Chapter Thirteen

…learn from my miseries,
and do not seek to increase your own.
~Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

MY KNEES SHOOK as I opened the driver’s side door to Mom’s car outside Anita’s house, rocked by her suspicions about the origins of the odd events of the past weeks. Maybe her family’s superstitions didn’t qualify her as an expert in parapsychology, but nothing else made sense anymore.

My heritage was a mystery to me, but my visions were legit. Her explanations sounded as rational as anything else I’d read or imagined. An evil presence had stared back at me through Stella’s eyes on the night she’d come to my bedroom.

“Chelsea.” Lewis stopped me just as I had one foot in the car. He pulled a polo shirt on as he walked down the driveway, and he’d already traded his workout shorts for jeans.

“Yeah?”

“Where you goin’?” He was slightly breathless, stopping by my open door.

I shrugged. “Do you care?”

“No, but—” He looked around and then back at me, vulnerability in his expression. “I’m supposed to keep an eye on you.”

I smiled to myself. “I’m going to go find Geoff, but you already knew that.”

He sighed disgustedly. “He doesn’t want to be found.”

I leaned against the door. “Don’t you want to find him? To plan something to save Flint’s?”

His eyes narrowed. “Well, duh. Of course I do. But—”

“Come with me, then. You can keep an eye on me while I head over to the harbor.” I dropped into the driver’s seat and shut my door before he could argue.

Four seconds after I started the engine, Lewis climbed in the passenger seat.

Geoff’s mother lived in a gated residential neighborhood within a few blocks of the harbor, and Lewis reluctantly showed me the way. The security guard waved us through, seeing Geoff’s friend in the passenger seat, and I parked in the shady lot outside the condo.

The building was painted an earthy green, blending with the environmentally conscious quiet street. The lower level of the complex was a covered carport. Geoff’s mom drove a white Land Rover, big as a boat, and it was currently parked beside his Vette. My spirits lifted at the sight of it. I glanced at Lewis and smiled. He scowled at my enthusiasm, but I caught a trace of relief in his expression.

We climbed the stairs to a small porch and knocked on the door. No one answered, but hearing a voice around the corner, we followed it.

Carol Ramsey reclined in a chair at a patio table, a cigarette in one hand and her cell in the other. A glass of wine, a half-empty bottle, and a half-full ashtray on the table told me she’d been there awhile. Her gaze landed on Lewis as we approached, and she ended her conversation.

Lewis nodded in greeting. “We didn’t mean to interrupt, Mrs. Ramsey. We just need to talk to Geoff for a minute.”

Her hazel eyes ran over me as she put the phone on the table. A thin line appeared on her forehead, apparently trying to figure out where she’d seen me before.

“He’s not here. I thought he was with you.” She took a drag of her cigarette and blew the smoke out the side of her cherry-red lips.

“No, ma’am. His car’s still downstairs.” Lewis stood between Mrs. Ramsey and me, his hands on his waist.

“I know that!” She squashed the cigarette in the ashtray. “My ex took his keys. Geoffrey got in trouble at school again. After Benjamin left here, Geoff threw some stuff in his duffel bag and said he’d be back in a few days. He walked off without tellin’ me where he was goin’, but hell, he’s nearly eighteen. And how far’s he gonna get with no money?” Her twang increased with every word, as if she probably hid her Southernness from adults, clients, and investors—but felt no need to squelch it for us.

I hugged myself, feeling slightly nauseated from both the smoke and her attitude.

“He didn’t say anythin’ else?” Frustration gave Lewis’s voice an angry edge.

She played with her phone, frowning. “Not a word. Of course, I was on the line with my lawyer when Geoffrey took off. I didn’t have time to talk. Benjamin is cuttin’ me out of the business, tryin’ to get me to sell my shares of our company—my company, the one I started. The nerve!” Her voice whined like a lone mosquito trapped in an empty car. As she spun the phone end over end, her thin hand shook. “It’s all because that whore moved into his house.”

