Southern Comfort_Chandler's Story Read online

  He laughed. “Because we would never get out again, and I just heard John pull in the driveway. I know he’s okay with us being together, but I don’t want to make him too uncomfortable just yet.” He reached over and pulled the bathroom door closed.

  We heard John come through the door, up the stairs and into his room. He shut the door a couple of minutes later. Banton grinned and said, “Well, are you ready to get out? I can stay in here with you, if you want.”

  “Sure, but turn around.”

  “Killjoy,” he joked back at me.

  As he reluctantly faced the wall, I stood and wrapped the robe around me and stepped out on to the mat. Pulling the plug on the drain, I then turned back to him. He still had his back to me like a gentleman.

  “I guess John would be shocked to find us in here together,” I whispered.

  He turned around and looked at me. “Actually, no, he suggested I do this the other night. He knows just like I do how afraid you are to come in here after dark. It was traumatic for you, and it’s going to take you some time. We’re determined to help you, and do whatever it takes to get you through this.”

  “You’re too good to be true,” I whispered.

  “I love you,” he whispered back, as he gently kissed me.

  It took me an hour to finally fall asleep, but with Beau snoring beside the bed I felt safe enough to finally drift off.

  An hour or so later, I woke to the sound of a man’s scream, and someone beating on the side of the house. Then I could hear a struggle in the bushes under my window seat. I sat up in bed as Banton burst into the room.

  “Stay in here, Andie. I’m taking Beau, so lock the door,” he commanded, running back down the stairs. I jumped out of bed and flipped the lock on the door and shut the lamp off beside my bed so I could see outside my windows better. There was a draft by the window seat, and the cool night air penetrated my nightgown. Shivering, I grabbed a blanket off the bed, and sat down on the cushions to look out.

  Then my eyes focused in the dark, and I could make out Banton and John chasing after Beau, around the house toward the greenhouse and the alley where I lost them from my view. Five minutes passed, then ten. When the clock on my nightstand flipped over to twenty minutes, then thirty, I could hear voices and Beau’s bark. Having waited long enough, I couldn’t stand not knowing if the guys were all right. As I unlocked the door, I could hear footsteps on the stairs then a light knock.

  “Andie?”

  It was Banton’s voice. I threw the door open with relief as he pulled me into his arms.

  “What on earth is going on? Are you all right?” I pulled back and checked him over for injuries.

  “I’m fine. Someone was in a fight just outside the house. John and I chased one man. We…um…Andie, we found a body behind the greenhouse.”

  As the words began to soak in, I sensed flashing lights reflecting through the windows on my bedroom walls. He went on, breathless, “John and I continued to chase the other man we saw, but he just disappeared. Beau has been running in circles out there. Mr. Jackson called the police when he heard the commotion, and they are down there now, removing the body. They are finishing up asking John some questions, and they have the greenhouse and alley taped off.”

  My stomach sank. “All of this happened outside, in my yard?” I asked, beginning to tremble all over.

  “Yes.”

  Just then, more flashing lights intruded on our conversation. There were obviously more police cars arriving outside, and they were searching the bushes around the house.

  I went to the closet to get dressed. Banton stopped me. “Andie, you don’t have to go out there now. I gave them your name as the owner of the property, and they have my cell number, and John’s. They said they might need to talk to us all, but not tonight. They visited with Mr. Jackson too.”

  I shuddered as I heard the door slam downstairs. Then I heard John close and lock the front door, and come up the stairs. As the lights began to disappear, bit by bit outside the window, John came into the room.

  Banton turned to ask John, “Do they have any idea who he was?”

  “Maybe. Mr. Jackson came down, and said he thought he might be one of the people who just moved in our old apartment a couple of days ago, but he wasn’t sure. The police went to see if there was anyone home to identify the body.” John’s voice was shaky, and he and Banton exchanged a really strange look.

  John continued, “Well, I’m going to turn in. I double-checked the doors downstairs, and Beau is in the kitchen eating.”

