The Magnolia Affair
Page 12
“We got you a little parting gift.” Cricket held up a gift bag.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“Well, since it seems you won’t be at the school anymore and who knows where Paxton’s career will take you, we just wanted you to remember us.” She waited for me to take it.
I tugged on the blue tissue paper, and pulled out a framed picture. “Oh, I never saw this.”
“We took it last summer at Tina’s book club. She was all geared up to start a blog and never did. Remember?”
“I do.” I nodded. It was also the first night I met Paxton. “It’s really nice. Thank you. I’ll find the perfect spot for it in the new house.”
They smiled and started shuffling toward the door. I hugged each one, knowing our paths probably wouldn’t cross again.
“Bye.” I waved and watched them filter across my lawn.
The for-sale sign had tipped over in the last rainstorm. I walked out and positioned it to standing. I looked up at the house. The perfect green grass. The wraparound porch. I had been happy here. Until I wasn’t.
It was dark. I was cold, but I could feel something warm on my palms. I looked down at Spence’s body at my feet.
“Spence! Spence!” I cried, dropping to my knees. I shoved him. “Spencer!”
I looked up just in time to see the car hurtling towards us. I threw myself over his body as it barreled into the room. I couldn’t move. The hissing from the crash was deafening. I was buried under glass and wall, pressed against Spencer.
“Audrey?” he called. His voice was weak.
I tried to move. I pushed my back against the car trying to make space.
“I can’t breathe,” he choked. “I can’t…”
“Hold on,” I begged. “Please hold on.”
“I can’t.”
“Spence!” I screamed again, but when I searched for him beneath me he was gone. I sat up. There were shards of glass around me. I was covered in blood.
“Audrey, wake up. Wake up, baby.” I heard Pax’s voice.
He held me against his chest. His arms folding me until I was in his lap.
“Pax,” I whispered.
“You’re ok. It was just a dream.”
My hand flattened against his chest. I felt his heart thumping. It had been a nightmare. I started shaking.
“I-I…it seemed so real.” I pushed back to get some air.
“That’s the third one this week. You keep calling for Spencer.”
“I’m sorry.” I pulled my knees to my chest. The image of blood was all I could see.
“Let me get you something to drink.” He walked out of the bedroom and returned with something dark. It wasn’t water. “You need something stiff to help you sleep.”
I chugged it, not caring that it burned my throat.
“Thanks.” I placed the glass on a box next to the bed. Pax had packed up most of his room.
“You want to tell me what’s going on in these dreams?” he asked.
“Not really.” I wished I had a second drink.
“I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s going on.” His thumb rubbed my arm. “Let me in.”
“I don’t want to think about it.” I pulled the tank top from my chest. I threw my arms around his neck and pressed my body into his. “Help me forget it.”
He tangled his hands in my hair. “Do you think it has anything to do with us getting married next week? All the dreams?”
I kissed his neck, rubbing against his body. “No, why would you say that?”
He tugged lightly on the fistful of hair so that I was staring into his eyes. “It has nothing to do with us moving into the new house or the wedding? You sure about that?”
“It’s not a wedding.”
He gripped harder and I gasped. I closed my eyes and maneuvered so that I was on top of him.
“We are getting married next week, Audrey.”
“I know.” I kissed his chest. The warmth blurred the dream. It was starting to fade. I felt something other than bitter cold.
“I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be. Just help me forget it.”
He sighed. “It’s hard for me when you start screaming in your sleep. You scared the hell out of me.”
“Make me scream for other reasons.” I nipped at his throat.
He grabbed my wrists and held them steady. “Are you ok?”
“I need to feel alive. I want to forget the bad dreams. You make all that go away.” I began to grind against him, my hips working deliberately.
He groaned. “I make it go away?”
“Mmmhmm.” I focused on his breathing, the way his eyes had transformed from concerned to lustful. “I need you to make it go away.” I rolled to the side, and Pax rolled with me, pinning my arms above my head.
I didn’t want to think about the dream, or analyze why the nightmares had suddenly returned. It seemed Pax thought there was a connection to our impending ceremony, but I wasn’t going to give him moments to psychoanalyze me either. The heat drove out the nightmares, and that was exactly what we both needed.
“Right this way, Mrs. Tanner. Over here.” I followed the assistant Paxton had hired. “Just stand slightly behind Senator Tanner while he’s at the podium. Don’t forget to smile. Not too big, but not like you’re bored either. Nod when he pauses. Clap when the crowd claps.”
“Will I need to speak?” I adjusted my pearls.
“No. This is photo-op only today. Tomorrow we have an interview lined up with a journalist from South State magazine. She’ll be at your house around two. I’ve already given her a list of topics to cover with you. Today, you’re all smiles.”
“Got it. Nod, clap, smile. Um, where’s my husband? Shouldn’t he be here by now?” I could see from the side door where I stood that the crowd was growing.
“He should be arriving any minute. Would you like some water while you wait?”
“No, I’m fine.” I didn’t want to sit. I had spent the morning pressing fine lines out of my skirt. It was silk. “I didn’t know there would be so many people.”
