Laura's Secrets

by Shannon Greenland

  The little girl shook her head and went back to highlighting a silver dolphin. “I used to get bad dreams a lot, but I don't anymore. Do you get them a lot?"

  With anybody else, other than Will, Laura would've changed the subject. But something felt natural about lying beside this little girl, coloring and sharing. “I've had them my whole life."

  Maria paused in her strokes and leveled concerned, adult-like eyes on Laura. “That's a long time."

  "Yes it is, but last night was the first nightmare I'd had in a very long time."

  "I'm glad. Bad dreams are no fun.” Maria scooted over and hugged Laura's neck. “I'm happy you're Uncle Will's friend."

  Laura smiled and hugged her back. Maria gave her a quick peck on the cheek, then went back to her dolphin. Laura picked up a pink pencil and started adding scales to the mermaid's body.

  * * * *

  Will passed by Maria's door on the way to find Laura and paused when he heard their voices from within. He stood there for a few minutes, eavesdropping, smiling at their silly conversation. Quietly, he opened the door.

  They lay stretched out on their stomachs, side-by-side, Maria's little body coming only to Laura's knees. They had their chins propped on the bends of their arms. Laura colored with her right hand while Maria used her left. Their pajamas pulled snug under them, outlining the shape of their butts and legs. Will enjoyed a savory moment of Laura's rear view before inching forward.

  Carefully, he crawled on top and wrapped an arm around each of them. “Morning, girls.” He kissed their cheeks. “Can I play, too?"

  They giggled and scooted apart, making a place for him between them. Maria handed him a white crayon. “Here, Uncle Will, color the clouds."

  Thirty minutes later Rico and Veronica found the three of them and did exactly what Will had done, crawled on top to make a body pyramid. They all laughed while Rico and Maria got into a tickling match.

  "Anybody interested in pecan pancakes?” Veronica inquired somewhat airily. Everyone knew Maria loved pecan pancakes.

  "Yeah, Mommy!” Maria wiggled out from under her Papi and started dancing. “Comeoncomeoncomeon."

  Rico laughed, snagged his daughter around the waist, and carried her out to the kitchen. Veronica elbowed her brother in the ribs one last time and followed her husband out. Will turned over on his side, propped his cheek in the palm of his hand, and wrapped his leg over Laura's.

  She brushed her hair over her shoulder. “I like your family. Thank you so much for inviting me."

  "You're welcome.” Will moved in and nuzzled a nibbly line from her ear down the side of her neck.

  Laura glanced toward the door.

  "Don't worry, they won't come back. And if they do?” He pushed her over and stretched out on top of her. “Oh, well."

  Cradling the sides of her face, Will brushed his lips back and forth across hers. Laura's tongue came out, and he responded by touching the tip of it with his own.

  A little girl's giggle filled the air. He glanced over his shoulder to see Maria standing in the doorway, both hands planted over her mouth. She giggled again and pointed. “You're kissing.” Will growled and lunged for her. She leapt out of his reach and sprinted toward the kitchen. “They're kissing, they're kissing, they're kissing, they're kissing."

  He laughed and looked at Laura who buried her face in her hands. “I'm so embarrassed. I can't believe your niece caught us."

  Prying her hands from her face, Will pulled her to her feet. “Don't worry about it. She sees plenty of kissy-kissy stuff between her parents."

  Laura closed her eyes with a groan.

  * * * *

  Settling into the couch, Will let out a muted whimper. His sister had worn them out with a four-hour bike ride on the trails of Fort Clinch, a local state park. She'd lied and said they were mildly challenging.

  To her maybe.

  With low-lying branches, rocks and stumps to jump, loose sand, steep inclines, and narrow, treacherous curves, the wooded trails were definitely more than mildly challenging. The only thing that had kept Will going was watching Laura's cute little rear as she pumped her bicycle through the paths.

  "So, bro, I like your girlfriend.” Veronica plopped down beside him on the couch.

  He glared at her. “Go away. I hate you."

  She gave him a pathetic little pat on the knee. “You're not worn out, are you?"

  Will closed his eyes and dropped his head back with a moan.

