She soon got up and started pacing, hugging her arms around herself.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“No I...” She inhaled and exhaled audibly. “I’m sorry, I can’t stay here any longer.”
Nicholas watched her pick up her bag.
“What do you mean? What’s wrong?”
She sighed again and gave a shaky laugh.
“This is gonna sound crazy I guess, but this place gives me the creeps.”
Nicholas was silent for a moment, thinking through the possibilities.
“Well, I know we’re pretty far from ‘civilization’ and all but...”
“No Nicholas, it’s not that. God the smell or something...” She looked lost in her thoughts for a second. “Look, this place feels familiar to me. Yes, I know it’s ridiculous, don’t look at me like that. It just reminds me of somewhere I wish I never was.”
Nicholas fought again with unpleasantness in his brain but curiosity won out once more.
“What place? What happened there?” he asked, getting up and putting his arms around her.
A heavy sigh escaped her.
“I can’t tell you. I can almost swear this is it...”
“You sure it wasn’t some kind of dream...?” he began with a smile that failed, images from his own nightmares seizing him.
He tried to shake off the image of Edvard Munch’s
The Scream
.
“Nicholas, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he heard, pulling him from his clouded mind.
Nicholas took her hand and led her to the door.
“You’re right, let’s get out of here. This place is starting to do a number on me too.”
He ignored her look of confusion and flashed her a smile, hoping to ease her mind while trying to ignore his heart beating like he had run a hundred-meter race.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Darkness found Nicholas once more as he slept. He tossed and turned as the familiar feeling of terror overwhelmed him, trapping him in its tentacles...
“Meet us at the cabin.”
Upon awakening, Nicholas felt an urge to contact his old boarding school buddies, wondering what they were up to, but most importantly, he needed to ease his mind and convince himself somehow he was being completely ridiculous; that his imagination was in overdrive—he was watching too many movies.
Nicholas tracked down Brandon’s cell number and dialed.
When Nicholas greeted him, Brandon took a few seconds to respond, as if trying to place his voice.
“Hey Nicky D, what’s going on? It’s been a while,” he said finally with recognition.
Nicholas cringed at the old nickname Brandon had given him.
“Yeah it has. What have you been up to?”
“Well, I dropped out of U of U for starters. Wasn’t for me. I’m in the military now. I’m actually heading off to Afghanistan pretty soon.”
“Really? Well, I have to see you before you go man, we should catch up.”
“We can do that—I’ll drop by sometime. You in Utah now?”
“Yeah, come by whenever—just give me a heads up.”
“Sure thing.”
***
“Well, you’re in luck,” Nicholas said as Sydney hopped in his car. “Evelyn’s not home right now but she’ll be back later this evening. We can hang out with no worries for a bit.”
He smiled at her, and she felt her heart warming at his familiar, handsome face.
Sydney’s jaw dropped once they pulled up to his house, and she realized it had probably stayed that way once they got inside the house, and he gave her a grand tour beginning and ending with the parlor.
He introduced her to the various servants as they ran into them, some of whom watched her in curiosity, some suspiciously, some amused, and some with friendly smiles.
Sydney was bursting to talk about the Faberge egg decorations she had seen scattered about the house.
“It’s so strange to see them in reality—I’d heard about them on some Carmen Sandiego cartoon when I was a little girl. They’re so beautiful.” She sighed. “I especially like the blue one laced with gold in the parlor. And the clear crystal one, with the gold design in the foyer. But I really like the one with the flower attached to it, and a hummingbird suckling it.”
“You should have seen our tree last Christmas. All these mini-eggs all over it. Quite stunning. I guess that was our first warning that Evelyn would soon flood the house with them.” He shrugged. “I mean they’re great to look at but...I don’t know—I keep waiting for them to hatch already.”
Nicholas left her to check on their lunch and while she waited in the parlor, Sydney heard the front door close. Her heart jumped in her throat as she thought Mrs. Dhalton had come home earlier than expected.
She peeked around the wall.
Once she saw that it wasn’t Mrs. Dhalton, she took a step that put her fully in sight.
Sydney stared at the young blond girl she assumed was Nicholas’s sister who was heading for the stairs with a group of girls, one of whom looked at Sydney with thinly disguised scorn, the others apparently choosing to pretend they didn’t see her. The blond girl stopped and examined her for a second unabashedly in curiosity, then her face broke out into a smile.
Sydney, looking away, smiled back and waved.
“Hey Syd.”
Sydney turned toward Nicholas’s voice.
“You know the family room right across there? How about you wait there for me? It’s more entertaining. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Sydney nodded then headed towards the family room. She sat on the couch.
