by Aj Harmon
“How?” asked Annie, skeptical of a plan other than her own.
“Well,” said Shelby, as she lifted Annie and sat her on the island. “What if,” she said as she jumped onto the island, too, “I stand up here,” she said as she stood, “and lift you up like this?” She lifted Annie into her arms, careful of the two pendants lights hanging from the ceiling, and maneuvered Annie into the air. Annie stretched her arms and then with a tiny ‘thud’ hit the ceiling with her hand.
“YAY!!” she exclaimed, as Shelby pulled her down to her chest and held her firmly.
“What are you doing?” Adam asked as he strolled into the kitchen.
“Touching the ceiling,” replied Shelby, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“I touched the ceiling, Adam!” Annie grinned.
“I saw you,” Adam answered. “It’s time for dinner. Want some chicken?”
“Yes, I do!” Annie declared.
Shelby handed her down to Adam who placed her on the floor and she skipped off outside for dinner. Shelby stepped to the edge of the counter and Adam reached for her and helped her down, her body sliding down his as her feet stretched for the floor. For a split second, their entire bodies were touching and the awareness of her filled every one of his senses. Before he was able to do something stupid, Shelby stepped away.
“So…was that your idea?” he chuckled.
Shelby laughed as she walked over to the stools, still stacked together. “No. I came in and she was trying to build a tower so she could touch the ceiling. I figured a controlled environment was probably the best way to give her what she wanted.”
“Good idea,” agreed Adam. “That girl is fearless and there’s no telling what stunt she would have come up with to achieve her goal.” And you don’t think you’d be a great mother? Adam was convinced of how wonderful she really would be.
*****
The next morning the sound of a car pulling into the driveway caused Adam to alter his route to the kitchen. He wandered down the hall and opened the front door. A young woman, in her twenties and blonde, bounded up to the stairs and stopped a few feet in front of him.
“Good morning, Sir. I am here to see Mrs. Elizabeth Lathem. I’m here from the hospital to check on her.”
“Hi,” he smiled. “Come on in.” She followed behind him as he walked into the small reception room off the hall. “If you’d like to wait here, I’ll go and find her.”
She nodded and stood in the middle of the room.
“Make yourself comfortable,” he offered and left her as he went in search of Beth.
Adam finally found her still in her room and she and Tim quickly made their way down the stairs and off to see the nurse.
“Who’s that?” Tyler asked Adam.
“Someone from the hospital. She’s here to do a quick check-up on Beth.”
“She’s totally hot!” Tyler smiled.
“Is she?” Adam asked.
“Oh, come on!” Tyler laughed. “She’s totally your type. Don’t tell me you didn’t notice.”
Adam grinned. “I noticed.”
“So, you gonna ask her out?”
“I don’t even know her name!”
“So?”
“Oh, right,” Adam grinned. “I forgot who I was talking to for a second there.”
“So…are you?”
“I…ah…well…”
“Are you?” Shelby asked, as she walked down the stairs.
Adam’s head whipped around to see her, her expression serious, her brows slightly lifted.
“No. I’m not.”
“Well, if she’s totally hot, why not?” Shelby asked, eyebrows raised.
“Because I’m not interested in her.”
“So, you don’t care if I, uh, walk her out?” Tyler asked.
“No, I don’t care,” Adam frowned.
Tyler left Adam to go and hover by the doorway to make his move when she was finished with Beth.
“Don’t do anything on my account,” Shelby said as she came to the last step, just a couple of feet from Adam.
“I won’t.”
Shelby drifted past him, her chin a little too high, her expression a little too tight.
She’s jealous! He grinned.
*****
“Everything looks good, Mrs. Lathem. The doctor wanted me to give you these vitamins and you’re gonna follow up with your doctor when you get back to New York, right?”
“Right,” nodded Tim. “We’ve already made the appointment.”
“Good,” she nodded. “Hopefully, you won’t need to come back and see us, but if you’re at all worried, you come right in, okay?”
“Thank you,” smiled Beth. “We will.”
Suddenly Tyler was there to walk the young lady out to her car, leaving Tim and Beth alone.
“I will not do anything to risk these babies,” Beth said. “I will climb into a bubble wrapped room for the next seven or eight months if that’s what it takes.”
Tim chuckled. “I don’t think we have to go to that extreme, but taking it easy is definitely a must.”
And they sat, side by side, rubbing Beth’s still very flat tummy.
19.
Realization
Shelby stomped along the sand, kicking at the water every so often as it rippled over her toes. “He can damn well go out with anyone he wants to!” she muttered. “Oooh, she’s totally hot!” she mimicked Tyler. “Well, go out with her then!” she continued her ranting. Fortunately there was nobody around to hear her.
After walking for several minutes, the tirade finally wore thin and a sense of calm returned. She turned around and retraced her steps back towards the house, stopping a hundred yards or so before the gate to the garden. Flopping down onto the sand, she looked up at the blue sky overhead. Laying back, she placed her arm over eyes, shielding herself from the bright sun glaring down on her.
She’d only been there for a few minutes when she heard someone sit next to her.
“May I join you?” Katy asked.