  "Here, I brought you a beer. Do you still love me?"

  He inched open an eye and studied the icy bottle. Veronica waved it in front of him. He snagged it from her hand and took a gulp. “Ahhh, that's better. Where's Laura?"

  "In Maria's room.” Veronica leaned toward him. “Sooo, tell me about her."

  "Strange. You called her my girlfriend a minute ago. I've never referred to her as my girlfriend. The last time I called somebody that was in high school."

  "Well that's what she is, isn't she?"

  Will took another swig. “I don't know. The term ‘girlfriend’ doesn't seem to apply to her in my mind. She's more special than that to me."

  "I can see why. She's an amazing woman."

  He looked down the hall toward Maria's room. “I've never felt this way about anybody. I'm excited, but scared, too. I don't know what the future holds. I don't know if this is called love. Hell, I've never been in love before. Half the time I'm with her I go with the flow and trust it all to pan out."

  Tears gathered in Veronica's eyes. “I've been watching the two of you together. There's something wonderful there."

  Will smiled at his sister's watery eyes. “Why are you crying?"

  She sniffed. “I don't know. I'm so happy for you.” She laughed and hugged her brother.

  "Hey, you two, what's going on? What's up with the tears?” Rico asked.

  Veronica grabbed her husband's hand. “Will's in love."

  Will groaned and slung his arm over his eyes. “I can't believe you just told him that."

  She patted his thigh. “Well, if I hadn't told him now, I would've told him later. What difference does a little timing make?"

  Rico chuckled. “Come on, Will, let's check out that new construction down the street?"

  Will jumped from the couch. “Gladly. Anything to get away from her.” He glowered at his sister.

  Veronica brightened. “Perfect. That'll give me time to invite Laura for a walk."

  He shot her a warning look to which she fluttered her lashes. “Don't worry, I won't say anything I'm not supposed to."

  Will gave Rico a “control your wife” look and made his way to Maria's room. Laura sat perched on a tiny stool, the left side of her hair hung in a dozen braids, curlers bobbed in the top, a clip held the back, and the right side was getting brushed by his niece. The smell of cheap hairspray permeated the room, and an assortment of combs, holders, and pins littered the bed. What an adorable picture they made.

  He propped his shoulder in the door. “Looks like this place is an official hair salon."

  Laura glanced up from some ribbons she was untangling. “Maria's making me beautiful."

  "I can see that.” Will walked over and placed a kiss on the tip of Laura's nose. “Rico and I are going down the street to check out a new construction site.” He tweaked his niece's chin. “How ‘bout you fix me up when I get back."

  "Sure, Uncle Will."

  Laura pondered his back as he left the room. Would he never cease to amaze her? He was going to play beauty parlor with Maria? Who would've guessed Will Burns, international rock star, would be such a fun-loving, easy-going, family man? What would Tourist's fans think?

  They'd adore him even more. Good fortune seemed to follow some people. Laura had never been one of those people. Until recently. Until Will. He'd turned her life around.

  * * * *

  Between horseback riding, a picnic on the beach, biking the trails, four wheeling on the dunes, building sandcastles, touring the island, and sai
ling, Laura felt like she'd packed two weeks worth of activities into the last four days.

  She bent and retrieved a shell from the beach, smiling as she recalled Tai Bo last night. Veronica had been so enthusiastic about teaching the class. She'd begged for the family to join her. They'd piled in the car and headed to the local gym. Most of the people attending the class recognized Will, and it'd turned into an autograph session. He hadn't minded and even stayed an hour past time so some of the fans could run home and get their cameras.

  "What are you thinking?” Veronica asked, interrupting Laura's thoughts.

  She tossed the shell into the ocean. “What a wonderful time I've had here. I'll be sorry to leave tomorrow."

  Veronica tucked her hands in her windbreaker. “I'm so glad you came."

  They continued strolling, enjoying the crisp breeze. Will and Rico walked further up the beach, swinging Maria between them. Soon the sun would set, and they'd head home for grilled burgers.

  "You've got a beautiful family."

  Veronica grinned. “Thank you. We do make a nice looking unit even if I say so myself."

