| Garrett barged into the house practically knocking over the maid dusting in the foyer. "Where are they," he screamed out as his long legs strode purposefully through the house. Voices rose from the terrace and he stormed out the back door and headed straight for Brian. He grabbed him roughly by the arm and dragged him to his feet. Colby let out a scream as Garrett tightened his hand around Brian causing him to wince in pain. "Let him go, Garrett," his mother's stern voice echoed through the air. His grip was firm and Brian could feel his lower arm going numb as Garrett's vise cut off his circulation. "Garrett, you heard me, let him go." Anger seeped from his eyes and his nostrils flared as he looked from his mother to Brian. A low guttural sound escaped his mouth as William came upon the scene and saw his son. "Garrett! Release him now!" he ordered. Reluctantly Garrett loosened his hold on Brian and stepped back. His gaze oozed hatred. Colby went to Brian. He nodded he was fine as he massaged his upper arm, the feeling beginning to return to the lower portion. She placed her hand on his as he rubbed his arm her other arm circling his waist. She looked up into his face and a weak smile played across his lips. He pulled her close to him. William looked from the couple to his wife. The remains of their lunch were still evident on the table. He shook his head. He should have known. Ever since Colby announced her pregnancy Catherine had become her champion. Not that before she hadn't been cordial to the girl, but now their relationship had definitely changed. He wondered how much she actually knew. There had been too many close calls over the past months and if he had to guess she had gleaned enough information to figure out his plan. "Well, well," William chuckled sarcastically, "isn't this cozy and a bit bold, Catherine. You obviously didn't expect us back so soon, did you?" His look told her he was disappointed in her part in Colby's defiance of him. "In our home, you entertain them in our home. She's been seen all over town with this two-bit celebrity, which is bad enough. Our name and reputation have been slung through the community gossip channels, but to blatantly bring them here." He shook his head again as he came around her and stood in front of Colby and Brian. "You're my wife,' he said to her. "You are supposed to stand by me, support me." "Not in this William," Catherine's tone was cold. "You are destroying three lives to satisfy your own selfish needs." Catherine went and stood on the other side of Brian. "I stand with Colby and Brian. And I will do everything I can to help them." "Father, let me…" William turned to his son. Garrett looked like he was ready to pounce. When would that boy learn that you don't win by hard nose tactics. You have to use honey to lure in your quarry. "No, Garrett. I've let you handle this long enough and you've not been able to accomplish much. It's time I took charge of this situation." William looked at the couple before him. The sight of them holding each other so close confirmed one thing. Garrett was right; they were too close. They were much too comfortable around each other and it was going to stop, now. Outside of her scream, Colby had remained silent. As her head rested against Brian's chest she could feel his heart beating. It's rapid pace matched her own and the baby was restless as well as it sensed her anxiety. The hatred on Garrett's face as he went for Brian had frightened Colby. If William hadn't arrived when he did she wasn't sure what he might have done. He was out for blood and watching him now, she could see his anger still seething within him. Why couldn't William see that there was no way she could align herself with his plan. He might as well kill her, because her life would end if she had to spend one day married to that poor excuse for a human being. "You know, Colby, when Rob announced his plans to marry you I was dead set against it. You were nice enough, but I had plans for that boy. But I could never convince him otherwise. He fought me on it until I finally just gave into him. I was hoping your marriage would crumble around him and he would come to his senses. However you both proved me wrong. What I thought was a mistake turned out to be the best thing for him. He thrived and so did the company. You were unconventional, not following the social norms of your station but he truly loved you." His words came out softly, and even toned. Colby knew he was leading up to his point and she waited. She had seen him in action so many times, that she knew exactly how he operated. Calm down your foe, let them begin to feel at ease and then come in for the kill. She would be ready for him. "The only thing missing from his union with you, was a child. I can't say I know why. Although I would like to think is was you and not Rob at fault." He glared at her. His remark hurt and Colby felt Brian squeeze her arm in comfort. "But here you are, with only weeks left in your pregnancy. And the unfortunate part is that Rob is not here now. He'll never see his son." Tears sprang to her eyes. William was doing a good job. She could feel herself starting to slip. She sniffed back the tears and stood straight. She would not let his scathing comments get to her. "William!" Catherine chastised him. "Why are you doing