| Brian drove a jeep. When he pulled up at the curb Barbara looked at Colby and let out a soft chuckle. Colby just glared at her. She had practically coerced Colby into staying. Going on and on about how it was tradition and didn't she want to tell the baby how he or she had been to the annual July 4th fireworks before they were even born. If Colby didn't know any better she would swear that Barbara was trying to play matchmaker. What did she expect? She wasn't ready for a new relationship and besides it wasn't proper. But Colby reluctantly gave in just so Jim could leave. As soon as the last explosion had dissipated, Brian left to get the car and told them to take their time and meet him at the front gate. So Colby and Barbara left the park with his parents making small talk as they went. Brian's mom saw their expressions when he pulled up. "Brian, why don't you take our car and we'll drive the jeep home." He obviously didn't see the humor in the whole situation. Colby just knew it would be a feat on her part getting up inside the vehicle. "No, it's quite all right Mrs. Littrell. We'll be fine." Colby wasn't going to let them think she was incapable of tackling this small hurdle. "Jackie. Call me Jackie. All Brian's friends do." She put her hand on Colby's arm in a reassuring manner. "I'll be fine. Thank you anyway, Jackie." Colby smiled warmly at the woman. Once they were settled in the jeep Brian asked Barbara for directions to her house. She had a hunch he would take her home first and she wasn't wrong. They didn't linger, just long enough to make sure she was safely inside. Barbara had only stressed about three times that Colby should call her. Colby just rolled her eyes and promised she would. The drive to Colby's took a bit longer. She was just outside the city limits and not far from where Brian had purchased the old horse farm. Neither said much and after a while the silence was deafening. Colby seemed a bit tongue-tied not knowing what to say and the baby was very restless. She shifted in her seat a few times and Brian glanced her way. "Are you okay?" he looked at her with deep concern written on his face. "Yes. It's the baby, probably too much excitement." She rubbed her hand across her stomach in slow, smooth strokes. "I just need some rest." As she raised her eyes to meet his she felt that tightness in her chest. They turned onto a tree lined drive and Colby directed Brian to the house. He pulled up the driveway and stopped the car. "Thank you." Colby unbuckled the seat belt and went to open the door. "No you don't. Let me help you." Brian opened the door and came around the car. He opened the door for her and went to take her hand. "I can manage, really." Colby protested as she turned to step down out of the car. Brian backed up a bit but Colby lost her footing and slipped slightly and Brian reached out and caught her under her arms and held her tight. Their eyes met and neither one moved. Her lips were parted ever so slightly and he could feel her warm breath on his face as it came out in short measures. Brian leaned in slightly, never taking his eyes from her. As his hand came up to touch her cheek and draw her closer, he felt a strong jolt to his stomach. Until that moment Colby had been lost in the depths of his azure gaze. The baby kicking brought her back to reality. Brian let out a chuckle and Colby stepped back embarrassed. She couldn't deny that she liked his arms around her and if she didn't know better she would have sworn he would have kissed her if the baby hadn't moved. She couldn't think clearly when he was around and it was too soon to even think of a new relationship. "Sorry about that. I think he or she is telling me something. I need some rest. Thank you for the ride home." Colby turned and proceeded to the door. "Colby!" Brian called out and came towards her. She just glowed in the dim light and yet he could see that she was tired. Brian hesitated. His emotions were just as confused as Colby's. "Goodnight." "Goodnight. Thanks again." She put her key in the door and was gone. Brian walked slowly back to the jeep. He watched as a light came on in a room on the second floor. He saw a shadow pass in front of the window. He sighed and got in the car. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Colby entered the house never looking back. She made her way as quickly as she could to the second floor and her bedroom trying to put as much distance between her and the young man in the driveway. She felt like her nerves were raw endings. What was he doing to her? She could still feel his arms wrapped loosely around her and she wanted more. She passed in front of the window and saw Brian look up. She stepped back and watched as he backed down the drive and took off down the street. Her heart was still pounding softly in her breast and she just knew at this moment that her blood pressure was much higher than her doctor would want. She sat for a moment in the rocking chair near the window breathing slowly as she tried to calm down. The baby's movements had quieted down too. She needed to remember that the baby was her first concern not her needs or wants. She was bound and determined to carry this child to term and deliver a health baby, Rob's baby. Suddenly tears welled in her eyes. Rob, oh how she missed him. How she longed to have his arms around her and hold her close and make love to her. She had worked so hard to suppress those yearnings and now this encounter with Brian had reawakened them. As she sat there rocking slowly she could still see his face, his eyes penetrating her. She didn't want to admit it but Colby wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to feel something again. She wanted to be held and kissed and made love to again. She missed it. She missed the closeness of lying in Rob's arms after they made love. The softness of his hands as he would caress her, while he kissed her softly. She ached for him. Her tears fell again