Suddenly, it became too much. “What I need is to remember how to play this stupid thing,” Elle slung back. She could feel the tears pressing behind her eyes.
“Give her a break, Mom,” Rush said, a warning edge to his voice. “She’s doing the best she can.”
Wisteria met his glare full on. “Well, it appears that her best isn’t going to cut it. Not if you hope to make it though the cut in tryouts.”
Adele put her hands to her mouth. “Oh, dear, this isn’t going well. Oh, dear.”
Elle couldn’t hold back the tears. A hot fury coursed through her veins. She jerked the strap off her shoulder and plunked down the guitar on a nearby table. “I’m through!” she said and then fled the room.
Rae and Jack just stood there, speechless. Rush threw a hand in the air. “Are you happy now, Mom? See what you’ve done?”
Wisteria straightened in her chair. “What I’ve done?” She lifted an eyebrow. “I didn’t see Rae, or you, or Jack running out of the room when I gave you guys constructive criticism. I say one thing, and she falls apart. It’s obvious that the girl’s a ninny.”
“You caused this, Mother, and you know it!” Rush said, squaring his jaw. He removed the strap from his shoulder and put down his guitar.
“Where are you going?”
“To fix this.”
“Let her go, Son. She’s no good for you. Can’t you see that?”
“We’re not doing this here, Mother,” he said through gritted teeth as he started walking towards the door.
“She’s in the study,” Adele called after him.
He stopped. “What?”
“Elle’s in the study. When you get to the bottom of this top flight of stairs, turn left, and it’s the second door on the right.”
An awkward silence filled the room as everyone stood looking at each other. “I should be going,” Wisteria said.
Adele clasped her arm. “Oh, no. You don’t get to create a storm and then leave me to deal with the damage.”
Wisteria spun around, her face cherry red. “Excuse me? Don’t you dare presume that you know me or my son.”
Jack cupped his hand around his mouth. “Cat fight,” he called out.
Rae shot him a dirty look. “Shut up!” she whispered.
“You will stay here, and you will help these kids,” Adele said.
“I have no intention of staying here a minute longer.”
Adele smiled and looked into Wisteria’s eyes. “You will stay here and help them.”
She drew back. “I won’t!”
Adele lowered her glasses and looked deeper into her eyes. “Yes, dear, I believe you will.”
Wisteria started blinking rapidly. “No, I won’t!”
“Oh, dear, you’re a strong one.” Adele retrieved a small vial from the pocket of her dress.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Wisteria said, crisply, moving to stand.
“Wait, dear. There’s one more thing.” Adele squirted the vial, sending a mist spraying over Wisteria’s face. “You will help this band,” she commanded.
Wisteria put a hand on her hip. “No! I certainly will not! You silly old fool. I don’t know who you think you are, but if you think for one minute you can order me—” Adele raised the vial and squirted it directly into Wisteria’s face. “How dare you!” Then she coughed and sputtered. “Yuck! What is that …” She clutched her throat and made a gagging sound. Then she shook her head and looked around as if in a daze. “I’m sorry, what?”
“You were saying how you were going to help the band, dear,” Adele said.
“I did?” Wisteria cocked her head. “Really?”
“Yes, that’s what you said.”
Wisteria shrugged. “And so I did.”
“Very good.” Adele let out a weary sigh before putting the vial back into her pocket. “I’m getting too old for this nonsense,” she muttered. She looked at the ceiling. “Did you see how much tonic I had to use? She’s a strong one. Heaven help us when she remembers.”
Jack looked at Rae. “That was weird.”
“Totally,” Rae agreed.
“Oh, it’s just an herbal calmer that I like to keep on hand,” Adele said breezily. She motioned. “Rae could use some help with her voice.”
“Of course,” Wisteria said, a pleasant smile on her face.
“Oh, no,” Rae countered, “I’m fine.”
Adele peered over her glasses and looked straight at Rae. “Do you want to make it past tryouts next week?”
“Well, yes, but …”
“Wisteria can teach you things that will make you better. She’s the best I’ve ever heard … and trust me, I’ve heard a lot.”
“Why, thank you,” Wisteria said.
Adele and Rae stood eyeing each other. “Okay,” Rae grumbled.
“And Jack, you need to listen to Wisteria also. Your timing is off … with several things.” She gave him a pointed look and motioned at Rae with her eyes.
Jack rocked back. “Hey, I thought we were talking about making music.”
Adele’s eyes twinkled. “Exactly.” She clasped her hands together. “Do you know what you all need? You need some hot chocolate and truffles. I’ll get those while you practice.”
“But what about Elle and Rush?” Rae said.
Adele chuckled. “They’re fine. You just worry about singing.”
* * *
“Knock knock.”
Elle looked up to see Rush leaning against the doorframe of the study. She hastily brushed away the tears using the palms of her hands. “Go away!”
He paused a moment like he would comply but then walked over to the wingback chair where she was sitting and staring at the empty fireplace. He sat down in the chair next to her.
“Did you come to finish the job?”
His eyes narrowed. “What’re you talking about?”
