Happily Never After Read online

  Jason surprised me. He threw himself into the research, claiming it was exciting. I guess it would be if I didn’t have the nagging feeling my life was in danger. And he was good at the research. He could skim an article or page and pick out anything interesting. Must have been a habit he picked up from reading all those scripts.

  We also found an older article hinting about her impending engagement to the son of a wealthy landowner. All that did was add more speculation to the fire. I tried not to be discouraged even though I related to a soldier going off to war and not understanding my enemy.

  Jason and I left the historical society building with his bodyguard conveniently blending in as a normal tourist and walked downtown to the riverfront where we found a small seafood restaurant that wasn’t too busy. After we sat down and ordered, Jason brought up our fruitless search.

  “I don’t think digging up the past is turning out to be very productive. Maybe you need to look at this from another angle.”

  “Well, I hope you have ideas because I’m all out.” I sipped my sweet iced tea.

  “I might have a few.” I liked him better in his ‘disguise’. It made him more approachable, in a sense, even though the girl in the corner booth kept eyeing him. He continued, “What if it’s a form of possession? Try looking at it from a paranormal standpoint. I’m sure there are plenty of others doing the same thing as you and Abby. You should find people with more experience to help you with this.”

  I thought about that for a bit. It actually made sense. I wasn’t the only one who’d ever had a nasty encounter with an evil entity. Someone else might have some ideas on how to deal with it, especially if it was a possession. I’d been thinking more along the lines of a haunting and possession hadn’t yet entered my mind.

  It would be nice to have a knowledgeable person tell me if it was something I could fix.

  “That’s a good idea. I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll get Abby on it. She spends a lot of time at Moon River Brewing now that she’s working there part time. Quite a few paranormal groups come through there. See, you’re good for something.”

  I texted Abby as the waiter delivered our food.

  “So, how come you’re free today?” Jason asked.

  “My stepmother and stepsisters are in Atlanta, probably looking for pageant stuff or costumes for your masquerade ball.”

  He winced. “I forgot about that. The ball is this weekend, isn’t it? I thought it was a lame idea but the studio heads wanted to do it as a ‘thank you’ to the city for allowing us to film. I’m really not looking forward to it.”

  “I hate to break it to ya, but you’re in the wrong business if you don’t enjoy dressing fancy and sucking up to people. Most of an actor’s job is publicity.”

  “I realize that, it just makes me feel more like a piece of meat than I already do.” He looked embarrassed and pushed his food around on the plate. “I’m aware of how ungrateful I sound, too.”

  “Nah, you’re right. You’ve still got a couple years before you become a true self-centered celebrity.”

  “I hope not. Please tell me you’re going to come to the ball. I need someone there to keep me grounded. Think of all the people we can make fun of.”

  I stared at him, wide-eyed as we stood up to leave. Had he just asked me to go with him? Or was he only wondering if I’d be there?

  “Probably not a good idea. Have fun though.” Any dreams of going to a stupid ball with Jason were dangerous, not because Marietta and the twins would be there but because of my growing feelings towards him. I wasn’t an idiot. I knew that when the movie wound up production, he would leave. I didn’t need to be doing anything crazy such as going on a pretend date.

  Jason grabbed my arm as I walked away. “Why isn’t it a good idea? Why do you hide from things?”

  I shook my head at him. “You don’t know anything about me.”

  “Then give me a chance to.”

  “I want to, Jason, I do. In the last twenty-four hours you’ve learned more about me than anyone in my life, except Abby. The only way I’ve stayed sane was by not letting anyone get close. I take care of myself first and don’t trust people. It doesn’t matter that I feel a connection to you. Can you understand why I at least want to keep my distance from you and not be another notch in your belt?”

  I didn’t realize I’d spoken so long or so passionately until I saw his eyes staring intensely at me.

  Then, he spoke. “You’re stereotyping again. I do understand that you’re only trying to protect yourself and that you’ve done it out of necessity. You want the truth? I think you’re awesome. It might come across as a line, but I’ve never met anyone like you. All the girls I meet are exactly the same; vapid, self-centered and boring. I look at you and I see the kind of girl I want to know, even when you’re rude and sarcastic. Which adds to it somehow.”

  My glare slipped and I wanted to believe him but I steeled myself to say. “Nice try. You’re not going to flatter the pants off me.”

  He didn’t react as I had expected. “See! That’s what I’m talking about.”

  I couldn’t help the small grin forcing its way through.

  “You’re quick and witty and wounded...”

  “Wait, wounded? Is that how you see me?” I interrupted him. “I’m not some sad puppy for you to save, Jason. If that’s what you want go find Little Miss Perfect Blonde and save her from an unfortunate tanning accident. You’re wasting your time here.”

  That ticked him off. “Come on Quinn, that’s not what I was saying. I’m not trying to save you because you don’t need it. You’re brave and strong and fighting for something. You’ve had a crappy life since your dad died but there’s still warmth in you. I can see it no matter how hard you try to keep it hidden. The snarky exterior is mostly show. I know it and so do you. You just have to decide how it affects the relationships in your life, even possible relationships. Think about it. I’ll call you later. Count on it.”

