Southern Secrets

by Shelley Stringer

  As Banton left the kitchen and mounted the stairs, we listened to Everett make her appointment.

  “Sugar, he can see us in an hour. Go get ready, I need to run a quick errand, and then when I get back, we’ll go, all right?”

  “Sure. Thanks, Everett. You’re a doll.” Constance smiled at him as she angrily wiped the tears from her eyes.

  “Oh, I know. I just luuuv hearing you all say it over and over.” He grinned as he rose and walked out of the room, reaching down to place a kiss on my cheek as he went.

  Constance stomped out of the kitchen, and I heard John comment as he and Brie passed her on the stairs, “What’s all the commotion, Diva-doll?”

  “Ask your SEAL buddy, Ty. He has no idea how stubborn I am.” She continued up the stairs, letting everyone in the house and the dead in the cemetery down the road know how angry she was as she stomped her way up.

  “Jeez, what did we miss?” John asked as he and Brie swept into the kitchen for coffee.

  “Ty’s decided he’s putting her in danger, and he’s trying to push her away,” I updated them on the drama of the morning.

  “Oh.” Brie looked up at John as he slid his hand down her cheek, the look on his face tortured. I could tell he wrestled with the same demons. The difference was John and Brie already had their answer; Brie was vulnerable in the worst way. The silence in the kitchen was awkward as they poured their coffee and joined me at the table.

  “So, has Banton talked to the Aldon sisters about baby-sitting?” John asked. Brie slapped him on the shoulder.

  “Yeah, he asked Everett this morning. It’s all arranged. One big slumber party, as Banton put it.” I sighed and took another sip of coffee.

  “Don’t get sloppy on us, Andie-girl. We’ll be back before you both can even miss us,” he quipped.

  “Don’t bet on it. I miss him already,” I stated. My heart was already beginning to ache.

  “Hey, we’ve got to get a handle on this. Some sort of pact. We’re going to beat the odds, the four of us,” John stated as he pulled Brie’s hand up and kissed the back of it.

  “What odds?” I asked curiously.

  “The SEAL marriage odds. They only give SEALs a fifteen percent chance of staying married. The break-up rate is a phenomenon,” he said flippantly as if he didn’t believe it.

  “Never quote me odds. I’d rather have one happy day with Banton than a lifetime of normal marriage,” I retorted.

  “Besides, this is a short-term gig. We’ve already served way over half our terms, even if they keep us active…” John trailed off.

  “Okay, enough of the depressing conversation. We’ve got plans today, Mr. Calder,” Brie said as she pulled him to his feet.

  “You’re the boss, Mrs. Calder. You lead, I’ll follow!” He grinned as she pulled him down the hallway. I finished my cup of coffee, and then rose to put the cup in the sink. This sitting around waiting for Banton or someone to carry me was getting old. Besides, the doctor said to rest as much as possible, and stay off my feet. He didn’t say I couldn’t walk from point A to point B by myself. I decided I needed a good soak in my comfy tub.

  I could hear the voices directly above me as I lay my robe on the ottoman beside the tub. Banton and Ty were arguing, I could tell from the tone, and Banton was trying to reason with him. I turned the water on and began to fill the tub with bubbles and warm water, drowning out their angry voices. I slid out of my pj’s, and slid into the warm water.

  As always, my eyes drifted over to the glass blocks in the window, but my heart no longer felt as if it would burst from my chest. I still couldn’t come in here at night by myself, but it was getting easier. I sighed as my mind floated over our conversation in the kitchen. Such adoration filled me when I thought of how Banton had been with Constance, wanting to solve her problem, his love for my cousin obvious as he showed his concern for her feelings. I realized my love for him was so much more than just how he was with me, but little things--how he was just now with Constance, and how he loved the people I loved.

  A knock at the door broke into my silent musings. “Who is it?” I asked.

  “Me, who else?” Banton’s smooth, deep voice drifted through the door.

  “It’s open, I knew you’d be down any minute,” I called out.

  He pushed the door open and slid in, shutting it behind him. His eyes sparkled as he moved toward the tub. “Can I join you?”

