Southern Secrets (The Southern Series Book 2)

by Shelley Stringer

  I knocked softly on Julia’s door. “Julia, it’s Chandler. May I come in?”

  “Sure.”

  I pushed the door open, and found her at her dressing table, putting the finishing touches on her hair. She turned and immediately smiled at me.

  “Do you think having my hair up makes me look too old-fashioned? I wanted to curl it in waves, and leave it down, but Momma said it needs to be up, down is too casual.

  “I think it’s beautiful up…and old-fashioned is elegant.”

  “Okay. If you think it’s all right, then I’m good with it. What’s up with you?” she asked as she turned completely around on the chair. I sat down in an elegantly upholstered chair by the window, trying to choose the right words to begin.

  “Um, Julia, I…I came in here to give you the heads up. Banton has been nervous as a cat all weekend. He’s realized you’re all grown up and turning grown-up heads. It’s making him uncomfortable.”

  “I’m not quite sure what you’re talking about.” She frowned.

  “Well, Ben seems to be paying a lot of attention to you, and Banton is worried he’s too old for you.”

  “What? You can’t be serious. Ben’s only twenty four, and I just turned nineteen.”

  “I know, Darlin’, but he still thinks of you as a high school kid, and Ben has been serving with him on deployments. He thinks of him as a man,” I countered.

  “Okay, I get it. But I’m really into Ben, and I think he likes me, too. If I want to see him, I will,” she said stubbornly.

  “Are you…have you already…” I began.

  “He sent you in here for the scoop, didn’t he? I can’t believe him!” She crossed her arms stubbornly across her chest.

  I crossed the room, and knelt in front of her. “Banton didn’t send me. He was going to come, and I stopped him and told him to let me talk to you. He loves you so much, Julia, and he is fiercely protective. He just wants to know where things stand, that’s all. He saw Ben coming out of your room earlier and it upset him. I’m afraid this might cause problems between the two of them.”

  “Well, he’s got it all wrong. Ben just brought my dress up here when Mr. Philippe dropped it off, and we talked for a few minutes. I don’t even know if Ben will ask me out, but I hope he will.” Then a devilish twinkle lit her eyes. “Let’s make up a good story, make Banton think Ben and I were in here all hot and heavy,” she plotted as she began to giggle.

  “Oh, no. No way. He’d probably go and deck poor Ben, and you wouldn’t want that, would you?” I asked as I placed my hand on her cheek.

  “No, I guess you’re right. It would be fun to watch him boil over, though, wouldn’t it?”

  “I know you think this is funny,” I paused and smiled, “and I admit it is, just a bit. But you have to know, your brother is uneasy about this age difference. He waited a long time to ask me out and to let me know how he felt. My being so much younger than him worried him, and he would barely touch me or anything else…” She grinned sheepishly at me, and then I continued, “until he had the engagement ring on my finger. He’s pretty old fashioned and responsible--a quality which is rare these days, and it’s admirable. Don’t fault him too much,” I finished, and then rose and kissed her on the cheek.

  “I’m sorry, I know. I love Banton, believe me.”

  “I know you do. What do you want me to tell him?” I asked softly.

  “That I’m all grown up, and I can take care of myself. But I will talk to him first, before I go out with Ben. I promise.”

  “Good girl. Now, do you need help with anything?”

  “No, Mr. Philippe should be up here any minute. All I have left to do is get into that mass of fabric!” She motioned to her dress hanging on her closet door.

  I laughed, and then moved toward the door. “Then I’ll go and finish dressing, and hold your brother off a little longer. Maybe he won’t lock you away in an ivory tower just yet.”

  “Ha,” she shot out as I closed the door.