Oh, no she didn’t!

I surged forward.

Lewis’s arm shot out, blocking my way. “Well, we’ll leave you alone, ma’am. If you see Geoff, tell ’im to call me.”

She flicked a wave at him in acknowledgement, already punching the button on her phone. Lewis’s hand encircled my arm like a steel cuff, directing me away. I gritted my teeth and reluctantly allowed him to steer me to the steps.

Once we were downstairs and climbing into the car, Lewis said in a low voice, “Dang, I can’t take you noplace. I was scared you were gonna have your haint set fire to her hair or somethin’.”

I had to admit that it sounded like a great idea.

“She had no right to call my mom that. She’s never even met her.”

“Your mom’s living with her ex, and they haven’t been divorced long.”

True. I bit my lip. The situation was similar to my dad living with his girlfriend Justine…only I didn’t think Mom was sleeping with her client. Yet.

I waved at the security guard on the way out and braked as we reached the stop sign, unsure which way to turn. “You know Geoff better than anyone. Where would he go?”

Lewis shook his head. “I’m telling you, he doesn’t want to be found.”

I glared at him. “You heard his mother. She wasn’t listening to him. He might’ve left a message for us that she ignored.”

“Just take me home.” He sighed. “He’ll be suspended like, what? Four or five days? He’ll be back before then. You don’t know Geoff. He disappears when things get bad.”

Lewis’s words ran under my skin like sculptor’s wire, scoring and gouging. A defense sprang to my tongue but died before I could speak.

Problem was, Lewis really did know Geoff better than I did. And Geoff did seem to disappear when I needed him.

Mom’s voice drifted across my mind. “Geoff was on a swim team. He might’ve saved George from drowning, but he didn’t.”

What else had Geoff run from?

When I arrived at home, I found Mom sleeping on the sofa. A glass vase of fresh pink roses sat on the coffee table beside her. It was early, barely dark outside. Why wasn’t she working? Maybe she’d been waiting for me. A twinge of guilt stirred in my gut. I sank onto the sofa and stroked her hair to wake her up.

Her angelic face lit with a sleepy smile when she opened her eyes and focused on me. “Chelsea? I fell asleep?” She pushed up on one elbow, and her hair tumbled around her shoulders. “I had the weirdest dream about riding a boat across the ocean.”

“Sleeping’s all you’ve been doing lately. Don’t you think you oughta start going to bed earlier?” God, I sound like a parent.

“Easy for you to say. You don’t work for Ben.” Her smile faded. “Where is Ben, anyway?” She sat up and adjusted her clothes.

“Still in his office, probably.” Hopefully passed out. “Nice roses.” I gestured at the flowers. Couldn’t the jerk direct his thoughtfulness somewhere it was needed? Like toward his son?

Her tired gaze clouded with confusion until she noticed the bouquet and gave a startled grin. “Oh! Those are for you. They came with a card.”

Yes! Geoff hadn’t left without thinking of me. I drew the vase closer and leaned to breathe in the fragrance of the blooms. My fingers located the card and opened it hastily. When I saw the signature, my heart sank.

“Benjamin Ramsey?” I thrust the card at her. “This is for you, Mom.”

She shook her head. “No, sweetie.” She stifled a yawn. “Ben ordered them this morning before he went to your school.”

“What for? It’s not my birthday.” The outside of the card said Just for You. I’d rather get a rash, catch mono, my period—anything but accept a gift from Ben.

Her eyelids drooped as a smile spread slowly across her lips. “I think he wants to talk to you about something.”

Oh. God. No.

She sagged into the sofa, as if she could barely stay vertical. “We’ve known each other for nearly a year—professionally. E-mailing. Phone calls. And now in person. He wants to do the right thing…talk to you.”

She wasn’t going to…he wasn’t going to…

“We’ll date first, officially, before we make an announcement. And the best part is you won’t be an only child anymore.”

I tasted vomit on my tongue.

