Heart Of Marley (33 page)

She followed and thrust my swimsuit at me. “Put this on so I can apply the cover up. We don’t need people seeing the physical scars. That’s too much.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, smiling to myself on the inside as I slid into the small red bikini that she had picked out.

“And take those earrings off. I already told you. Wear the jewelry I picked out for you.”

“Not a chance in hell, Aunt Terryn.”

She huffed as she applied copious amounts of foundation to my back before stepping away to check her work. “That will do.” She shoved the container at me. “Put this on your thighs. We’ll discuss your transgressions later.”

I grabbed the foundation. “I look forward to it,” I sneered as she walked away.

Running through the green room, I found Brianna as she was adjusting her swimsuit. “Bri. Come here. I need your help.”

“You’re really pulling out all the stops, aren’t you?”

I shrugged. “Like Cam always says… Go big or go home.”

“The way you’re going, your next home will be a grave.”

“If so, it’ll be worth it.”

“Y
OUR
AUNT
LOOKS
PISSED
,” Doug said to me after Marley’s talent portion.

“Maybe,” I responded. “But I’ve never been so proud of her. She’s forcing all these people to open their eyes. Look around you.” I scanned the audience, most of the women drying their eyes with tissues. “She’s getting to them. I just hope it lasts. I hope they don’t feel bad for a day, then continue on with how things have been.”

Doug nodded. “Me, too.”

Mr. Grayson appeared on the stage again and began announcing the contestants for the bathing suit portion of the competition. After a few girls, Brianna was announced and I hated that she was forced to be on that stage, wearing one of the tiniest bathing suits I had ever seen, for everyone to gawk at. She looked amazing, her slender frame shimmering from the oil that all the girls used on their bodies, but I’d rather her wear that when it was just us.

“Do you think Mr. Grayson’s a bit creepy?” Doug whispered in my ear.

“What do you mean? He’s always been so nice. He treats Brianna like his own daughter. You can tell how much he cares for her by the way he acts toward her. We should all be so lucky to have someone like him in our lives.”

“I guess,” Doug responded. “He’s just got this heat in his eyes right now. And look at him.” He gestured with his head. “He’s adjusting his pants. You know why men do that.” He raised his eyebrows at me in a knowing manner.

“He is
not
turned on,” I said loudly before lowering my voice. “He’s looking at Brianna, for crying out loud. That’s sick. He’s probably just itching from having to be in a tux for so long. I know I would be. I’ve adjusted my jeans a few times, too, and they’re pretty comfortable. Does that mean I’ve got a hard-on for you?”

He laughed and several people turned to stare at us. “I know,” he whispered, sighing. “It was stupid. I don’t know what I was thinking.” It was silent for a moment before he spoke again. “What do you think about the rumors about her dad? Do you think that’s why his visitation with her was restricted?”

“If the rumors
are
true and he may have made a few misjudgments in sleeping with a former student…”

“Still a student at the time,” Doug corrected. “And don’t forget, he slept with Brianna’s mom when he was a teacher’s assistant and she was an undergrad student.”

“Whatever. I doubt the rumors are true. He’s so passionate about teaching. He’s the one who persuaded Marley to make a stand today. I think she always secretly wanted to, but if it wasn’t for his prodding, I don’t think she would have had the courage. Apparently, they’ve been working together on this the past few months, making sure all the pieces were in place without anyone finding out, including my aunt.”

“Really?” Doug looked at me, his eyebrows furrowed. “I didn’t know that. Don’t you think that’s a bit odd?”

“No. Not really. You haven’t taken his class. He’s always encouraging us to make a stand and to enact change. That’s what he did with Marley.”

“And Gabriella Knox,” he muttered under his breath and I could tell he was on edge.

“I really doubt that rumor is true. There’s no way. You don’t know him that well.” I turned my attention back to the stage just as Mr. Grayson was announcing Marley. Her tall, skinny body came into view as she walked in her heels to the center of the stage, stopping in front of the judges before following the choreographed pattern that all the girls had made. As she approached the end of the catwalk just a few yards away from me, my heart fell.

“What the…?” I quivered.

Quiet whispers echoed around me as the audience had the same reaction that I did. Then she turned around and people audibly gasped at the sight of her back, her welts visible for all to see. They had grown dull over the years, but the light hit her body in just the right way so that people could see the faint pink marks and grooves in her skin from where Buck had used his belt on her. Guilt overwhelmed me for keeping everything I knew about him from her.

She took her position in the line of girls and I couldn’t stop looking at the red marks on her inner thighs. In a complete trance, I raised myself from my seat and bolted out of the theater, running down the corridor that led from the green room toward the stage just as all the girls were filing in. I pushed through them, my eyes settling on Brianna and Marley walking together.