“It’s a private event, but the guest list was selective. Your husband was strategic about this.”
“He usually is.”
I texted Pax again. No response.
The South Carolina flag was being fluffed. The press was starting to congregate in the folding chairs the event staff had provided. It wouldn’t be long now before the announcement was official. My husband was running for governor.
“He’s here. He’s here.” The assistant clapped. “Ok, calm down, everyone. Let’s keep this structured.”
I wasn’t sure why the man spoke his inner thoughts out loud, but I heard him mutter and whisper while we waited for Paxton to join us.
“Hey.” I smiled.
“You look beautiful.” He kissed my cheek. “Ready to do this?”
“I think the question is, are you ready to do this?” I felt his hand slide over mine.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”
“I know you have. I’m proud of you, Pax.”
He leaned over. “Care to show me just how proud after this little press conference?”
I blushed. “Paxton.”
“I’m completely serious. We could take the suite upstairs. I’d love to hear your reaction to the speech.” He straightened his tie and attached an American flag pin to his lapel. “Don’t tell me things will change just because you’re going to be South Carolina’s first lady,” he joked. Other than the day we got married, I couldn’t remember seeing him look this happy.
“Oh, definitely not.”
“Good.”
The assistant appeared. “Senator Tanner, it’s time.”
“Thank you, Todd.” He turned to me. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
We walked on the stage together. Paxton waved and I made sure to stay slightly behind him, but not too far. Todd had marked a little X for me on the platform.
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br /> He waited for the applause to subside before addressing the audience. “As you know, I took the office of state senate only a year ago. And during this year, I’ve had a lot of changes in my life. I got married to my incredible and beautiful wife, Audrey.” He winked at me and the room full of people clapped.
“We moved into a new home. We started making plans for our future, and I started thinking about all the other families in South Carolina. The student filling out college applications. The young couples planning their weddings. New parents welcoming a child into the world. The couple who is embarking on their retirement. And Audrey and I talked. We talked a lot.” He smiled and let the words wash over the crowd.
“We talked about how fortunate we are we could buy our dream home. That we can choose when and how to start a family. We can afford the best education possible for our children, but we know that’s not the case for everyone.” He sighed. “No, we’re the lucky ones. We’ve been blessed with a life that we know not everyone has.
“So I started thinking. What could I do to give people of this great state a little bit of this happiness? How could I share in the blessings bestowed upon me?” He inhaled. “Audrey and I sat for hours, sorting this out, trying to figure out how we could devote our lives to serving the people we call friends. The people we call neighbors. And we came up with something, folks.”
He turned toward me with an outstretched hand, motioning me toward the podium. I laid my palm on top of his and stepped forward.
“Today, I announce my candidacy for governor of South Carolina. Today, I’m promising the citizens of this state that I love, this state that raised me, molded me, loved me back, that I’m going to give back like I never have. I’m going to listen. I’m going to be here for you. I’m going to make living in South Carolina the envy of every other state in the country. I’m going to invest in its future. I’m going to invest in you.”
The crowd rose to its feet and started chanting, “Tanner! Tanner! Tanner!” He pulled me against his chest and kissed me hard on the mouth. It wasn’t a photo-op kiss; it was one of reckless indulgence. A victory kiss.
“This is incredible,” I yelled to him over the crowd.
“It’s only the beginning.” He grinned.
I stirred the crystals in the bottom of the pitcher until I had a pale yellow mixture. It was nearly two and I prepared for my interview with a batch of muffins, fresh lemonade, and a pot of coffee just in case. This was my first interview as the wife of a governor candidate. It meant everything to Paxton. That meant it meant everything to me.
This was our chance to show the voters we were the perfect couple to be their first family. Todd said I’d have no problem selling our romance.
Pepper barked at the window. I saw the white sedan pull up in the driveway.
“Hush, boy. Don’t jump on her. That’s the last thing I need today,” I scolded him.
I opened the door before she made it to the top of the stairs. “Mrs. Tanner. Hi, I’m Lyla Voight. So nice to meet you.”
“Come on in, Lyla. I’ve been looking forward to this.” I walked her through the foyer and out onto our screened deck. I liked watching the children play in the surf.
“Your house is beautiful.” She admired the view. “How long have you and Senator Tanner lived here?”
I filled two glasses with ice. “Water? Lemonade? I do have coffee.”
“Lemonade sounds good.”
“Here you go.” I handed her a glass. “Let’s see. We moved in right after we got married. So almost a year.”
“It’s been a busy year for you two. How is newlywed life?”
I laughed. This was my job. Show the intimate side of Pax’s life. Make women want to be married to a man like him. Make men want to be him. “It has been wonderful. I’m very lucky.”
“I haven’t seen any of your wedding photos. Readers might want a glimpse. Was it a private wedding?” she asked.
“It was. It was the second marriage for Paxton and me. We felt it was best to honor our first spouses by keeping it out of the press. We actually were married right here on the deck. It was intimate—very special.”