This was unbearable. I pushed the vase far away from me and stood. “You can’t be serious. You don’t know Ben. You have no idea. He’s the worst.”

She rose stiffly and stretched her arms over her head. “I’m writing his memoir. I know everything there is to know about him.” Turning to leave the room, she talked over her shoulder. “He’s done a lot for us. Just let Ben speak to you about it tomorrow. It’ll make us both happy to have your blessing. Good night.”

She staggered toward the stairs. My mouth hung open, but with so many objections jockeying for position in my head, I couldn’t spit one out.

For the love of Pete, how could I let her date Ramsey, let alone marry the man?

I couldn’t.

I needed Geoff’s help with his father.

Then an idea hit me. I dug out my cell phone from my back pocket and hit Dad’s number.

After five rings, he answered. “Hey, baby girl.”

Normally his greeting brought a smile to my face, but not tonight. “Hi, Dad. How are you?”

“Fair to middlin’. You?”

“Uh, I’m okay. I just miss you.” Tears stung my eyes. Jeez, hadn’t expected that. I cleared my throat. “How’s work? Are you taking your meds?”

“Oh, fine. Yeah.” He paused. “How’s your mom?”

“Mom’s…good. She’s working more than usual.” I told him about her latest work habits, explaining that it was more than the normal deadline-all-nighters she’d pulled in the past.

“She’s always been professional, Chels.”

“I know, but she’s been acting weird lately.”

“Is she neglecting you? You’re not going without anything, I hope? Eating good? School’s going okay?” Concern made his voice wobble.

“Oh, I’m fine. Just…I wish Mom would pay more attention to things.”

There was a long pause on Dad’s end.

“Um, Chels,” he said a little more gruffly, “I’m designing the logo and media graphics for the Georgia Jazz Festival, but they’re not due until next week. Justine’s at her mom’s in Mississippi. I might take off a week or two, drive to the coast for a visit. Would that be okay, baby girl?”

“I’d like that, Dad.” Yes!

“Good. Maybe we could go fishing. We haven’t been since your grandparents sold their farm and the ponds in Virginia.” He chuckled. “I’ll bet we could find a pier or something. You know I won’t get near a boat.”

“Right. I remember you hate open water. I know a few good places.”

Dad didn’t swim. I used to tease him until I understood about his condition. Now it hardly seemed fair to joke about his phobias and odd beliefs. The boundary line in his mind separating reality and imagination was blurry, never concrete.

We said goodbye and hung up. My mood elevated. How had Dad suddenly become the sensible parent? Our conversation left me with more than an emotional uplift.

Now I had an idea how to find Geoff.

Tuesday after school, I sat in Mom’s car for more than two hours with the windows rolled down while the marina parking lot thinned out. Dreading the conservation with Ramsey that Mom had warned me about, I’d skedaddled out of the house as quickly as possible, but only after changing into shorts and a T-shirt. The car was hot and the wait long.

On the way, I’d made a brief stop to see Stella at the hospital, not wanting to tire her. She was being released in the morning, so we could talk longer tomorrow. I’d also brought my homework to keep me occupied while I waited for the boats to come in, but I couldn’t focus enough to solve equations. Wouldn’t draw, either, for fear of missing the person I came here to see.

The sun was long gone when I finally spotted him. With rolled-up white cargo pants and a dark suntan that made him blend into the falling dusk, Captain Alessandro strutted into the parking lot with a money bag under his arm. I hopped out of the car and rushed to cut him off.

Alarm widened his eyes as I stepped in his path between the vehicles, but then, recognizing me, he grinned a big-fat-Greek smile.

“Ya ssas, young lady,” he panted, feigning a heart attack as he leaned against a VW. His black hair curled around the brim of his gold-embroidered captain’s hat. “You gave me a fright! I thought you were a mugger.”

“Sorry.” I grinned. “I didn’t want to lose you.”

“What are you doing here at night? No boats going out at this hour.” His gaze darted around the lighted parking lot.

