| Two days after her dinner with Brian Colby got a call from William. She almost expected it. Somehow they had been seen. He carried on in a similar vane to Garrett's upbraiding of her a few weeks before. Colby let him vent. When he was finished she gave him an earful as well. He hung up on her and she sat with a pleased look on her face. Two can play this game she thought. She knew William would try to find a way to make her knuckle under and bend to his wishes. Her afternoon at the cemetery had given her renewed spirit even though she had yelled and cursed at Rob's grave. She was not going to let William control her or have anything to do with the raising of her child. The thought of him dictating how this baby would be reared made her skin crawl. Colby knew it would be a challenge being a single parent, but she had the love for two parents. He or she would grow up knowing about their father and how he loved them even though he never knew of their existence. Colby would never let them forget him, because she never would either. The next few weeks passed without any surprises. The weather turned unbearably hot and Colby felt it more than usual. She was approaching seven months and she kidded with Arlene and Donna telling them she felt like a blimp. They doted on her and made sure she worked a minimal number of hours each day, keeping her off her feet and making sure she drank plenty of fluids. She met Barbara and Catherine for their weekly lunches but the one person she expected to see never showed up. Every time the door to the shop opened or the phone rang she expected to see Brian walk through the door or hear his voice on the other end of the line. After their dinner that Sunday it was as if he vanished. Colby tried looking up an address or phone number but surmised it would be unlisted for obvious reasons. He had been what she needed that night. He had helped her forget her troubles and grief for a couple of hours. And even though she didn't feel ready to pursue a new relationship she couldn't help but think about him. There was just something about him, besides the good looks and radiant smile that just lit up his entire face. There was warmth, caring, loyalty and a good sense of humor. His face invaded her thoughts at the strangest times and she was playing their CD more and more when she was home. It might be just as well he hadn't shown up. He didn't need to get caught in the middle of this war with William, because he would be one of the innocent casualties. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ And then one day he appeared. Colby heard the door open and called out, "I'll be right with you." Brian could see her bent over a large carton. She brushed back a strand of hair and let out a deep breath. She shouldn't be doing that he thought as he watched her having trouble removing the contents of the box. He came up beside her and pulled the frames from the box. Colby looked up and the sight of him brought a big smile to her face. "Thanks. They are always packed too tight. Even without this extra weight," she patted her protruding stomach, "I had a hard time." Brian placed the frames on the floor. She looked beautiful. Her cheeks were a bit flushed but she had a glow about her and even her eyes had lost that sadness he remembered. "Don't you have someone to help you with this?" He took the last frame from the box and leaned it against the others. "Arlene and Donna, but they're both gone at the moment." Colby wiped her brow and leaned up against the counter. "So have you come to look for something for your house?" Colby tried to keep the tone of her voice as business like as possible. It had been nearly three weeks but he still managed to set her heart racing. She took a sip of water from the glass on the desk. "Yes and no. I was hoping you would come with me to the farm. Look the place over and help me decide what would suit the rooms." He gave her a warm smile and Colby's insides melted. His clothes were simple yet fit him perfectly. His tee shirt was snug across his chest and Colby remembered the day at the club at how well developed his upper body was as well as the pencil line scar. "Well I can't leave right now, but we could look through some books while we're waiting for them to return." Colby motioned to the small round table in the corner. "Great." Brian walked over and held a chair for Colby. She sat down and he joined her. She opened one of the large books. "Picking out art is a personal preference, very much like music." She looked up and smiled at him. "No two people really like the same thing. So you need to decide what will suit you, the house and what will have a lasting affect on the rooms." Brian just stared at her and Colby felt self-conscious. "What? Have I got some food stuck in my teeth or something?" She joked. "No. Just admiring the view." He said. The words came out soft and breathy. "You are just glowing. Pregnancy suits you." Colby blushed and nervously pushed her