My Spy

Plain

I spend a few hours browsing the boutiques in town and I spend even more on my parent's charge accounts they have set up at the boutiques. I ran into a few acquaintances while I was strolling the streets and never once did they give me the pity look I've grown accustomed to receiving. They commented on how well I looked and I mentioned I had a new boy toy who I'll be introducing at Founder's Day tomorrow. Everyone seemed genuinely happy that I've managed to pull myself together and I hope Whitney and Jackson can see my pure, genuine bliss tomorrow. I still want their wedding to go up in flames but no one will suspect I had a hand in it if it seems like I could care less about them.

At my last stop, I push on the glass door that opens into a small bakery and I immediately lock eyes with the man waiting in front of the counter. Kennedy Carmichael has a small ticket number in his fingers and he smiles his creepy smile at me when he sees me.

"Is that Sawyer Sweeney?" He asks me, as he crosses the small space over to me. He's wearing a cream linen sport coat over a partially buttoned white top and he is exactly how I remembered- head of white-blonde hair and skin that the sun had a hand in wrinkling. His blue eyes pop against his tan complexion and his expression is always like he's listening to a fascinating joke-with a slight smile and eyes hungry for a good time.

I muster up a smile and reply, "It sure is Kenny. How have you been?" I ask and I hope he doesn't pick up on my fake friendliness. I try and keep my tone light, but now that I know there is officially something off about this man, I want to maintain my distance.

"I've been great! Just stopped in to Hollis for the festivities tomorrow." He replies and I feel his eyes run over me. I swallow hard, trying to shake my nervousness and say, "Should be fun. Always is. Where are you stopping in from? I think last I saw you, you and Simon were in New Orleans, right? Whitney and I had way too much fun at Mardi Gras that year." A memory must come to mind as Kenny smiles fondly and replies, "Yes, surprisingly I got a bit overwhelmed with the chaos New Orleans had to offer, so we've moved a bit closer to home."

"Oh, you are back in Hollis?" I ask him and he shakes his head, "Not quite. We live in Nottingham at the moment. I wanted to be closer to the gulf."

I nod my head, "You and Simon always loved to fish so that would make sense." He lets out a light phony laugh while he nods his head.

"That we do. We have a great fishing boat now. We try and get out on the water every day. Grill up fresh dinner." I smile as I nod along and I let out another phony giggle. Suddenly, the pinched, pity look I despise so much takes over his face before he sadly says, "Ya know, Simon mentioned your recent falling out with Whitney. It's a shame because you two were quite close. Where there was Whitney there was Sawyer." I slowly nod my head as I try and find something to say that won't completely bash his niece.

"Yeah, these things happen." Thankfully, Mrs. Wade comes out from the back with a large pink pastry box for Kenny and she smiles brightly when she sees me. Kenny tucks the box under his arm and bids adieu to Mrs. Wade. As he walks by me, he places his hand on my bare arm and says, "I'll see you tomorrow. I'm sure you'll look ravishing in your dress." He gives me a sly smile and goosebumps pop up all over my arm. I hear the door swing shut behind him and Mrs. Wade looks to me.

"Sawyer dear, are you alright?" I look behind me again to make sure Kenny is gone and nod to her. Him popping up out of nowhere is unsettling but I can't tell Mrs. Wade why. I shake the run-in from my mind as I approach the counter. I glide my eyes over all the sweet treats she has on display in a glass case. I pick out a few cupcakes and brownies and decide to bring some freshly baked bread home to Celia. I thank Mrs. Wade for the goods and she smiles back to me.

I try and keep my mind on the excitement of my new purchases but the conversation with Kenny keeps taking over. I try and memorize every word so I can relay it to Ryan later, in case anything will help. I hope he's not mad at me for talking to Kenny but there was no way to avoid him.

I grab all of my bags from the backseat and notice Austin's car is still in the driveway when I arrive back home. I'm slightly disappointed that I will have to wait until after hours to get Ryan alone to tell him about today.