“I’m not doing anything,” Shelby replied, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice, but feeling relief it was only Katy interrupting her solitude.
“Well I don’t want to do anything either,” Katy laughed. “That’s why I want to join you.” She sat down in the warm sand. “You okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because I watched you stomping down the beach like you were about to kill something, or someone.”
“Nope! I’m just dandy.”
The tone of her voice said otherwise, but Katy let it go. “It’s been a weird week. Saying goodbye to Ray was…is hard. And then Beth and Tim’s news is so exciting.”
“And then there’s my news,” Shelby said.
“What news?”
“I got the email the other day. The email,” she repeated.
“What?” Katy exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell me? Say something?”
“With Beth and everything I…well, I didn’t want to rain on her parade.” Shelby sat up and brushed the sand from her legs.
“Oh, Shelby! There is plenty of joy to go around. So? Where are you going?”
“I’m not going anywhere. Isn’t that exciting?”
“Huh? I don’t get it.” Katy swung around to face her.
“I’m staying in New York,” she grinned. “Mount Sinai.”
“Holy shit! That’s fantastic,” Katy screamed and pulled Shelby into a hug. “We have to…you have to tell everyone!”
“When there’s nothing else going on.”
“There’s nothing else going on,” Katy declared, as she climbed to her feet, dragging Shelby with her.
And so another party took place on the patio of the Lathem estate that evening. Pulling out all the stops, the family danced and partied ‘til almost midnight in celebration of the wonderful news. Many family members expressed relief, now knowing that Shelby wouldn’t be leaving the city.
“You realize I’ll be workin
g one hundred hours a week,” she chuckled when Derek had talked about being able to continue his relentless teasing of his surrogate little sister.
“Yep, you will be,” Adam agreed with a smile. “But it’s all worth it in the end.”
Slowly, couple by couple, the family disappeared, calling it a night and returning to their rooms. It was just after one o’clock when the only ones left were Shelby and Adam. “Well, goodnight,” she said as she went to stand.
Adam grabbed her arm, forcing her to remain seated beside him. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, the hurt obvious in his voice.
Shelby shrugged. “There was so much with Beth and triplets and…and stuff. I didn’t want to ruin her moment.”
“But why didn’t you tell me?” he repeated.
She looked down at her hands fidgeting in her lap. The truth was, she was going to tell him earlier that very morning, but as she’d come down the stairs she heard him and Tyler talking about how hot the nurse was and she’d changed her mind. “I didn’t think you’d care,” trying to sound nonchalant in her reply. But even as she heard the words, it just sounded immature. Am I still in middle school? She rolled her eyes.
“You know that’s crap,” he called her out.
“Yeah,” she admitted. “I just hadn’t found the right time.”
Adam swung around to face her, placing his hand on her thigh, his thumb lightly caressing the soft skin of her leg. “Shelby,” he whispered.
“Can’t sleep. Gonna go for a swim. You guys wanna come in?” Tyler interrupted as he wandered out to the pool. He threw a towel on an empty chair and dove in to the cool water.
Livid with his brother, Adam stood, grabbed Shelby’s hand and dragged her around the pool and into the pool house, closing the door behind him. He pulled the curtains closed and turned on the lamp next to the bed, emitting a soft glow over the room. “Have a seat,” he instructed as he walked to the fridge and pulled two bottles from the shelves in the door. “Beer?” he asked. Shelby shook her head. Adam popped off both tops anyway and went and sat next to her on the small sofa.
“I figured you already knew, but I guess I should say it out loud and tell you.”
“What?’ she asked.
Adam took a long drink, stifled a burp and then said, “I have feelings for you, Shelby. I have for a long time.”
As Shelby began to speak, he threw his hands up in to the air. “I don’t want you to say anything until you’ve heard me out.”
She closed her mouth.
“Over the past few years we’ve spent a lot of time together,” he continued. “I guess, at first, we ended up together at family parties and stuff because we were close in age and had medicine in common. And we did…we do. And what may have started out as just a mutual interest, well, for me, has grown into much more. I like to spend time with you. I want to spend time with you. You are the last person I think about before falling asleep at night and the first person I think about when I wake up in the morning. And many nights I dream about you, too. Of all the people in the world, you are the one I couldn’t live without.”
As he took a breath, Shelby looked up at his face and their eyes met. He knew in that moment that she felt the same way, too. He knew beyond doubt that she was his future. Somehow he needed to convince her that she knew it, too.
“I love you, Shelby. I don’t expect you to say anything, I just want you to know that I love you and that I’ll do whatever you want or need me to do to make you happy. I see us growing old together, spending our lives laughing and loving and making a home and having a family.”
He saw it instantly…the panic that rose through her entire body. It was too much for her. She stood.
“No! Don’t go! I didn’t mean to…to scare you. We can take it as slow as you need.” Her shoulders dropped a fraction and he heard her exhale slowly. “I mean it,” he said. I’ll do anything you need. I am yours to command.”
The faintest of smiles crossed her lips. “You shouldn’t give me that kind of power. You might just live to regret it.”
“Never,” he exclaimed as he stood and faced her, their bodies almost touching. “Shelby, I’ve never told a woman I loved them. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. It’s almost frightening but it’s a good frightening,” he smiled.