  Before I could respond, he was gone.

  I wasn’t entirely sure what happened just now but it left me feeling a mixture of curiosity and restlessness. Jason’s words thawed a part of me I either forgot about or didn’t know existed. I didn’t see what he found so impressive about me but I kind of wanted to find out. He knew exactly what to say to hold my attention and turned out to be nothing as I expected, or hoped. I needed to learn to let myself go.

  I heard a loud noise and saw a bus pulling into the stop half a block ahead of me. Running forward, I boarded it without a second thought. My destination was Bonaventure Cemetery, where my parents laid in eternal slumber together. Today would have been Daddy’s birthday and I couldn’t avoid it any longer.

  Chapter Sixteen

  My mind wandered on the ride out and I almost changed my mind when I transferred buses. It had been over a year since I'd visited my parents’ graves. I never spent much time wondering why I spaced my visits so far between. Maybe it had to do with the reminder of how much I missed them.

  I got off the bus with a group of tourists and followed them through the entrance.

  Bonaventure Cemetery was located on the site of the Bonaventure Plantation. The original plantation house was built in 1762, but after both houses were destroyed, it was now used mainly as a cemetery and historic site.

  This cemetery stood out in sharp contrast to the much older Colonial Park cemetery, where we met Jason. Colonial Park had a dark, almost sinister feel to it. The trees were old and gnarled, the flowers only bloomed at night and even the tombstones were corroded. It felt the way an old, scary cemetery should.

  But Bonaventure was beautiful and sat on a bluff looking out over the Wilmington River. Flowers perfumed the air and many of the plots were landscaped to resemble little parks. Savannahians made coming to visit their ancestors an event. That included park benches and fresh flowers around the graves to make the visits more comfortable.

  I’ve heard people say that we were similar to the Japanese in how we worshiped
our ancestors. Each generation paid homage and gave respect to those who came before them. It was one of the truest ways to describe how we felt about our past.

  So many people used the phrase ‘the past is alive’ to describe a place. Here, in Savannah, it was the truth.

  Most of the older generations of the Roberts family lay buried in Colonial Park, but it had been closed to new burials for a long time. Now, our family plot was here. I made the mental note to see if I could find Catherine’s grave next time I went to Colonial Park. It might be a good thing to have on standby.

  I made my way down the shaded paths and eventually reached our plot. As much as I was able to block the feelings from the spirits populating the cemetery, some still got through. Places like this, where the dead were higher in number, tested the mental walls I'd constructed to keep them out of my head. There were too many to ignore.

  The lush, green grass invited me to sit down and as I settled into place I tried to fight the rush of emotion. I hated crying here. The last thing I wanted my parents to see, if they were still here, was my sadness and weakness.

  “Hi Mama,” I whispered. “Happy Birthday, Daddy.”

  Pausing, I opened up my mind and sorted through the barrage of information coming from the spirits nearby. None of them were my parents, so I locked it back down.

  I sighed.

  “It doesn’t matter how many times I try, I always expect to feel one of you. The only thing I can do is hope you’re together in a better place.”

  A tear slipped from my eye and I brushed it away impatiently.

  “I really need your help right now, Daddy. All this stuff about the will and the bank and the house, none of it makes sense. I need someone to reassure me that what I’m fighting for is worth it and that I’m doing the right thing.”

  The wind caressing the trees came as my only answer.

  “And Mama, I met a guy. He’s an actor, which I’m sure you and Daddy would be hesitant about. Jason sees me in a way not a lot of people care to. I find myself wanting to tell him everything about myself, and it's scary. He said all these nice things to me but I’m so scared to take the chance and open myself up to him with everything else that’s going on.”

  I sat there for a while longer enjoying the stillness. Then, something prickled the back of my neck causing the hair to stand up. Turning, I saw Marietta with a handful of flowers. The moment we locked eyes, her face went vacant and I sensed the dark presence loom out of her.

  “Don’t worry Quinn, soon you’ll be lying here with them forever.” The voice came from Marietta but her mouth did not move. Her hand lifted and she pointed behind me.

  I looked back and my skin went cold.

  In the empty space beside Mama and Daddy’s tombstones, was one that hadn’t been there a moment before. I took a couple jerky steps forward until the name on the stone froze me in place.

  Quinn Roberts.

  As if in a trance, I reached forward fully expecting my hand to pass through the pale granite but it didn’t. My hand lay on the cold stone. I whipped my head back to Marietta.

  “What is this?”

  Laughter. Then the voice said, “This is your future.”

  The ground opened up beneath me and swallowed me up. I landed with a thud at the bottom of an empty grave. The top of the six-foot high walls were just out of my reach. There was no way out. In a panic, I turned in circles, fruitlessly searching for an exit. Marietta walked to the edge and looked down at me with those dull, lifeless eyes. The shadow whirled around her, obscuring her face at times, and stirring up the now familiar river scent.

  I was terrified but before I even had a chance to scream out for help, the walls of the grave began falling inward. I was being buried alive. A constant flood of dirt and rock rained down on me, filling the space at an impossibly fast pace. I clawed at the walls trying to get out, not caring that my fingernails were being ripped out by the compact earth. I knew the cemetery at this time of day held dozens maybe hundreds of people but my desperate cries for help went unanswered.