I shimmy in through the front door, hoping not to knock into anything with my bags and I see my mother come into the foyer.

"Sawyer, what is all this? What are all these bags?" She snaps at me while I drop the bundle on the floor and kick the front door shut with my heel.

"I wanted to get some new pieces so I could toss my sweatpants. I've lost a few pounds these last few months, so I needed a few things," I reply back to her. My mother fingers through the bags and glances at what's inside.

"Well stress and a wine diet will do that to ya Sawyer," she says smugly. "But I am glad to see you out of those shapeless sweatpants. You'll never find a husband in those ratty shoes and tank tops." She runs her hand along my pulled-up hair and adds, "I also see you managed to use a brush this morning. That's a relief because I was starting to worry you didn't own one." I pluck the bakery bag off the floor and my mother follows behind me into the kitchen. I hand Celia the goodies and she immediately pulls the fresh bread to her nose.

"Ain't nothin' smells better than warm bread." I agree with her as I see Austin and Ryan coming in from the far end of the house.

"Where were tweedle dee and tweedle dum all day?" I ask. Celia shrugs but my mother says, "They went out on the boat today. Austin was going to show Ryan around the gulf a bit. Maybe do some fishin'." I watch Austin and Ryan stride next to each other, talking quickly back and forth while wearing serious expressions as they chat. They trot up the patio stairs in sync and Austin quickly whips the screen door open. He nods to me when he sees me, but quickly looks to mother.

"I don't think Sawyer should be walking around all gussied up." He says as he swirls a finger at my ensemble. My mother swats at his hand and I frown that he's still harping on me about my outfit. She looks to him as she says, "Austin, please. Your sister looks like a lady. And this lady needs a husband, so I am going to encourage her classier appearance. I don't want you teasing her." He glances to me but she adds, "The nicer she looks, the faster she'll find a husband and the faster I get this heathen out of my house." I scowl at her and she pats me on the shoulder as she walks by me to go back upstairs. I catch Ryan looking at me but he immediately shifts his eyes to Celia when I catch him.

"Ms. Celia, can you point me to the aspirin? My head's starting to throb," Ryan asks and Celia pulls a cabinet above the sink open. She taps two pills into Ryan's hand and he quickly downs them with water. He looks to Austin and says, "I'll find you later man. I'm going to go and sleep this headache off." Austin nods and we watch Ryan leave the kitchen. I turn back to Austin and he's suddenly glaring at me.

"Can you stop undressing Ryan with your eyes please? I swear every time I see you looking at him, I want to throw up. So knock it off."

"I am not! I hardly notice Ryan." I lie and Austin knows it.

"I'm serious Sawyer. Don't even think about it." He points his finger at me sternly but I just swat it away.

"I'm not." I try and convince him again but he just purses his lips at me.

"We are here for work. And he needs to focus."

"Austin, I'm not doing anything. Okay? I'm not trying to start anything." He looks to me and replies, "Good. Because trust me, Ryan isn't into you. He thinks you're a bit plain." My head snaps back and I glare at him.

"I'm not plain! And why was he talking about me anyway?" I can't tell Austin he called me a bombshell before ripping my clothes off in our father's truck just last night.

"I wanted to make sure you hadn't tried anything. And he told me you hadn't, but even if you had, he wouldn't go for it because he finds you a bit plain. Just sad really." I slug him in the shoulder but I know I will be bringing this up to Ryan later. He doesn't treat me like I am a bit plain. Or sad.

I snatch a brownie off the counter and Austin puts his hands in the air.

"And where are you going?" I stuff a piece of the brownie into my mouth and with my mouth full reply, "To be sad and plain in my room."

"Well don't be sad too loudly. Ryan is asleep next to you so don't bother him." I wave to Austin as I disappear around the corner. I am going to do the exact opposite of what he just told me. I am going straight to bother Ryan.