by Ashlee Price
I begin to unbutton my shirt.
"What are you doing?" Marian asks.
"I can't sleep with this on," I say as I pop off another button.
"You're not going to take your pants off, too, are you?"
"Do you want me to?" I ask her hopefully.
For a moment, she says nothing. She holds her breath as her gaze wanders to my crotch. Then she lets it out. Her gaze darts to the ceiling before she marches to her room.
"I'll get you a towel and a blanket."
I suppress a frown. "Thanks."
After a few moments, she comes back out and tosses them at me. I catch them.
"Good night," she says.
I lie down on the couch, spread the blanket over my body and fold my hands behind my head before sending her a smile.
"Good night."
After she disappears into her room, I turn on my side. This couch isn't the most spacious or the most comfortable, true, and I doubt if I'll get much sleep. But it's fine. Especially since I can almost smell her scent from the pillows. Besides, it's only for one night. Tomorrow, I'll be back at my apartment.
And Marian will be right there with me.
Chapter Fifteen
Marian
I expected Dustin's apartment to be huge. I expected chandeliers, a lush carpet and panoramic windows, maybe even the baby grand piano in the corner of the living room and the hot tub in the bathroom. I guess the 100-something-inch TV was a given, too.
What I didn't expect? A woman with dark brown hair sitting in front of it.
"Oh, hello." She turns off the TV and stands up when she sees me. "You must be Marian."
I don't answer. In fact, I say nothing as she puts her arms around me and grips my shoulders so she can press her cheeks against both of mine. The scent of her perfume drifts up to my nostrils.
That smells good. Smells expensive, too.
Is she... Dustin's sister? Dustin didn't mention he was living with anyone.
"I'm Candace," she finally introduces herself. "I'm Dustin's sister-in-law, the wife of his eldest brother, Sidney."
Finally, I find a bit of my voice. "Oh."
Just then, Dustin enters the room.
"I thought I heard another voice. What? Do you barge into people's homes now?"
Candace slips her hand into her pocket and brings out a key. "I didn't barge."
"You have a key." Dustin nods. "Right."
She leans towards me. "My husband worries about his baby brother, so..."
"I'm not his baby brother," Dustin argues. "And he's not the one worried about me."
"Fine. Mom, then."
Mom? As in Dustin's mother?
I throw a questioning glance at Dustin but he evades it.
"Why are you here?" he asks Candace.
"To congratulate Marian, of course." She puts her arm around me. "And to officially welcome her to the family."
I tuck some strands of hair behind my ears and manage a shy smile. "Thank you."
She catches my hand before I can put it down. "That's a beautiful ring. Did Dustin choose it?"
"Yes."
She smiles at Dustin. "Nice."
Then she gives my hand a squeeze as she gives me a wider, warmer smile.
"I'm so glad Dustin found you." She squeezes my hand slightly harder as she leans forward to whisper in my ear. "Don't you let him go."
I give a sheepish grin.
Dustin clears his throat. "Well, now that - "
"You're a doctor, right?" Candace ignores him. "Have you chosen your specialty yet?"
"Not yet," I answer.
She pats my shoulder. "Well, I'm sure you'll pick the right one."
"Dr. Hal Stevens is her stepfather," Dustin tells her.
At that, Candace's azure eyes grow wide. "No way."
"It's true," I say. "Well, technically, he's not my stepfather, but he was with my mother - "
She cups my face. "I am so happy to have you as part of the family. Please thank your father for saving my husband's life. My husband thanks him as well. The whole family does."
I think of correcting her because she said Hal was my father, but I don't.
"I believe Dustin already thanked him," I say.
Again, Candace puts her arm around me. "Dustin, you better take care of this young woman."
"I will," he promises. "Now, will you leave?"
"He can be rough sometimes," Candace whispers to me. "But trust me, he's all soft on the inside."