  “John, you remember Chandler and I are going to N’awlins in the morning. Can you still take care of Beau while we’re gone?” Banton asked.

  “Sure. If you leave before I’m up, we’ll see you when you get back Sunday. Beau and I will be fine.”

  “Thanks, buddy.”

  “I think I’ll sleep downstairs again tonight, just in case…” his voice trailed off as he looked at me.

  “Good idea. Goodnight.”

  Just when I was drifting off again, Beau beside the bed, my door creaked open and Banton looked in. When he saw I was still awake, he softly walked over to the side of the bed. Once again, I drew the covers back, and he slipped in beside me. Like before, he was fully clothed, but as he slipped under the covers he pulled his t-shirt over his head, and threw it on the chair. He pulled me close to him, and the bare skin on his chest scorched me like a fire. He made no romantic moves, just held me close, and placed his lips to my hair. I turned over, and he drew me into him and we lay like two spoons, his arms circling me in a protective hug. I felt safe, but twice during the night, I woke when Banton got out of bed to go over to the window and look out, as if he was expecting more trouble.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I set my alarm clock for six but I was awake when it went off, having stirred when Banton got out of the bed. The spot where he had been was still so warm; I rolled over to lay there. I was so excited about the trip, it reminded me of when I was younger and we would get up early for vacation, except we weren’t going to the mountains, or a water park. Banton and I were getting away for the weekend together. I still couldn’t believe it.

  I rolled my hair again, and then brushed it out so it fell in full waves around my face. Much more grown-up than the pony tail, I thought. I decided on a simple, tight sweater mini-dress that draped off the shoulders, and grey leggings and flats. It was dressier than jeans, and I was supposed to meet Banton’s family. Butterflies erupted in my tummy…What if they didn’t like me? What if the sister he seemed to adore didn’t like me?

  There was a knock at the door, and Banton entered. “Good morning beautiful. Are you ready?” he asked me, smiling.

  “Yes. Do I look okay to meet your parents?”

  “Adorable, as usual. They will love you, just like I do.” He walked over to me, and put his hands around my hair that had fallen in a wave on my shoulder. “I love your hair this way.” Then he gathered it all in his hands, and drew me close into his lips. How did he do that? I had kissed a few boys, and been in a few really heavy make-out sessions with Cody back home, but nothing could compare to this. It was like I couldn’t stop – I always wanted more. I didn’t know if it was because I was so in love with him before this ever started, or if he was really that good at kissing.

  He drew back and sighed, “If we don’t get on the road now, we might not leave this room all weekend.”

  “Okay!” I giggled, and flopped on the bed.

  “Oh, no. Come on. I’ve made too many plans.” He pulled me up and out the door. As I crossed to the driveway, I spotted the yellow tape at the side of the house and shuddered. “Have you been back out there this morning?”

  “Yes. There doesn’t seem to be anything changed in the light of day. There was a police car still parked down in front of the apartment. I guess Mr. Jackson was right.” Banton shrugged.

  I paused as I got in on the passenger side.

  “Andie, don’t let this ruin our weekend. The po
lice will handle it. And John is going over the entire house to check windows and locks, and install some security lighting outside.” Before I could protest he shut my door and then rounded to his side of the SUV.

  Banton already had two travel mugs of coffee in the cup holders in the front seat. “It’s about two hours to my parent’s house, and my mom said she would have brunch waiting – is that okay?”

  “Of course. Where do your parents live?”

  “In a suburb of N’awlins. They moved back to our house there when dad retired last year, to be near me. They assumed I would stay in Louisiana when I got out of the military.”

  “Where did they live before?”

  “In Mobile. My dad has businesses in both states. They kind of bounce back and forth.”

  “Oh.” He said businesses. That sounded wealthy. I began to get nervous.

  “How old are your sisters?” I asked, as I glanced out the windows. The sun was just coming up, spraying shards of sunlight across the landscape. The moss in the trees sparkled with the dew, and fog swirled around everything like a movie set.