this? What good can from this unwarranted display of yours?" The edge in her voice told him to back off. "Yes, Rob is gone and none of us here are to blame for that tragic accident. You have no right to talk to Colby like this. Her heart broke that day just like yours and mine." Catherine moved to Colby's side and gave her a warm hug. She turned back to look at William. His face was a rigid as steel. There was no expression. What had happened to that young man she fell in love with? She would give everything up, the house, the money, the social position to have what Colby and Rob had shared and what she could see Brian wanted to give Colby as well. William waved his hand in dismissal of Catherine's words. "Maybe. But it seems to me Colby, you have hardly let the grass cover Rob's grave before you are in the arms of another man. Or could it be, he was always there?" He raised his eyebrows as he posed his question to her. "What?" Colby shouted at his accusation breaking away from Brian's embrace. "You heard me. Is the child Rob's or his?" William cocked his head in Brian's direction as a sly grin crept across his face. He looked at Garrett to see a pleased expression on his face. A stillness fell over the group and William's words seem to reverberate through the air. "Now listen here, Mr. Spencer. I don't know what you think you know…" Brian words penetrated the silence. "Brian please," Colby entreated, "this is between William and me." Her eyes implored him to let her handle this. "But…" Brian tried again. "I appreciate what you want to do and I love you for it, but this is my fight." She touched his cheek. His look pleaded with her but he could see it was no use. She would see this to the end and he would be there supporting her all the way. "How dare you. No one is safe from your despicable scheming are they, William? You malign my marriage to your son. You insinuate that this child I'm carrying belongs to someone else. You inflict the unwanted advances of a man I despise to satisfy your ego." Colby's voice rose as she boldly advanced towards him. "You alienate your wife so she has to choose sides. And you slander a man who you do not know, a man of integrity and principles. A man who has shown me kindness, caring, understanding and, yes William, love. A man who has asked for nothing in return. A man very much like Rob in his gentle manner. A man who opened my heart again, to love. A man who made me realize that I'm not replacing Rob, but starting new again." Colby turned to Brian. She went to him and he took her hands. The love reflected in his eyes gave Colby the courage to continue. She took a deep breath and could feel the baby squirm inside her again sensing the stress she felt. "You can't be serious," William sneered. "If that child is Rob's, you owe this family Colby." "If?" She screamed at him. "This child is Rob's." Tears ran down her cheeks now. "And the only thing I owe you are the rights as a grandparent. I will raise this child, not you. And I will not yield to your sick plan of marriage to your no account son!" Suddenly Colby doubled over. "Brian!" He was at her side instantly. "Take me home, please." The stress brought on another contraction and her abdomen tightened as it had the day before. As she breathed through it Brian whispered softly in her ear. When it finally subsided, Colby gave Catherine a hug. "Thank you for lunch." Colby completely ignored the other two men. As William and Garrett stood by silently, Catherine led them from the terrace. When they reached the front steps, Catherine hugged Colby again. "Are you all right, child?" she asked her concern etched on her weary face. "Yes. It is just Braxton-Hicks, but they feel so real. I'll be fine." Colby kissed her cheek. "Be careful Catherine. I love you." Catherine looked at her as tears welled in her eyes. "I love you too. You go home and rest." Catherine looked at Brian. "Take care of her for me." "Don't worry, I will." Brian helped Colby down the steps into the car. Catherine stood and watched as they pulled away. She hoped William would now leave them alone. Catherine was worried about Colby and the baby. This stress was not good for either of them and then there was… She knew she should have said something early on but everything was going so well and she felt sure that Colby's doctor would have detected something if there were a problem. Catherine just prayed that the next few weeks went by quickly and smoothly. Soon she would hold her grandchild. William was so sure it would be a boy, but a little girl was her secret wish. But no matter what, Catherine hoped the child arrived healthy. Colby deserved the happiness and thrill of holding her child in her arms. A few more weeks and it would be over. She went back into the house and up to her room. She couldn't deal with her husband and son right now. They disgusted her at the moment and she was tired. She was getting too old for all this intrigue. They needed to be taught a lesson and she needed to think before she said anything. They had to learn that they couldn't play with people's lives like chess pieces. It was going to take a tragic turn of events before they realized it. Catherine shut the door to her room and went to the lounge and stretched out. After my rest I'll think about all this, she thought as she closed her eyes. