once more, she had
to ask. “One more question and then I’ll stop. For now, anyway.”

“The bowing?”

She nodded.

“Only if you
can explain that little trick you did to Dane with the lights.”

She responded
with a curtness. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He raised his hand
for the check. “Same here then.”

Daisy stiffened
and stood, walking to the front. The staff whispered in corners. They bowed to
her before she stepped out into the sunlight.

***

They drove home
in silence, but every so often she would feel his eyes on her. She hid behind
her sunglasses, safe and dark. Just a favor, she reminded herself. Even so, no
one had ever said anything like that to her. The guys at school all got in line
to date her, but her father wouldn’t allow it. He used to say that no one would
want a used woman, much less marry one so she better stay sweet, constantly
checking up on her.

Yes, her plan
was to please her father and stay sweet. But sometimes fate interjects. Tears
welled up in her hidden eyes.

They turned
down the street of her aunt and uncle’s and pulled into the driveway. She
unhooked her seat belt and grabbed the handle when he finally spoke.

“There’s a
bonfire at the beach tonight. I haven’t been to a bonfire in a long time, but
it’s kind of all part of the ceremonial events leading up to the ball. Would
you like to go with me?” he asked.

“I guess
that’ll be all right. Sure." She grabbed the handle to get out, but he
reached out to her shoulder.

“I’m such a
jerk. Sorry for talking to you like that. I’m not myself these days.
Friends?" He gave a lopsided smile.

She smiled
back. “Of course. I understand the father thing, believe me.”

A knowing look
washed over his face as he nodded in agreement. He watched her run up the steps
and into the house before pulling out.

***

Christian
picked her up on time and helped her into her side of his truck. He turned on
the radio and a song from Plain White T’s came on.

“I used to love
listening to them,” she said.

“Used to?”

She didn’t
realize she had said that out loud. She cleared her throat. “Before I
graduated.”

He turned it to
a pop dance song and glanced at her. “You look nice, Daisy.”

“Thank
you." She wore her new blue jeans and silky purple tank top that tied
around her neck, along with sandals that showed off her pink pedicured nails,
all done while shopping with Gloria. It wasn’t her stepmother’s usual thing to
do with her, but she went along with it.

She wondered
about that girl her aunt mentioned last night. What did happen to her? She had
said ‘tragically,’ but did she have a right to ask him? Maybe let it go.