A servant who was introduced as Samuel followed her there, then turned on the television for her. He explained the remote. She must have still looked unsure for he asked:
“Is there something in particular you’re interested in? I can help you find it faster.”
“The Discovery Channel?”
He smiled.
“Certainly madam.”
He found the channel for her.
She was immediately engrossed by the wolves onscreen.
The voiceover went on about ranking order, about the power plays when wolves encounter each other, about the behavior of alpha males and females. Sydney watched the beautiful animals and found herself thinking how much the behavior reminded her high school, the establishment of ranking orders there.
“Hi.”
The sudden, female voice near her made Sydney start.
She had been so distracted by the program, she hadn’t heard anyone coming. She turned toward the voice and saw the blond girl she had seen earlier. Up close, she was even lovelier than she had thought. Her blue-green eyes were wide and open, once again, taking her in in an unabashed way. Her medium-length hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she was dressed casually, in a small, white, printed T-shirt and shorts, not at all like the fancy heiress Sydney expected.
“What, you don’t say hi to people?” the girl said with a smile on her face and a sparkle in her eyes that disarmed Sydney.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I was just...hi, I’m Sydney.”
Sydney stuck out her hand. For some reason, it made the girl laugh. She grabbed her hand and shook it firmly.
“I’m Allison, Nick’s sister.”
Allison circled, then sat on the arm of the couch, still watching her. Sydney didn’t know what to say next.
“So you’re the girl who put the pep in Nick’s step,” Allison said.
“Um, I guess so.”
“Well, you’re cute—Nick’s usually got taste.” She surveyed Sydney head to toe. “And you could be a model with that body of yours. I’m so jealous; you’re so skinny.”
Sydney looked at Allison then, wondering what kind of expensive drugs she was taking. Allison was medium height, slim and toned. If any of them could be a model, it was certainly her. And if anyone had the right to jealousy, Sydney felt that right belonged to her.
“That hair of yours makes me want to play in it,” Allison continued, studying her hair for a moment. “Anyway, whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. It thrills me to see him this happy. He was, like, kind of morose before.” Allison got up to leave, but before she went out of sight, said: “I hope to see you around a lot.”
She winked and left.
Nicholas came in not long after with two female servants following him with trays of food. Sydney thought it was rather unnecessary, thinking she and Nicholas could have easily brought it themselves. But then her thoughts diverted to the food—it looked and smelled so good. Her mouth started to water.
She waited for the food to be set down, then for Nicholas to sit next to her, then she dug into her grilled chicken and baby potatoes once his hands touched the silverware.
“I don’t usually eat this much,” she said, her voice muffled.
“I can see that,” he said, laughing. She elbowed him.
“You like this skinny chick,” she said.
“Oh, I more than like you babe.”
Sydney heard a telephone ring. Then Samuel came in to inform Nicholas he had a phone call.
Nicholas got up to take it.
Sydney continued eating, thrilled by the delicate flavors.
When Nicholas came back, he had a sheepish look on his face.
“Hey baby,” he said in a voice dripping with honey. “Don’t kill me, but there’s been a change of plan. An old friend of mine is coming over for a bit—would you mind coming back later? Or would you prefer to wait for me upstairs? I mean you can stay and meet him too if you’d like.”
Sydney shook her head.
“I prefer to just come over later—you guys should catch up alone. Just call me when you’re ready for me.”
“Will do. Hey, what’s Maria got planned? Maybe you guys can do something. She’s probably a little jealous of me hogging your time anyway.”
“I’m not sure what she’s doing—torturing my brother for the moment probably.” Sydney ignored Nicholas’s sound of curiosity. “It seemed she wanted to hang out with me today the last time I talked to her, so yeah, she’ll be happy about this.”
“I figured. I didn’t want to totally bulldoze her so I’m kind of glad this popped up. She’s got tonight only though, you’re mine the rest of the summer,” he said without a hint of a smile.
“No way she’d let you do that.”
“Like she’d have a choice. Anyway, can’t wait to see you later. Ben’ll drive you home.”
He kissed her.
***
Brandon sputtered his drink all over Nicholas.
“You’re kidding right? Sydney? Sydney Johnson? Sorry about that man,” he added as Nicholas stared down at his shirt, examining the wet spots. Nicholas recovered quickly, curious at Brandon’s reaction as they sat in the family room.
“Yeah, Sydney Johnson, what’s wrong with that?”
“I can’t believe this shit. You’re dating her now man? You’re actually dating her. Wow. This is fucking surreal. Wait till Winny hears.”
“Brandon, what’s the big deal? I don’t understand.”