“That doesn’t even make sense.”
“I know, but it’s how I feel.” Adam lifted his hand and gently cupped her cheek, then cautiously bent his head to hers and lightly pressed his lips to hers.
Closing her eyes, Shelby accepted the sweet kiss, but as Adam unconsciously pressed closer and nipped her bottom lip with his teeth, she stepped back and out of his reach. Then she turned and left him alone as she walked out of the pool house, around the pool and into the main house. He wanted to run after her, to make her stay and talk out her fears, but he knew she needed time...time to digest his revelation, and time to realize she loved him, too.
*****
Although he’d never said anything before tonight, Shelby knew that her relationship with Adam was more than just friends. As he’d said the words, they were somehow familiar to her, with her feeling the same way. Hearing Adam say it aloud, though, had made everything real and no longer deniable.
Adam was the last person she thought about at night. He was the first person she thought of in the morning. When something good happened, he was the first person she wanted to tell. When something not-so-good happened, he was also the first one she thought of.
But it was all different now. He’d laid his cards on the table and their relationship was forever changed. Unfamiliar territory was where she found herself, floating adrift in a sea of emotion. Emotions that ranged from flattered and validated as a woman, to terrified and confused.
After several hours of tossing and turning, dozing on and off, still tired but morning upon her, Shelby dressed and headed downstairs to the waiting bedlam for a cup of coffee. Amazingly enough, Ella and Cynthia were the only ones in the kitchen.
“Coffee, Miss Shelby?” asked Cynthia.
“Yes, please,” Shelby replied, slipping onto a stool next to Ella.
Placing the cream and sugar in front of her, Cynthia smiled as she slid the cup of coffee to Shelby and asked if she’d like some breakfast.
Shelby smiled and declined. “Where is everyone? Are we the first ones up?”
“Good gracious, no!” Cynthia laughed. It’s almost ten o’clock.”
“What?” Shelby was stunned.
“You slept in,” Ella stated.
“I guess I did.”
“Shelby, are you and Adam going to get married?”
She choked on the mouthful of coffee, sending her into a coughing fit. Finally, regaining control of her lungs, she wiped the tears than had run down her cheeks, and noticed Ella was still waiting patiently for an answer.
“Well?”
“Why would you ask me that?” Shelby inquired, curious what the answer would be.
“Mom and Katy were talking at the spa.”
“And? What did they say?”
“Adam has decided he wants you, but you’re too scared and they hope you can figure it all out because you’d make a wonderful mother.”
“Did they now?” Shelby didn’t know whether to be livid or amused. Deciding not to let the conversation go any further, she excused herself and walked up the staircase to take a shower.
*****
Adam had been sitting by the pool waiting for a glimpse of Shelby. He didn’t want to pressure her but he needed to see how she would react to him the morning after his honest declaration. Would she avoid him? Would it be awkward between them? He only had four days until they returned to New York and back to the hustle and bustle of regular life. He wanted to know where he stood before they boarded the plane for home. He wanted to know if she could take a leap of faith and trust him with her heart. The waiting was killing him and after an hour, there was still no sign of her.
Strolling through the French doors into
the house, he found Ella and Cynthia rolling out dough on the granite counter. “Cookies?” he smiled.
“Pie,” Ella answered.
“Yum,” Adam replied. “Have you seen Shelby?”
“Upstairs, Mr. Adam,” Cynthia said, never taking her eyes of the dough being stretched under her deft hand.
“Thanks,” and he headed for the stairs. Taking two at a time, he reached the door of the music room before he had a chance to formulate in his mind what he was going to say. But it wouldn’t have mattered anyway because the moment he saw her step from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, her wet hair clinging her shoulders, his mind went completely blank. He was unable to form one coherent thought.
He silently chastised his behavior. Three days ago, Shelby walking from the bathroom wrapped in a towel still would have stirred his insides, but wouldn’t have made him tongue tied like the long ago days of middle school.
“Uh, hi,” he stammered. She smiled and his knees weakened. He mentally cursed each one individually. “Uh, I’ll let you get dressed and then would you like to take a walk with me?”
“I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Adam nodded and left her as she entered her bedroom and shut the door behind her. “I’m a pathetic moron,” he muttered as he stepped off the bottom stair and walked down the hall to the library.
“I’ll second that,” Derek laughed.
Adam smirked. “Thanks.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m successful, not a bad looking doctor. I should have all the confidence in the world.”
“And you don’t?”
“Nope. Not when it comes to…well…nope.”
“Shelby?” Derek grinned.
“What? Why would you…huh?”
“Oh, come on!” Derek laughed. “It’s not like I don’t know.”
“But, how? I only found out a few days ago.”
Derek shook his head as they walked into the library and sat in two brown leather wingback chairs. “I know that we don’t talk much, other than about sports and stuff, but can I give you a piece of advice?” Adam nodded, so Derek continued. “She’s pretty much been my sister for the past twelve years and while we’ve never lived under the same roof for more than a few days at a time, I’ve gotten to know her pretty well. As awkward as it is to say, she likes you. You’re the only man she looks at as a man.”