by Myln Hurn
Rand groaned out loud. "Arrrgggghhhhh! Woman you will be the death of me!"
Phaedra smiled. "Is that a complaint?"
Rand looked at Phaedra and she couldn't miss the change on his face to complete seriousness. "Never, my sweet. Every thing about you, with you is perfect." He kissed her lips gently, almost reverently. "Now, I really need to get out of this position. I'm not as young as I used to be."
They put off their dessert experiment in the kitchen until Fernando and Carlita's next evening off.
They had been together three months, and Thanksgiving was coming up. Her aunt was talking about Phaedra joining them for the holiday. Rand hadn't mentioned anything about his plans, and she knew he had family that lived about an hour north of the city. On Tuesday, Phaedra called her aunt and agreed to join them for Thanksgiving dinner. She was sitting around, not doing anything except feeling sorry for herself, when the phone rang. She rarely answered it, because it was always for Rand. But she also couldn't help listening to the messages people left though.
"Hello, Rand darling!"
Phaedra stiffened hearing the woman's voice and the words she was saying. She turned on the sofa to look at the offending phone, as if that would make a difference. It didn't change anything, and the message continued.
"I hate your machine, Rand, but anyway… We're expecting you for dinner, on Thursday. I'm not assigning you any food to bring, because I know how you are. Now, we haven't heard from you in ages, so if you have a little sugar bun you want to bring, please do. Mother and Dad just want to see you, and they'll put up with whom ever you want to bring. We're eating at two sharp and don't be late!"
Phaedra turned back around on the sofa. If she'd needed proof of the shallowness and limited nature of her affair with Rand, she had just received it. He'd obviously not told his family about her. Granted she had not gone out of her way to inform her aunt and uncle, but she knew that through the business grapevine, her uncle had become aware of her new living arrangements. And when Rand had backed away from her family's business, she was sure her uncle would have investigated why.
She had managed to avoid seeing them though since she had moved in with Rand, and only talked with her aunt on the phone. And after all, they had asked her to intercede… She didn't think any of her family had really considered just how that intercession might occur. It had been stupid to think that just talking to the man would be enough to convince him to walk away.
Rand found Phaedra sitting on the sofa when he got home. He had run late and left a message on the machine for her to go ahead and eat supper. He was surprised to find her sitting in the dark. Turning on the lights, he caught Phaedra rubbing her hands over her cheeks once again. Rand didn't say a word as he came over and sat beside her. Her eyes were reddened, as was her nose from rubbing it. Obviously she'd been sitting here for some time, crying, by the pile of tissues she was trying to shove between the sofa cushions.
"Sorry the meeting took so long, honey. Have you eaten?"
Phaedra shook her head. "I'll make us something if you want. I let Carlita and Fernando off early." She stood up before Rand could reach her. "I'm sure she probably even left a few things to just warm up in the fridge. You have time to shower and change first if you want."
Rand was surprised at how quickly she moved. He stood and thought he'd go upstairs and get comfortable when he saw the light flashing on the machine that there were 2 messages. He hit the replay button. Hearing his sister Jeannie's voice over the phone surprised him. He had forgotten about the annual holiday dinner at his folks' house. There was no doubt that Phaedra had heard the message. She probably had taken exception to being called his "latest little sugar bun," but it seemed out of character for her to get that upset. He erased the messages, and walked out to the kitchen.
Phaedra was making a salad to accompany the casserole Carlita had left for them, which she had just put into the microwave for warming. She turned as Rand walked in. "I thought you were going to shower."
Rand nodded but came over to stand next to her, leaning his back against the counter. "You heard the message from my sister, no doubt."
Phaedra jumped a little at his abruptness, but she should have known better. Rand didn't beat around the bush about anything. She nodded her head and went on with tearing the lettuce.
"They want to eat at two, so we'll need leave around 12:30." He reached over and took a piece of the torn lettuce and popped it into his mouth.
