The Ugly Truth (16 page)

But I knew he wasn’t. “I promise to think about it.”

He touched his lips to mine, kissing me with an intensity I felt into my toes. When he finished, he held me hostage with his gaze for an eternity that wasn’t nearly long enough. Then he turned and walked away.

My breath sucked in with a big whoosh of air. I grabbed a wall and leaned over at the waist for a minute to get myself together. I was here for Maddie, my good friend, who’d been there for me many times. Not to mention I had a job I’d agreed to for the local newspaper, and I should get my butt in gear and do it.

I had already decided to make a visual chronology of the event, so I spent the next few minutes rushing from the dressing room to the stage area, to the classroom that once again was converted into a second dressing area, and back to the stage. I documented the frenzy of preparation. Makeup, nerves, dresses, panic, shoes, and sheer exhaustion, I tried to capture it all. When one contestant broke down in frustrated tears, I quietly captured the event and then slipped away feeling like a voyeur.

Then there was the intrigue. The disappearing earrings, the foot planted firmly on an opponent’s long skirt, the glances one contestant kept giving another, glances filled with jealousy.

In spite of being witness to underhanded tactics, I was shocked to discover the night wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it would be. Except, of course, for that irritating man I couldn’t seem to stay away from. Every time I turned a corner, there he was. I could almost believe he was stalking me, except he seemed as surprised to see me as I him. It was more like some sort of perverse force that kept drawing us together. It took some serious effort to keep my mind on my job.

The opening ceremonies were over and the talent portion was well underway when I heard the sound of Butch Johnson’s voice. “Well, what do we have here? The famous photographer is slumming. Again.”

I took a deep breath and counted to twenty before I turned around. “What do you want?”

Butch’s lips pulled into a repulsive caricature of what he probably meant as a smug smile. “I brought a guest with me, somebody who has something to say to you.” He gestured, and a man stepped out from around the corner. “I poked around and discovered you had a brother. Interesting story he had to tell about you, and about how you left him.”

Everything stopped. My ears rang with silence while dark spots danced through my vision.

All at once the grip of shock fractured and my lips pulled into a big smile. I took a step toward my brother. “Brandon! It’s so good to see you.”

“Buffy.”

I threw my arms around his neck, closed my eyes and held him close. I was five when Brandon was born, but when I headed off to college he’d been an inch taller than me. Now, a decade later, I had to stand on tiptoe to hug him. I was so happy he was standing in front of me I was shaking. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed my little brother until now.

It took a few, elation-filled moments to realize he wasn’t returning my embrace. I forced myself to let go of him and took a step back. I looked into his sweet face, now thinner and longer and covered with five o’clock shadow. I would have been happy to just stand there and look at him for hours. “How are you?”

“Same old, same old.” He held my gaze, and I saw pain in the dark hazel depths of his eyes. “You know how it is.”

I swallowed so hard it hurt my suddenly dry throat. There was anger in his expression, anger he was certainly entitled to.

“Why didn’t you return my phone calls?”

He shrugged. “I thought you’d be too busy with your big important job.”

“I’m never too busy for you. Please, call me anytime.”

He just looked at me, his expression bland. Only his eyes betrayed the pain and anger I caused when I went away to college. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

The sound of footsteps caught my attention, and relief flooded me. “Maddie, Liza, this is my brother. Brandon, this is my good friend and roommate Madison and her friend Liza.”

Maddie smiled and held out her hand. “So you’re Brandon. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

His eyes opened in surprise for a second, then his forehead pulled into a frown. “Buffy talks about me?”

“
Buffy
?” Liza’s confused expression would be funny at another time. Tonight, it just seemed sad.

“Yeah,” Butch put in, “that’s her real name. And she comes from a trailer park in Alabama.”

I opened my mouth to correct him, but my brother beat me to the draw. “We grew up on Keller Street. It’s an exclusive upper class neighborhood that’s also known as ‘Snobs’ Knob’. Our mother and stepfather still live there.”

A harried middle-aged woman stuck her head around the corner. “Are you coming?”

Maddie’s eyes widened. “We’ll be right there, Mrs. Stoker.”