hair behind her ear. He knew all the right words to say. Yet they didn't sound forced or insincere. Colby lowered her eyes. He was doing it again, causing this strange feeling inside her, knots and churns of the stomach and the baby again sensed her discomfort and gave her a swift kick. They poured over the books and Colby eased as the repartee between them relaxed. They laughed and joked with each other and this is the way Donna and Arlene found them thirty minutes later. They were laughing so hard; that they just stopped in the doorway to take in the scene. "Stop, please." Colby held her stomach as tears rolled down her cheeks. Without thinking Brian took his hand and brushed the tears from her cheek. With the door open Donna and Arlene watched as the couple just stared one at the other. Arlene grabbed Donna's hand and squeezed it. They both could see the spark between the two and by the expressions on their faces they felt it too. Neither of them had seen Colby this happy in a long time. Oh the baby gave her joy but it also brought sadness but this, this was the Colby they remembered. Whoever he was, he was good for her and they could see that they enjoyed being together. Colby and Brian never heard the door open. Something had changed somewhere between the old masters and the modern collection. What had started out as purely business had taken a decided turn. Brian just seemed to be able to make her forget her troubles. He was comical with his comments and expressions. She liked being with him. Colby closed her eyes as his thumbs brushed the tears away. His touch was so gentle and a soft breath escaped her lips. When she opened her eyes, Brian's hand was still on her cheek. His face came closer, and his eyes held her in his gaze. Colby's hand took his and held it for a second before she removed it. The spell was broken, the moment lost forever but they both felt the ache. And neither one moved their hands still clasped. Colby's cheek still felt warm from his touch and his eyes never left hers. She finally released her hand and turned back to the book in front of them. Her body was sending her signals. She liked the feel of his hands and the way he looked at her. Yet she knew she shouldn't feel this way. It felt like a betrayal to Rob. She still loved him but the emotions Brian was evoking she couldn't deny either. She felt confused and just looked blankly at the page in front of her. Brian too felt the turmoil. His decision to move cautiously was being tested and he wasn't sure he could hold back. It was just a kiss but it could lead to so much more. Was Colby ready? Should he even put that pressure on her? The sound of the door closing brought Colby and Brian back to reality. They looked up at each other and could see the hesitation in the face of the other. "We're back," Arlene called, "and financially sound for another month." Both women could feel the tension in the air as they approached the table. Colby looked up at her two friends. The heightened color on her cheeks was a statement of how her emotions were jumbling inside her. "Colby you didn't try to empty that delivery?" Arlene noticed the shipping carton and its contents on the floor near the counter. "You keep this up we won't be able to leave you alone." "Actually," Colby cleared her throat; "Brian caught me in the middle of opening the box. He was kind enough to help." Brian looked at the two women and gave them a cheeky grin. "Ladies." He stood and extended his hand. Colby made the introductions. There was an awkward silence as Arlene and Donna just smirked at Colby. She turned back to the table fussing over the books and her notes trying to compose herself. Brian finally spoke up ending the uneasiness in the room. "I was hoping to take Colby out to the farm to see the house and help me decide on what would work well in the space." Colby looked up at him and he shrugged his shoulders giving her a grin. Before she had a chance to say anything Arlene took the bait. "Sounds like a great idea. You could use some fresh air Colby. Just be sure she gets off her feet. In this heat they have a tendency to swell." Colby looked at her and rolled her eyes. It was bad enough she was looking more and more like a beached whale but swollen feet! My God it's any wonder the man was here in the first place. That was something Colby couldn't quite rationalize. Here she was a widow, pregnant with another man's child and yet from all outward appearances, Brian wasn't turned off by any of it. To the contrary, he was so attentive and truly concerned about her welfare and then there was that strong, underlying sexual current she could feel when he was near her. "Don't worry. I will take good care of her." Brian helped Colby up. "Shall we go?" There was that glint in his eyes again. "Give me a minute." She disappeared into the back of the shop. Donna took the frames and followed her leaving Arlene and Brian alone. "I don't know who you are," Arlene commented as she