It really was a sight to behold. I’d literally stepped back in time.
Gleaming marble floors reflected the dancers as well as a gold and crystal antique chandelier hanging over the center of the room. All the French doors on the far side of the room were open to the night, letting in the fragrant air. Candlelight danced along the walls from brass sconces.
The women were all dressed similar to me, true Southern belles, and the men were dashing as Confederate soldiers or wearing a suit and tails. A small orchestra played from the corner of the room and I saw an ice sculpture surrounded by large white Magnolia blooms and punch bowls. Magic shimmered in the air. Not the magic I witnessed with Margaret but the kind that made dreams come true.
This was another world; one I'd dreamed of being a part of and now I was.
As I walked farther into the room I got the uncomfortable feeling that everyone was staring. Sure enough, when I gazed around, I noticed many glances in my direction. Thankfully, I looked nothing like Quinn Roberts or else I would’ve turned and run away as fast as I could. I was fairly certain no one would recognize me.
I kept an eye out for Marietta and the twins, though. I didn’t want to test my theory of being unrecognizable with them. More than anything, I wanted to find Jason.
About halfway into the crowded ballroom, I saw him. He wasn’t wearing a mask but he looked dashing decked out in a very authentic looking Confederate soldier uniform. The mere sight of him made my palms sweat.
He raised his head and searched the crowd, watching for someone in particular. Finally, his eyes met mine. I knew he didn’t realize who I was so I lifted my hand and waved at him. Jason’s eyebrows drew together in confusion as he crossed the room towards me.
He stopped right in front of me. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”
I smiled at him. “It’s starting to feel more and more as if you might be the only one who truly does.”
A couple seconds later he broke into a huge smile, picked me up and spun me around. “I knew you’d come, Quinn,” he whispered in my ear.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I’d make it.”
“I sent a car for you.”
“Yeah, my stepmother and stepsisters took that. I found my way, though.”
Jason set me down, took my hands in his and gave me a thorough once over. “You’re so beautiful. I mean I love the way you normally look, it suits you but this...this is something.”
I blushed and broke eye contact with him. The last thing I wanted to do tonight was act shy or awkward. Jason would be leaving Savannah soon. I needed to throw caution to the wind and finally take a chance on something. Tonight, anything felt possible.
Looking him boldly in the eyes, I said, “It’s so beautiful. I never went to prom, but I imagine it was like this. Well, except for the belles and soldiers.”
Jason drew his brows together in concern. “You never went to prom?”
“I didn’t have the easiest life in high school. Who would have asked me?”
He touched my cheek. “Me. C’mon let me show you off.”
I let him pull me along even as I protested. “Jason, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. I don’t want anyone to know who I am.”
He winked at me. “Who says they have to? No one can tell with that mask on. What should your name be?”
Letting myself sink into the fantasy, I pulled out the first name that came to mind. “Margaret.” It was because of her I was here. I figured it was fair.
“Margaret it is.” He escorted me up to a tall man with a full head of salt-and-pepper hair standing with a couple of minor actors I recognized from movies and television.
I prayed I’d be able to pull this off.
“Stan, I’d like you to meet a true Southern belle. This is Margaret.” Jason motioned to me and I smiled. “Margaret, this is Stan Cooper the director.”
Stan returned the smile. He was a handsome man with twinkling blue eyes. I felt at ease with him.
“Leave it to Jason to find a genuine belle in this beautiful city.” He reached for my hand and grasped it in his. “You are a vision.”
Lost in the role I answered in my deepest accent. “Thank you, Mr. Cooper. I hope ya’ll are enjoyin’ Savannah.”
Jason watched with a huge grin on his face as he introduced me to the group. One of the actresses even complimented my accent, declaring it was the hardest accent she ever had to learn. I loved the attention, I’ll fully admit it.
Even watching Jason interact with these people he saw everyday was illuminating. His confidence was sexy and he had a great sarcastic sense of humor I’d already seen hints of. This was Jason in his element and it fit him well.
Stan’s wife Danielle laid her hand on my arm and spoke quietly, “That is the most gorgeous dress I’ve seen all night. Where on earth did you get it?”
“Oh, it’s been in the family for generations. Every time I pull it out of storage, I’m amazed it has survived this long.”
It was mostly the truth. Still unable to comprehend how Margaret came up with a dress like this, I was half-afraid I wore a moth-eaten rag and everyone was looking at an illusion. Nervous laughter almost bubbled up out of me.
Before Danielle could speak again, Jason pulled me aside. “Sorry guys, she’s all mine now.”
He led me towards the dance floor through a crowd of curious and envious stares. I tried to remain alert for Marietta or the twins but I was walking in a dream. I wanted to remember every detail, the way his hand felt covering mine, or how the light from the chandelier reflected off his dark hair.
“You were awesome. Who knew you were such an actress?” Jason joked.
Before I had a chance to answer, I heard voices calling his name.
“Jason!”
“Over here!”
“Can we get one picture?”
I followed the sounds and saw a herd of photographers held back by a barricade. Even before Jason turned, the flashbulbs started flashing. I stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do.