“By the beach. That must have been nice.”
“It was beautiful.” I walked inside and returned with a framed photo of us.
I wore a muslin dress, with a deep V at my breasts. I fell for the ruffles gathered at the hem even though I had said I wasn’t going to wear anything remotely looking like a wedding dress. It was simple.
Pax had bought an orchid for my hair. It was the only flower I allowed. He fastened it behind my ear.
We waited until sunset, and then hand in hand exchanged vows on the deck. A justice of the peace Pax knew from his time as an attorney performed the ceremony. Pax’s parents were our witnesses.
It was the first time I met Mr. and Mrs. Tanner.
After we exchanged rings and were legally declared husband and wife, we shared a catered dinner with his parents in the dining room. Pax’s mother surprised me with a wedding cake and his father popped two bottles of champagne.
They were welcoming in their own distant way. They seemed to approve of me, and that was all that I cared about. I didn’t have the energy to forge relationships or fight them. Pax swore they were in love with me as he was. He was content with their reaction, and that was enough for me.
I didn’t expect to be happy on my wedding day. I thought the memories of Spence would choke out any chance of joy, but they didn’t. Standing there, promising my life to Pax, I felt peace. I felt relief. Someone else would take care of me. I wouldn’t be left in the dark alone.
I looked at the picture again.
“Your dress was gorgeous.” Lyla admired it.
“Thank you. It spoke to me.” I smiled at her.
“Tell me something about the senator we don’t already know.” Lyla sipped on the lemonade.
I pretended to think of something. “He leaves me little sticky notes all over the house. They’re so sweet. Just little reminders that he’s thinking of me.”
“Aww, that is sweet.”
“He’s a thoughtful husband. A romantic one for sure.”
“What about something annoying? He must do something that drives you nuts. I know my husband does.”
I laughed. “He can’t seem to find the hamper. Really, is it that hard to throw socks in the dirty clothes?”
Lyla found that as amusing as I wanted her to. “Sounds like even the most romantic men can still be messy.”
“Yes, they can.”
“What are some of the things you two like to do together when you’re not on the campaign trail?”
“We’re big movie buffs. We love to watch movies, which is nice because we can do that anywhere.”
“Does the senator have a favorite?” she asked.
“He likes the classics, that’s for sure. Anything John Wayne and you aren’t going to tear him away. Don’t even try.”
Lyla reached into her purse and placed a picture on the table. I studied it for a second. It was a picture of a girl in the snow, a hot-looking guy next to her.
“Is that Paxton?” I asked. I picked up the photo.
“It is.” She studied me carefully. “This was taken during a winter break trip thirteen years ago. I believe it was the senator’s senior year.”
I laid it down. “It looks like they had fun.” I smiled at Lyla.
“I need to ask you, Mrs. Tanner. What do you know about the accusation that your husband cheated on his then-fiancée with this girl, got her pregnant, and then forced her to abort the pregnancy that resulted from the affair?”
“Excuse me?”
She picked up the picture and stuffed it back in her purse. “What is your comment on this story?”
“That it’s exactly that. A story. Something fabricated by my husband’s political adversaries. I don’t have anything else to say on the matter.” The lemonade tasted bitter.
“What if I told you I know where she is?”
“Lyla, you know, I’m not feeling so well. I suffer from migraines that hit me from time to time. I feel one of those coming on right now. I think we need to reschedule our interview.” I stood, indicating our session was over.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Mrs. Tanner.” She slung her purse over her shoulder.
I walked her to the front door, and then locked the deadbolt behind her. I pulled out my phone to call Pax. I got his voicemail. That was happening a lot lately.
I was waiting on the deck for him when he got home. I was halfway through the bottle of wine. It had to be midnight.
“There you are. I looked for you upstairs.” He planted a kiss on my cheek. “How did the interview go?”
“I tried to call you. I called three times.” I liked how the waves sounded as they crashed against the sand.
“I’m sorry. It was meeting after meeting. Every time I stopped to call, I would get interrupted and pulled into another meeting. Why? Did something happen?”
He sat next to me, stretching his legs in the lounge chair.
“It wasn’t a feature piece.”
“Oh, did she start digging into my platform? You know my take on everything. I’m sure you handled it.”
“No, Pax. She ambushed me with a picture of you and that girl from the ski trip.”
He looked at me. “What picture?”
“You two were on the slopes. The picture was innocent enough. However, she asked me for my comment on the affair. She said you cheated on your fiancée and the same thing about the abortion.”
“How did this come back up? We got rid of that story.” He ran his fingers through his hair. I could see his furrowed brow in the shadows. “It’s been buried six feet under.”
A chill ran over my arms. “Were you engaged to Sarah when you went to the resort? You told me you were on a break from dating.”
He exhaled. “Look, we weren’t in a good place. Her dad made me propose to her—that’s a long story between our families. But I couldn’t really take it. I needed some space. I was twenty-two for Christ’s sake. I had no business getting engaged and I didn’t want someone else telling me what I had to do.”