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Are you sure this is correct?" the doctor said as he looked at the test results. "Yes doctor. I ran it twice just to be sure." She knew he would not be happy when he saw them. "Damn. Why didn't we see this earlier?" He questioned the technician. "The baby was still too small and never in the right position until today." She offered as an explanation. "Still, everything should still be okay if you schedule the delivery and do a section so there is no added stress." The doctor nodded. "Yes. She still needs to carry the baby at least two more weeks though just to be safe." He checked the chart. She had about five weeks until the due date. "I'm going to consult with the head OB man at St. Joe's to get a second opinion but I don't think he'll refute this." He thanked the girl and left the lab. This was so unfair. It was a miracle she even conceived after all these years but to have this happen now. God it wasn't fair. As long as she continued as she was things should be okay. He tried calling her but there was no answer and he didn't want to leave a message. He prayed that Colby Spencer had no added stress to deal with because it could trigger early labor and he didn't know if the baby could survive the arduous task of being born. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ William retired to the study and told Garrett to join him. Even though it was only mid afternoon he poured a generous portion of bourbon into a tumbler and sat down on the leather sofa. Well that little episode didn't go exactly as he would have liked. He sat staring into the glass ruminating over the events of the last half hour or so. With Catherine aware of his intentions he would have to be extra careful. He looked up as Garrett came into the room. And he would have to curtail Garrett's explosive nature. He could only imagine what he would have done if he had not stopped him earlier. He doubted the child was the result of a liaison with Littrell. Leave it to Garrett to plant these seeds of doubt. Well a simple blood test when the baby is born will settle it once and for all. But he had to find a way to secure the child's place here. The child belonged in this house with or without Colby. Garrett joined his father with his own glass and settled in the large armchair opposite him. He could have finished Littrell off if father would have let him. Sent him scurrying with his tail between his legs right out the door. Well it was fine with him to be finished trying to cater to his father's wishes. Let him handle it now. He scowled into the glass and tilted it back taking a long draught of the whiskey. Of course Garrett knew that he would have a part to play somewhere in the scheme of things. He no more wanted this faux marriage to Colby than she did. He had to admit she wasn't his type by any stretch of the imagination; but maybe just once he would like to…" He was lost in his musings when he heard his father call to him. "Garrett! Snap out of it. We have work to do." His father began to tell him of his ideas for setting the stage to convince Colby that she had no choice but to give in to his demands. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ As Brian drove back to Colby's he held her hand tight. He was worried about these contractions. Normal or not they were taking their toll on her and he knew she needed to stay calm. That whole scene at the Spencer's was unreal. But there was one nagging question he wanted answered. He glanced at Colby. Her eyes were closed and he squeezed her hand. "You okay?" He asked as they stopped for a light. "Uh huh. I haven't had any more contractions. I'll be fine. I'll go home and put my feet up and take it easy for the rest of the day." She smiled at him and he kissed the back of her hand. When they got to Colby's house Brian urged her to go up and lay down, but she settled on the sofa in the back room and wouldn't budge. He made some tea and sat with her. "Colby?" She looked up at him as he massaged her feet. "Did you mean all those things you said today?" She put the cup down on the table and saw a look of confusion on his face. "Yes," a soft sigh escaping her lips. "I didn't want to face it before, but today when William said all those things I knew I couldn't hide from what I felt. It's been there for a while but I was too…ah…I was too scared. I've been fighting with myself. If I continued to carry a torch for Rob I would lose you and if I admitted my feelings for you I would be hurting Rob. It's kept me awake. I like you Brian and I want to keep seeing you. I'm not sure if it's love, but…" Colby stopped. Brian slid closer to her. "It's okay. Just knowing that you are open to loving again is a start. I won't hurt you Colby. I care about you too much. I'm not going anywhere. I told you that. I'll be here." He took her face in his hands. "I'll wait." His lips hovered near her mouth as his eyes searched hers. Colby slowly closed her eyes as his lips settled softly on hers. He kissed her gently, lovingly letting his lips linger, nibbling seductively. He left her breathless. He held her close and soon he could here the slow, rhythmic pace of her breathing as she fell asleep. Brian just sat and held her. He loved her. He was in love with her. And nothing or no one was going to take her away from him. |