CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

 

The countertops and table were loaded with seemingly enough food for the entire neighborhood. Peyton would have been happy just knowing there was plenty for Bryant and Luke, along with Lily and her grandmother, who had agreed to come to the house for the first time in many years.

"Take that tray of ribs out to your mother, Peyton," Vance said, wiping his hands on a stained apron.

"Okay." She took some potato chips from a bowl and stuck them in her mouth. "Anything else?"

"See if she needs help setting the picnic table."

"Will do."

Peyton noted that her stepfather had begun to grow sideburns. It struck a familiar chord. Byron St. Claire had sideburns in her dreams. Was it just a coincidence? It gave her a chill, even though it was a gorgeous sunny day with summer beginning to fade.

She made a face. "What's with the sideburns?"

Vance smiled while lifting a bag of charcoal like a sack of potatoes. "It's something I've wanted to try for a few years now. Seemed like a good time to go for it."

Peyton pulled no punches. "I think I'd stick to the clean shaven look if I were you."

"Guess it's a good thing I'm married to Melody and not her daughter," he said tartly. "She seems to like my new look."

Peyton sneered. Mom never wanted dad to have any hair on his face. Why had she changed her tune? Or had she?

She hoped Vance's new look was in no way associated with some angry, evil spirit.

Crossing the lawn, Peyton met her mother halfway. She was wearing a hideous dress that looked totally retro and was a major embarrassment.

"Mom..." Peyton's mouth hung open. "Where on earth did that come from?" She pointed at the dress.

"I found it in the attic, hidden away in an old trunk," Melody explained matter-of-factly. "Fits perfectly, too, as though it were made for me. Isn't it wonderful?"

"Not really. It's awful."

Her mother frowned. "Let's not be too judgmental, dear."

Peyton couldn't help herself. "That just isn't you, Mom." Not the mother she knew who had usually been fairly conservative in her dress, rather than over the top. Even her hair was starting to grow out in a way that Peyton thought was eerily similar to Rebecca St. Claire's hairstyle.

Am I imagining this? Like with Vance and the sideburns?

"Well this is the new me," Melody responded with an edge to her tone. "So you might as well get used to it."

Peyton doubted she ever would. And that included the hair. "Whatever."

Her mother's mouth softened. "I happen to like what I'm wearing, Peyton. Just as I assume you like your clothing, which I rarely complain about, even when maybe sometimes I should."

Playing the guilt trip and it's working. "You're right, Mom. I'm sorry."

Actually she wasn't really, but Peyton saw no reason to argue further when her mother seemed in no mood to listen. Nothing new of late.

"So what are you up to?" Melody asked.

"Just coming to see what I can do to help."

"Actually, there are a few things before our guests begin to arrive..."

Peyton was all ears while thinking about one guest in particular.

* * *

The barbecue picnic was in full swing and Peyton managed to put her differences with her mother and stepfather aside for the moment, as she spent time congregating with Bryant, Lily, and Kirk, whom Lily had invited as her date.

"This place is cool," he said, brushing a lock of black hair from his brow. "Can't say it looks very haunted to me."

Peyton glared at Lily for what she could only imagine she must have told him.

"Hey, I never said the house was haunted, really." Lily twisted her mouth to one side. "I just said it's kind of possessed, but not necessarily in a bad way."

"Is there a good way to be possessed?" Kirk looked at Peyton.

She considered Caitlyn to be a good person, but still wouldn't wish the experience on anyone else. "Not really."

"Didn't think so."

Peyton wasn't sure she wanted to announce what was going on at her house to the whole world. But she didn't blame Lily for sharing what had to be unsettling, even with her grandmother's thoughts on the issue and history with Caitlyn.

"It's no big deal," Bryant said, putting a protective arm around Peyton. "Most houses, especially the old ones, have their little demons at work behind the scenes. I hear strange noises in our cottage all the time. Kind of comes with the territory."

Kirk nodded. "Yeah, I think I know what you mean."

"Same here," Lily said.

Peyton smiled at Bryant, thanking him silently for intervening. I just wish it was just run of the mill old house haunts to worry about.

Kirk's eyes widened. "Hey, Bryant, it looks like your dad has the hots for Peyton's mom."

Bryant cocked a brow. "What are you talking about?"

All turned to see Luke and Melody chatting animatedly near the picnic table, seemingly caught up in their own world.

Peyton found herself immediately looking around for Vance, as though her mother was carrying on a love affair with Luke right out in the open. Just like Rebecca was with Trevor fifty years ago. Peyton spotted her stepfather talking with Lily's grandmother and another neighbor, but Vance seemed more fixed on Melody and Luke.

"Dad probably has the hots for every attractive woman in Shadow Bay," Bryant said with a shrug. "But with Mrs. McIntyre, it's strictly professional--with maybe a little mutual friendship thrown in for good measure."

Kirk gave him a dubious look. "Yeah, right. If you say so, dude."

"They're definitely not having an affair," Peyton said sharply. "My mother's not like that!"

"I'm just fooling around," Kirk said. "Didn't mean anything by it."

"I'm glad your parents made Labor Day something fun for a change," Bryant said to Peyton, shifting the subject.

"So am I," seconded Lily. "Even if it'll make going back to Atlanta that much harder."

"I'll miss you," Peyton told her.

"Me, too."

"Glad we can all agree on something," joked Kirk, putting his arm around Lily's waist.

"Hey, let's go swimming in the bay," she suggested to everyone. "I wore my suit under my clothes, just in case."

"That's a great idea," Kirk said. "I have my suit in the car."

Bryant looked down at Peyton. "I'm game. How about you?"

Peyton bit her lip. Though she now knew more about the girl in the bay than she cared to and no longer believed that Caitlyn had meant her any harm, the thought of going in that water again anytime soon made Peyton uncomfortable.

"I don't really feel like swimming," she said simply. "Maybe you guys should just go without me."

Bryant lowered his brows thoughtfully. "I won't let anything happen to you in the bay, if that's what you're worried about. I promise."

"It isn't," she lied. Caitlyn's pale, lifeless face flashed in Peyton's mind, followed by Caitlyn's skeletal remains forcing her into the water.

Lily seemed to read her mind. She released Kirk's hold and locked arms with Peyton, wresting her away from Bryant.

"Don't be afraid," she whispered after they had distanced themselves a bit. "Caitlyn wouldn't dare think about showing her face in the water with the three of us in there, too."

"I suppose not," Peyton muttered, knowing she shouldn't let paranoia keep her from having fun with friends.

"Then say you'll come," pleaded Lily. "I'm not exactly ashamed of my body, but I'd feel a lot more comfortable displaying it if you did the same."

Before Peyton could respond, Bryant and Kirk joined them and were waiting for an answer. She didn't want to disappoint them or herself. "Okay, okay, you guys win. I'll go put on my bikini and meet you at the bay."

"I'll go with Peyton and we'll meet you two there," Lily said.

"Cool," Kirk said.

Bryant kissed her and smiled. "See you shortly."

Peyton relished the lingering effects of the kiss as they walked away.

Her fears of going into the water were quelled right away, as there was no sighting of Caitlyn or any other dead person. Soon Peyton was comfortably practicing her swim strokes with confidence and playing in the bay with her friends.

Labor Day was turning out to be pretty good after all, and, as far as Peyton was concerned, Shadow Bay just might turn out to be a nice place to live when all was said and done.