  “Sure, you’d better take advantage while there’s still room.”

  “Chandler, you can’t be serious about worrying about gaining weight with the pregnancy. You need to gain weight for the babies.”

  “All right, quit lecturing and get your butt in here!” I watched as he dropped his trousers to the floor and pulled his polo over his head, dropping it in the heap beside the tub. I was mesmerized, his muscles and perfect body caused my heart rate to quicken. Glancing over at me, he caught me observing him as he slipped his briefs off. He grinned mischievously at me, stalking toward the tub. As he slowly lowered himself into the water, I turned to the side to give him room. I’d filled the tub quite full, and as he settled down into the tub, the water threatened to overflow the sides. The door opened without warning and I started to cover myself, and then realized it was Beau pushing his way in. He circled the bathroom once, and then plopped down on the rug beside the tub.

  “Did you get anywhere with Ty?” I asked as he reached over to push the door closed. He slowly soaped a rag, and ran it over my back and shoulders.

  “I don’t know. I can’t give him a rational argument because I know how he feels,” he sighed.

  “John just quoted me the odds on marriage for SEALs. I told him I’d rather have one day of happiness with you, than a lifetime of average marriage. She has just as much to risk as he does. She could lose him, too. It’s a two-way street. It’s all right for you all to be in danger; he’s being hypocritical, if you think about it,” I stated emphatically.

  Banton cocked his head to the side as he studied my face. “I hadn’t thought about it that way. I’m sorry.” He stroked my check. “But it’s a guy thing, Andie. He is absolutely tortured. He feels guilty about starting the relationship, knowing what he knows.”

  “It was different when he was just attracted, now he’s in love,” I stated, gazing back at him.

  “Exactly. He’s got to figure all this out. Only he can make this decision,” he supposed. Squeezing water from the rag, he rinsed the soap from my shoulders.

  “Constance might have something to say, don’t bet on it,” I shot back.

  He leaned down to kiss me, ending the conversation. After a leisurely soak together we dressed, Banton decided we needed some soul food.

  “I think I’ll drive downtown to that little hole-in-the wall with the good etouffee. We’ll eat an early lunch, and then if you feel up to it, I want to take you out for a steak tonight.”

  “Sounds great.”

  He grabbed his keys, and threw me a kiss.

  “Hurry back. I don’t want to miss a minute.”

  I didn’t finish the thought as he whistled for Beau, and then closed the door behind them. I picked the laptop up off the sofa, and settled down to do some more searching on line. I decided to change my search from dreams to nightmares. I focused in on some older articles, one in particular which dealt more with the supernatural. As I read the hair on my neck began to stand up. It mentioned spirits and the departed as being able to enter dreams and make contact, both mentally and physically. I shuddered. There was no suggestion for fighting the intruder, just suggestions about strengthening the mind, willing oneself to defend in the dream, to overcome the aggressor to make the dreams stop.

  “Well, that’s certainly helpful! If I could do that, I wouldn’t have a problem!” I said out loud.

  Abruptly, I had the feeling I wasn’t alone. I turned my head quickly, and a haze had formed in the doorway to living room. It wasn’t the cloud-like haze I normally saw when I felt my mother’s presence. It bega
n to move toward the staircase, and a form began to take shape and colors. It was a man, a young, slender man, no more than eighteen or nineteen years old. He was dressed in rags, what appeared to be a gray uniform, and a cap. He slowly raised his hand as if he were waving to me, and then steadily climbed the stairs.

  Even though the hair stood up on the back of my neck, I was mesmerized. I rose to follow him, and as I reached the bottom of the staircase he disappeared at the top. I blinked. My eyes couldn’t seem to focus; I’d stared at him so hard trying to see his form. Had I imagined him? I was shaking, but I couldn’t say I was frightened. Somehow I sensed he wasn’t a threat.

  “Bebe, what are you doing up?” Everett came through the doorway with Constance in tow.

  “I just thought I saw something, that’s all.” I turned, and walked back over to the sofa and sank down into the cushions. I felt silly, deciding to keep what I thought I’d seen to myself.