Phaedra turned to look at Rand. She didn't want to lose her temper over this. "I already told my aunt I would go to their house for dinner." She sensed the stillness in Rand. She saw him nod and finish chewing.
"You accepted for us both." He spoke to her softly.
Phaedra finished the lettuce and picked up the remaining head and returned it to its container. Hoping to keep her calm demeanor, she walked over to the refrigerator and put the lettuce away. She took out some carrots, tomatoes and green pepper. Starting to chop them up, she shook her head. Out of the side of her eye, she saw Rand fold his arms. She sensed he was losing his patience with her though.
"I'm going by myself. I've not told my aunt about us."
"Us? You mean about you living here with me?" Rand watched as Phaedra nodded. He had suspected she was keeping their arrangement secret. But he didn't like learning that he was right. "Were you going to tell me about going to your aunt and uncle's?"
Phaedra turned away abruptly. She had added the cut up vegetables to the salad. She moved over and took down two plates from the cupboard above the sink. Rummaging in the drawer, she brought out two sets of cutlery. She set the table, finishing just as the alarm on the microwave sounded. She moved to take the dish out when her arm was grabbed by Rand. He pulled her around to face him.
"So you were going to traipse off Thursday, and leave me by myself."
Phaedra flushed. It sounded really awful hearing him tell it like that. True or not, it made her sound petty and selfish. "I would have told you… My aunt only invited me today. You called saying you would be late, and then I heard the other call. I didn't know it was your sister. She didn't say after all." She stopped talking abruptly, realizing how silly she sounded.
Rand stared at her down bent face for several long moments. It was as much his fault. It was a standing invitation for Thanksgiving at his parents. He should have told Phaedra about it weeks ago, but he hadn't. "What time are you due at their house?" He asked her softly.
"They aren't eating until late, around six. That's because Carter and Clarice are going to her family earlier in the day."
"Then let's drive to my parents, eat there, and then leave around five to get back here in time for your family dinner." He picked up a bite of carrot and fed it to Phaedra. "Did you happen to notice what else was in the fridge?"
Phaedra finished chewing and shook her head. It had been a sobering feeling when she first acknowledged that she didn't like it when Rand was upset with her. Not that his temper scared her, its just that he was usually so easy going, the rare times his temper showed made her wish to help him. She wasn't so foolish to think she could solve his problems, but she did want to ease his way. She feared that meant she was falling for him…
"No, I didn't notice anything in particular."
Rand grinned. "I asked Carlita to make us a chocolate cream pie. I thought it might be fun to check out that idea you had about kitchens and dessert."
Phaedra looked at Rand, grinning. It all sounded so simple when Rand took control of the problem. Of course, it didn't dawn on her until later, after a fun hour in the kitchen, that she would be meeting his family for first time!
Chapter 7
Phaedra looked over at Rand for perhaps the thousandth time since they had started the hour drive to his parents' house. She then asked him the same question for the hundredth time. "Are you sure we aren't supposed to bring something?"
Rand turned his head and smiled at Phaedra. This degree of nervousness in her was rather unexpected. He c
onsidered telling her that as far as his family knew, he was coming alone. He had decided the element of surprise would probably be the best approach today. Instead, he just shook his head from side to side.
"No, honey. My mom and sister take care of everything. We just show up, look beautiful and eat."
Phaedra couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't telling her everything, in spite of the almost constant barrage of questions she'd been asking about his family. She had learned that his parents, Robert and Jennifer, were both retired and living on a small, working farm.
Their younger son Roger, lived in the small town nearby, and he helped his father work the land when needed. Roger had been working with Rand's business until their folks bought this farm. Roger had then moved his small family north also, starting to telecommute into the corporate offices when needed. He and his wife, Carol, had two children, Randy, 16, who enjoyed helping out on the farm as well, and Lisa, 14. Unspoken was how difficult the move must have been on his niece and nephew, going from the big city, to the small.