Jason pressed close and whispered in my ear. “We’ll give them one. Just smile and pretend I’m the most charming man you’ve ever met.”
He wrapped his arm around my waist and held me tight. His remark did bring a smile to my face and I faced the cameras. The flashes were distracting and blinding. I gained new respect for how he lived his life. I was a fish in an aquarium, on display for the entire world.
After a minute or so, Jason raised his hand in a wave. “That’s enough guys. Let me enjoy this fine party with a beautiful girl.”
Finally, we made it to the dance floor as more shouts followed us.
“What’s your name, sweetie?”
“Who’s your date, Jason?”
He pulled me into his arms as the music changed into a slow, haunting song. I was aware of everyone watching us, whispering and wondering who the girl was in Jason’s arms. I didn’t care.
The reporters shook my resolve a little but I closed my eyes and let the music settle over me. For that blissful moment of time, we existed in our own bubble.
I lost track of how long we danced or to how many songs but when Jason took my hand and led me out to the terrace, it felt like I’d been in his arms for days.
As we passed the floor-to-ceiling windows, I caught sight of our reflection. I remembered the first time I saw Jason and me together in the reflection of a store window. That girl didn’t belong. This girl did.
This girl's eyes sparkled with excitement and she glowed from the inside. I watched as the Jason in the reflection gazed down at her with an expression that stole my breath away. He appeared to be a man in love. A man who saw nothing but the girl at his side.
He pulled me out into the warm night air before I could dwell on that. The strains of “Georgia on My Mind” drifted out behind us. Even the night was perfect. The sky twinkled with stars, the cicadas gave off a symphony of background music and the heat had faded to the perfect mix of warmth and humidity that held you in a heated
embrace. I loved the feeling. It was as if the night had arms and all it wanted to do was hold me in them forever. Whatever people said about the brutal heat of the South, a night like this, complete with its warm embrace, always felt so romantic to me.
And I was sharing it with a person who’d taken me by complete surprise.
As Jason stood close to me, more than anything I wanted to rip off my mask. It still felt like I was hiding a little with it on. I wanted him to see me without any masks on, real or imagined.
“I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been standing around all night, talking to these people and the only one I wanted to share it with was you.”
I gasped. “I don’t know what to say to you when you talk that way.”
He brushed his thumb over my lips and I trembled. “You don’t have to say anything, Quinn. All I know is, when you waved at me and I realized it was you, something clicked inside me. I was the luckiest man in the room.”
“Jason, I—.”
He interrupted me by putting a finger up to stop me. “Quinn you don’t have to come up with an answer for everything. Sometimes you just have to give in and trust and feel.”
Then he leaned in and kissed me.
I wanted to remember it all; the smell, the taste, the feel, but every single thought emptied my head. The magical things I experienced and witnessed tonight didn’t come close to the sensations that kiss sent coursing through my veins. The kiss was slow and devastating. I felt my blood come alive. It was a slow burn, starting at my lips and spreading into the very core of me.
The feelings were so contradictory. My head felt light as a feather but my body trembled. I was drowning but I never wanted it to end. When Jason broke away, we both struggled to catch our breath. His face was inches from mine and all I wanted to do was pull him close again. I knew I’d compare every kiss from that day forward to his.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t dwell too long on the kiss. I saw Suzie and Anna over his shoulder heading in our direction and it was like someone tossing a bucket of cold water over my head.
“Crap, I’ve got to get out of here before they see me,” I mumbled. “Don’t look but my stepsisters are headed our way. I apologize in advance for their behavior.”
He kissed me quick one last time. “Let me know when you’re home and safe.”
I hustled off the terrace, to the side of the building, and caught a cab out front. Hysterical laughter bubbled up as I almost lost my shoe getting in the car. How ironic would that be?
During the entire ride home I didn’t stop smiling. I hadn’t spent much time at the ball, but every second with Jason felt like a lifetime. It was a precious gift I’d remember until the day I died. And probably even after that.
The house was empty when I returned. I rushed up to the attic and shut the door behind me. The lock engaged by itself and I heard the same heavy piece of furniture move in front of it.
Alone in my room, I delayed undressing by texting Jason. The sooner I took the dress off the sooner the night would end.
Finally, I changed and put on my pajamas. Then, the adrenaline crashed and my body was heavy with exhaustion. I curled up in bed and basked in the lingering warmth of Jason’s kiss.
I should be with him, out until the sun comes up, I thought sadly. But here I was, curled up in bed alone and hiding like a coward.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The next couple of days after the ball were frighteningly quiet. Marietta wasn’t around much and I wondered where she disappeared to for hours at a time. When I did see her, the darkness appeared to be much less significant, almost muted. I knew it didn’t mean things were over.
Actually, I got the feeling Catherine was laying in wait, letting me think I was safe. She enjoyed toying with me.
I knew better than to relax. The necklace Margaret gave me never left my neck. Whenever I was close to Marietta I tucked it away. I didn’t even want to think of what would happen if Catherine saw me wearing it. I knew I was playing with fire but I didn’t feel so alone when I wore it.