  “You’re white as a sheet again, Darlin. What did you see?” he asked intuitively.

  “Never mind that. What did the doctor say?”

  Constance sat down beside me. “He took some blood samples and gave me a physical. He said he wouldn’t have the results for a few days. He won’t even speculate since Everett couldn’t detect anything.” She seemed extremely frustrated as she answered me.

  Everett patted her shoulder as he spoke, “Darlin’, I just said it’s faint. You’re just not putting it off like Chandler does. It doesn’t mean you don’t carry the gene. Let’s just wait for the results, all right?”

  “Boy, that’s a first! No one has ever accused me of putting anything off better than Constance!” I grinned as she laughed and lay her head over in my lap.

  “Well, I’m off to the shop. I’ve got a friend watching it today, and I’d better check in with him. I’ll be back in the morning to see the boys off.” Everett leaned over and kissed my cheek.

  “Thanks, Ev. I Love you.”

  “I love you too, Bebe. See you in the morning!” he called over his shoulder as he left out the front door in a rush.

  “Ev’s too good to be true, you know,” she commented, twirling a lock of her hair.

  “I know,” I sighed.

  “So where did Ty go? His car wasn’t out front when we pulled up.”

  “I don’t know; he must have left when Banton and I were in the tub,” I stopped abruptly as I realized what I’d said… it just casually came out.

  “Wow. Mmm, Wow. That’s all I’m going to say.” She grinned up at me while patting my tummy. “No wonder.”

  “What?” I asked her as I cocked an eyebrow.

  “Oh, nothing. No judgment,” she quipped as she grinned again, and laughed silently to herself.

  “So where are Brie and John?” She ran down the list of our house’s current occupants.

  “Out spending time alone, before they all have to leave tomorrow. And Banton’s gone out to get us some lunch. He should be back any time.”

  “Good. I’m hungry!” she exclaimed as I laughed.

  Banton arrived shortly after, and after we’d cleaned up the etouffee, he insisted I go upstairs and rest.

  “Humor me, all right?” He grinned at me, his dimple deepening as he plopped me down on the bed. Beau padded in the room behind us, and then circled the rug beside the bed, finally settling down.

  “He’s uneasy; I’ve noticed he doesn’t get more than three feet from us. I think he senses you’re about to leave.” I shot a glance at Banton as he picked some clothes up from the floor and plopped them in a chair.

  I grabbed his hand and pulled him down on the bed beside me. “I’ll tell you what. You need a nap worse than I do. You haven’t been sleeping well, watching me and all. Let me watch you for a change. I’ll prop my feet on pillows like a good girl, and read. Constance downloaded a book on dreams last night, and I need to check it out.”

  “All right, you win. Rock me to sleep, Baby.” He dropped on to his side of the bed and pulled me into his arms. Not ten minutes had passed before he was snoring soundly. I pulled away carefully, trying not to disturb his sleep as I pushed back up on the pillows and opened the cover on my Kindle. Two hours later, I was well into chapter eight when he stirred beside me.

  “Hey, did you know you snore like a buzz-saw when you’re exhausted?” I asked as he yawned and stretched.

  “I guess I was pretty tired. What time is it?” he asked as he pulled me down against his side. I flipped my reader off, and wrapped my arms around him.

  “Five o’clock.” My stomach growled loudly as he began to kiss me.

  “Time to feed my babies again?” he whispered as he grinned against my lips.

  “Yep. They remember something about steak,” I reminded him.

  “Okay. You think you’re good to go out to dinner if we don’t do too much walking?” He brushed my cheek with his hand.

  “I haven’t had any spotting or one pain since we’ve been home. I think we’re safe,” I answered.

  “Well, get dressed, sweetheart, I’m taking you to dinner.” He swung his legs over the bed, and stood up. I stood on the other side, and hurried around and gave him a quick kiss.

  “Just give me a few minutes to get ready, all right?” I hurried in the bathroom, and closed the door. I didn’t want to waste time curling my hair on rollers, so I sprayed it with some leave-in conditioner, and brushed it until it had a nice sheen to it. I pulled it to the side, and clipped it with one of my grandmother’s antique hair clips. I hurriedly brushed some makeup on, blush and lipstick, and took the time to line my eyes, and finish them off with mascara. I worked extra hard on my lashes, I wanted to wow him with my eyes tonight. It might be a while before I saw him again and I wanted to leave him with a lasting impression.