"Candace," Dustin announces, "Marian and I have a lot to do. She's moving in today and - "
"Oh, speaking of moving in..." She stands in the middle of the room. "The real reason I came was to give you both a wedding present. Well, after I congratulated you and all."
My eyebrows arch. "A wedding present?"
She slips her hand into her other pocket and pulls out a set of keys.
At first I think they're car keys, but then I notice that the keys are of different shapes and sizes.
My jaw drops. "Are those...?"
"The keys to your new house in Davidson," Candace announces. "After all, a married couple can't live in an apartment."
"We could, actually," Dustin says.
"Oh, don't be a party pooper," Candace tells him before handing the keys to me. "Every woman needs a home to brighten up."
I stare at the keys. "Oh, but I can't - "
"It's a gift." Candace closes my fingers so the keys are trapped within them. "From the whole Montgomery family."
"I know, but I can't - "
"Please." Candace puts her hand on her chest. "We really would love it if you would accept our gift. I know I would."
I open my hand and stare at the keys.
I still don't want to accept them, not when I know I'm only going to be a Montgomery for a year. But I guess Candace doesn't know that, and I can't tell her. Besides, like she said, it's a gift. A very expensive gift, but still a gift. It would be rude to refuse, and I don't want to be rude, not when Candace is being so nice.
"It's okay," Dustin tells me. "If you don't like the house, you can just return it to Candace."
"And I'll get you a better one," she says.
"Hey." Dustin puts his arm around me. "It's okay to accept it."
Right. It's not like I'll be keeping the house once Dustin and I are through anyway.
"Thank you," I tell Candace.
"You're welcome," she answers with a wide smile. Then she grabs her purse. "Well, I'll be going now. The two of you have a lot to do since you're moving into your new house and all."
She touches Dustin's shoulder as she walks past him.
"By the way, you don't have to bring much. The house is fully furnished."
Dustin's eyes narrow. "I see."
Candace winks at me. "The address is there on the keychain. Also, my phone number is on the fridge. Do tell me what you think of the house."
I nod. "I will."
~
What I think of it?
For one, it's huge. It has two basements - one a gym and the other for recreational stuff. There are two kitchens, too - a shiny, indoor one that extends into a more rustic outdoor one. There are also two dining rooms - one small and charming with a round table and a more formal one with a long table and chandeliers, which looks like it can also be converted into a ballroom. I'm not sure exactly where the grand foyer and the living room end or begin. Oh, and there's also a library with an office, a music room and a sun room. And that's just the first floor.
I'm assuming the second floor is mostly made up of bedrooms. The first one I visit is the master bedroom, given away by its arched double doors fitted with stained glass. Inside, there's a sitting area, a breakfast nook and a reading nook. Then there's the massive canopied bed atop a few carpeted stairs dotted with tasseled pillows.
I let out a whistle as I put a hand on my hip.
Now, that bed looks fit for royalty.
"Are you sure this house didn't used to be a king's reside
nce?" I ask Dustin when he appears right next to me.
"A king here in North Carolina? I doubt it." He touches his chin. "Though I wouldn't be surprised if that bed used to be in a palace."
I scratch mine. "Hmm."
"It's yours if you want it," Dustin adds.
I glance at him. "What?"
"I can sleep in one of the other bedrooms," he explains.
Oh, that's what he meant.
"Nah." I shake my head as I put my other hand on my hip. "That bed is way too big. I'll go check out the other bedrooms."
"Then you get first dibs. I'm going to go back downstairs and prepare lunch."
My wide eyes follow him as he walks out of the room. "You're going to cook? You can cook?"
"Yeah, I can cook," he answers. "But I'm not going to this time. I'm just going to make a few sandwiches because I'm hungry. You must be, too."
I didn't realize I was until he mentioned it.
"Okay. Maybe I'll help you."
"Nope." He lifts a finger. "I work better in the kitchen when I'm alone."
I stop in my tracks. "Oh."
I guess he has been alone for a long time, so...
