Special Delivery (The Great Outdoors Book 4)

by Shayne McClendon

“None of this makes sense.”

  “The heart rarely does. Let’s take a gamble.”

  “I don’t…I’m not the gambling sort. I’ve always been steady. Not flighty like most girls. I think you need one of those.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll be flighty enough for both of us. Trust me. I know you know you can.”

  No woman should ever believe a man who says such a thing but Genevieve Smith took a chance on Spencer Bishop. She allowed him to escort her from the shop after she locked up and tended her aunt.

  He placed her hand through his arm and walked at a relaxed pace for her shorter stride. He continued to talk as they made their way across the city. Every reply came a little easier for her and every answer made him want her more.

  At the stoop to the Bishop brownstone, she tugged at his arm. “Where are we?”

  “My family home.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s dinnertime and you must be hungry. No better time to introduce you to my parents.”

  Barely audible, she asked, “What?”

  Turning, he smiled down into her face and lifted his hand to cup her cheek. “Tell me, Genny…what’s going through your mind right now?”

  “Th-that you’re too beautiful to look at so close.”

  “A woman has never called me beautiful. Thank you.”

  “Why me?”

  “Something caused me to leave this exact spot a few hours ago and walk without a destination. Something took me down the street with your shop out of the hundreds of other streets I could have chosen to travel. I noticed your window when I didn’t glance at any others before it. I walked into your store when I planned to hail a carriage to take me to mine.”

  He smiled. “And there you were, Genny. Lovely and well-spoken, demure. Concerned about propriety but not without a certain level of courage or you wouldn’t be here with me now. The same place where I started.”

  “I’m very confused.”

  “I imagine. Let me put your mind at ease.” Tilting her face up with the side of his hand, he planted a chaste kiss on her cheek. “Trust me once again, Genny. I won’t let you down.”

  She nodded slowly.

  Escorting her inside, Spencer grinned at Galen. “We have one additional guest for dinner.”

  “Very good, sir. Miss, may I take your things?” In a trance, Genny removed her gloves, hat, and jacket. The butler took them with a smile. “Your parents are in the parlor, Mr. Bishop.”

  “Thanks.” In the privacy of his home, he felt justified in taking Genny’s hand in his.

  He led her across the first floor and entered the sunny room where his father and mother sat on a small loveseat, talking softly with their heads close together.

  “Spencer!” His father said happily before his eyes went wide. “You’ve brought a friend.”

  “This is Genevieve Smith.” His parents stood. “My father, Andreas Bishop. My mother, Raisa Bishop.”

  “You are lovely, Miss Smith,” his mother said with a smile.

  “And very welcome here,” his father added.

  With a small curtsy and another mad blush, she whispered, “Thank you for having me.”

  Genny gradually relaxed and when Galen called them into dinner, she sat beside Spencer with a shy smile.

  “I won’t keep you out late but I’ll be by for you again tomorrow. And every day after that.”

  She laughed shakily. “Alright.”

  Spencer winked. “That’s the spirit.”

  * * *

  Within a month, they were husband and wife. Spencer hired a nurse for Genny’s Aunt and she insisted on continuing to work in the shop until the old woman passed away.

  For more than six decades, they loved one another more than they loved themselves. They raised their only son, Spencer Bishop II the way Spencer was raised.

  Eventually he met the love of his life in a similar turn of fate as his father and grandfather. The blissfully happy couple had a son of their own.

  It was another circle of happiness that made Spencer and Genny proud of the life they built together.

  In 1978, before his first birthday, Spencer Andreas Bishop III was orphaned when his parents were killed in a suspicious car crash that left him uninjured.

  Another car ran a light without headlights and hit them at top speed. Bystanders who rushed to the scene later reported a man dressed in black with a cap pulled over his eyes getting out of the car that struck the small family.

  He didn’t glance at the vehicle he’d struck as he walked away.

  Concerned with the mortally wounded couple and their baby in the backseat, no one in the gathering crowd thought to pursue him.

  In the middle of the night, Galen woke his employers with tears streaming down his face. “You’re needed. Dress quickly and come downstairs.”

  Then he raced back to the first floor.

  Spencer and Genny appeared in the front hall where Galen stood with two police officers. Spencer tightened his hand around Genny’s because nothing good came at such an hour.

  “Sir. Ma’am. I’m sorry to bring you such news but…your son and daughter-in-law were killed in a car accident.”

  Genny crumpled and Spencer held her up firmly. Through a guttural sob, he asked, “Our grandson?”

  “Their baby appears uninjured. He’s being examined at the hospital.”

  “We’re going. Now.” Genny barked the words and she wiped her face with a shaking hand. “Now, officers. Escort us to our grandson. Galen, can you drive?”

  “Absolutely. I’ll bring the car.”

  The trip to the hospital was made in silence other than Genny’s quiet sobs and the occasional moan of pain that escaped Spencer. They struggled to understand the brutal loss but neither was capable of speech.

  They held hands so hard their knuckles were white.

  His Genny jumped from the car the instant it stopped, running into the hospital. Spencer raced to keep up.

  The police officers caught up to her at the reception desk and led the way to a quiet wing.

