Southern Spirits (The Southern Series Book 3)

by Shelley Stringer

  John shook his head as he skimmed over the papers. After several moments, he looked back at Banton. “I’d feel better if you were charging us normal interest rates.”

  “I don’t want to make money off you. It’s not charity. You’re paying me for it. You are doing more for me, believe me. Besides, I like that you and Brie are so close. That kind of thing is important to us with the babies and all.”

  “All right. I’ll go home and discuss it with her and get back with you. By the way, I came down here to invite you to dinner. Brie wants to have you over tonight…you know, our first dinner party in our new house.” He raised his eyebrow as he turned to me.

  “Sure, John. We’d love to. But I know she has trouble cooking sometimes. Is she up for this?” I asked.

  “Absolutely. She’s been practicing on me and she’s got that hurdle licked.”

  I looked up at Banton to find him frowning, his brows drawn together as he leaned over to the coffee table.

  “What’s this?” He picked up the card that the woman left.

  “Oh. A woman came by right before you got home. She wanted to talk to you. She left her number, and the name of the hotel where she’s staying. Her name was Alexandra. Alexandra Rhoades?” I offered, studying his expression. His eyes narrowed as he glanced back up at me.

  “Do you know her?” I asked as I glanced over at John. John had an eyebrow raised to alert me he knew who she was.

  “Yeah, I knew her,” he answered curtly. After an awkward moment of silence he asked, “Did she say anything else?”

  “She just said you would want to talk to her, and she seemed surprised you were married,” I added.

  “I’ll bet,” he snorted. Then he raised his eyes to meet mine. “We went out a couple of times, right after I broke it off with Hillary. It was a blind date,” he murmured absentmindedly as he fingered the card.

  “Why would she pop up after all this time, brother?” John asked. I knew it, he knew her too.

  “I have no idea. I haven’t talked to or seen her in three years,” Banton admitted as he caressed the back of my neck with his thumb.

  “I guess you could call her and find out,” I suggested with a hint of irony in my voice.

  “Well, I’ll go down and see if I can help Brie with anything. We’ll see you guys around six. Is that all right?”

  “Sure. We’ll be there,” I answered. Banton seemed lost in thought.

  “Oh, and Constance and Ty are invited too. Bring them along with the babies.”

  “Sure, we’ll see you then,” Banton muttered as John shut the door.

  “Banton, is something wrong?” I asked. He continued to stare at the card in his hand. Shaking his head, he met my gaze.

  “No, I don’t think so. I just can’t imagine what she would want after all this time. I barely knew her.”

  The apprehension was back as chill bumps formed on my neck. “Banton, is there anything I need to know?” I asked, dreading the answer. I’d never even heard him talk about ex-girlfriends except Hillary. It occurred to me, I’d never really asked him about anyone else. My post-partum Sange-Mele hormones kicked into overdrive, killing any effect my anti-anxiety medicine might have had on me and my confidence.

  “Banton, now might not be the time to ask this question, but…”

  He finally joined me in the present. “What, sweetheart? What question?”

  “Well, I told you when we started dating, that first weekend in N’awlins, I’d never been with anyone. And I told you about the only real boyfriend I’ve ever had. But aside from Hillary, you’ve never mentioned anyone else. Have there been…others?”

  “Hmm. I think this is one of those questions a guy better think about carefully before answering,” he countered warily as he pulled me closer to his side.

  “I’m serious. I assume…I mean, I know you must have been intimate with Hillary?”

  He regarded me intently. After several tense moments, he replied softly, “Yes.”

  “How long did you date her?”

  “About six months.”

  “And you broke it off?” I asked, seeming to have to pull every answer from him.

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “I would think it was obvious. She was beautiful, sexy…but ‘bitch’ trumped everything else. I broke it off with her when I realized I really didn’t like spending time with her, and I certainly didn’t want to take it to the next level with her.”

  “Oh. What about this other woman…Alexandra.”

  “She was a blind date. Another guy John and I used to serve with fixed us up. I got the sense she was really too young for me, so I didn’t pursue her. Then she started stalking me when I didn’t ask her out again.”

  “I thought you said you went out with her a couple of times.”

  Banton rose and crossed the room to the fireplace, then turned back to me. “She showed up at a SEAL party a month or so after the blind date. I was drunk, and she was very persuasive.”

  “Persuasive, how?” I urged him to continue.

  “Chandler, it was a long time ago. I’d forgotten about her, until today. I don’t want all of this to upset you.” He ran his hand through his hair in exasperation.

  “Banton, did you sleep with her?” My stomach was tied in knots as I waited for his answer.

  “I think so.”

  “What? What do you mean, you think so. Don’t you know?” I asked, incredulous.

  “Chandler, I was drunk, and she drove me back to her place. I woke up in her bed, and it was mortifying. I didn’t even remember how I got there,” he explained in a rush as he threw his hand out dramatically, pacing back toward the fireplace.

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This didn’t sound like the Banton I knew. He turned and looked at me with the tortured expression I’d only seen a few times since I’d known him.

  “Have there been others…how many women were you with, before me?” I asked softly.