"Go and find your room," he says. "I'm sure it will be a tough decision."
And off he goes.
I let out a deep breath. "Okay."
I leave the master bedroom and look at the other rooms.
There's the blue room with butterflies on its teal walls and royal blue sheets on its four-poster bed, which looks like the queen-sized version of the one in the master bedroom - smaller but still big. There's a grey room in shades of flint, charcoal, pewter and silver with a fireplace. I can already tell Dustin will like this one. Then there's what I call the citrus room dressed up in lime green, lemon yellow and orange. Pillows in the shape of fruits sit on top of the twin beds. I love how it looks bright and cheery. But maybe it's too bright and cheery?
The next room is an office, and after that is the beach room. I call it that because it has a hammock in addition to the bed - a waterbed - canopied in black mesh and also a giant sand hourglass. Surfboards and oars hang on the wall. Maybe Dustin will like this instead?
Or he might like this mountain room, which has a bed that seems to be inside a tent. It's got a fireplace, too, and a bearskin rug that I hope isn't real.
Next, there are identical white and gold rooms connected by a bathroom. By now, I'm shaking my head in disbelief.
Is this a house or a hotel? How many guests are we supposed to have? How many maids am I supposed to hire to clean this house?
Just the thought is making my head spin. Still, I continue. I'm down to the last two doors anyway. The first turns out to be another office or something like a study room. The next one?
I stand in the doorway as I take in the double decker beds against the wall, the colorful set of drawers, the pair of drawing tables, the whimsical bean bags, the stuffed toys, the hardbound books in the bookcases that resemble treasure chests.
A kids' room.
The corners of my lips turn up into a smile. At the same time, a lump forms in my throat.
I've never really thought about having kids. Somehow, I couldn't imagine me and Liam with them. Plus, I know how busy doctors get. Ironically, they get so busy taking care of others that they don't have time to take care of their own children.
Yet now, as I look at this room draped in color and whimsy, I can't help but imagine children playing in it. I can almost hear their laughter. I can almost see their messy faces.
I guess it would be fun to have children. And I bet Dustin would make a great dad.
That thought comes out of nowhere so I quickly shove it aside. Dustin and I aren't going to have kids. Our marriage will be over in a year. Besides, I'm pretty sure he doesn't want kids. Isn't a child a lifelong commitment?
So why did I think Dustin would make a great father?
"Marian!" I hear him shout from downstairs. "Lunch is ready!"
"Coming!" I shout back before closing the door.
And that's how this door is going to be - shut - because kids are out of the question. I have to accept that and I have to not be sad about it.
I turn on my heel and head downstairs.
~
"You know, maybe we should have intercoms," Dustin says as he goes through his second sandwich. "Unless you want to use megaphones or answer to whistles. This place is huge."
"Yup." I take a bite out of my grilled cheese and tomato sandwich. "It is."
"So, which room did you decide on?"
I pause. "The blue room, I think, the one with butterflies on the walls."
"And what do you think I should choose?" he asks.
"I bet you'd love the grey room or the mountain room or the beach room."
He chuckles. "Those all sound great."
I shrug.
He glances at the fridge. "Have you sent Candace a message?"
I, too, glance at it.
At first, I thought she meant one of the refrigerators in the kitchen, but I guess she meant this smaller one in the smaller dining room with the souvenir magnets. The piece of paper with her number is right under the one for Belgium, which features the Royal Palace of Brussels in a dark, chocolaty color.
"No," I answer. "I've only just finished my tour of the inside of the house, after all."
"Okay. Just don't forget, because if you do, she'll surely call me."
I grin. "The two of you seem close."
Dustin's eyebrows furrow. "Do we?"
I nod.
He shrugs. "I guess that's because she likes hovering over me, going maternal and all. But she's not even my sister, so I don't know why she's acting like my mother."
"Where is your mother?" I ask.
Finally, I have a chance to.