went behind the counter, "but whatever it is you are doing, keep it up. I haven't seen Colby this happy in months. She needs to move forward and stop dwelling on her loss." "I'll do my best, but really I haven't done anything special. I like her and just want to spend time with her, be her friend." Arlene's look told him she had seen more than friendship between them when they walked in. "Well she needs some fun in her life and you just might be the one to give her that." Colby joined them and Brian could see she had brushed her hair and freshened up a bit. He had all he could do to hold back and not pull her into his arms. He was falling fast. "Ready?" Brian took her hand and Colby nodded. She gave Arlene a weak smile and they left. Arlene sat down at the counter and took out the ledger to post the bank deposits. A shriek came from the back and Donna came running out. "Arlene look," she pointed to the magazine in her hand. Arlene saw Brian's face along with the rest of the group staring at her. "There was something about him, but I couldn't place it at first. He's a Backstreet Boy, Arlene, a Backstreet Boy!" Arlene looked from the picture to the front door. She wondered if Colby knew this or not but even more so what would the Spencers say when they found out. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Maybe we should use my car," Colby suggested as they started down the street. She didn't see his jeep and wondered where he had left it. They stopped in front of a BMW convertible and Colby looked at Brian questioningly. "Not necessary," he said as he opened the front door for her. He helped her inside and then got in and started the car. "I realized the jeep was not appropriate in your condition so I brought this back from Florida when I returned the day before yesterday." "Florida?" So that's where he had been, Colby thought. "Yes. I got a call and had to go back down for some business. It kept me there longer than I wanted. So should I put the top up or is this okay?" He looked at her waiting for an answer. "No it's okay. I haven't ridden with the top down in a long time. Rob had a…" Colby caught herself. "No it's fine." A shadow fell across her face at the mention of Rob and she just stared out the front window. "You okay?" He touched her arm. She nodded. "Yes. It's just that there will be times during the day or things will happen and they bring it all back again that he's gone." She looked at him and the sadness was there again in her eyes. "It's understandable." He squeezed her hand. "I'm a good listener." "Thanks, but I'll be fine." She gave him a half smile. Brian realized he couldn't push her. He took his sunglasses from the visor and put them on. "So, I thought we would get some lunch and eat at the farm. There's a big porch around the house and we can sit out back. No one will bother us." "I'd like that." Brian stopped at a small deli and picked up some sandwiches for them. They drove in silence, Brian giving Colby some space. And he was a bit upset with himself. He had no idea the convertible would bring back memories for her, only that it would be easier for her to get in and out of. But at one point he noticed her head tilted back, eyes closed as the wind blew her hair and a small smile crossed her face. The house was almost a mile down the private drive. The workers could be heard and Brian drove around the back of the house. He helped her out of the car and Colby took in the expanse of the surroundings. Acre upon acre of grass swayed in the summer breeze and its sweet smell permeated the air. Colby stood still drinking it all in. It was so beautiful. It was like stepping into another world and yet it wasn't that far from the city. She loved it and could just imagine how perfect it would be to wake up in the morning and come out here and see horses grazing as she sipped her morning coffee. Brian led her up the steps and they shared lunch at a worn table and chairs set in the corner of the porch at the back of the house. Conversation began slowly but soon Brian told her what he had planned for the place and how he was looking forward to coming home. Colby asked him what is was like traveling so much and how they coped being gone for long stretches. He told her it was hard and that all of them had dealt with in their own way, some good and some bad. And as much as he wanted her to know about him, Brian was eager to learn about her too. So he asked how a girl from New York wound up at UK and why she decided to plant roots here. It didn't take too much coaxing before she told about her growing up and the loss of her parents. Colby relaxed and Brian noticed how animated she was when she talked using her hands and facial expressions. He heard how she met Rob and fell in love and got married. "We almost broke up because of the wedding," she let out a laugh. "But I gave in and let Rob's parents do it their way. The only thing I insisted on was the church. And Rob was right after the wedding we