Chapter 10 #3
I darted down the back stairs, only to realize I was now marooned in the backyard with no clear escape route.
I scrambled behind a wall of bushes that lined the fence, trying to camouflage myself in the greenery.
There I was, blending in like a desperate, sad chameleon, hoping the plants would somehow take pity on me and shield me from the chaos I was trying to avoid.
“Hattie’s completely off her rocker, Magnolia.
Don’t listen to her! Are you dry heaving in there?
” Dane’s voice whined from just outside the bushes, confirming that my brilliant hiding spot was anything but.
I could practically feel the frustration rolling off him.
The shuffle of footsteps on the stairs and the soft murmurs of Charlie and Sutton told me the search party had officially been expanded.
Great. Just what I needed—reinforcements to block my dramatic exit.
I had my back up against the cold iron of the fence, trying not to toss my cookies.
I tried to steady my breathing and wipe the last ten minutes of memory from my mind.
The thought of Dane proposing after what, four and a half dates—considering I’d practically ghosted him after the last one—was absurd.
I mean, what was he thinking? Did he lose a bet or something? Was I being Punked?
“Charlie, clean this up before Eunice sees or hears her,” Sutton whispered angrily.
“This is Dane’s mess. It’s his fault, wanting to propose to her after, like, four dates,” my brother growled.
Wracking, violent sobs overtook me.
“Damnit, Charlie! Come on, baby, come out of the bush. I promise I won’t propose to you.”
“Wait, you were going to do it in front of all these people?” Sutton asked, letting out a sarcastic laugh. “That’s bold. Just what Magnolia loves more than anything, to be the center of attention.”
“I thought she would appreciate the grand gesture. It’s my grandmother’s ring and on my momma’s birthday…”
“Oh heaven have mercy, Dane,” Charlie was cackling now. Through the leaves, I could see him bending over onto his knees, holding himself up as his body shook.
“Charlie, please go ask around to the busboys and see if anyone has a valium,” Sutton commanded. “They’re all suspiciously mellow today, so they might have some good shit.”
Charlie sauntered back toward the house on a mission, trying to catch his breath from laughing.
“You’re in deep shit, Dane. Deep. Shit. Are you pulling this stunt because your brother’s here? Or is it because you’ve been acting like a real shithead lately?” Sutton meant business. I could hear it in her voice.
He shook his head. “No. My father and I have been discussing it all afternoon, and Momma thought it was such a good idea, she brought down my mimi’s ring.
” There was a hint of smugness to his voice.
“My parents thought it might be a nice way to let everyone know that Magnolia had moved on. I mean, I guess because my brother’s home… ”
I could practically smell Sutton’s irritation brewing through the twigs and leaves.
“Jesus,” she let out a long, heavy breath. “Anything, Charlie?” Charlie was back and handed something over to Sutton.
“I’m not developing a pill problem over this! I might feel better if you all went away!” I cried.
“The bush speaks,” Sutton mused. “Come on out of there, sweetie. Charlie found you a joint and a bottle of tequila.”
“Only if Dane goes away.” I sounded—and felt—like a child.
“Alright, I’m going. Give me that. She’s not going to smoke it.” Dane grabbed the joint out of Sutton’s hand and stomped off.
“Is he gone?” I waited a few beats before I crawled on all fours out of the bush, my periwinkle tea-dress now covered in dirt and regret.
Sutton bent down to pick pieces of brush out of my hair. “This is, hands down, the most extra dramatic bullshit I have ever seen. Honest to God, next time just go home. It’s not like it’s a very far walk.”
Charlie crossed his arms and glared at me like he was upset, but the way the corner of his lip tipped up, I could tell how amused he was.
“He was chasing me. I didn’t have a choice.
I felt like a giant ring was charging down the hallway at me, and I panicked.
And y’all know I can’t move fast after all that booze and food in these shoes.
” I grabbed the bottle of tequila from Sutton, took a hefty swig, and handed it back to her.
“We could all use a drink right now,” I said.
***
With the party winding down, I took refuge behind the azalea plant again, trying to stay out of sight. A wave of guilt washed over me. I hadn’t even managed to catch Eunice all day, and here I was, once again, making everything about me.
“So, I hear you’ve had an eventful day. I’m not at all surprised.
” Lee was standing just below the veranda, looking up at me from the yard where, not too long ago, I’d been squatting among the bushes like a spy who’d bungled her mission.
He had his hands in his pockets, and when I turned to meet his stare, I saw him grinning like he’d just caught me in a particularly ridiculous moment of a sitcom.
Which was exactly what that doomed afternoon felt like.
“Please don’t.” I shook my head. “This day has been traumatizing enough as it is.”
His smile quickly changed to a slight frown, and he rocked a little bit on his heels. “Come on down here and talk to me, Maggie. I won’t bite.”