  Laura laughed.

  "I'll let you in on a little secret if you promise not to tell Will.” Veronica leaned in closer. “I'm trying to get pregnant."

  "That's wonderful, but why don't you want your brother to know?"

  "Because he wants to be an uncle again so badly he can't stand it. Every time I talk to him he asks me if I'm pregnant. I want to surprise him with the news when it happens."

  "Well, I'm an expert at keeping secrets. So he won't hear a peep from my mouth."

  "I haven't told anybody at all. You're the first person to know.” Veronica skipped forward and spun a few circles. “It feels great to finally share that secret with somebody. I almost exploded trying to keep it in."

  Laura jogged the few feet to catch up with her. Maria danced down the beach toward them, carrying something in her hand. When she reached them, she handed Laura a sand dollar, twirled and sprinted back to her father. Laura stared at the fragile shell in her hand.

  I always wished for a family like this ... fun, loving, kind-hearted.

  Sixteen

  * * * *

  Laura ran her finger over the crayon picture that she and Maria had completed. A purple mermaid with pink scales smiled up from the page. A silver dolphin danced on the water. Big billowy clouds floated in the sky.

  Laura had found it tucked inside her duffel bag inscribed with, “I hope all your dreams are good ones. Love, Maria."

  It'd been two weeks since the Christmas holiday. Laura had looked at that happy picture everyday.

  Carefully, she folded the starched paper and slid it back inside her backpack. She grabbed an apple from the side pocket, polished it on her sweatshirt, hopped onto her stool, then kicked her legs up on the edge of the mixing board. Taking a crisp bite, Laura surveyed the stage. In twenty-minutes they'd do sound check. Tourist planned to perform Will and Laura's song tonight.

  "Hello, Laura,” a whisper floated across the air.

  Laura paused in her crunching. Seconds ticked by.

  "Hello, Laura,” came the whisper again.

  She forced the unchewed chunk of apple down her throat. She knew that eerie whisper. It'd been seven years since she'd heard it last. Moving only her eyes, she swept her gaze over the auditorium.

  "Turn around and look at me,” the voice hissed.

  With a tense neck and locked muscles, Laura inched her head to the right and glanced over her shoulder.

  Aunt Jane stood behind her.

  Laura's legs fell from the edge of the soundboard. “Ar-are you real?"

  * * * *

  Will strolled down the back hallway, whistling. He pushed through the door leading to the auditorium and hopped over a box of equipment. He hadn't seen Laura since yesterday afternoon. Between promotional work, concerts, early morning stage set-up, late night breakdown, and non-stop traveling, they were lucky if they stole ten minutes alone.

  He'd picked up a Minneapolis patch for her duffel bag and wanted her to have it before sound check.

  Peering across the concert hall toward her technical area, he saw a woman standing in front of Laura, looking very haughty and dominating. He watched as Laura slumped from her stool and grabbed the corner of it to steady herself. She looked shocked and horror-struck and clearly not happy to see the woman.

  Will took off toward her.

  * * * *

  Jane smirked. “Oh, yes, my darling niece. I'm real."

  "H-how did you find me?"

  "What? No, hello, Aunt Jane, I've missed you terribly. Didn't I teach you any manners?"

  Laura inhaled a shaky breath and straightened her spine. “I said how did you find me?"

  Jane pursed her lips. “Well, well, well. Look at how brave you've become, standing up to me like a big girl.” She reached into her shoulder bag, pulled out a magazine, flipped through it, then held it up in front of Laura.

  Laura looked from her aunt's face to the magazine. Colored pictures spread across two pages portraying her and Will at their most intimate moments. Hiding from the rain under the gazebo in Central Park, holding hands on a dimly lit street outside a pool hall in Texas, hugging on the escalator in the airport the day Bizzy left, kissing on the tarmac in Tennessee, jogging at his sister's house over Christmas.

  Laura shut her eyes. It was the kind of publicity they'd been trying to avoid. Who'd taken all those pictures?

  Aunt Jane snapped the magazine back around. “'Will Burns, lead guitarist for Tourist, finds love with a roadie',” she read.

  Laura opened her eyes. “What do you want?"