  * * *

  Banton was gone when I got back to our room, so I sat down to fix my own hair. I decided to twist it in a loosely-braided French twist, and leave tendrils trailing at my temples, and at the nape of my neck. Then I had to address the bruises on my shoulders. Everett had produced some expensive body makeup, matched perfectly to my skin tone. I rubbed it into the dark bruises on my shoulders and it lightened them enough to make them invisible. As I slid the black velvet dress on, I gasped. My breasts had definitely grown, apparent last night in the bikini I’d worn in the hot tub. But nothing prepared me for the mounds peeking over the top of the dress when I zipped it up. I couldn’t have grown so much in just a few days! I put the necklace Ev had picked out around my neck, a wispy tangle of tiny seed pearls appearing to have icicles shooting from it, and then I worked the matching comb into my hair. I grabbed my white gloves and masque, and then hurried to Constance’s room to ask her opinion. I pushed her door open when no one answered, and found her room empty. Voices drifting up the staircase from the foyer alerted me everyone had already gone downstairs.

  I was nervous as I descended the staircase. Okay, Andie, get a grip. You don’t have another choice anyway, because this is the only dress you brought. I gave myself a pep talk on the way down. Constance stood at the base of the stairs, pulling her silk gloves on, looking stunning in the plum-colored dress she’d chosen. She’d curled her thick blonde hair in loose ringlets, and it cascaded down her back. Ty stood beside her, with his hand placed loosely on the small of her back, grinning broadly as everyone complimented her on how gorgeous she looked.

  “Holy Crap! Hello, Mommy,” John whistled as I stepped off the last stair. Banton stood at the front door with my cloak and turned to see what John was talking about. I felt the blood rush to my cheeks.

  I leaned over to whisper to Constance, “Is it bad? It sure is tight, all of a sudden.”

  “Don’t pay attention to the crude cowboy. He doesn’t know haute couture when it slaps him with a feather,” she retorted. “You look gorgeous, Chandler. That dress was made for you.”

  I crossed the foyer to Banton, and as I drew in close to him, his eyes settled on my chest.

  “Wow. This dress looks great on you, Chandler. You aren’t supposed to outshine the queen tonight. They might not let you in,” he commented as he placed a kiss on my collarbone.

  “My, oh my. You boys sure clean up nice! Man, I haven’t seen this many tuxes in one room in a long time!” Mr. Matt exclaimed as he came out of his study.

  “Where is Momma?” Banton asked.

  “She and Mrs. Sue and Mr. Lon are at the ballroom already. She had some finishing touches with the flowers and caterer and everything, and Mrs. Sue offered to help her. You kids go on ahead and see if you can help…my job is to bring Her Majesty and to make sure nothing happens to that dress between here and there,” he said, rolling his eyes.

  “I’d be glad to ride with you,” Ben called out to Mr. Matt as he and Colin came down the hallway.

  “No way. You’re riding with us, Lover Boy.” Banton grabbed his collar, and guided him out the front door as Brie and Constance giggled behind us.

  Chapter Thirty

  When we arrived at the ballroom, there was a flurry of last minute activity. The moment we offered our services we were all given jobs to see to the last minute details, and before we knew it, the ceremony had begun. As Julia stepped through the tangled archway of icicles, beads, and Mardi Gras masques, a hush fell over the room. Her dress was an enchanting creation made of snow-white organza. The entire bodice resembled tiers of tiny diamonds, draped wide at the neck, becoming tighter together as they touched the fabric of the bodice just above her breasts. The diamond strands draped off her shoulders and then lower in the back, exposing her shoulder blades. Fitting snugly around her ribcage, the bodice dipped to a point in the front, disappearing down into the layers of fluff on the skirt.

  We were already seated at a round table at the front of the room, and as sh
e made her way up the satin runway to sit on the thrown beside the King, I turned to look at Banton. You could see the pride in his eyes. I reached over and wrapped my arms around his forearm. He looked down at me and smiled, obviously overcome by the moment and the beautiful young woman his sister had become. I then glanced down the other way at our friends, and Ben looked star-struck. I sighed; I could tell this relationship budding between Julia and Ben was fait accompli.

  Everett held his hands together with his index fingers pressed against his lips; for Ava Grace’s big moment was upon us. She tripped along the runway clutching the roses with her Jasmine doll in the mix. The “Ohhh” from the crowd told us just how adorable everyone thought she looked. Ava placed the roses in Julia’s lap and kissed her cheek. Turning as the audience clapped for her, she swiftly become shy, not knowing how to handle all of the attention. After a few moments of cameras popping and having spotted her Uncle Banton, Ava flew across the short area between our table and the thrones, and then leapt up into his lap and buried her little masque in his shoulder.