Phaedra had asked about Jeannie, and learned that she was the youngest, and full of vinegar. She and her husband, Peter, had already been living here, on a farm that Peter had inherited from his grandfather. When the property next to his had become available, after some discussions, Robert and Jennifer had purchased the land for when they retired in a few years.
But Jeannie and Peter hadn't been able to have children until Jeannie started taking a fertility drug. And when she'd been put on bed rest at five months along, his parents had chosen to retire early, and begin living on the farm full time. That was so Jennifer could be close to her daughter. In fact, until the babies were three months old, the four adults had lived together. Jeannie had needed all the help she could get with the triplets, and the house. She'd given birth to the triplets two years earlier.
Phaedra shifted uneasily in her seat as they turned onto a gravel road that had his family name on the mailbox. She worried again whether she was dressed appropriately or not. Rand had said casual, but with men, casual could mean a whole range of things.
So she had gone with her gut instinct and was wearing a silk blouse in a soft-green shade, which highlighted her eyes. Her slacks and matching short-waisted vest were made of a matching shade but in suede and had splurged when she had seen that there was a pair of matching ankle boots. Her red hair was pulled back into an elegant chignon that formed a figure eight.
Rand was dressed in jeans and cotton shirt, with a sweatshirt tossed on the back seat for when it got a little cooler.
Phaedra was finally feeling a little more relaxed when they pulled into the front yard. Phaedra realized her idea of a small farm, and Rand's were obviously different. She could see at least four barns scattered on the immediate property, and the house was a huge, rustic styled log cabin. Off to one side of the property, she saw a large field, where there were at least twenty horses. Phaedra turned to glare at Rand, but he was already climbing out of the car.
As Phaedra watched, Rand was greeted with a hug from his niece Lisa, who was being followed by three toddlers, all with bright red hair. Phaedra exited the car, slamming her door. She saw a young man starting towards them, and realized he must be Rand's nephew, Randy. With one toddler in his arms, Rand shook hands with his nephew, and then turned to look at Phaedra. He held out his free hand towards her.
"Phaedra, honey, come and meet my nieces and nephews."
Lisa smiled shyly, immediately appreciating the stylish woman. It had been a while since she had seen a woman with such obvious town chic. Her brother Randy though, was staring with his mouth open. He was old enough to appreciate the womanly charms of his uncle's girlfriend.
Phaedra smiled in return. "It's really nice to meet you." She stopped as she felt hands on her pants leg. She looked down to see a red-haired little girl tugging on her pants leg. She was dressed in a matching pair of overalls, like her brothers, only hers was worn with a pink T-shirt. When the child saw Phaedra looking down, she raised her hands, wiggling them and spoke her demands clearly.
"Up! Up!"
Phaedra grinned down at the lovely little girl. She picked the little girl up, ignoring the muddy smudges on her clothes. The little girl reached out to pat her cheek when a woman screamed from the front steps.
"Tessa, no!"
Phaedra looked from the little girl to her mother. It was obvious the pretty woman coming towards them was Rand's sister Jeannie. They looked so much alike that it would be impossible to miss the familial connection. Jeannie reached them a moment later. She was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt.
"I'm sorry. Tessa doesn't know a stranger."
"Oh, no!" Lisa spoke up, more concerned about the incredibly chic outfit. "Tessie got some dirt on you."
"I'm so sorry. Let me take her, and we'll go up to the house to get that cleaned up," Jeannie offered in the next instant. She was going to kick her brother the moment they were alone. He hadn't said a word to anyone about this beautiful woman!
Phaedra shook her head. "No, I'm fine. And a little dirt never hurt anyone. If Rand can be brave enough to risk one of his silk suits for my kids, I can surely risk this old outfit!"
Of course, Phaedra's statement only raised more questions for Jeannie, but she grabbed her third child, placing him in a side hold, braced on her hip, she told them to come on inside. The redheaded boy just squealed with laughter as he rode his mother's hip. This was obviously a favorite game they played. Inside, Phaedra was bombarded with people. There were a lot more people inside, than what Rand had told her about. His father and Roger separated Rand from her, in spite of his best intentions.