Nicholas wondered if somehow Brandon knew he had been watching Sydney from a distance for the past two years and was just surprised that he had finally hooked up with her. What else could it be? Unless he just thought Sydney wasn’t good enough for him, a thought which caused anger to start rising in him.
Brandon looked at Nicholas.
“You mean you really don’t have any idea why I feel like we’re in the twilight zone right now?”
Nicholas felt a wave of panic, sudden, inexplicable, but he crushed it quickly.
“You’ve got me man.”
Brandon studied Nicholas’s face.
“I can’t believe you still don’t remember,” he said in wonder.
Brandon was watching him with confused interest now.
“Remember
what
?” Nicholas was burning with curiosity.
Brandon shook his head.
“A promise is a promise. And trust me, you don’t want to know.
Especially not now.”
Fear gripped Nicholas’s heart once again, and he dared not press.
***
“Okay, that was kind of weird,” Sydney remarked as she watched the credits roll, still slightly disturbed. She adjusted herself on the couch.
“Weird? How so? I thought it was kind of boring actually.”
Maria popped another piece of popcorn in her mouth as she untucked her legs and stretched them out.
“Yeah but, she fell in love with the man who killed her husband? Who does that?”
“Hey, stranger things have happened I’m sure.”
“Maria, falling in love with a person who was the cause of such great pain? I don’t see it, sorry.” She got up from the couch and went to turn off the television.
“Why didn’t Adam stay and watch it with us?” Maria said in a voice laced with babyish innocence.
“Stop it Maria. My brother doesn’t deserve to be one of your victims.”
Sydney started heading toward her room.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Sydney just kept walking. Maria got up and followed her.
“Why do you do it?” Sydney asked once they had reached inside her room and shut the door.
Maria appeared to consider her answer for a moment.
“I like the attention,” she said, shrugging.
“And where has that gotten you? Who do you want to pay attention to you most right now?”
Maria’s face fell and her eyes shifted.
Sydney felt bad for a second and thought about apologizing.
“No, don’t apologize Syd. You’re right.” Maria sighed heavily. “I don’t know what to do now though, he doesn’t want me.”
“Yes he does, I know he does.”
“But what good does that do if he won’t do anything about it? And I’m not going to make a fool of myself again, I won’t. At least I’ve got something to do—getting more clues in that case.”
“Oh yeah, you’re a hawkshaw now.” Sydney smiled. “So your brothers won’t be home this summer?”
“Sydney please. In case you’ve forgotten, two out of three of them are married with children. Men who are married, and especially those with kids, are dealing with their own lives and their own families. My other brother’s got a woman so to answer your question, no.”
“When last have you spoken to any of them?”
“Over the Christmas I guess.”
Sydney felt a wave of compassion for Maria.
“So,” Maria began, “are you going to tell Nicholas about...the incident?”
Sydney thought about it for a moment.
“I’m not sure.”
“Well, guess what—it took you nearly four years to tell me, it better take you about six to tell him.”
Sydney laughed, then decided a change of subject best.
“Still sure you want to be a photographer?”
Maria rolled her eyes.
“Not this again,” she said, as if to herself. “Sydney, leave it alone.”
“Come on Maria, we’re almost out of college and...”
“But I already told you where I’m headed. Do I hound you about what kind of lawyer you want to be?”
“Hey I’ve never
hounded
you about this. Furthermore, that’s not the same thing.”
“Yeah it is.”
“No it’s not.”
“Sydney, what kind of lawyer do you want to be hmm? ‘Lawyer’ is kind of vague—a divorce lawyer? Criminal? Business?”
“Not the same thing Maria!”
“Whatever.” Maria looked away.
“I’m just concerned for your future,” Sydney told her.
“Concerned for my future or your image? What, you don’t want to be associated with a measly artist? Someone who probably just doesn’t know what they want to do with their life? Oh, excuse me, I mean who hasn’t had it picked out by their parents?”
Her arrow reached its target; Sydney was stung.
She turned away.
“You’re right,” she said after a few moments. “I don’t really want to be a lawyer.” She turned back to Maria in time to see interested eyes look in her direction. “And I don’t know how to tell them.”
“Sydney your parents shouldn’t care so much that you don’t want to be a lawyer. It’s not like you want to be a drug dealer or anything. Just tell them. They’ll get over it someday. They’ll still love you.”
Sydney chuckled.
“You have a lot of faith in my parents M.”
“Why are you talking about them like that Sydney? I don’t get it—your parents are wonderful. Why would they stop loving you because you don’t want to be a lawyer anymore? That would mean they didn’t love you in the first place. And how could they not? You’re perfect.”