“Your mother did a pretty good job of cutting me down to size, I figure you’ve come to finish the job.”
He chuckled. “Don’t tempt me.”
Her eyes felt big and puffy. She hated that he was seeing her like this. “Why don’t you just leave me alone!” She pulled her knees up in the chair and clasped her arms around them. He was such a jerk, sitting there, acting as if he cared. She was sick and tired of everyone judging her—of everyone trying to make her into something she wasn’t. So what if she’d almost kissed Edward! So what! So what if she couldn’t play the bass guitar.
He stood, and she thought he would leave, but instead, he looked around. “Wow! This place is amazing. Your aunt must be an antique collector or something. Look at all of these books.” He walked over to the bookshelf. “They look old.” He ran a finger over the wooden shelf. “And dusty.” He pulled out a book and read the title. “From Straw to Gold the Rumpelstiltskin Way.” He laughed. “Okay.” He replaced the book and pulled out another title. “This one’s in another language.” He wrinkled his nose. “It looks like Latin.” He made a face and put the book back on the shelf. He walked over to the intricate wooden model depicting an elaborate gingerbread house, complete with a young boy and girl. He leaned over, studying it. “The detail is incredible.”
“Hansel and Gretel,” Elle said dryly.
He gave her a dubious look. “Like the fairytale Hansel and Gretel?”
“My aunt loves fairy tales,” she explained.
He looked at the picture hanging on the wall. Elle sat there, watching him studying that stupid picture like it held some great secret. “This is amazing.”
Irritation pricked at her, and suddenly she didn’t want him here, in her aunt’s space. “You can leave now! You’ve done enough!” He just kept standing there, looking at the picture. “You don’t have to worry about me messing up your precious band because I’m through.” Her throat felt dry and scratchy. “I said I’m through!” she repeated. She blew out a breath. “Are you deaf?”
He turned, and there was a funny look on his face.
“Elle, have you seen this pi
cture?” His voice had an unnatural edge to it.
“Yeah, I’ve seen it. It’s of a mother and a daughter. What of it? Haven’t you ever seen a picture of a mother and daughter before?”
He motioned. “Come ‘ere and look.”
She gritted her teeth. The last thing she wanted to do right now was to look at some silly picture, but he was acting so … strange. “Okay,” she huffed. “Fine.” She walked up and stood beside him, shoving her hands into her pockets. “What?”
“Look.”
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, I’m looking.” And then she looked. Her heart started hammering in her chest, and she felt dizzy.
“Do you see?” he asked, excitement brimming in his voice.
“Yes,” she croaked. “I see.” Fresh tears welled in her eyes. It was her … or someone that looked exactly like her. The mother and daughter were wearing blue gowns. They were resting on a red velvet settee with ornately carved wooden trim. Heavy drapes lined with gold fringe adorned the nearby window. The mother’s hair was braided around her head, and she wore a delicate gold necklace with a locket on the end that rested between her breasts. The daughter had a blue ribbon in her hair, and she was leaning so that she was resting in her mother’s lap. The mother was caressing the daughter’s hair. It was an intimate scene, and they looked happy. The mother looked … well, she looked just as Elle imagined that her mother might look—had her mother been here. A burning anger welled in her breast. She felt angry that she’d never known her mother as did the girl in the picture. Most of all, she felt angry with herself because she couldn’t remember anything. These people had to be related to her. The familial resemblance was so strong that she felt as if she were looking at herself.
“It’s you,” Rush whispered, his eyes wide.
“That’s impossible,” she countered stiffly. “Look at the furniture and the décor. These people lived in a different time.”
“Yeah, but the face. I know her.” His voice was tinged with awe, and he leaned in to get a closer look. He pointed at the girl. “Look at the graceful curve of her neck and how her jaw is set just so. The same slender nose and how it turns up ever so slightly on the end. Those expressive eyes.” He turned to her. “It’s you. I know it is. I know you, Elle.”
The words were spoken with such certainty that they circled around her like a protective embrace, and for one small moment, she felt whole. “Rush, I … ” The words died on her tongue as she looked up at him. Why did he have to be so wretchedly handsome with those chiseled features and black, wavy hair? There was an intensity about him that stirred every inch of her body. Her eyes went to his firm lips, and she thought about how they would feel pressed against hers. Her lips parted involuntarily.
“Eyes the color of the sky. And that hair,” he murmured. “The stuff of my dreams.”
Her breath caught, and she became aware of his warm breath on her face. He took a step closer and looked into her eyes. “Don’t you feel it?” His voice was husky and low. “This spark between us.” He gave her a knowing look, and she thought how his eyes looked like fathomless pools of deep blue. “This fire.” He caressed her jaw, sending a tingle rushing down her spine. Just when she thought she would go crazy with desire, he took her in his arms. She looked up at him, expecting him to kiss her, but he just stood there, looking down at her. There was a tortured expression on his face. “If only you knew how much I want you,” he said fiercely.
She wanted him too. She wanted him to kiss her over and over until she went mad. She wanted him to kiss her until her need for him subsided. “What’re you waiting for?” she said, surprised at her own boldness.