Lisa had adopted Phaedra though, and started introducing her to all the friends, family and extended family that had been invited. Randy, at 16 years of age, didn't want to miss out on the opportunity of being in the presence of such a worldly, hot looking woman and quickly became plastered to her other side. But Phaedra was used to adolescents, as well as younger children, from her work at the hospital. Other than being a little overwhelmed by the number of people, Phaedra quickly felt at ease with Rand's family. And when it was time to eat, Tessa refused to leave her newly adopted parent, so they scooted chairs and moved her high chair in between Phaedra and Rand's.
Rand found himself only half listening to the people who came over to talk to him. His eyes kept moving around the rooms, until he'd located Phaedra. If he couldn't find her in the same room, he would move to the room she was in. He kept being struck by the strangest feelings every time he saw the both red heads, Phaedra and Tessa's, so close together. He was suspicious of what those feelings meant, but he wasn't sure he was ready to deal with it just yet.
But during dinner, he turned and saw Phaedra laughing at something Tessa had done, realization hit him like a landslide. He was in love with Phaedra! And in the next instant, he knew that there was nothing more he wanted in the world than Phaedra, and a child with her. For the first time in his life, he was seriously imagining being a father! He was not just thinking about getting Phaedra pregnant so she would feel obliged to stay with him. He was actually wondering about life with a child in it. Not just any child though –- it had to be a child that he had created with Phaedra. It was a very startling revelation, and he wasn't sure which was shocking him more –- falling in love or discovering his desire for parenthood!
After the meal, before Rand had a chance to intercept him, his father was asking Phaedra to join him for a casual stroll around the property to work off their meal. Phaedra nodded and Lisa took the unhappy Tessa from her arms. As they walked across the open front yard, there was a slight breeze, but it didn't really have any chill to it. Phaedra couldn't help but notice all the things that his father did that were just like Rand. And while she might have wondered about walking alone with his dad, the senior Mr. Scott-Thomas was the epitome of the country gentleman.
Phaedra enjoyed hearing about the different aspects of taking up farming at his age, and managed to ask some
very intelligent questions. They were laughing as they came back towards the house about thirty minutes later. Rand was standing on the front steps, arms folded across his chest. His father jested that it was a good idea they came back when they did because his son had the decided look of his prize bull defending its female.
In the car during the ride back into the city, silence reigned between them. Phaedra was trying to remember whom all the people were that she'd met. Rand was still trying to make sense out of his jumbled emotions. He jumped when Phaedra finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"Your family is incredibly nice."
Rand glanced over at her, and noticed the smudge on her cheek. It must have come when she finally had to let Tessa go, who was quite unhappy. Tessa, just like the baby Chad at the football games, had heard her voice when she returned to the house. She had immediately demanded a return to Phaedra's arms, and wouldn't be deterred. Tessa had been eating a piece of cherry pie though, and now Phaedra had a smudge of goo on that cheek. "You say that like you didn't expect them to be."
Phaedra shook her head. "That's not it, Rand. I just can't help but compare them to what we're going to experience at my aunt and uncle's. It won't be the same, at all."
"Should we stop at home, and change clothes?"
Phaedra chuckled softly. "No, you'll be fine, although I'm sure Clarice will note every smudge and wrinkle on me, and take great pleasure in pointing them out." She stopped abruptly, realizing how petty that sounded. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. It's just that Clarice can be quite a stickler for what she believes is correct etiquette and so on, especially for someone her age."
Rand reached over and tried to wipe the cherry smudge from Phaedra's cheek. "You've got a cherry kiss on your cheek, honey."
Phaedra laughed, and then lowered the passenger visor, using the mirror to remove the smudge. "Sweetest kiss I've gotten all day," she murmured softly.