  “My oldest sister, Claudia, is thirty-seven. I’m thirty, and my baby sister, Julia, is eighteen. My parents were slow to decide about children.” He grinned. “I was such a handful when I was little Dad said it took twelve years for them to get the courage up to try again.” I laughed. I couldn’t imagine him being anything but the perfect child.

  “But I really think Julia was a late in life surprise.” He smiled as he thought of his sister. “She’s always been so bubbly, so happy, she makes everyone around her happy, too. You remind me of her sometimes.”

  “Oh great, I remind you of your baby sister!” I moaned.

  He assured me, “Not the way you mean. I promise.” He grabbed my hand, and flipped it over and kissed the back of it.

  “Tell me some more about your family. What is your dad like?”

  “A real family man. He lives for us. He was in the military when I was young, and when I was about eight or nine, he was honorably discharged and came back to Louisiana to run the family business. We lived all over the world when I was little. We weren’t back in the states in civilian life three or four years before Claudia was married. She and her husband live in Mobile, and her husband runs one of Dad’s companies.” Now it was one of Dad’s companies. This sounded even more intimidating.

  “Does Claudia have any children?” I asked.

  “No, and it makes us all sad she hasn’t been able to have children. She and Will have been to every doctor, done the in-vitro thing, and nothing. A year or so ago, her husband put them on a list for adoption, and they should hear something soon.” He smiled and continued “I can’t think of two people who would make better parents.”

  “Then I hope they get a baby soon. And Julia, is she still in high school?”

  “No, her second year in college. She’s taking some classes online; she graduated early in an accelerated program in high school.” He was obviously proud of her.

  “What about you? What was your major in college?” I asked him.

  “U.S. Military History and Political Science, and a double major in Foreign Affairs. I love history, I get that from my dad. I wanted to go into military intelligence, or maybe the state department.”

  “And then you enlisted?”

  “Yes, against my parents wishes. I thought they would be happy about it, but Dad wanted me to come to work with him after college. It kind of caught me by surprise. My dad was so proud of his service in the Navy, and he is really patriotic. He loves his country.”

  “Was your dad upset you didn’t go into business with him?” I was hoping there wasn’t trouble brewing on that front.

  “No, not really. He wants me to go back to school for my PhD and teach at the university level, or even Annapolis, maybe. And I’ve been working on it, but I’m not one-hundred percent sure I’m through with the military yet. I’m hoping to visit with him about all of that this weekend.”

  “Oh.” I sat in silence, wondering if I had the right, or if it was too soon in our relationship to ask him about his plans for service. I couldn’t even begin to think about us being separated, so I pushed it out of my mind.

  “So, enough about me. Let’s talk about you. I know you grew up in a Texas – what part?”

  “I grew up on the Red River, by the Oklahoma/Texas border. It’s cattle country…cattle, wheat and cotton.”

  “Small town girl?” Banton grinned over at me.

  “Yeah, how did you know?”

  “Well, you don’t exactly have city girl written all over you.”

  “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” I asked cautiously.

  “Good thing. Definitely.” He shot me the dimple. “I know you’ve told me you were an only child, and you used to spend your summers with Constance here in Louisiana?”

  “Yes. I loved coming here in the summertime. Aunt Sue and Uncle Lon would come to Texas and bring Cade, Constance, and Drew to see Maw Maw Irene and my parents. Then I would come back with them for the summer, and my parents would come and spend a week with them every summer right before school started.” This was the first time I had really talked about my childhood and my parents without crying. “We did that every summer until I was a sophomore. Then we only came for a week for a quick vacation,” I explained.

  “Why did you stop the whole summer thing?” he asked me.

  “Summer camps. Laurilee and I played volleyball, tennis, and I was a line captain in dance squad. We always roomed together at camp.”