“I was beginning to think you’d already docked earlier. I’m looking for Geoff, and I figured he might’ve stopped by to see you.”

He paused for a moment, and then his electric smile widened again. “No. I’ve just come in from my last fishing trip. Took a man to Savannah and back this afternoon.” He waved the money bag. “Now I’m headed to the bank.”

“You’re sure you haven’t seen him? How about yesterday?”

“If I should see the boy, I’ll tell him his lovely artist is looking for him. Okay?” He patted my shoulder and winked. “Now, I must go make a deposit. Uh, would you like to join me? We could go eat a nice dinner with my friends at Tony’s.”

“Thanks, but no thanks.” I smiled.

For all his rush, he hesitated, as if unsure whether or not to leave me alone. Finally, he touched his hat in a salute and bounded off, half-jogging in his hurry.

While he was still in the parking lot, I went back to my car and waited. I grabbed my school bag slowly, lingering until he left. Then I got out of the car again, taking my stuff with me.

The water of the harbor pooled like a glossy black oil slick with golden spangles—lights from the shops, lampposts, lighthouse, and tethered boats. I found the bench—our bench, where Geoff and I had sat—and waited there. Capt. Alessandro’s boat, a cabin cruiser, was moored with its windows darkened, deck empty, like all the other boats in the crescent-shaped area.

A crackle in the sky startled me until the twinkling yellow sparks of a firecracker showered down. Mark had asked me to get some photos of the town’s fireworks displays for our yearbook’s endpapers while I still could. A tourist gimmick, the show had gone from happening once every weekend in the summer to nightly shows in September as they used up the leftover stock.

Another boom exploded overhead, and a smoky plume of crimson slashed the sky.

I dug in my bag for the camera, but a flash of movement pulled my gaze back to the boats. A light had come on inside the captain’s boat. Music cut on, floating off the water—soft male vocals, full of brokenhearted rage. I recognized a hardcore ballad by the metal band Periphery.

Alessandro was a liar.

Abandoning my bag, I made for the boat. “Geoff!” I called, unsure if he could hear me inside the cabin over the straining singer and the cacophony of the display escalating above the harbor.

His dark head emerged from the cabin door. As I hurried up to the boat, he came outside. His long legs swung over the boat rail and landed on the wooden walkway. My pulse quickened at the beautiful sight of him.

In two steps, Geoff dropped his hands on my shoulders, drawing me to him. My hands flattened against his chest and felt the throb of his heart under my palm. His mouth descended on mine as I rose up on my toes. Geoff’s lips were warm and vibrant, pressing sweetly against mine. The music seemed to fade behind the drumming beat of my pulse, climbing into my throat as if our hearts longed to unite as well.

After a moment, he set me on my feet, giving us room to breathe, before I’d even realized I’d left the ground.

His glittering eyes reflected the flashing skyrockets. “What are you doing here, Chelsea?”

A prick of tears reciprocated in my eyes, too. “You go AWOL and think I wouldn’t try to find you?” I smiled, and my lips buzzed from our brief contact.

A couple with a toddler walked past on the sidewalk. Geoff led me closer to the boat.

Once the people were out of range, he inhaled deeply and leaned his forehead against mine. “Lewis was supposed to watch out for you. My dad can’t see us together. He’d never understand.”

A chill swept up from the water, drifting across my arms.

“Did you know he and my mom…they want…?” I couldn’t form the words.

Geoff’s eyes closed. His thumbs made circles on my shoulders. “Why do you think I didn’t like the bloody idea of you two living with us in the first place?”

I took a step back. Geoff opened his eyes, watching me warily.

“Now I feel stupid.”

“You shouldn’t, Chelsea. You’re anything but daft.” His fingers threaded in mine. “Our parents didn’t want you to know until they were sure about their relationship.”

How could Mom do this to me? And there it was…more proof of my selfishness.

