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Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
2932 Ross Clark Circle, #384
Dothan, AL 36301
The Lives and Loves of April Johnson
Copyright © 2006 by Eve Vaughn
Cover by Scott Carpenter
ISBN: 1-59998-124-6
www.samhainpublishing.com
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First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: July 2006
The Life and Loves of
April Johnson
Eve Vaughn
Dedication
To my group, thanks for all your support.
The Life and Loves of April Johnson
Prologue
My first reaction was to throw the envelope in the garbage, but
curiosity got the better of me. I opened it with an impending sense of
doom. My eyes scanned the metallic engraved card inside.
You are cordially invited to the tenth anniversary of the Class of 1994
Franklin High School Reunion. If you’d like to attend, RSVP Shelly Jenson.
Damn.
Had it been ten years already? Where the heck did the time go? It
seemed like yesterday when I’d walked the hallowed halls of Franklin
High. I didn’t have what anyone would classify as the typical high school
experience, unless being the object of the head cheerleader’s crazy
obsession was normal.
So much had happened since then I wasn’t sure I wanted to attend.
To be honest, I could have cared less about the majority of my
graduating class, but there were a few people I was curious about. How
had Rick made out? He had been the shy nerd most people made fun of,
but I was glad I got to know him.
I also wondered about the deranged Keely. Had they let her out of the
mental ward? Hopefully she’d gotten over her propensity for running
people over. Then there was Marcus. Lord have mercy, that man had
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taken me through so many changes during our senior year. First he
hated me, then he didn’t, and then…things ended tragically.
I clutched the invitation close to my chest and closed my eyes.
Should I go and face my demons or was it better to leave well enough
alone? Whatever my decision, I had an odd feeling that it would affect me
for the rest of my life.
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The Life and Loves of April Johnson
1. The Reunion
As I stood outside the old gymnasium, I debated whether or not I
could go through with this. I was so nervous I shook. I wondered who
would be here and how they would look.
I had no reason to be nervous. After all, I’d done well for myself. I
owned my own home, ran a successful catering business, had an active
social life, and didn’t want for anything. After ten years I should have
been over the old hurts, but they came rearing back as I stood in the
hallway of my old school.
Quickly, I dug into my purse and pulled out my compact. I dabbed
the small droplets of sweat off my cocoa-brown skin. Not bad. I’d
probably never win any beauty contests, but most people would have
considered me attractive, with large, dark, thickly-lashed eyes, and full
lips that would have made Angelina jealous. Sure, I could have stood to
lose a few pounds, well more than a few, but I was no Jabba the Hut. If
being short and pleasantly plump was the worst of my worries, then I
guess I was doing okay in the grand scheme of things.
I’d taken special care with my appearance tonight, with my black
Donna Karan suit that hugged my curves while hiding my faults, and
strappy black Manolo Blahniks. I’d gone to the beautician to get my
make-up and hair done, so I knew I looked my best. Feeling better after
that quick inspection, I stuffed the compact into my purse.
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Eve Vaughn
A wave of nausea hit me, and for a minute, it felt as though I would
throw up. After all these years, the gym still smelled the same—like dirty
gym socks and sweaty nut sacks. You’d think the organizers of this event
would have sprung for a nice hotel. What the hell did they do with my
two hundred dollar registration fee? Other than a few streamers, balloons
and a huge sign that read, Welcome Class of 1994, there was nothing
really spectacular about the decorations. Perhaps the money all went to
the catering.
I walked over to the reception table to sign in. Sitting at the table was
a rotund blonde woman wearing way too much makeup. Her face was so
round her eyes looked like beady little raisins. She reminded me of the
movie Big Trouble In Little China when the guy blew up so much he
exploded. Now, I’m not a small girl myself, but I can proudly say I haven’t
gained too much weight since I graduated high school. I think I looked
the same, except now instead of the braids, I had thin dreadlocks
halfway down my back, which I wore in a French twist for tonight’s
events.
I looked at the blonde, trying to figure out who she was. There was
something familiar about her. “April, is that you?” The voice sounded
familiar, but it was husky as though ravaged by years of smoking. My
eyes drifted to her nametag.
No way. It couldn’t be.
“Shelly?”
“Yes. How are you? You look great.” She smiled at me.
I wished I could have said the same for her. Shelly Knight had been
in the group I used to hang out with when I attended Franklin. She’d
never been particularly friendly to me, merely tolerating my presence
only because I was friends with the most popular girl in school. I
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The Life and Loves of April Johnson
distinctly remembered her spreading some nasty rumors about me when
I stopped hanging out with her crowd. I never really like her either.
She’d been the kind of person who thought she was entitled to
everything because she was pretty and her family had a little money.
Although Shelly and I weren’t particular close, this was my ten-year
reunion. People came here to make nice and pretend things were going
swimmingly in their lives even if they weren’t.
“Thanks, you look good too.” I nearly choked on my words. I’m a
terrible liar.
She beamed. “Really? You think so? I’ve been dieting like mad these
past couple of months. I lost twenty pounds and I’m quite pleased with
myself.” She patted her coiffed hair.
God damn. How big was she before this? I gave her my politest smile.
“Good for you.”
“Yes. Roger seems to think so too. He’s going to take me to Jamaica
to celebrate. It will be great to get away from the kids for a little while.”
“Roger? The kids?”
“Yes. We have three Yorkshire terriers. They’re our children, and they
love their mommy so much.”
She could have at least lied and said she had some human children,
then she’d have an excuse as to why she’d gained three hundred pounds.
“And who’s Roger?”
“My husband of course, but you’ll probably remember him because
he was on the football team.”
“Roger Jensen? You mean the two of you ended up getting married?”
I remember they were voted cutest couple in the yearbook. They had
been known for their volatile on and off relationship. Frankly, I was
surprised they were still together, but I guess toxic people attract each
other. I didn’t have fond memories of Roger either.
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“We got married as soon as we graduated college. It’s been bliss ever
since.”
“That’s great. So do you plan on having children in the near future?”
It wasn’t that I cared, but I thought polite conversation was in order.
Shelly made a face as though I’d suggested she eat a worm. “No way.
Kids would cramp our style. We have our babies and that’s enough for
us. Oh there’s Roger now. Come here, Roger, and say hello to April. You
remember her don’t you, honey?”
I turned around to see a tall, thin, balding guy with thick glasses.
This definitely looked like Roger, but different. He seemed—defeated. I
soon found out why. “Hi April.” He held out his hand for me to shake,
which I took.
“Hi Roger. I hope all is going well for you.”
I noticed he didn’t make eye contact with me. I wondered what was
wrong. “Fine,” he mumbled.
“Roger, how many times have I told you? You have to speak up and
stop slouching for Pete’s sake. That’s why you didn’t get that promotion,
because you walk around like Lurch. Go get me some punch!”
Wow. I kind of felt sorry for old Roger. It seemed like when he got
married, he not only lost his single status, he lost his balls.
“It doesn’t help when you’re always on my goddamn back,” he shot
back.
“Uh, I think I see someone I need to talk to. Catch you two later.” I
didn’t really see anyone, but I needed to get away from the Ike and Tina
show. It kind of made me glad I wasn’t married.
“Don’t forget your nametag, hon.” Shelly stopped glaring at her
husband long enough to smile at me.
I grabbed my nametag and hurried off. As I walked inside, I
recognized a few people immediately, but there were some people who’d
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