“Mar,” I said quietly, my eyes awash with concern.

She turned to Brianna. “I’ll be right there.”

She nodded, squeezing my arm affectionately as she retreated into the green room.

“I don’t understand. How come you never told me?”

She crossed her arms over her stomach and I shrugged out of my jacket, draping it around her shoulders.

“I needed this for me, Cam. It was the only way to stop the pain.”

“How long?”

“A couple of years. I haven’t done it since Thanksgiving. But I had to do it this morning because of the pageant. I’m getting better.”

“What if something happens when you’re at college? I’m heading to Georgetown and won’t be around in case you take things too far and…”

She placed her hand on my arm. “I’m not going to, Cam. I’m shedding my past. I promise. You can’t constantly worry about me. I get it now. You need to live your life, and that’s not always going to be near me. At the beginning of the school year, I hated the thought of us being away from each other. You’re my rock, but you’ve also been my crutch. It took Doug to make me realize that I’m worthy of love, regardless of my past. I hate the idea that things won’t work out between Doug and me, but that doesn’t mean someone else won’t come along who will love me just as fiercely as Doug does.”

Nodding, I wrapped my arms around her. “I’m proud of you, Marley Jane. You’re definitely getting to everyone out there.”

She pulled out of my chest and grinned at me. “Good. Mission accomplished. Now, let me go. I need to change into my evening gown.” Handing me my jacket, she walked toward the green room.

“Hey, Marley?” I said.

She looked over her shoulder at me.

“To the moon and back.”

“From the stars to the ocean.” She disappeared into the room. I hastily walked down the corridor and made my way back to the theater, retaking my seat next to Doug.

“I’m sorry, Cam,” he said. “I should have… I had the same reaction that you did when I first found out.”

“It’s okay. I don’t blame you for wanting to keep Marley’s secret.”

Mr. Grayson took the stage again and began announcing the girls for the evening gown portion. I was thankful that this display was almost over. I was ready to get out of there and enjoy the afternoon before having to go to the Jessamine Ball later that evening.

Once all the girls were standing in a line in their evening wear, Mr. Grayson returned his attention to the audience. “Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for… The crowning of this year’s Miss Jessamine.” Applause rang through the theater as my eyes remained glued to the nervous expression on Brianna’s face and the fulfilled look on Marley’s.

Mr. Grayson reached down and grabbed the envelope from the judging table and opened it. “This year’s second runner up is… Miss Brianna Monroe!”

My eyes grew wide and I clapped enthusiastically for my girlfriend as she politely stepped out of line and walked toward Mr. Grayson, allowing him to kiss her on the cheek as two little girls came out with a bouquet of flowers for her. She walked toward the corner of the stage and her eyes met mine. I winked at her and she blushed.

“This year’s first runner up is… Miss Jessica Harper!”

Doug leaned over. “Do you think she slept with half the judging panel like she slept with half the basketball team?”

I shrugged and continued to clap politely. “Who cares?”

“This year’s winner and our Miss Jessamine who will go on to compete in the Miss South Carolina Pageant next month is… Miss Marley Bowen!”

I could sense Marley’s shock from a mile away. She was so convinced that after all the stunts she pulled, none of the judges would vote for her and would think that she was making a mockery of their precious pageant. Instead, they saw it for what it was…a showing of strength. At that moment, I couldn’t be prouder of my sister.

I
T
’
S
A
NEVER
-
ENDING
CYCLE
. It won’t stop. You think if it happens once, it surely won’t happen again. The odds of probability are against it, right?

Wrong.

It will. Again. And again. And again. The past finds you. It reminds you that, no matter how far you’ve come, you’re not as strong as you thought.

You’re not as free as you thought.

I was so happy to have won the pageant. It was the first one I could remember being excited to win because I did so being the truest version of myself, and not the person I had been forced to pretend that I was those past several years.

Walking from the stage, all the girls congratulating me on my win, I tried to rid myself of them as quickly as possible. There was only one person I wanted to see at that moment. Finally clear of the backstage area, I ran down the hall, past the green room, and jumped into Doug’s arms.

He lifted me up and spun me around before lowering me down. He pressed his lips against mine and I curved my body into his, allowing him to run his hands up and down the exposed back of my evening gown.

“I love you, Marley Jane. I’m so proud of you.”

“I love you, too,” I said. “Thanks for the flowers and the earrings. They’re beautiful.”

“Not nearly as beautiful as you.”

“Oh, Doug.” I hugged him once more before noticing Cam standing off to the side, trying to give us our space.