  The dirt crept higher; locking me in a vise there was no escaping from. It reached my neck but my body still fought. The one arm, still free, stretched feebly for the clear blue sky above me. In the midst of my cries and gulping sobs I heard cold laughter. When the first clumps of dirt fell in my mouth I didn’t taste it. I tasted death. I felt the dirt slipping down my throat and blocking out the disappearing air. Then, it covered my eyes and the light vanished. The entire thing lasted less than a minute, not even giving me a chance to accept defeat. But as the darkness settled so did despair.

  My lungs screamed for air. The pain of it was the worst thing I’d ever experienced. It felt like a lifetime, but in reality, only a couple seconds passed before a comforting sense of calm pushed into every inch of me.

  This wasn’t how it was supposed to end. I never got a chance to say goodbye or even a chance to fight. I wanted to fight.

  The moment I thought those words, there was a sucking sensation and I felt the pressure surrounding me lessen. Suddenly, I could breathe again. When I opened my eyes I saw I was kneeling in the grass next to my parents’ graves. I turned my head and noticed Marietta still standing there, vacant eyes and all.

  Chills raced through me as the reality of what I experienced sunk in. Catherine showed me I was far from safe and I understood she was playing with me. I hung my head in an attempt to catch my breath and shot to my feet after catching a glimpse of my arms.

  I was covered in dirt. It clung to me everywhere. Panicked, I brushed at my clothes and my arms, trying to get it off me. But it wouldn’t go away no matter how hard I wiped at it.

  “What is happening?” I yelled. It was then I realized Marietta was gone. The only people I saw were an elderly couple who hurried by when they saw me. I wondered if they saw the dirt or if all they saw was a crazy girl swatting at her arms and talking to air.

  An irrational fear seized me. The cemetery no longer felt safe. I needed to get out of there. A crazy laugh bubbled up inside of me. I had just been buried alive and I was afraid of a bright, sunny open space? It didn’t seem right.

  I remember rushing out of the cemetery, of being on the bus, and the freakish stares of the other passengers. The dirt still wouldn’t come off and the logical part of my brain told me there was no way it was real. It had to be an illusion. But the odd looks I received made me doubt that.

  When I got home, I rushed in and accidentally slammed the door.

  I heard voices in the kitchen and as badly as I wanted to get upstairs and look in a mirror, I was drawn in their direction.

  The twins and Marietta gathered around the breakfast bar eating a pizza. I almost didn’t recognize Marietta. She laughed and smiled with the girls, looking more like herself than she had in five years.

  I stood there in shock watching them and longing to be a part of it, even as I was wary of the change in my stepmother.

  All three of them caught sight of me at the same time. Their expressions ranged from concern to disgust and to amusement.

  “Are you okay?” Anna asked.

  Suzie shot her a dirty look and said, “Of course she is. Where have you been Quinn? Bathing with the other cows?”

  I caught my reflection in the stainless steel fridge and all the blood drained from my head. Clutching the cabinet, I couldn’t believe what I saw. I was covered in dirt, exactly as I feared. How was it even possible?

  I shook my head in denial at the image in front of me. I didn’t understand.

  “Quinn, where were you?” Marietta demanded.

  Something about her question snapped me out of my daze. “I was at the cemetery. Today was Daddy’s birthday.”

  Marietta wiped her mouth daintily and gave me a sad smile. “I know. I meant to make it down there today but I got caught up in work. I’ll go tomorrow.”

  My brows drew together in confusion. “But I saw you. You were there. I talked to you.”

  She stood up and brought her
glass to the sink. “You must have fallen down and hit your head. I wasn’t at the cemetery today.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  The next day life returned to normal. I stood at my family’s beck and call every hour of the day. The up and down emotions of the last couple days wore me out and reality came crashing in with a vengeance.

  Whenever Marietta talked down to me or ordered me to do some menial task, I wanted to confront her about what happened at the cemetery or what I’d found out about Daddy’s will. It took every last bit of strength for me not to come clean. Instead, I focused on the outcome I wanted, being rid of Catherine and having Marietta out of my house.

  Sleeping the night before was impossible. Every time I closed my eyes I felt the suffocating pressure of the dirt on me. Lately, all my nightmares had been the kind you have when wide awake.

  I met Abby downtown on one of my ridiculous errands for a quick bite at an outdoor cafe. We hadn’t had a chance to talk much lately and naturally, she was full of questions about Jason and Marietta. I made the decision not to tell her about the day before. It wasn’t because I didn’t trust her because I did, more than anyone.

  The problem was I’d always been the type of person who fought her battles on her own.

  “So, how’s it going with Mr. Hollywood?”

  “It’s not,” I grumbled. “He’s texted me a few times but we kind of had an argument.”

  Abby’s eyes widened. “What did you argue about?”

  “He thinks I’m wounded and interesting, blah, blah. He doesn’t know anything about me.”

  “Are you blind? You think a guy like him would waste his time if he wasn’t interested?”