His eyes went wide, and he let out a soft chuckle. “I could do that,” he said, “but … ” His expression was a mixture of longing and something else, and he seemed to be waging an inner battle. Then she could tell from the tightening of his jaw that he’d reached a decision. “I can’t,” he uttered. “No more sneaking around. I won’t be a stand-in for Edward. I’m done being used.”
The comment stung. “I’m not trying to use you,” she countered, her face going hot.
He gave her a calculated look.
“I’m not,” she said defensively.
“Okay.” A ghost of a smile flittered on his lips, and he began tracing his finger along her collarbone, sending a million tingles shooting over her. “Then answer me this—do you love me?”
The comment took her off guard. She tensed. “What?”
“It’s a simple question. Do you love me?” he asked again. His voice was light but his expression serious.
There it was, the thing they couldn’t get past. He wanted every part of her. He wanted her heart, body, and soul, and she couldn’t give it to him. No matter what she said or did, it was never enough for him. She let out a breath. “I don’t know,” she admitted.
He searched her face, and she could see the disappointment settling into his eyes. He let go of her and stepped back.
She felt the absence of him immediately. A part of her wanted to tell him what he wanted to hear. A large part of her wanted to throw her arms around him and demand that he kiss her, but where would that leave them? She couldn’t tell him that she loved him, and she couldn’t promise not to see Edward. As strong as her attraction was to Rush, she also felt something for Edward. And besides, she had to find out who she was before she made that kind of commitment to someone else.
He started walking toward the door.
“Rush,” she called after him. He turned. “I’m sorry.” A tear rolled down her cheek.
He gave her a sad smile. “Yeah, me too.”
* * *
“Giving up so easily?”
“I’m sorry, but what?” Rush stopped mid stride and looked down at Adele who was standing behind the bakery case. She’d caught him trying to escape. He was heading down the stairs with the intention of waiting for his mom in the car. He couldn’t handle making small talk with Jack and Rae, and mostly, he needed to be alone.
She offered him a fleeting smile. “Elle, are you giving up on her so quickly? I never pegged you as a quitter.” Adele reached for a bakery box and began filling it with items.
The hair bristled on his neck. “Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?”
She laughed. “From all the way down here? Not hardly, dear.”
Who did this woman think she was, making assumptions about him? “You don’t know anything about me,” he said curtly.
“I know you better than you think.”
What did that even mean? Elle was right, her aunt was a touch loony.
“Loony is a relative term,” Adele said.
Had she read his mind? No, that was ridiculous. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Elle, is a big girl, I suppose she’ll make her own decision.” He shook his head, as if it mattered what this woman thought. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going out to wait in the car.” He continued on down the stairs. When he reached the bottom, she motioned.
“Come.”
He briefly thought about ignoring the request, but she had, after all, agreed to let them practice in her shop. The least he could do was to comply with her request. He walked over and stood in front of the bakery case and waited to hear what she had to say.
“Elle has been through a lot. What good are we without the sum of our memories—the sum of our experiences? What if all that you’d ever known was suddenly ripped away, and you had nothing?”
He thought about this for a minute. “I see your point,” he admitted, “but you have to understand that my problems with Elle started long before her accident.”
“You’ve got that right,” Adele mumbled.
“I’m sorry, what was that?” He leaned in closer in an attempt to hear her.
“Oh, nothing, I have a bad habit of talking to myself. Anyway, as I was saying … ” She looked him in the eye. “The reward goes to he who is the most diligent.”
“Okay,” he said, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. He didn�
��t have a clue what she was talking about, but then again, she probably didn’t either.
She laughed. “You’ll have to forgive me, Rushton, I’m not used to all of this straight talk that you young people go in for these days.” She scratched her head and looked thoughtful. “Okay, if I must spell it out for you, I must. Elle is not the same person that she was before the accident. Any man with eyes in his head can see that. If you turn away from her and let your pride get the best of you, then you’re letting Edward win. Not that Edward is a bad person, mind you. I just want you to understand the ramifications that your choices will have. You’re practically throwing her into his arms. Is that what you want?”
He wanted to punch something, but he clenched his fists instead. “I’ve tried everything I know how to do!” His voice was rising, but he didn’t care. He didn’t need this woman to lecture him about Elle. “Elle has had plenty of chances to choose me.”
“So you’re saying that Edward is the better man? Is that what you’re saying?”
He let out a sarcastic laugh. “Sure, all right. That’s what I’m saying. Edward is the better man. Edward is the golden boy. He gets everything, including the girl. Kudos to Edward.” He swore under his breath and slapped the palm of his hand down hard on the top of the bakery case. “I’m done with this.”
“Wait.” She held out the box. “These are for you.”
He stood there looking at it.
“Go ahead,” she urged, “take it.”
He made a face. “Chocolate?”
“Yes, chocolate. You make it sound like it’s poison. Most folks would give their eyetooth to get a free box of my chocolates. Here,” she urged, “take them before I change my mind.”
He reached for the box. “Okay, I’ll take them.” He forced a smile. “Thanks.”
Banished: Book 1 of The Grimm Laws Page 18
