Chapter 14
Carrington House
Searcy, Arkansas
Without bothering to say hello, Taylor answered and asked, “Where are you? We are going to be late.”
“Hey, I know I am late, but something came up. Joules will be arriving any second to bring you to the club.”
Irritated, Taylor sighed, “Really, Bennett? You are so pushing it. I am doing this for you.”
Sounding more stressed and worried than Taylor could ever remember, Bennett said, “I know, but please don’t ask me any questions.
I have no right to request this, but could you trust me and just do as I ask?
Just go with Joules to the club. I will meet you there as soon as I can. I am doing all I can.”
After a second, Taylor sighed and said, “Fine. I’ll meet you there, but you have a lot of explaining to do.”
“I know I do. Thanks so much, Taylor. I owe you one.” At that, Bennett clicked off.
A few moments later, she got a text from Joules letting her know she was in the drive. Trying to hurry, Taylor rushed outside and got in Joule’s BMW.
Huffing Taylor said, “Can you believe this?”
“I know you are mad, but please, Taylor, cut Bennett some slack. He is under tremendous pressure right now.”
Giving her friend an exasperated look, Taylor responded, “Well, guess what? He is not the only one. So, do you know why he is late?”
“No, I don’t.”
“If you did, would you tell me?”
Glancing at her friend quickly, Joules replied, “Honestly, I don’t know.
Things keep getting more complicated by the minute.
” Pulling up to the club and valet parking, Joules added, “But, I do know this, for all that has happened over the last week, Bennett is a good man. He has asked us to trust and support him. It is no less than he has done for us. I think we owe him that. So, please put a smile on your face, and let’s just get through this night.
Hopefully, we can begin to unravel this mess tomorrow.
But, until then, be that shining star I know you can be and go in there and blow them away.
” Taylor gave Joules a long look before nodding. It was going to be a long night.
Searcy Country Club
Searcy, Arkansas
Ten Minutes Later
The cocktail party was almost over by the time Taylor and Joules arrived.
Before entering the ballroom, Taylor had made Joules promise not to leave her side.
Yet, almost immediately after agreeing to be her constant companion, Joules’s cell phone went off.
Begging for forgiveness, Joules said, “I am so sorry, Taylor, but I have to take this call. It can’t be helped.
Just wait here. I am going to step outside for just a second. Don’t go in without me.”
As Joules walked out a side door to take her call in private, Taylor weighed her options.
She knew she could never face the crowd alone, so she decided to duck into the ladies’ room to hide until Joules returned.
She was quite relieved when she entered and saw she was alone.
The room was usually one of the coolest places in the club, and tonight was no exception. The cool air felt refreshing.
Taylor checked her makeup and hair and washed her hands, anything to waste time as she waited for Joules. After about five minutes, she sent Joules a text telling her where she was and asking her to join her when she finished her call. That way, she would not have to go in alone.
Just then, Johnna Wright walked into the bathroom. “Taylor, thank goodness. I thought I saw you come in here. I’ve been watching for you for the last half hour. Edna’s about to have a fit.” Walking over to Taylor, Johnna hugged her and whispered, “Hey, how are you holding up?”
Taylor gave her a slight smile and said, “I am hanging in there. Joules said you have done a bang-up job with the gala. It looks like the Art League has found its next president.”
Johnna gave her a look and said, “We’ll see.” After a second, she added, “I have to ask this because Edna is freaking out. Do you have any idea where Bennett or Poppy are? The gala starts in less than ten minutes, and no one can find them.”
Forcing her smile to stay in place, Taylor said, “I’m not privy to Mrs. Thompson’s schedule, but Bennett should be here any moment.” Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Taylor said very calmly, “I think you should ask Joules about this. She might know something.”
At that moment, Joules opened the door to the lounge and said, “Hey, sorry about that, TJ. I am ready now if you are?”
Taylor looked at Joules and said, “Johnna was wondering if you might know when Bennett and, um…Poppy are going to arrive?” It took all she had to ask the question calmly and without emotion.
As she spoke, she realized she was having trouble catching her breath.
Trying to calm down and breathe, she added, “I thought you might know.”
Joules looked from Johnna to Taylor and back again and then said, “They are here and about to walk into the ballroom. We need to go.”
Johnna gave a large sigh and said, “Praise the Lord. Let’s get out there before Edna comes looking for us.”
Taylor and Johnna followed Joules out of the bathroom and ran right into Bennett.
“There you are. I am glad I found you before I walked in.”
Taylor looked up and started to say something to Bennett when she saw Poppy right behind him.
In that instant, it was as if the world went silent.
The others continued to talk, but Taylor was unaware of anything but the woman in front of her.
She could not help herself. Taylor just stood there looking at Poppy, unable to move or speak.
Dressed in a long, strapless emerald green gown, Poppy was stunning.
Taylor had not remembered her being so beautiful or so tiny, yet she was.
Even in heels, she barely came up to Bennett’s shoulder.
Taylor was a few inches taller. Poppy was petite and reminded Taylor of a china doll.
Her skin was pale and translucent, and her long red hair hung loose with soft curls falling down her back.
The green in the dress brought out her green eyes.
Taylor was mesmerized by how ethereal she looked.
The only thing disrupting her perfect features was the scowl on her face when she spied Taylor.
When Taylor saw it, her first thought was, Seriously, I am the one who has something to frown on about her.
Not you. Of course, being Taylor, she said nothing.
She just stood staring. In fact, Taylor was so engulfed by Poppy’s presence that she did not notice the man standing behind her until he called her name.
“TJ? Is that you?” the man said.
Taylor looked to her left and felt the little air she had managed to draw into her lungs rush out. The man calling her name was none other than Greer Stone, and he was standing next to Poppy.
Looking from Greer to Poppy and back to Greer’s face, Taylor had no idea what he was doing there or why he was holding Poppy’s hand. Panic began to rise in her throat.
Dressed in a black tuxedo, Greer was looking at her with a confused look on his face. With wide eyes, he asked, “TJ? What are you doing here?”
Before Taylor could respond, Bennett looked at Taylor and asked, “Do you know him?”
At the same time, Poppy looked at Greer and asked, “How do you know her?”
Suddenly, everyone started talking at once, but Taylor did not hear a word being said as her chest began to tighten.
At that exact moment, Edna Stone walked up and said, “Well, it is about time you all got here. Better late than never, I suppose. I am glad you have all met my nephew, Dr. Greer Stone. He was responsible for recommending Mrs. Thompson for this year’s auction as he was quite familiar with her work.
He is a renowned cardiovascular surgeon from Alabama.
And, given the situation of late, he has graciously agreed to be Mrs. Thompson’s escort for the evening. ”
Gesturing toward Taylor, she continued, “Greer, this is Taylor Carrington.” Looking at Bennett, she added, “The current wife of the next Vice-President from the great state of Arkansas.”
At that moment, Taylor saw Greer blanch.
Edna kept talking, but Taylor heard none of it.
In her head, it all clicked. His last name was Stone.
The art in his houseboat. The reason it seemed so familiar was that several of the pieces were by Poppy.
Breathing suddenly became impossible, and a roar erupted in her ears.
Gasping for air, Taylor tried to keep herself upright.
“TJ, is that true?” Greer asked, confusion and hurt clouding his face.
Before Taylor could answer, Bennett looked from Taylor to Greer and asked, “Taylor, what is going on here?”
Everyone looked at Taylor and waited for an answer.
Only she didn’t have one. Not one that she was willing to give anyway.
She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
Instead, the pain in her chest intensified.
Grabbing it, she groaned heavily and collapsed to the floor as everything went black.