as she mourned her loss all over again. As she sat there rocking slowly memories of their nights together came flooding back. She sobbed knowing they were all she had now. Her future was the baby and she would do whatever it took to be sure this child arrived healthy. Colby wiped her eyes and shook off these painful feelings. She took her nightgown and flipped on the TV as she went into the bathroom. As she gathered her clothes and opened the bathroom door the phone rang. Probably Barbara, Colby thought. She went to the bedside table. "Hello." "Colby, turn to Channel 10 on the TV now!" Barbara said through gasps of breath. "Why? What's going on?" Colby asked as she took the remote and switched the stations. Before Barbara could reply, Colby let out a gasp too. There on the screen was Brian's face. She turned up the volume. "Littrell has purchased a 35 acre horse farm north of Lexington in Fayette County. Best known as a member of the popular Backstreet Boys, sources say he wants to settle back in his home state. He and his cousin, fellow Kentuckian Kevin Richardson, along with band mates Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and A. J. McLean have been serenading teeny boppers for the last nine years with hits such as Quit Playing Games With My Heart, As Long As You Love Me and probably their biggest hit that even captured an adult audience, I Want It That Way. Littrell could not be reached for comment." File photos of the group and Brian flashed across the screen as the reporter spoke. Colby sat and watched numbed by the images before her. "Colby, are you there?" Barbara asked anxiously. All she could hear was breathing on the other end of the phone. "Yes. I'm here." Colby said as she sat staring at the screen. "I knew he looked familiar. I just couldn't place him, Colby." Barbara rambled on. "Uh huh." Colby said absently. A new story began and the pictures on the screen changed. Colby just stared into space. "So," Barbara continued, "what happened after you dropped me off?" There was no answer. "Colby? What happened?" Still silence. "Colby!" "What? I'm sorry I didn't hear you." She blinked a few times still not sure what to make of this news. "When Brian took you home, what happened?" Barbara reiterated for the third time. Absently Colby said, "He almost kissed me, Barbara and I wanted him to. He's got me all turned around. Feeling things I shouldn't. It's not right. I had just begun to move beyond the ache of not having Rob here at night and now all those desires have come to the surface again. I've the baby to consider. I can't worry about how he affects me. I just can't see him any more, even if I want to. Besides, Rob's only been gone five months. How would it look being seen with someone so soon? People will talk and I can't have that. I've suffered one tirade from Garrett and I will not subject the baby or me to his wrath again. This baby means more to me than anything else." She took a breath as she moved and sat in the rocking chair running her hand over her stomach. "I understand your concern for the baby, Colby, but what about you? What about what you need?" Barbara wished she were there to help her see she needed to think of herself too. "Don't throw away an opportunity because it will upset Garrett or the Spencers, to hell with them all. This is your life we're talking about." Barbara's voice grew louder and Colby laughed at her. "Calm down. You don't have to yell. I know it's my life, but Barbara I'm not ready. I don't care what Garrett or William think. I can deal with them and their meddling and scheming. I can't do this to Rob. Yes I wanted to be kissed but it was just because I miss Rob not because I have feelings for Brian. I don't know him." "So get to know him, even…" Colby went to interrupt, but Barbara continued on not missing a beat, "even if just as friends. Who knows what can happen. Look he's young, gorgeous and he likes you. What more could a girl want?" Barbara cajoled. "Love, Barbara, love. I've had the love of my life. I don't expect it to happen again." Colby stifled a yawn. "All right I'll let you sleep but who says you can't have another great love. Don't close this door, Colby." Barbara persisted. "And what about the baby, Barbara?" Barbara could see she wasn't going to back down on this. "Colby he tried to kiss you and your six months pregnant. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Look all I'm saying is don't just walk away from the possibility. You know what they say; when God closes a door he opens a window. Well this may be that golden opportunity. You get some sleep and we'll talk tomorrow." "I'll still feel the same way tomorrow, Barbara. You're a good friend, a bit pushy at times, but a good friend. Goodnight." "Goodnight. Just think about it okay?" "Okay. Bye." Colby hung up the phone and leisurely rocked back and forth for a while. You can't make love happen. If the spark is there, well then it will grow. Brian seemed nice enough, but love? She got into bed, getting comfortable. There was just one nagging thought though. If she didn't have any feelings for him, why was she so flustered when he was around? It was one question Colby didn't have any answer for. The baby moved and Colby gently rubbed her hand over her abdomen. "Don't worry little one. You are mommy's number one priority, everything else is unimportant." She closed her eyes and as sleep overtook her, blue eyes smiled at her. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Brian parked the jeep at the back of the house and sat there. What had possessed him? He almost kissed her. It was so unlike him. Mr. Slowpoke when it came to getting close to girls. It usually took him a long while to take that first step. So why he felt so inclined tonight baffled him. He hardly knew her, but she'd been in his thoughts for weeks now. He couldn't get her out of his mind and then tonight as she stood in his arms he lost all rational thought. If the baby hadn't kicked, he may have made a fool of himself. Lucky someone was thinking tonight. The baby sent him a message. He needed to take this slow, maybe strike up a friendship and then see what happens. He was drawn to her and not just because of her plight and the fact that she was beautiful. He sensed a strength and level-headedness about her as well as the fact that she would not be coerced into something she felt strongly opposed to. He would extend friendship for now anyway. But there was a tug at his heart. He could feel it. The look in her eyes tonight told him she wanted to be kissed. Yet he knew that it would have been a big mistake. As much as he wanted to hold her and yes protect her, being a friend to Colby at this point was the best way to go. He could only hope it would develop into something more. He felt better about his decision and went into the house. He headed straight for the refrigerator. It was a habit even though he wasn't hungry. He took a bottle of water and was on his way to the back stairs when his mom came into the kitchen. "I thought I heard you come in." Jackie looked at her son to see if she could read his face to find out what happened after he left with Barbara and Colby. "Sorry. I didn't wake you?" Brian sipped the water. "No. We were up. Can I talk to you for a minute." Jackie came to him and touched his face. He was her miracle child. She almost lost him but God had other plans. Here he stood strong, healthy and doing the one thing he loved. Not a day went by that she didn't say a prayer of thanks in gratitude for the fact that God chose to spare him and give him this chance to use the gift of his voice to make people happy. "Sure mom. Is anything wrong? You feeling okay?" She nodded. "Dad?" "We're fine, Brian. I want to talk about you." She filled the kettle and put it on the stove. She got down two cups and a couple of tea bags from the canister. "I want you to be careful Brian, with Colby Spencer." She watched as his face scrunched up in a frown. "Colby?" He sat down at the table. "Why? What do you know?" She stood at the stove waiting on the kettle. "Just that the Spencers are powerful people Brian. And I don't want you to get hurt. Colby's very nice and pretty but she's a widow and not that long and there's the baby to consider. I just want you to think about all this before you get caught up in the emotional tug and pull of falling in love." Brian sat and watched Jackie as she took the kettle and poured the water into the cups. She brought them to the table and sat down across from him. "I know you and when you want something you put your heart and soul into achieving it." She removed the tea bag and added sugar to the brew. She saw disappointment on his face but Jackie knew that he needed to be prepared for whatever may come his way. "The Spencers are a powerful family and I know that Colby only married into the family but the child she carries bears their name. William Spencer has been waiting for an heir for a long time and will do anything to keep that child under his dominance. You will be a small inconvenience that can be discarded like yesterday's garbage. They're old money, Brian and you don't have a prayer's chance up against them. Your father and I don't want to see you hurt or possibly destroyed. You can't fight them." She reached out to Brian and took his hand, rubbing it. It served as a comfort for her to touch him. No matter where he had been, the number of records sold or the women who screamed for him, he was still her child, her baby and she would move heaven and earth to protect him from any danger. Brian let all this sink in. "I will. I promise. But there's something about her mom. I know she has suffered a terrible tragedy, but there's a resilience there. You can see it in her eyes. I realized tonight I need to step back. I almost did something I could have regretted." Brian shook his head as he removed the tea bag and stirred in some sugar. "I promise to go slow and feel her out before I do anything. But I feel something whether friendship or something deeper. I need to pursue this, no matter what happens. But I promise to be careful." He held her hand tight in his. She was his strength and no matter where his life took him, she would be there for him. All his life she had been there, giving him counsel and courage to pursue this dream. "Mom, I love you. I won't do anything foolish. But I can't promise not to fall in love, because I feel something deep inside me. She could be the one, this time, really." Jackie looked at him over the brim of her cup. "You've said this before, Brian and look what happened." "I know, but they wanted me for the exposure they could get; Colby, she doesn't need me like that anyway. Financially she is set and I even sense a resignation in her that her chance at romance is over. All she has left is the baby. I could love her and the baby." As he spoke he had gotten up and began pacing back and forth. "I have to take a chance, mom, even if we just wind up as friends. Whenever I see her my heart leaps in my chest." He sat back down and ran his hands through his hair. "Honey, we're here for you. This is your home and even though you're a grown man and your father says I shouldn't meddle, I only want the best for you. Just be careful. And whatever you decide, we will support you." Jackie took her cup to the sink, rinsed it out and placed it in the drain. She came behind him and kissed Brian on the head. "Goodnight, son. I love you." "I love you too, mom. And I promise to think about all this really, I will." He kissed her cheek and Jackie left. Love or friendship, he wasn't sure. All Brian knew was that he wanted to see Colby again. Whatever these feelings were, he had to find out. He could see her face in the evening light. Her lips were parted and there was sensuality about her, even in her advanced stages of pregnancy. He wanted to taste her lips. Patience! He let out a breath and went up to his room. |