  “Oh, Chandler.” Banton walked back over to the sofa and sat down beside me, taking me in his arms. “You don’t really want to know that,” he murmured as he kissed my forehead.

  I pulled away quickly. I didn’t like the condescending tone that my thirty-year old husband was using on his twenty- two year old wife.

  “Um, yes. I would like to know. I think I should have asked before now,” I countered, my back up.

  He sighed and studied my eyes. “I dated four women between the time I graduated from high school and when I met you. That’s only four women during college and Navy. The first was a girl named Courtney, the second, Beth. Hillary was the third, and you met number four today. I slept with all of them, but I never felt about any of them the way I feel about you,” he paused as he studied my eyes, his expression intent. “I knew from the moment I met you that I loved you, and I wanted things to be different between us. That’s why I waited so long.”

  “Oh.” I looked down at my hands. I had no idea what to say to him. I couldn’t believe it had never occurred to me he’d been intimate with anyone else besides Hillary, and I was having trouble processing the information.

  “Chandler, look at me.” He placed his finger under my chin and tilted it up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. All of this was before you. The only reason I’m bothered is that I feel guilty to this day about that night with Alexandra. I’d never been that drunk in my life…so drunk I didn’t remember anything. And I’ve never done it since. I feel bad about it because I would have never slept with someone after just two dates, and I certainly would have never…” his voice faltered as I searched his eyes.

  “Would have never what?” I asked warily as I touched his cheek.

  “Would have never been with her if I’d known she was just eighteen.”

  I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. I swallowed hard.

  “Eight…eighteen?” I whispered.

  “Yes. I was horrified when I found out. She was so young and immature. I had
a hard time breaking it off with her; she had delusions about us being serious right away. I tried to let her down easy, and then she disappeared. I heard her family moved, and I quit hearing from her.” He shrugged and then glanced back down at me.

  I reached up and placed my hand on his cheek. “Is that one of the reasons you held back for so long with me...because of my age?”

  “Maybe, I don’t know. It wouldn’t have mattered, I was so in love with you,” he breathed out, lowering his lips down to mine. I believed him. I had no reason not to. His kiss was hungry, seeking my forgiveness. I rose up on my knees, threading my fingers into his hair as I answered his kisses, pushing against him as my tongue met his.

  As I pulled away, I could see relief on his face. He raised the card again and read the numbers on the front.

  “She didn’t tell you how old she was, did she?”

  “She lied and told me she was twenty-two. I believed her at first,” he admitted. “Then after that night…she dropped the bomb that she was only eighteen.”

  That night…what was different about that night? Something that made him want to get drunk?

  “Banton, you never drink too much. Why that night?” I asked softly. Three years ago… I already knew the answer.

  “That was the first night back after…when Sam went missing,” he said sadly.

  And just like that, the pieces of the puzzle fit back together. I knew my Banton…the Banton I loved with all my heart, would not have just had a random night of drunken sex.

  “John and I…the whole team…we weren’t in such good shape the next day. It doesn’t excuse our actions, just puts it in perspective I guess,” he muttered as he ran his hand back through his hair.

  I pulled myself back up, deciding it was time I acted like a grown up instead of a jealous teenager.

  “So are you going to call her and put this to rest?” I asked as I turned his head back toward me.

  “Do you want me to call her?” he asked, slightly amused.

  “Yes, out of courtesy. I’ll give you some privacy; I hear the babies.” I rose and kissed his lips softly, then jogged up the staircase, pleased with myself. I trust him completely, I thought. I’ll let him handle this, whatever it is.

  After changing both wet and fussy babies, I dressed them in more appropriate clothes in anticipation of our dinner at John and Brie’s. As I gathered some things to take in a diaper bag, I heard Ty and Constance arrive downstairs. I glanced at my watch. I had just enough time to change and throw a little makeup on. Grabbing both babies, I carried them into our bedroom and placed them on the bed while I thumbed through our closet. I finally found an ecru lace maxi-skirt and tank top that I’d forgotten I had. I slipped it on hurriedly, and then located a pair of sandals. A wide leather belt that dipped down low in front completed the look. I stood back to look at myself in the floor-length mirror on our closet door. “Not bad for the little wifey,” I thought snidely. I was comparing myself to the gorgeous blonde I’d met only an hour earlier.

  After stopping to talk to both babies on the bed, I turned back to the dresser to freshen my makeup.

  “Chandler…hey! I understand we’re going to John’s for dinner?” Constance commented, crossing to the bed. “And how are Aunt Constance’s babies today? Hey, big man…where are you going’?” Constance grabbed Matty’s ankle and pulled him back over to the middle of the bed as he tried to roll away from her. He giggled, causing Elly to giggle too. She plopped down on the bed, causing both of them to giggle harder.

  “I swear, Chandler…I don’t know how you get anything done. I have a hard time; I just want to play with them all the time. Hey, do you need for me to do anything to get them ready?”

  “Nope, their bag is ready.”

  She rose, and picked Elly up. “I’ll take her down for you. You almost ready?”

  I turned to her as I swiped some pale pink lipstick on my lips. “All done, let’s go,” I said, turning to pick Matty up and following her. As we made our way down the staircase, I heard Banton talking on his cell in the dining room. Constance continued to the living room, but I paused at the bottom of the stairs.