Guilt made me confess. “I called my dad. He’s coming to visit. Maybe I was being immature, bringing him in to complicate things for Mom and Ben, but I had to do something.”

“It’s better than anything I came up with.” Geoff smirked. “Bugger. Your dad…will he take one look at me and kick me to the curb?” His eyes narrowed with dread.

“No.” I laughed to put him at ease. Then my throat tightened as I realized my mistake. I hadn’t considered what Geoff would think when he met Dad.

Holy hell. One meeting with Reed Rodgers, and my almost-boyfriends always bolted. On Lewis’s boat, Geoff had praised me for being normal. If he knew about Dad’s problems, he would reconsider, like every other guy I’d ever brought home.

Maybe I could prevent it.

He muttered, “Carol sure is freaking out about the whole thing.”

“Yeah. Lewis and I went to her place looking for you.”

Geoff cursed. “Did he not even try to do what I asked?”

“Sure, he tried. He told me not to look for you, and he doesn’t know I’m here. With everything that’s going on, I couldn’t stay home worrying about when I’d see you again.”

“What about homecoming? He asked you, right?” He watched my face intently.

My tummy did a little flip. “Um, homecoming…not yet.”

Geoff sighed and turned his head, his jaw hardening. “I told him to make sure to ask you to homecoming for me so you’d know I’d be back soon.” Naturally, the school’s admin wouldn’t want the valuable kicker gone for the big game, suspension or not.

The homecoming invitation was the only message Lewis had ignored.

I couldn’t tell Geoff why I figured his message hadn’t been delivered, so I changed the subject. “We talked with Anita yesterday.”

This brought his gaze back to mine with sudden interest. “She told you her ideas?”

I nodded. “According to her, I’m a conjurer—whatever that means. Why didn’t you tell me? You knew I didn’t realize the boat used to be called The Don Juan, didn’t you?”

He released me and shoved his hands in his pockets. “You would’ve thought you’d heard the boat’s name from my dad or your mum. If I’d told you what I thought you were capable of, you would’ve thought I was a nutter. You already did.”

My turn to look away. I didn’t want him to see the shame I felt. I stared at the massive mooring line, wrapped around weathered iron.

“Chelsea,” he said, his voice rasping like torn paper, “I saw something unexplainable on that beach the night of the accident, and my father never believed me. I want you to believe…more than anything.”

The rawness in his words brought my gaze back to him. “Tell me. What did you see?”

He inhaled. “I saw my brother walking away. He left me there, didn’t say a word.”

His father had thought Geoff had hallucinated it. Who wouldn’t? To believe the guy had simply gotten up and walked away from nearly drowning was…crazy.

“You think it was the Boo Hag?”

“What do you think?” His steady gaze held mine.

I was afraid to encourage him, yet afraid to disappoint. “Is that why you wanted me to draw stuff on the island?”

“It was just an idea. Probably wouldn’t work. Barmy, really.”

“No. It works…sometimes. I made a drawing at the wildlife refuge.” I turned to go after my bag and the sketch on the bench, when he caught my arm.

“Wait. Come see what I’ve been doing.”

He scooped me into his arms and put me down on the other side of the boat rail. Then he followed me. The boat deck swayed under my feet from the abrupt movement.

“Is this where you’ve been the past two days?”

He nodded. “Alessandro doesn’t know my dad, doesn’t suck up like everybody else. Look in the cabin.”

I peered inside the open door. Behind the wheel, the captain’s table was covered in gear: a folded tripod, a professional video camera, an open laptop, a small TV, and electrical cords.

“You’re making a video?”

I ducked under the low door to step inside and get a better look. Geoff followed. We stood beside the table as I took in the careful arrangement of gear. I remembered the shopping bags I’d seen in his car’s trunk the night we’d went to the mall.

He turned the volume down on the stereo. I felt energy still radiating heat between us.