  Banton had already dressed and left our room when I opened the bathroom door. I flipped through the clothes in my closet and found myself overwhelmed, there was such abundance from which to choose. Everett had added more to my wardrobe with the honeymoon outfits.

  I settled on a long sapphire blue angora sweater dress embellished with tiny black snowflakes, and matching pair of black tights. Digging through my shoes, I finally found my favorite pair of black dress boots with dressy heels. I returned to my dresser, and put the earrings on that Banton had given me for my birthday. A dose of my favorite perfume behind each earlobe and on my wrists finished the package. I stood back and surveyed myself in the mirror, sighing. I never felt as if I measured up next to him. As I turned to look at my profile in the mirror, I realized I could make out a baby-bump in the slender sweater. I placed my hands on my abdomen, and still couldn’t believe I was carrying two.

  Banton came back into the room, and caught me studying my profile in the mirror. He chuckled as he placed his hands over mine. Gazing at me several minutes, he then bent to kiss me.

  “If we don’t get going, I’ll change my mind about going out,” I warned him.

  “Yes Ma’am. Let’s go feed my girls!” He picked me up to carry me down the stairs.

  “How do you know it’s girls?” I asked him. I realized, I’d never asked him what sex he hoped the babies were.

  “I just have this feeling.”

  “What kind of feeling?” I asked innocently.

  “Oh, that ‘I’m really in for it’ kind of feeling. How I feel about you, it just melts my heart. I just get the feeling I’ve got a double-whammy coming with the babies.” He put me down at the bottom of the stairs.

  I giggled.

  “What is so funny?” he asked, grinning at me.

  “Oh, I was just thinking about something my daddy used to say. He said my grandfather told him once, ‘Son, boys are much easier to raise. If you have a boy, you only have one little pecker to worry about. If you have a girl, you have to worry about every little pecker in town!’” I giggled again as I watched his face.

  “Oh, man. He was so right.” He took my hand and pulled me through the door and out to my SUV.

  We drove in silence
all the way downtown. I just held his hand and studied his profile. He glanced my way every so often as he drove, doing the same. Trying not to get emotional knowing it was our last night together for a while, I was determined I was going to be the brave Navy wife and not give him anything to worry about while he was away.

  After we’d dined on steaks and lobster, we relaxed as we listened to the orchestra play in the next room. There was a small dance floor in the adjacent dining room, and Banton glanced through the door as several couples gathered and began to sway to the music.

  “Do you want to dance, Chandler – just a slow one? I don’t want you to overdo it.” He held his hand out as he stood up.

  “I’d love to.” He pulled me through the doorway, and into his arms. I had no idea what the band was playing. I was lost in the moment. He held me closely, rubbing my back as we swayed. I lay my head on his shoulder.

  “I told you I bought you a webcam. I’ll text you or call you with a time for us to meet on our computers. You just plug it in to the port on the computer, if you have any trouble, Everett can help you.” He gazed down at me as he played with an earring.

  “Can you tell me where you’re going?”

  “Sorry. I can’t. But I do know it should be no more than ten days. And I want you to send me a text or e-mail the minute you go to the doctor next week. I can’t take my phone with me always, but I will check it as soon as I can. And if anything happens with you or the babies… have Everett contact Commander Singleton at the base. He can get word to me immediately.”

  “I will. Banton, I…just call me as often as you can,” I whispered, gazing up at him.

  “You know I will.”

  He pulled me in closer, and we finished the dance in silence. We returned to our table, and he paid the check and left the waiter a tip. Helping me on with my coat, he commented, “Chandler, I don’t want you to jump to conclusions if I can’t call for a period of time. I know it will be hard, but it could be a lot of hurry-up-and-wait. Don’t assume I’m in danger all the time. I don’t want you worrying,” he insisted. We walked out on the sidewalk to wait for the valet to bring our car around.