17
Since Fitch's visit earlier in the week I was a little bit hesitant to bump into him. Still, I was sure he wouldn't make any attempt to do anything in daylight on the well-attended streets of Townsend, and I felt secure in making my rounds in town as normal. And because it was now irrefutable, even to me, that I had to come clean with Haven at the first opportunity, I decided to brave the odds. I realized I should probably also consider confessing to my grandmother, but I didn't want to burst her bubble quite yet. Besides, hers might need to be in the form of a letter sent after I already reached the safety of my father's house, depending on whatever "important thing" it was she had to tell me before I left.
I was determined however, the next time I saw Haven, to tell him the truth. I supposed even if he bothered to think about it for more than ten seconds, by the time he could devise a plan of retaliation I would have safely reinstated myself in Madison as the nonentity I knew how to be.
I passed by all the same stores and patrons I now knew well -waving to Grace at the dog-treat bakery and nodding with neighbors who were always far less motivated to nod with Nana- destined once again for the coffee shop with the prospect of finding Haven. He wasn't there, and Doug said he knew Haven was back in town, but hadn't seen him yet. I tried the park, wondering if he was walking Jack and spied Greenleigh next to the SUV parked in the street just outside it.
A small flurry of adrenaline went through me at the possibility of seeing Haven, before I remembered I wasn't supposed to feel that anymore. "Hi Greenleigh," I waved, "you wouldn't know where I could find Haven, would you?"
"Good afternoon, Miss," he answered tolerantly, "I always know where Mr. Casey is. It's my business to know." He paused for a long moment and I wondered if he wouldn't tell me more. Finally, he continued with, "At the moment, he is with his tailor and his brother at the Lodge. He does not plan to return to Townsend today." Greenleigh wasn't fidgety, had no expression of opinion or even inflection in his voice. "I am to meet him there in a few hours if you would like me to relay a message." He concluded.
"No." I shook my head, "No thank you. I'll probably see him tonight." I, on the other hand, was incredibly fidgety, and didn't know where to look. Greenleigh's impenetrable calm was terrifying and I couldn't begin to know how to conceal my nervousness around him. "It's about time this rain cleared up, huh?" I was exerting a tremendous amount of effort to sound blasé and he responded with a blank stare.
"As you say, Miss." He was nothing if not matter-of-fact. I smiled and started to walk away.
I supposed, if I'd been in Greenleigh's position and had to encounter all the idiots bound to be constantly in Haven's company over the years, I wouldn't bother with anyone's name either. Still, it stung a little that he maintained such a cold distance.
"Miss Tabitha," He called before I had completely turned, "Mr. Casey did ask me to tell you, if I were to see you, that he will be sending a car for you and your grandmother this evening at nine thirty." So he did know my name.
"Thank you Greenleigh," I replied, inexplicably relieved at knowing he could identify me. And then I remembered I was angry with Haven. He had a lot of nerve making any sort of arrangements for me like I was his pet. "You can tell Mr. Casey that we've already made our plans."
"Yes, Miss. Mr. Casey's taken the liberty of replacing your original arrangements with his own services."
He didn't leave much room for argument, I'll give him that.
I returned home, stomping peevishly into my Grandmother's foyer. "Tabitha!" Beverly's harassed voice called from upstairs, "is that you!?" There was the sound of running footsteps and she appeared at the banister on the second level. "Your hair! Your grandmother is beside herself! Hustle, hustle, hustle!!"
Having entered her dressing area and thrown myself into the nearest seat, I sulked, "Nana, did you know Haven is sending a car to pick us up tonight?!"
She spun on her stool in front of the mirror. "No! Really?" She smiled. It was eerie when she smiled. I didn't think the muscles in her face were used to performing the action and they looked out of practice.
"Isn't that obnoxious?"
"Obnoxious?" She turned again to the mirror so Marybeth could continue with her hair. "What are you thinking? If Haven –or any of the Casey's really, but Haven in particular– sends any kind of anything for you, to you or at you, you accept it with good grace."
"But we already had plans! Why would he think he needed to be so presumptuous?"
Laura, who sat in a corner awaiting the chance to exhibit her artistic makeup talents, exchanged expressive looks with Marybeth, standing poised over Nana with hairspray.
"Tabitha, when a man sends his car to pick you up, there's a good chance that he's letting you know he is desirous that you be somewhere and ensuring that you are doing so in a level of comfort which you may not otherwise have achieved."
I sat still, determined to maintain my sulk, and made a mental note not to speak anymore until spoken to. "Oh." I answered stupidly.
"Now go clean yourself up and let these ladies do their jobs before Michelle gets here."
It seemed every time I took my grandmother's advice, I was being transformed into some version of myself she preferred me to be. I showered and sat in a stylists chair placed in the center of the room while one pair of hands worked on my face, another on my hair, and yet two more on my hands and feet. On some level it was fascinating, but on a level much closer to my consciousness it was more like I couldn't help wishing I was able to stay home and watch movies in my sweats with a bucket of popcorn on my lap.
Michelle arrived, a little apologetic for her tardiness but carrying a new confidence I hadn't seen before. "Darling is on her way to start giving press interviews, and she looks amazing. So now I'm here to work on the two of you! Tabitha, I wish I could be there to see the looks on the faces of everyone else in the room when they see you. This dress was –well, it was literally made for you, and you're going to make it famous."
"Oh Michelle, not you. You can't believe that garbage."
"I've learned it's the garbage that matters most, dear. The trashier the better. But I would never make you trashy. No, never that! Go put on your dress so we can make sure it's perfect. Where are your shoes? Oh, there they are. Grab them, we need the full effect."
Just before Laura was completely done with my face, the doorbell rang and my stomach just about jumped out of my skin. Beverly had been shuffling around the house, trying to keep up with the pace of the day, and let out a shriek before running to answer it. Seconds later she was running back up the stairs and stood breathless in the doorway. "Mrs. Theodore, Tabitha, your ride is awaiting your convenience." She smiled sheepishly and winked in my direction.
"We'll be down directly." Nana answered regally, and enjoying every part of this occasion.
Laura finished and I walked past her to the window. I peeked out into the faded light at the Rolls Royce Limousine waiting below, and saw Greenleigh himself, leaning on it. He must have sensed he was being watched and looked up at me. He nodded politely and I backed away, embarrassed to have gotten caught.
"You'd better eat something." My grandmother said.
"Now?"
"You won't have a chance to do it once you're there, this thing doesn't have a lot of down time."
"But I've already brushed my teeth and my makeup is done."
"So you can brush them again, and have a touch-up. Or, you can starve. It makes no difference to me."
I turned to walk past her, if not to take her advice, at least to leave her presence. "Wait, what is that?" She demanded before I reached the door.
"What is what?"
"That necklace, where did you get it?"
"It was my mother's," I began.
"I know it was your mother's, where did you get it?"
"My dad gave it to me before I came here. I thought I might feel braver if she was with me tonight."
"Hmph!" She spun away again on her stool "be that as it may," she snapped, and then changed her mind "Well, just don't lose it. Those are the Theodore Emeralds. They're worth a small fortune. I thought your father would have sold them, but I'm glad to know he hasn't. They've been in your grandfather's family for fifteen generations. I'd much prefer them in your possession than anyone else's, I suppose. And they do look rather nice on you."
"Thank you?" I said, putting a hand to my neck, suddenly nervous.
"For what? I didn't give them to you. Now go eat. I can't have you embarrassing me with your stomach growling."