lived our own life much to his father's dismay." Colby sat reminiscing and finally realized Brian was staring at her. "I'm sorry. I was rambling." She got up from the chair. "How about I get a look at the inside of this great place and let's see what we can come up with in the way of artwork for the rooms." The change in subject told Brian the memories were getting too vivid. She had enjoyed a good marriage. It was obvious in the way she talked about Rob. And time had helped to heal her loss but her eyes took on that far away look when she spoke about him. She had opened up more than Brian anticipated and he wasn't about to close the door. So if changing the subject would keep her talking that was fine with him. But one thing that stood out was she had said she graduated from UK in '87. Was it possible she was that much older than him? She sure didn't look it. It didn't matter as far as Brian was concerned but what about Colby? "Most of the downstairs is finished even though most of the rooms have no furniture yet." He slowly took her hand and he felt her fingers close around his. He grinned as he felt the pressure and thought this is a good sign, just take it slow. They went in the back door to a large country kitchen. There was an old wooden trestle table and chairs in front of the large picture window. Colby loved it. A large wrought iron rack hung over the center island to hold pots and pans and there was plenty of counter space. What she could do in a kitchen like this. "Oh Brian, I love it." She moved around the room trying to imagine where to hang some pieces she had in mind. She took out a small notebook and jotted some things down. The next room encompassed the dining and living area. It was open and airy with a high vaulted ceiling. The natural wood had been restored and a large fireplace banked one wall. A small study was off one end of the great room. But the piece de resistance was the master suite. It was huge complete with a bath that contained a sunken tub and shower. French doors opened onto a private deck that overlooked the paddocks. Colby stood in the middle of the room. Morning sun would come through the long low windows that stood on either side of the doors to the deck. "This is the addition to the house." Brian walked up to her. "It's beautiful. The whole house is Brian. Are you happy with the way things are shaping up?" Colby walked to the doors and noticed that work had begun on a pool as well. "Yes. Everything is just like I planned and the workers have been very competent. Come on I'll show you upstairs." They walked out into the main foyer and went upstairs. There was noise at the end of the hall, as the carpenters made repairs. The rooms were smaller up here. Even the original master bedroom was small. Colby noticed that the wall in one of the bedrooms at the end of the hall was cracked from ceiling to floor. "What happened in here?" She asked as they peeked in the doorway. "There was a storm last winter, February I think, and a tree came down through the roof. The stress cracked the wall." As Brian spoke Colby's face changed. She turned and left the room and went down the stairs. Brian called after her but she didn't answer. He found her out in back of the house. "Colby? What's wrong?" Brian came to her and saw her tear filled eyes. "I remember. It came up suddenly and the temperature dropped causing the rain to mix with some sleet. Rob was due home that night. I was waiting for him. I had good news to tell him. I had wine chilling and candles lit the bedroom. The door bell rang and I went flying down the stairs," she was lost in her thoughts and didn't even see Brian as he watched her tell him about the night Rob died. "But it was Garrett at the door and I knew something was wrong. He said it was an accident, and it was too late. A truck jumped the median and hit his car head on. The paramedics said Rob died instantly. Thank God, he didn't suffer." Tears were streaming down her face. "I never got to tell him about the baby," she sobbed, "and they wouldn't even let me see him. Garrett identified the body. He's gone. He's gone." She broke down and Brian naturally took her in his arms and let her cry. He held her close and slowly her arms came around his neck. She relaxed in his embrace as she slowly regained her composure. Colby felt safe and secure in Brian's arms. It had been so long since someone had held her. "Are you okay?" He whispered in her ear still holding her close to his body, loving the feel of her next to him. Colby looked up into his eyes and nodded. He brushed the wet streaks from her cheeks and saw the sadness reflected in her eyes. His heart broke for her and yet at the same time he was glad she was here now with him even though the circumstances that had brought her to this point in time had devastated her. Neither one spoke, their eyes did it for them. He cupped her face in his hands and slowly lowered his lips to hers and Colby pulled him closer and responded. |