The woman disappeared, and Maddie looked at me. “They’re about to announce the winner. That’s why we came to get you, so you could take pictures.”

I looked at Brandon. I wanted to go somewhere and talk, but I had a responsibility. “I promised the newspaper I’d take photos. Their regular guy is out of town.”

Brandon shrugged. “Whatever.”

Maddie grabbed his arm. “Come with us and see the show. Then you and your sister can go out to dinner and catch up.”

He didn’t have a chance. Maddie was strong for an ex-cheerleader-beauty-queen turned reporter.

We trudged out into the audience and stood near the front while the emcee cracked jokes, gave out special awards, and finally got to the runners up. By the time Lavern Walker took the crown, the tension was pitched so high it should have been possible to strum it. When the new Miss Ugly Creek walked down the aisle, the crowd went wild.

I zigzagged all over the place, getting shots of the stage, the crowd, the emcee and anything that looked interesting.

As soon as the festivities were over I hurried back toward my brother. I looked forward to spending some time with him. It took a few minutes to slip through the mass of people to get back to the side of the auditorium but I finally made it. “Where’s Brandon?”

“He’s gone,” Liza said, frustration pulling at the corners of her mouth. “He was right beside me. I was watching the crowning, and when I looked back he was gone. She touched my arm, and I felt her regret. “I’m so sorry. I should have kept an eye on him.”

“It’s not your fault. He’s an adult.”

Wow. That’s something I had never actually faced. I guess somehow I thought he’d be a kid forever. Back there in Alabama waiting for me to come home and rescue him.

But of course he grew up without me, and had an understandable load of anger aimed straight at yours truly. Well, so be it. I wanted to apologize and try to explain myself if I could. I wasn’t at all sure he’d listen, but I had to try. I rushed through the building trying to find him, but both Brandon and that hateful Butch appeared to have vanished.

Eventually I was forced to admit defeat and headed back to where Liza sat and chewed on her lower lip. She saw me and rushed over. “Any luck?”

I shook my head mournfully. “Where’s Maddie?”

“She’s still looking for Brandon.” Liza pulled out her cell. “Maddie, Stephie’s here. She didn’t find him.” She closed her phone. “She’s on her way back.”

“I can’t believe he’s gone.” I hurriedly looked away so Liza wouldn’t see the tears filling my eyes. Damn! My brother shows up and then just as quickly he’s gone.

Worse, that Butch idiot was involved.

“I tried, Stephie.” Maddie hurried over to us, took one look at me and pulled me into her arms. “I’m sorry.”

I nodded, glad that after everything, my friend was willing to hug me and give me support.

“He’s around; he can’t hide from us. We’ll find him and lock him in a room with you so he has to listen.”

“Thanks, Maddie.”

We got in Liza’s Silver Lexus and headed back to Margaret’s house. As we went, Maddie kept glancing back over the seat. She was worried about me. Just a few hours ago she was treating me like dirt, but now she was worried. I’d be mad but I knew there was more going on here than just a girlfriend spat. Maddie, like me, had some deep-rooted issues. For her, Jake was part of the whole issue thing. For me, my brother was the symbol of all that had gone wrong with my life. We’d work it out, Maddie and me. Of that I was sure.

I wasn’t so sure about Brandon and me.

Two hours later I was sitting on Margaret’s screened-in porch, staring at the screen of my laptop—and the remarkably clear picture of a Bigfoot. Incredible!

I’d always quietly made fun of the whole Bigfoot hunt thing, thinking the creatures couldn’t possibly exist. After all, if something that big existed wouldn’t somebody find a body, or get clear pictures of one? Like the shot on my screen right now.

Maybe things like that didn’t happen because the Bigfoot creatures were smart and organized enough to not leave their bodies lying around. Maybe smart enough to speak English—which presented anthropological and physiological questions I didn’t have the background to contemplate. Is it bad I was kinda happy I didn’t?

It was obvious the people of Ugly Creek, or at least some of them, were being careful to keep the Bigfoot (Bigfoots, Bigfeet?)...hairy critters secret. Even as they held a Big Foot Festival every year.

I leaned back against the chair and sighed. Apparently I’d been right all along. It looked a lot like the festival was a celebration of the creatures. Likely the story about the big-footed founder
was
just a cover.