  “What is it, Alexandra, that you want to see me in person?” Banton’s voice sounded strained. “Don’t you think that’s a little melodramatic? Alexandra, I’m married now. I don’t know what you could possibly need to talk to me about, but whatever it is, my wife can certainly be here. I don’t keep secrets from her,” he said with exasperation.

  I hurried on into the living room with Constance. I didn’t want Banton to know I’d been listening to his conversation.

  As I entered the dining room, Constance watched me curiously.

  “Chandler, is everything okay?”

  “Yes. Why do you ask?” I replied, placing Matty in his carry-seat. After I strapped him in, I picked him up just as Banton joined me.

  “Here, let me carry him,” he offered as he kissed me on the forehead.

  Constance stood and walked toward us with Elly, having already strapped her in her carrier. Ty held his arm out to take Elly from her.

  “I don’t know. You both just seem preoccupied,” Constance replied as she regarded Banton.

  “We just had a strange visitor today, that’s all,” I commented, glancing up at Banton. “Are you ready to go?”

  He nodded. After we’d locked the front door, Constance and Ty walked ahead of us a few feet, talking to Elly as they strolled down the sidewalk. I gave Banton a sideways glance. The air seemed cooler tonight, so I leaned over and drew Matty’s receiving blanket up over him.

  “So, what did Alexandra want?” I asked off-handedly.

  “I don’t know. She wanted to meet me somewhere tomorrow to talk to me. She said she had something she wants to tell me.”

  “Are you going to meet her?” My heart stopped.

  “I told her if she needed to talk to me, she could come back here.” He frowned as he said the words.

  “And?” I waited for him to finish.

  “She said she wanted to see me alone. I told her that I’m married, and I don’t keep secrets from you…if she wants to see me, she’ll have to come here to our home.”

  “So is she coming?”

  He paused on the sidewalk and I turned to study him.

  “I don’t know. She hasn’t changed. She’s still a drama queen. She hung up on me.”

  “And you have no idea what she wants?” I asked exasperatedly.

  “Andie, I really don’t. I assume she’s in town for some reason and decided to look me up. Maybe she wants to meet me, to see if I’m really married, or if she still has a chance with me. Who knows? She was really a spoiled, messed-up girl. She doesn’t seem to have changed.”

  He frowned, the lines between his brows deepening. I reached up and touched my thumb there, attempting to erase his worry. I smiled at him, forcing my own apprehension down.

  “Well, then we won’t worry about her. If she shows in the morning, she shows. Maybe when she sees that you are happily married with twins, she’ll leave you alone,” I tried to reassure him.

  “You’re right as always, Mrs. Gastaneau,” he smiled finally, flashing my favorite dimple.

  “Are y’all coming or what?” Constance called from John and Brie’s front porch. I turned back to Banton just as his mouth found mine. Tugging at my bottom lip with his teeth, he murmured, “Let’s have dessert back at our place.”

  I nodded enthusiastically as Constance exclaimed, “Oh, for Pete’s sake!” and slammed John’s screen door for effect.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Wow, Brie…you’re giving Chandler some stiff competition in the cooking department!” Ty exclaimed as he wiped his mouth with his napkin.

  “Well, I learned everything I know from her,” she smiled, leaning over to kiss me on my cheek as I hugged her.

  We’d just finished pork tenderloin with dill sauce, buttered new potatoes and homemade herb bread. The candles on the dining table flickered, bouncing light off t
he antique mottled glass in the dining room windows, making everything sparkle. John had built a fire in the fireplace, and their house was truly a showplace of fine mission-style craftsmanship. I admired the wide, dental molding around the built-ins and crown molding at the ceilings.

  “John, you did a superb job as always,” Banton complemented. I nodded in agreement.

  “The house has good bones. I just polished them up…with a little help from Sister Everett, of course,” he grinned as he raised his glass in a toast.

  “Well, about that,” Banton grinned at me as I shook my head at him.

  “What? It’s not like we wouldn’t talk about him, if he was right here,” Banton countered. I sighed and picked our plates up to help Brie clear the table.

  “What’s up with Everett?” Constance picked up immediately on Banton’s remark.

  “Never mind. Chandler doesn’t want me to say anything,” he muttered.

  “Come on, brother…spill! You can’t say something and just stop. Not with this crowd,” John teased as he took another big swig of wine.

  “Everett’s sexual orientation shouldn’t concern us.” I stated firmly as I strolled back into the dining room and took my chair.

  “Well, that’s old news. Tell us something we don’t know, brother,” John countered. Banton cocked an eyebrow at him.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake. I found out while Everett was staying with me that he’s not gay after all.”

  “What?” Constance, Ty and John all called out together in unison.

  “Y’all are the ones who are behind. And by the way, did any of y’all ask him, or did you all just assume he was gay? Because I did,” I retorted as I took a big drink of my wine.

  “Andie, you asked him plenty of times. He just always blew you off and made some vague comment,” Constance replied.

  “Well, he finally got around to telling me. He’s extremely private and had his heart broken a long, long time ago. He hasn’t been in a relationship since.”