I looked around to make sure I wouldn’t bump into anyone, especially his brother, as I made my way down the stairs.
A small, gliding porch swing hung under the veranda, in one of the few shaded areas in the Wilder backyard.
When we were kids, we would practically live under there, hiding from the sun and his parents.
I’d read a book, and Lee would strum at his guitar, furiously scribbling lyrics in his notebook, every now and again stealing a glance at me.
“Sit down, Maggie. I told you I won’t bite.” He patted the seat next to him, and I settled in, kicking my legs out. The chair swung back and forth, creaking with the sound of rust and years gone by.
“I can’t believe him,” I confessed.
Lee gave a resigned sigh. “I can. He’s loved you a real long time. Can’t say I blame the guy for being overly enthusiastic.” I could feel him smiling next to me, but I couldn’t look his way.
“We’ve only been going out for a few months. I never even—” I stopped myself and sighed, putting my face in my hands. Lee always had a way of stealing the truth from me. He didn’t need to hear about my lack of intimacy with his brother, though.
He was quiet for a minute and then tapped my leg softly, sending a shiver down my spine.
“I told Momma you were having such a great time, but you got into the pecan pie and gave yourself a wicked stomachache like you do, so you had gone home to rest it off. She’s sorry to have missed you, but she’s glad you had a good time. ”
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and finally turned to face him. “Thanks, Lee. I mean it.”
“Don’t mention it.” We pumped our legs together in unison, letting the chair swing back and forth, our eyes having a conversation we were both too anxious to have ourselves.
“Let me walk you home,” he finally said, breaking the silence but not our eye contact. “You have someone up in that apartment of yours I am just dying to see.”
When we got to my place, Pickle greeted Lee with a full symphony of howls, screeches, and hisses, showing him more affection in twenty minutes than she’d ever shown anyone before. Then, she plopped down by the window for a nap, clearly exhausted from her marathon of love.
“Look at her all cuddled up cozy. She’s still the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.” He was trying to make me believe he was talking about the cat, but he was staring straight at me.
I had kept a good distance between us in the kitchen.
When we had climbed up the back staircase up to my apartment, the air felt charged, buzzing with the echoes of old memories.
I could almost feel the ghosts of our younger selves, sneaking up those stairs together, whispering secrets in the dark, cool hallway, trying not to wake up Charlie or Uncle Cole or hint at what we were planning to do behind my bedroom door.
“This place hasn’t changed a bit.” Keeping his eyes trained on me, he took a sip of the tall, cold Jack and Coke I had poured for him. It pained me how much I liked to see him smiling at my kitchen table, eyes locked on mine and talking to me so effortlessly.
A small smile escaped my lips. “I’d like to paint it someday and brighten it up.
The walls are all yellow from folks smoking in the bar—it comes up through the vents.
Everything needs to be replaced, but since you and Charlie are best friends forever still, I’m sure you’ve heard the bar is in the red. ”
He nodded knowingly, taking another sip. His mind was racing, I could tell.
“How long will you be in town?” I didn’t want to know. I didn’t want to ask. But I had to.
“Few days, maybe a week. I don’t have much worth running back to Nashville for, at least. Charlie and I are making some plans, and I think Momma wants me to sing for her bridge club.
Better than any gig I’m getting back there.
” He sounded sad and defeated, like he was giving up on something.
I wanted to cross the room and pull him into my arms, kiss his forehead, and let his blond wisps tickle the top of my nose.
I let out an annoyed sigh instead.
“You are clearly done with me, so I should go. Thanks for the drink. And the reunion with my two favorite girls.”
I rolled my eyes. “Leland Wilder, don’t you dare start putting on the charm. I’ve had enough Wilder man drama today to last me a damn lifetime.”
“You have no idea how much I regret that we’re standing so far apart in this kitchen.
That you had a day like today that would lead you to say something like that.
Every single move you and I have made these past few years has led us to this moment, and it’s nothing like I thought it would be.
” He crossed the room in three quick steps and grabbed both of my hands in his, lacing our fingers together.
I hadn’t felt an electric charge like that in a long, long time, and my body reacted the way it always did when Lee Wilder touched me.
“Standing here with you, feeling this distance between us, it just feels… sad. Like everything’s left unfinished and there’s a million things still hanging in the air. ”
My heart was pounding in my chest. I was staring at his lips knowing, remembering, how sweet and salty they tasted. How soft they felt. How they fit mine so, so perfectly. Unlike anyone else.
An image of his brother popped into my head. One of my best friends. My fiancé, if things had gone his way this afternoon. I broke our linked hands and turned away from Lee’s sad, knowing eyes. “I’m sure I’ll see you around sometime, Lee.”
“I sure hope so, Maggie. I really do.”