"Don't leave, Blaire. Let's talk about this. Give yourself time to think about things." He wanted me to stay. Why? So he could make himself feel better for ruining my life? For ruining Nan's life?
I pulled the phone he'd wanted me to have out of my pocket and held it out to him. "Take it. I don't want it," I said.
He stared down at it and then back at me. "Why would I take your phone?"
"Because I don't want anything from you," I replied. The anger was there but I was tired. I just wanted out of here.
"I didn't give you that phone," he said still looking confused.
"Take the phone, Blaire. If you want to leave, I can't hold you here. But please, take the phone." Rush was standing at the top of the stairs. He'd bought me the phone. My dad had never told him to get me a phone. The numbness was settling in. I couldn't feel any more pain. No sorrow for what we might have had.
I walked over and put the phone down on the table beside the stairs. "I can't," was my simple reply. I didn't look back at any of them. Although I'd heard Georgianna's heels click on the marble floor alerting me that she had entered the foyer.
I grabbed the door handle and pulled the door open. I would never see any of them again. I'd only mourn the loss of one.
"You look just like her." Georgianna's voice rang out in the silent foyer. I knew she meant my mother. She had no right even to remember my mother. Or speak of her. She'd lied about my mother. She'd made the one woman I admired above everyone else seem selfish and cruel.
"I only hope I can be half the woman she was," I said in a loud clear voice. I wanted them all to hear me. They needed to know there was no doubt in my mind that my mother was innocent.
I stepped out into the sunshine and closed the door firmly behind me. A silver sports car spun into the drive as I made my way to my truck. I knew it was Nan. I couldn't look at her. Not now.
The car door slammed and I didn't flinch. I threw my suitcase into the back of the truck and opened the door. I was done here.
"You know," she said in a loud amused tone.
I would not respond to her. I would not listen to her mouth spew more lies about my mother.
"How's it feel? Knowing you were left for someone else by your own father?"
It felt numb. That was the least of my pain. My dad had left us five years ago. I'd moved on.
"You don't feel so high and mighty now, do ya? Your momma was a cheap hussy that deserved what she got."
The calmness that had settled over me snapped. No one was gonna talk about my momma again. No one. I reached under the seat and pulled out my nine millimeter. I turned and aimed at her lying red lips.
"You say one more word about my momma and I'll put an extra hole in your body," I said in a hard flat voice.
Nan screamed and threw her hands up in the air. I didn't lower the gun. I wasn't going to kill her. I'd just wing her in the arm if she opened her mouth again. My aim was spot on.
"Blaire! Put the gun down. Nan, don't move. She knows how to use that thing better than most men." My dad's voice caused my hands to tremble. He was protecting her. From me. His daughter. The one he wanted. The one he left us for. The one he'd deserted most of her life. I didn't know what to feel.
I heard Georgianna's panicked voice. "What is she doing with that thing? Is that even legal for her to have it?"
"She has a permit," my father replied, "and she knows what she's doing. Stay calm."
I lowered the gun. "I'm gonna get in that truck and drive out of your life.
Forever. Just keep your mouth shut about my momma. I won't listen to it again," I warned before turning and climbing into my truck. I tucked my gun back under the seat and backed out of the driveway. I didn't look to see if they were all huddled around poor Nannette. I didn't care. Maybe she'd think twice before she f**ked with someone else's momma. Because, by God, she better never talk bad about mine again.
I headed to the country club. I'd have to tell them I was leaving. Darla deserved to know not to expect me. So did Woods for that matter. I didn't want to explain but they probably already knew. Everyone knew but me. They'd all just been waiting on me to find out. Why one of them couldn't have told me the truth I didn't understand.
It wasn't like this was life altering for Nan. Everything she'd ever known hadn't just been blown to hell. My life had just flipped on its axis. This wasn't about Nan. This was about me. Me, dammit. Why did they have to protect her? From what did she need protecting?
I parked the truck outside the office and Darla met me at the front door.
"You forget to check the schedule, girl? This is your day off." She was smiling at me but her smile vanished when my eyes met hers. She stopped walking and grabbed the railing on the porch of the office. Then she shook her head. "You know, don't you?"
Even Mrs. Darla had known. I simply nodded. She let out a long-winded sigh, "I'd heard the rumors like most folks but no knew the whole truth. I don't want to know it 'cause it ain't my business but if it's close to what I've heard then I know this hurts." Darla walked down the rest of the stairs. The commanding little firecracker I knew was gone. She opened her arms when she got to the bottom step and I ran into them. I didn't think about it. I needed someone to hold me. The sobs came the moment she wrapped me up in her arms.