One afternoon, Jason and I were sitting in one of the parks near our house. The many squares of green space dotting the historic part of town gave us plenty of private places to hang out. When the city was founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe, there were originally four squares whose main function was to provide space for military maneuvers. Over time, as Savannah grew, more and more were added and today there were twenty-two squares. They were one more thing that made Savannah so unique.
We sat there for a couple hours and I ran lines with Jason for the intense ending they were filming later that night. It was fun and comfortable, and safe being with him. Isaac, the bodyguard assigned to Jason, kept to himself. I was glad we hadn’t needed him yet but I knew it was only a matter of time before that part of Jason’s life collided with our budding relationship.
He didn’t give me a chance to feel awkward about our kiss, which I was thankful for. It surprised me how much I’d changed in the couple of months since I met him.
“I think I’m finally getting used to this heat. It forces you to slow down. I’ve decided this slow, lazy lifestyle appeals to me.” Jason brushed my hair out of my face. “How are things at the house?”
I shrugged. “It’s been okay. Marietta’s been suspiciously absent which makes me more nervous. I need to figure out how to fight this thing.”
“What do you mean, fight it? You can’t be serious.” Again, I suspected he didn’t understand my feelings or my need to see it through to the end.
“I’m very serious. What else should I do, ignore it and run away? I’m the one left to finish this.”
Jason stood up and started to pace in front of me. “Well, can’t we bring in a priest or exorcist or something? There has to be someone you can get to help. This thing already tried to kill you once and I won’t lose someone else I care about.”
I walked over to him and put my hand on his cheek. “Who? Talk to me, Jason.”
He looked at me with such a huge well of sadness behind his eyes. He took a deep breath and tried to compose himself.
“My brother,” he began softly. “We were on our way to go snowboarding. I grew up in Colorado and learned to drive on icy, snowy roads. I remember him talking about how much he hated being a freshman in high school. I was a sophomore and had already gone through it so I was giving him advice. Then, some stupid country song came on the radio. We were laughing and singing along to it.
“No matter how many times I go over it, I can’t pinpoint what went wrong. I wasn’t driving fast or recklessly but an oncoming car drifted into our lane. Trying to avoid it, I lost control of the Suburban and hit a patch of ice. We rolled and the car came to rest with the passenger side crushed into a tree. I tried to get Dylan out, to wake him up but he never came to. I never got to tell him I was sorry.”
I held him as he cried. Instinctively I knew this wasn’t something he shared with most people. I understood loss but nothing like what he’d experienced.
“It’s okay,” I whispered. “I’m sure he knew and I’m sure he doesn’t blame you.”
He pulled back and wiped his eyes before laying his forehead to mine. “I tell myself that constantly. We were close and deep down I know he understands but it doesn’t stop me from questioning everything that happened that day. I only had my license a couple of months but my parents trusted me, letting me take the car that day. We lived half an hour from the ski hill. I’d already made the trip twice that month.”
“What happened to the other driver?” I asked. Most of the details of the article I read were pretty hazy.
“The driver never stopped and they never found him. I remember wanting to feel some kind of justice, even though I believed most of the blame was on me.”
“Blame and guilt are funny things. Even with Mama dying of a brain aneurism and Daddy of a heart attack, I wondered if it was my fault. Could I have been a better daughter? Did they love me too much? We imagine there’s something we could have
done different even in an impossible situation.”
“I know.” Jason sighed heavily. “The last couple years I’ve come to terms with the fact it wasn’t my fault but there’s still guilt. I will always have guilt. And I will always second guess everything about that day.”
“I think it’s only natural, Jason. So did you leave Colorado to get away from everything?”
“I had to get away from there. The memories were too much so I managed to graduate early and started over in LA the minute I turned eighteen. I got a job pretty quick and I guess the rest is history.”
“Is this why you’re so interested in the paranormal? Because you want to find out what happens after?”
“Yeah, when I first learned we were going to be filming here I thought I’d finally have a chance to find out more about what happens when you die. Is Dylan still back home or did he move on? All I want is some answers.”
“It’s kind of why I started investigating. Whatever my capabilities are as far as sensing things, I still want to know more about my parents. One of the things I’ve learned is the answers aren’t always out there. I’ve done everything I possibly can to contact my parents and I’ve never felt anything, not even a twinge.”
“The logical part of me realizes it’s something I’ll never find out. It doesn’t make me stop though. You’ve shown me more than I ever imagined and it helps learning about spirits and their world. That’s why I don’t want anything to happen to you. What you’re dealing with is dangerous.”
I sat back down on the bench. I knew he wanted me to be safe but the reality of the situation still loomed before me.
“Jason, you have to understand, I cannot get on with my life the way I want until this is finished. There’s a reason Catherine’s here now and I can’t let her win.”
Once again, he sat beside me and hung his head. After a couple seconds passed, he looked at me and said, “I realize how important this is to you, that isn’t lost on me but I’m not going to let you do it on your own. Whether I help you or someone else, you won’t be alone. Maybe I can call one of these paranormal groups, set up a meeting. I’m more than happy to use my money or so-called fame to help.”
Happily Never After Page 12