  “We’ll have the nurse bring your grandson,” the older officer told them outside the door of a room. He cleared his throat. “Their injuries were primarily internal. They were pronounced when the ambulance arrived on the scene. The hospital moved them here for privacy, given your family name. We’ll give you a few moments.”

  “Th-thank you,” Spencer managed.

  “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  The men walked away and Spencer wrapped his arm around Genny’s shoulders. “Can you do this?”

  “I must do this, Spencer. I-I’ll never believe it otherwise.”

  He nodded and pushed the door open. He groaned at the sight of his beautiful son lying so pale and still beneath a white sheet, his gentle wife on the gurney beside him.

  “My boy…Spencer, our baby.”

  Gasping for air, he held her harder. “I…Genny.”

  They approached the couple who’d been so happy together, fighting to remain standing.

  Stopping at Adelaide’s side, Spencer stroked his hand over her dark hair. There was a vicious cut along her hairline but she was otherwise as lovely as she’d been in life.

  They whispered about how much they adored her presence in their lives, and left kisses on her forehead.

  Moving stiffly to their son’s side, they struggled to hold themselves together.

  The black hair he inherited from his maternal grandmother was sprinkled with glass. Genny picked it away as she sobbed brokenly. For several minutes, they stayed with him.

  It would be the last time they saw their child.

  Bending, Spencer rested his forehead against his son’s and whispered, “Your little boy will know the man you became, the man who made me proud every moment. You take a piece of me with you.”

  Genny took his place and cupped his beautiful face in her slender hands. “Since you were first placed in my arms, I’ve loved this face. Filled with such intelligence and clever wit.” She i
nhaled deeply to control her voice. “I will miss your face, your laughter, and the goodness of your heart.”

  She planted a kiss over each eyebrow as she had when he was a small boy. “Thank you for giving me so much joy and love. I’ll share it with the child you leave behind. Travel safely, my darling son. I love you.”

  Stroking her fingers through his hair, she stepped back and turned to press her face into Spencer’s chest. “It hurts. It hurts more than any physical pain.”

  “I know. I know, Genny.”

  The door opened and a nurse murmured, “Mr. and Mrs. Bishop? I’ve brought your grandson. He’ll help ease your sadness.”

  Genny moved around him and walked out into the hall. The kind woman placed baby Spencer in her arms and she held him tightly, kissing his soft cheeks.

  “We changed his clothes, ma’am. Ensured he didn’t have any debris on him from the accident. He’s been shockingly calm since he arrived.” She smiled at the baby and stroked his hair. “He’s lovely. Let me know if you need anything.”

  They thanked her and settled on a sofa in the small waiting area, focused on the little boy they’d been so happy to meet for the first time when he was born. Spencer and Adelaide were the proudest parents, over the moon with happiness.

  The doctor on call arrived to speak with them. “Your son and his wife died within moments of the collision. I’m sure the police will have more information but they didn’t suffer. It’s a miracle their son didn’t sustain a single scratch.”

  “I’m so grateful,” Genny murmured.

  “I’m sorry for your loss.” The man crossed his hands in front of him. “We’ll need direction as to final wishes.”

  Spencer swallowed hard. “Of course. Yes.”

  “I’ll give you time alone.”

  Stroking her grandson’s cheek, she said through her tears, “My sweet darling. I’m so sorry you’ll never know the amazing people who brought you into the world.”

  Genny bent to kiss his reddened cheek. “The ache of losing my own little boy will be easier to bear by loving you.”

  Every day they spent with the third Spencer Bishop proved her right. Their grandson eased the worst of their loss.

  It became their responsibility to hone his mind for the rigors of running an empire that grew daily. More importantly, to teach him the legacy of the Bishop heart.

  It was a lesson in which their only remaining heir would excel.

  Author’s Note

  Two years ago, I unpublished more than 75% of my catalog on Amazon. Since then, I’ve been steadily working my way through the original stories, treating and re-releasing them to my readers.

  I’m a better writer today than I was when I started and I recognize that I rushed out too many books close together in my efforts to establish my portfolio as an author.

  Lessons learned in my journey.

  If you haven’t updated books you purchased prior to 2014, I hope you’ll do that right now (calling and requesting a full “push” of all my books is fastest). You want the new editions (complete with all new covers) and I’d love for you to have them. Then sit back and read them again. If you enjoy what I write, please review me or tell a friend.

  Thank you for being here, for taking this crazy trip with me, and for your endless patience.

  Much love,

  Shayne

  About Shayne McClendon

  Shayne McClendon is an indie author most recognized for her premiere novel “The Barter System.”

  Also set in “The Barter System” world (and absolute must reads) are “Hudson” (book two), “Pushing the Envelope” (book three), “Backstage” (book four), “Liberation” (book five), and “Radiance” (book six).

  Other releases include “Yes to Everything,” “Completely Wrecked,” “Love of the Game,” and “The Hermit.”

  Shayne listens to the voices in her head because their ideas are (almost) always awesome. Those around her don’t question the crazy.

  Coffee consumption is too high, amount of sleep is too low, but the words always feel just right.

  Stop by her Always the Good Girl website for free stories!