And that was yet another reason why the creatures remained hidden, there probably were towns all over the place that kept the Bigfoot secret and shielded them from the outside world.

Holy big hairy secret, Batman.

I looked out into the dark woody backyard, squinting hard, listening with everything I had, studying every tiny movement, every little noise. I longed to see or hear something that would indicate a creature that could not possibly exist, not only did, but might be just a few feet in front of me.

I wanted to see him or maybe it was a her. I wished I could talk to him, he seemed like a boy to me. I thought maybe I understood him, but what did I know?

I felt empathy for him. He was alone, different, lonely, scared, looking for his place in the world.

I realized I was crying and swiped at my face. Was I really feeling sorry for the creature, or was it myself I was crying for?

I forced away the pity party and sat up straighter in the chair. Good grief, I’d made a fantastic discovery and all I could think about was my own pathetic life. So I’d had it rough as a kid, I was far from the only one. Many folks had lived much worse childhoods than I had and still gone on to achieve incredible things. All that crap was in the past. I had to put on my big girl panties and get the hell over it.

I just hoped somehow the little brother I left behind would again be part of my life.

I heard footsteps and hurriedly clicked the Bigfoot photo off the screen.

Maddie opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. “How’re you holding up?”

“I’m fine.” But I looked down at my keyboard as I said it.

“You and your brother will work things out. I just know it.”

“I hope so.” The thought of Brandon had my eyes stinging again. How could I have gone away and left him there? How could I have left him to the monster?

But what else could I have done?

Maddie’s hand touched my shoulder, and then she was gone. She probably assumed I needed time to myself to think, that was my usual MO, after all. But for once in my life, I really wanted somebody to talk to. I wanted to open up and tell another person the kinds of things that had made me run as soon as I had an opportunity, and what made me feel so bad about leaving my baby brother behind. I’m not at all sure I could have given words to the nightmare, but I kinda wished this time she’d have tried to convince me to talk.

Of course I could have gone after her, asked her to listen. And she would have. I didn’t go, though. For the same reason I hadn’t said anything to her about the way she’d spoken to me earlier. I was scared. Yeah, that’s right, I’m a chicken. Cluck, cluck. I don’t have a lot of friends, not really. I have a lot of acquaintances; there are a lot of people in my life who probably would be my friends if I knew a damn thing about how to make a friendship work. But the honest truth was I was pretty lonely most of the time. I wasn’t about to do anything that would lose me the best friend I’d ever had, and hearing some of the stuff I had to tell might push her away. It wasn’t worth it.

At least that was what I told myself as I closed down my computer and headed upstairs. I had a busy day planned for tomorrow, and I needed to try to sleep.

As I stepped across the threshold, I had a sudden tingling feeling on the back of my neck. I turned, but I didn’t see anything in the trees.

Probably the Bigfoot, I decided. But that didn’t explain the warning claxon howling in my subconscious. When I got to the bedroom I looked out again. For a second I thought I saw movement, but then it was gone.

A chill washed over me. Something just seemed off. Oh great. Now I was turning psychic. Or paranoid.

Disgusted at myself, I pulled on an oversized T-shirt and threw myself into the bed.

****

It was so dark, even the faint light of the moon didn’t invade the space in which I lay. I felt for the sheet and pulled it over my shoulders. The air conditioner must be working well, because there was an actual chill in the air. It felt wonderful after the cooking I’d endured for the last few days.

Then I heard Maddie’s voice, quiet, muffled, coming from the bed next to mine. And I saw the briefest glow of a tiny light. She must be on her cell phone, I decided, as I yawned and pulled the sheet tighter under my chin.

“I can’t believe my own mother would lie to me like that,” I heard her say. “A boyfriend, at her age. What is she thinking? And working for Jake after the way he’s acted all these years. Liza knew about it, but she didn’t tell me.”

I stifled the groan as I rolled over and covered my head. She was talking to Greg, her mostly off again sort-of boyfriend. Personally, I didn’t like the guy; he struck me as an irritating toad’s behind. Sometimes, though, Maddie gave in to the urge to see him or talk to him. And I guess this was one of those times.