  “Dance, like at football and basketball games?” he asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “I would have loved to see that.” He smiled again. “So, did you make plans for us to meet Constance?”

  “Oh, I forgot. I’m supposed to call her this morning, and let her know what time we will be there. She has some sorority thing this afternoon, but wanted us to meet her for dinner.” I checked my watch. “I don’t think I will call yet, though. She would just now be getting through her first REM cycle.”

  “Chandler, when is your birthday?” Banton looked over at me.

  “October 15th, I just turned twenty-two.”

  “WHAT? I can’t believe you didn’t tell any of us it was your birthday! I missed your birthday?”

  “I really forgot it myself until Aunt Sue called me that afternoon. The TV was sort of a birthday gift. Anyway, she knew I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, just get through it, you know…All the firsts are hard.”

  “All the firsts?” he asked, and then his eyes widened with understanding.

  “Yeah. All the holidays you spend after you lose…” I paused, and started to tear up after all. “All the firsts are hard.”

  He leaned over and cupped his hand around my neck. “I’m sorry. You’ll never spend another holiday alone, not if it is within my power to be with you. I promise.”

  We talked the entire trip. He asked me about my classes, about wanting to be a writer, we talked about my research, and I flipped open the books I brought with us and read to him.

  Before I knew it, we were pulling into the outskirts of New Orleans. The farther we drove, the larger the homes grew. Soon, the homes became estates, and I began to get really nervous. He slowed as we turned onto a wide, winding street with a beautifully landscaped median. He slowed even more, and then announced happily, “Here we are!” The long driveway wound uphill under a canopy of massive oaks. All I could see at the end was a large detached garage with five garage doors and a small red sports car and a Land Rover parked in front.

  My heart started pounding. The driveway had to be a quarter of a mile long, and then we curved around the last of the Oaks, and into the front of the expansive yard. It was totally shaded, filled with large plantation lilies and massive ferns. Tall, fifteen foot windows lined the front of the French country mansion. Turning the key off in the ignition, Banton turned to me and smiled. I GLARED AT HIM.

  “Why didn’t you tell
me you were sort of a Cajun Vanderbilt?” I demanded.

  “Sweetheart, it’s Coon-Ass, not Cajun. Some people take offense to the term Cajun.”

  “Coon-Ass sounds worse to me!” I laughed nervously as I looked back at the massive house.

  As we got out and started up the stairs to the walk, the massive leaded glass front door opened, and Julia squealed, “Bant-dweeb!”

  “Ju-bean!” he sang back. She ran to him and jumped into his arms the way I’d seen her do on the parking lot on campus. This time, I was happy about it. He swung her around once, and dropped her to the ground. She immediately turned to search for me. “This is Chandler?”

  He chuckled at her enthusiasm. “Julia, I’d like you to meet Chandler Collins. Chandler, this is my spoiled-rotten baby sister Julia.” He hugged her again.

  She shrugged out of his hug and bounced over to me, and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. Placing both her hands on my upper arms, she held me away so she could get a look at me. “You’re right, Banton. She is gorgeous. Man, will you all have some pretty babies!”

  I felt the blush creep up my cheeks so forcefully they had to be blood red. Banton just laughed and pulled me to him. She kept her hold on one of my arms, and just slid it down to hold my hand as she skipped along beside us. “You know, I couldn’t get a word in edge-wise the other day when we went to lunch. You are all Bant-dweeb talked about! I’ve never seen him like this.”

  “Okay, Julia, enough of trying to embarrass Banton. Save some of it for your dad!” A tall, statuesque woman who had to be Banton’s mother walked into the room as we entered. She was beautiful, and except for the shoulder length, bleached platinum blonde hair, was a female version of Banton. I mentally calculated, with her oldest child being thirty seven. But she looked nowhere near sixty.

  “Sweetheart, we’ve missed you!” She embraced Banton, glancing around at me. “And you must be Chandler. Welcome to our home – we are so glad Banton brought you home to meet us.”