"She lives with Candace and my brother, though she has, like, a cottage of her own. She loves flowers."
"I see."
"Plus she had a stroke a few years ago, so living in a cottage is easier for her. No stairs and a lot of things are easily within reach. She can see the garden from her bedroom window, so she doesn't even have to get out of bed if she doesn't want to."
"That's nice," I say. "Does your father live there too?"
He shakes his head. "My father passed away a long time ago from a complication of the lungs."
I put my sandwich down. "Sorry to hear it."
"It's fine." He takes another bite of his sandwich. "I never did know him that much anyway."
"At least you knew him," I say as I grab my glass of juice. "I never knew mine. I don't even know if he ever knew I existed."
Dustin gives me a puzzled look. "Your mother never told you who your father was?"
"She did. But I don't know if she ever told him about me. She said he took off before she found out she was pregnant, for which she hates him."
"Did you ever look for him?" he asks.
"Yeah, when I found his name from some of Mom's old stuff. But by then he was already dead, so..." I shrug.
"Well, at least you had Hal."
"Yeah," I agree as I take a sip of juice.
I don't know what would have become of me if I didn't, but I know my life would be worse.
I steer the conversation back to the subject of Dustin's family. "Candace said she's married to your eldest brother. So you have other brothers?"
"I'm the youngest," Dustin tells me.
"Really?"
"Sidney is the eldest. He's a businessman. Then there's Arthur, or Art. He's the banker. And there's Greg, who's a lawyer."
"And you."
"And me," he says. "The black sheep."
I snort. "You mean the inventor."
Dustin shrugs. "Well, I did invent something."
"Don't you want to invent more?" I ask him.
"I tried," he confesses. "It failed."
"So try again."
"I'm still waiting for a bright idea, one as bright as the first."
I nod. "I see."
&n
bsp; So he doesn't want to fail again. I wonder if that's because he has such successful older brothers.
I pick up my sandwich. "Well, if I could invent anything, I would invent either something that stops time so I can get as much sleep as I need and be able to save more lives at work..."
"I'm a robotics engineer," Dustin points out. "Not a wizard."
I ignore him. "...or a machine that helps saves lives. Not like the one you made, one that could be used in hospitals to fight disease or get rid of tumors or repair arteries."
"Isn't saving lives your job?" he asks me.
"Yeah, but there's only so much a doctor can do."
We finish the rest of our sandwiches in silence. Then I break it.
"You know, this really is a big house," I say. "Too big."
"If you're saying it needs more people, I plan on hiring a staff," Dustin replies. "I'm surprised Candace hasn't already hired one."
I shrug. "Maybe she's trying to give us some privacy."
I regret the words the moment I've finished talking. I know what he's thinking now, and I find myself thinking about it as well and I blush.
Come on, Marian. Did you really have to bring that up?
"Actually," Dustin speaks up to break the awkward silence, "maybe this house doesn't necessarily need more people."
I look at him with creased eyebrows. What is he talking about?
Chapter Sixteen
Dustin
"You bought a dog - no, two dogs?"
Marian puts her hands on her hips as she stares at my newest companions - a chocolate Labrador Retriever and a German Shepherd. I've been waiting with them on one of the living room couches so that she would see us when she arrived home from work.
"I didn't buy them," I correct her as I pet the Lab. "I adopted them from the shelter."
Her eyebrows go up. "And now they're here inside the house."
I pet the German Shepherd next. "Well, they both look well-behaved, don't they? Aren't you, boys?"
"They're both boys?"
"Yup. This Labrador Retriever is named Truff. I'm guessing that's short for truffle. And this fellow here..." I scratch the German Shepherd behind the ears, "...is Cop, a fitting though maybe not so creative name for someone who could pass for a police dog. At least he could if he didn't seem so lazy and cowardly. He kept shaking in the car and whining whenever he heard a loud noise. Maybe that's why they left him at the shelter."