  “Unca Banin, I want to go home,” she blubbered into his chest.

  “Doodle-bug, you did great. Everyone is just excited for you, you look so beautiful. Don’t you want to stay and eat some king’s cake? You might get the piece with the prize, and you have to dance with me!” he exclaimed as he pulled the little mask back to look at her eyes.

  “What pwize?” she asked, completely forgetting her tears. Everyone at the table laughed.

  “There is a little baby doll baked into every cake. If you get the piece the baby is in, it’s good luck!”

  “Wet’s go, Unca Banin! Wet’s get my baby!” she exclaimed as she tugged on his hand.

  “Boy, you’d better make sure you get her the right piece, Unca Banin…” Claudia warned, patting Ava’s leg as Banton passed by her.

  As the dancing began, Uncle Lon came over and claimed the first dance with me, drawing me up beside him and then leading me out on the dance floor.

  “I haven’t had the chance to visit with you as I’d hoped this weekend. Our last visit didn’t go well, and I’m sorry. You have to know I’m just worried about you, and I wonder every day if I’ve done right by you,” he commented as I drew back to look at him.

  “What do you mean? You and Aunt Sue have done everything for me! I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful wedding, and you’ve taken good care of me since Mom and Dad died.”

  “I wonder. I sometimes feel as if we didn’t spend enough time with you, before you went and got married. Chandler, are you happy? You seem to be, Sue says you are.” He studied my eyes intently.

  “Absolutely. I love Banton so much, and I can’t imagine my life without him,” I assured him.

  “Then I’m glad, sweetheart. I just want him to be good to you, and for your life to be easy. That’s the only reason I was so upset when you told us about the babies…” His voice trailed off.

  “We certainly didn’t plan them, but I knew from the beginning it was meant to be. Banton was overjoyed, and we can’t wait for them to get here. I’m determined to finish school, so don’t worry.” I pressed a kiss on his cheek. “You don’t second guess little miracles,” I added.

  “Yes, all babies are miracles, I guess,” he responded.

  “Well, it’s actually more than that. There is a complication with my health which makes it kind of hard for me to conceive. This could be our only chance at a family,” I told him hesitantly.

  As my meaning soaked in, Uncle Lon pulled me in close, whispering, “I’m so sorry about the way I yelled at you when you told us, your Aunt Sue and I are overjoyed about these grandbabies! Please believe me.” He’d called them his grandbabies.

  “I do. I love you both so much!” I hugged him as the dance ended.

  “Are you going to dance with your wife?” Aunt Sue cut in. I wiped the tears from my eyes with my gloved fingers.

  “Certainly. You and Constance and Chandler have all the spots on my dance card tonight.” He beamed at her as he took her into his arms.

  I searched across the dance floor but couldn’t find Banton. I turned back to look through the sea of tables…and then I saw him.

  I froze.

  He was talking with a beautiful blonde woman, maybe a little older than I. She was giving him her best effort at a full pout, and the best view of her ample cleavage. The dress she had on left little to the imagination. It fit at the top similar to an old-fashioned bustier, fastened up the front with delicate sparkling laces that barely met. The sheer skirt evidently had no lining, and she had no slip on underneath. As she slid her hand up his arm and leaned closer, the green-eyed monster reared its ugly head. I felt glaringly pregnant, mousey, and unattractive. I felt like frump-wife.

  “Hey there, Andie-girl. How’s it going?” John came up behind and hugged me.

  “Great, until I spotted that woman talking to Banton,” I breathed out.

  “Where?” He turned and looked the direction I nodded. “Holy Boom Booms, Batman…where’d she come from?”

  “I don’t know, I just noticed her.”

  “No, I mean, we haven’t seen her in a long time. I can’t believe she showed up. She must have known Banton would be here,” he said in disbelief.

  “Who is she?” I asked, dreading the answer.

  “Hillary, the Commander’s high-maintenance niece Banton dated before he met you,” he commented in my ear. I looked up at him, and he must have sensed my unease. “Don’t sweat it, Andie-girl. She isn’t even in your league. He left her behind a long time ago. He’s just being polite.”