“It’s for a documentary about the Gullah community on the island—” he picked up the camera and put the protective cap over the lens “—so maybe with enough public interest, they’ll stop running these people off their land. I’m interviewing Flint tomorrow while I’m crashing at his house the next few days. The other islanders…I’ll have to talk them into it. But they know me and they want to save their property.”

“Geoff.” I touched his arm, suddenly afraid. “The things your dad said in class about the island, I didn’t make him say that. The haint or demon did. It might be dangerous to go to the Old Place.” I relayed what I’d seen in Ben’s appointment book.

He grimaced. “If he’s meeting someone about Yemassee Shores, it’s probably about acquiring Flint’s. I’ll just have to beat him there Saturday.” His face lit with renewed hope. “I’ll call the media, call a state senator. By the time Ben steps off his boat, there’ll be a whole crowd at Flint’s. Trust me, he won’t want the negative publicity. His book sales will drop.”

“Great idea.”

A slow rock song started on the stereo—a woman’s softly crying voice blended with the angst of violin and guitar.

“Now if I just didn’t have to worry about you…” He traced my jaw with his fingers.

How could I have doubted his intentions?

“Don’t worry. Anita gave me some suggestions.” I put on a brave face.

He caught my hand, and his thumb swept back and forth across my knuckles. “Once my friends are safe, I’m going to tell my dad he can go to hell. I don’t need anything from him. I’ll change schools, give up the car, be broke. But for now—” his gaze went to the cushioned bench near the table and back to me “—does anyone know you’re here?”

I shook my head, though my smile answered for me.

“Alessandro went to get some takeout.” A wicked grin exposed his dimple, and he led me to sit with him. Our knees and thighs touched clear to our hips. He murmured, “You didn’t give me an answer about homecoming.”

He pulled my hand into his lap and linked his fingers with mine so that our arms bonded against each other.

“I thought I’d give my answer to Lewis,” I teased.

He cringed. “I hope you’ll save me the suspense.” His eyes turned baleful, playing. “Maybe Lewis wanted to keep you to himself.”

Doubtful. I laid my head on his shoulder, hiding my eyes. “No way. Lewis doesn’t even like me.”

“You’re wrong. He hasn’t said anything bad about you. But, hey—” he touched my chin with his free hand, tilting my face to his “—I admit I had second thoughts about asking him to watch over you. Jealous, I guess, about him talking to you, spending time with you when I couldn’t. I thought you might find him more attractive and far less troublesome than me.”

His thumb ran up my cheekbone to circle along the sensitive rim of my ear. Our faces were inches apart. Although his voice was lighthearted, there was seriousness deep in his eyes behind the shield of his hair.

“You have nothing to worry about. Believe me, it’s not an issue.” I brushed back his hair, sweeping my fingertips across his forehead in the gesture. “I’ll go to homecoming with you.” My voice was breathy.

Geoff’s face lit with a smile. He released my hand to pull me into his lap. Cradling me in his arms, he cupped the back of my head in his hand and leaned toward me. His eyes, so close to mine, were brown with flakes of gold and green, his lashes sable like his hair. I wanted to kiss them, but his gaze fell to my mouth, causing me to replace that desire with another.

When our lips touched, I closed my eyes against the flickering lights outside and ignored the rocking of the boat, melting against him in our embrace. I held his shoulders, pulling him to me. Nothing else mattered but feeding the fire burning within.

We came up for a breath after a moment. Red stain tinged his cheeks and lips, and I glowed inside, knowing I’d put the color there.

He whispered, “Vincent, I—”

A firecracker boomed outside, and the window glowed behind Geoff’s shoulder. Behind the glass, a dark human outline sidled out of view.

I gasped. Someone was watching us.

“What?” Geoff twisted in my arms.

The sky fell dark again. Feet pounded the deck. Running away.

Geoff pushed me off his lap onto the seat and bolted up. I chased after him as he ran outside. His athletic legs hurdled the rail, running several feet up the harbor’s sidewalk before he came to a stop. Whoever had been watching in the boat window was gone, and Geoff’s shoulders sagged with defeat.