  "So, you've found love have you?” Jane took a step forward. “What do I want?” She lifted the magazine and tapped Laura on the cheek. “I want you."

  Refusing to cower down, Laura released her death grip on the stool and hiked her chin. Taller than her aunt, Laura purposefully looked down her nose at her. She knew what she wanted to say. She'd recited it hundreds of times over the years.

  "You can't hurt me anymore,” she began in a slow, even toned voice. “I'm through being intimidated and abused by you. I'm a grown woman with a new life, one that you are not a part of. I want you to leave now, and if you don't, I'll call security and have you removed from the premises."

  Jane's eyes narrowed. “Why you inconsiderate brat. After all I did for you and this is how you treat me."

  Will jogged up beside them. “What's going on here?"

  Jane slid beady eyes to Will. “Who's this? Lover boy?"

  Laura cleared her throat. “Will, this is my Aunt Jane."

  Jane glared at her niece. “Apparently, you've forgotten everything I taught you. You're going to go to hell for this premarital fling you've got going on. Whoever thought you'd turn out to be such a whore."

  "Hey,” Will stepped forward.

  Laura placed her hand on his arm and leveled a deadly stare on her aunt. “If anyone is going to hell, it's you. God, I'm sure, doesn't approve of the things you did to me."

  "I gave you everything, and all you ever did was cause me problems,” Jane hissed. “And don't you dare say I'm going to hell. I'm a God fearing woman."

  Laura took a step forward and put her face right in Jane's. “You no longer have any control over me. You make me sick. I never want to see you again. Now leave, or I'll throw you out of this place myself."

  Fury gathered in her aunt's eyes. Laura recognized the insane, twitchy look a second before Jane reared back and slapped her across the face. The unexpected impact sent her stumbling backward.

  Will gripped her aunt's arm. “Security!"

  Jane ripped her arm out of Will's grasp. She jabbed a finger in Laura's direction. “You will pay for this,” she vowed and threw the magazine at her.

  "There's nothing you can do to hurt me anymore,” Laura yelled as her aunt flew from the auditorium.

  Will didn't care if security got Jane or not. He spun to Laura who was following
Jane's hasty retreat with her eyes. A red and white finger pattern marred her cheek.

  He reached for her. “You okay?"

  "I need to be alone,” she answered and walked away.

  He studied her back, wanting desperately to go to her, but knowing her well enough that she'd want time to think things through. With a sigh, Will scrubbed his fingers through his hair and looked down at the magazine. Every private moment that he cherished lay sprawled out in full color for the whole world to see.

  "What's going on?” Ed asked, coming up beside him.

  Will shook his head, at a loss for words.

  "I saw what happened. I was up on stage. Is Laura okay?"

  "She'll be alright.” Will retrieved the magazine from the floor.

  "Who was that woman? She looked familiar."

  Will lifted his attention from the magazine. “What do you mean she looked familiar?"

  Ed shrugged. “I don't know. I think I've seen her somewhere before."

  "Where?"

  "I don't know. Probably nowhere. I'm sure she's got one of those familiar faces.” Someone yelled for Ed from the stage. He signaled them, then turned back to Will. “Listen, I've got a ton of work to do. You sure Laura's going to be okay?"

  "Yep, I'll talk to her later."

  "Okay then, but if I can help, let me know.” Ed jogged down the aisle back to the stage.

  Ed knew Laura's aunt, whether he realized it or not. Will was sure of it.

  * * * *

  "How are you?” Will ventured guardedly when Laura opened her hotel door.

  "Fine.” She stepped aside to let him in.

  He walked across her room and settled in the desk chair, relieved she hadn't turned him away. “Good show tonight,” he said conversationally.

  Laura closed the door and situated herself, cross-legged, in the center of the bed. “Yeah. You all did a good job with the new song."

  In the pit of his stomach he'd been afraid she'd erect that icy barrier he hadn't seen in months.

  "What are you smiling at?” she asked.

  He didn't realize he had been smiling. “I was thinking how far you've come. If this had happened months ago, you'd be on the first plane out of here. And you certainly wouldn't have let me in your room."