  “Yeah…hmm,” I nodded, and then turned to get a glass of sparkling water. The room grew quite warm. I lingered by the beverage table, wishing I could take advantage of the liquor as the others in our group, numbness might be good right about now. When I turned back around, I spotted Banton. He’d returned to our table and was talking to John.

  “Well, since Banton can’t seem to find the time to introduce us, I guess I’ll have to do it myself. Hello, Sweetie, I’m Hillary,” a deep, husky sexy female voice said. I whirled to find her standing right behind me.

  Southern Belle Rule #27--Sweetie uttered from one Southern Belle to another is never ever a term of endearment, but rather thinly-veiled condescension. It means Bitch.

  “Hello. I’m Chandler Gastaneau, Banton’s wife,” I replied, with my chin in the air. She towered over me, the leggy, bare-backed blonde…I felt tiny and insignificant. When would I ever be self-confident? I wondered, did other women start highlighting their own flaws when in the company of such a beauty?

  “So nice to meet you. I’d heard sweet Bans had gotten married and settled down. I just had to see for myself who’d finally captured his heart. Lord knows I tried to do it, but I came up a little short. I’m not used to losing, you know.” She tossed the rest of her drink down, and then placed her hand across her bare chest and smirked at me. “So, how did you do it? I thought he was the terminal bachelor!”

  I was tongue tied, at a complete loss for an answer. “Um, I guess I was just at the right place, at the right time,” I answered as John walked up. What did I just say? It was so insignificant, I couldn’t even remember…

  “Hello, Hills…what brings you here? I wasn’t aware you knew Banton’s family well enough to get invited to their Krewe’s Ball,” he commented off-handedly as I looked at him gratefully.

  “Oh, I’m an old family friend of the King’s. His family invited me. I was so hoping to get a glance of Banton’s new girl, and here she is.” She looked me up and down, seeming to take appraisal of me.

  “She’s a lot more than that, Hillary. She’s his wife, and pregnant, I might add…they’re expecting twins in late summer…” he trailed off, studying her reaction.

  “Oh, I see…that’s the oldest trap in the book, Sweetie. I was a little afraid to try that one, guess I should have been a little bolder.” She smirked at me, and I suspected my eyes were playing tricks on me as she took
on a demonic look.

  Banton came up behind me, and slid his arms around my waist.

  “Everything all right?” he asked. He turned me around in his arms.

  “Yes, Darlin’, everything is great,” I whispered as I found my voice and my confidence with his arms firmly around my waist.

  “Oh, Hills, retract those claws. And about the bold comment, I don’t think you have to worry. The Halloween costume you have on for a dress tonight is a pretty bold statement, although I don’t remember ‘turn-of-the-century street walker’ as a masque theme,” John retorted, with the biggest twinkle in his eye that I’d ever seen.

  “John!” I turned to see Banton’s horrified expression, evidently appalled at John’s remark.

  “Yeah, well, she deserved it, she insinuated Chandler must have trapped you into marriage with the pregnancy,” John offered, draining his glass.

  “You what?” Banton barked, apparently appalled. He glanced down at me, and I was sure he detected the tears gathering in my eyes. Banton was well aware of the uneasiness I’d felt about my pregnancy before the wedding.

  He glared at Hillary, and cleared his throat. “I can assure you, I had this diamond on her finger before I ever became intimate with her, so you’re sadly mistaken, Hillary. Not everyone plays games as you do. There are still sweet, old-fashioned girls in the world. I was lucky enough to find one, my soul mate. Now, if you will excuse us, I want to dine alone with my beautiful wife.” He leaned over and kissed the nape of my neck as he placed his hand at the small of my back, escorting me across the room.

  “Sweetheart, don’t you dare let her upset you, I broke it off with her, and she’s been mad ever since. I’m sorry you even had to meet her,” he commented, stroking my cheek.

  “I’m just sorry you and John felt as if you had to rescue me! I’ve never been able to fight back with words. I think about what I should have said about four hours later when I’ve chewed the conversation over for the twentieth time!” I was becoming angrier as the minutes ticked by.