“Hello, Mother,” I chirp into the mouthpiece. “Let me guess…I’m getting my own secret service agent and we’re spending next Easter rolling eggs on the South Lawn of the WhiteHouse?”
“Shiloh Grace! What in the hell do you think you’redoing?”
“I’m sure you’ll tell meanyway.”
She lets out an offended squeak. “Three million dollars? Did you think I wouldn’t findout?”
“Actually, I counted onit.”
When I got arrested, Bianca created an unholy alliance with my accountant to “protect my interest.” The minute I authorized the bank checks, I had no doubt he’d notifyher.
“What do you think you’re going to accomplish by doing this, Shiloh? Buy his forgiveness? You can’t bring his sister back, youknow.”
“I’m not trying to do either one. Oh, by the way, I donated one hundred thousand to the American Cancer Society on my credit card. I told them I wanted it to remainanonymous.”
I can tell she’s hedging. There’s a moment of silence and then she asks the question as if she doesn’t already know the answer. “And thewithdrawals?”
I stare across the lawn and down an embankment where a group of people are standing in between a beach volleyball court and a waterslide. Cary is at the front, caked in dried mud and laughing in hisKincaid Krewt-shirt. His face looks happy. Smiling even. I hope he’s still smiling when he gets thenews.
“Shiloh?”
“I preserved legacy,” Iwhisper.
* * *
Although it’slate afternoon when the winners are announced and the closing ceremony begins, I haven’t moved from my spot. For three hours, I’ve watched Cary. Correction. I sat on the lawn and watched Cary with Taryn, who, for some reason, has shown up at the eleventh hour and makes sure to be front and center. Her leggings are so tight they look painted on her legs, and she has them paired with a white tank top with DIVA written in cursive across theboobs.
I’m not being a hypocrite. That shit istacky.
However, although it’s obnoxious, it’s not her outfit that holds my attention right now. After disappearing to rinse off and change clothes, Cary has come back and seems on edge. It’s obvious he doesn’t want her there and stiffens the minute Taryn walks up. When she touches him, he finds something important to do at another station. It’s fascinating towatch.
I don’t take enjoyment in theirbreakup.
That’s a lie. I enjoy the shit out ofit.
By five o’clock, nameless people are droning on and on about money raised, and I seriously begin to question my sanity in being here. I’m about to flop onto my back and tune out, when an over-caffeinated man grabs the microphone and starts announcing thedonations.
Uh-oh.
My eyes dart back to Cary. He’s paying insanely close attention, and my heart starts to pound. Although I had been adamant I wanted my donation to be anonymous and not mentioned, someone dropped the ball. When the man announces my obscene amount, Cary tilts his head back and closes his eyes like heknows.
Of course he knows. Who else would have that kind ofmoney?
However, to his credit, he never makes any other indication that he knows where the donation has come from. He just smiles and claps like any otherparticipant.
Wellplayed.
And with that, I’m done. This “good will” stuff has run its course with me. Let’s be honest, I am who I am, and willingly spending all day at a charity race is a big step for me. Normally, I just sign a check and bask in the publicity of the good deed I’vedone.
That’s anotherlie.
I don’t even sign the check. My accountant has the power to do that forme.
At this point, I’m kind of disgusted with myself, so I stand up and wipe the grass off my ass. I power my phone on so I can inform Bianca that I’m on my way home when a sickening feeling settles deep in the pit of mystomach.
The buzz. The energy. You don’t ever forget that shit. I’ve lived for it. I’ve built a legacy around it. I’ve learned to sense them before their feet hit the ground. Except I’ve been out of the game too long, and this time, I’m toolate.
I see the excitement flitter across the bored faces of the local news crews. Cameras hum to life, and field reporters smooth their hair in anticipation. They all have their quirky pre-live rituals, but every one of them are scrolling frantically through theirphones.
