First Class Farewell (11 page)

“And we are the ones to do that?”

“Definitely!” Katy grinned.

“What on earth are you doing?”

Katy looked behind her to see Mark standing with his hands
on his hips waiting for an answer.

“What does it look like?” she growled.

“Pouring gallons of milk down the sink, that’s what. What
the hell are you doing that for?”

“We
need
to be out of milk.”

“Why,” Mark asked, but he wasn’t at all sure he wanted to
know the answer.

“So we can send Adam to get some more.”

“Of course!” Mark nodded, mocking his wife. “That makes
perfect sense. Yes. Cynthia stocks the house with groceries so that you can
waste perfectly good milk, all for the obvious reason of sending Adam to get
more. How silly of me to ask.”

Katy rolled her eyes and summoned him closer with a flick of
her head. “We need to give Adam and Shelby an opportunity to be alone,” she
whispered.

“Because?”

“To let things progress naturally.”

“It’s not natural if you’re forcing them together.”

“Semantics,” she hissed.

Mark chuckled. “And what
natural
things do you think
will come of them being alone together?”

“
That
we have to wait to see.”

“And this all makes perfect sense to you?”

“Of course it does,” she snapped back. “Sometimes a little
prodding is all that’s needed to encourage people to see what’s right in front
of them.”

“I clearly remember a certain someone who did not enjoy
being prodded,” he smirked.

“Oh, don’t you start, too,” she warned. “This is
not
the same thing.”

“If you say so.”

“I say so,” she replied sternly.

Mark chuckled, kissed her on the cheek and then wandered out
of the kitchen just as Janie came down the stairs. “Are you in on this?” he
asked her.

“In on what?” she replied innocently.

“Okay,” Mark laughed. “I’ll be outside if you decide you
need to get rid of all the cheese, too.”

As Janie entered the kitchen, she saw four milk jugs
standing on the granite counter.

“Done!” smiled Katy.

“No one saw you?” Janie asked looking worried.

“Just Mark.”

“So now we wait,” Janie nodded.

*****

Shelby had offered to take Lisa down to the pool so that
Sophia could rest. She blew up the inflatable ring and sat Lisa in it and
walked down the steps into the water. Lisa shrieked with joy as they paddled
around and splashed, Shelby enjoying herself just as much as the two year old.

Adam watched through the glass doors of the pool house. He
sat at the small dining table and closed his eyes as he listened to them
giggle.

There has to be a way to help her understand what a
wonderful mother she’d be,
he thought. The idea that because such vile
things had happened to her meant she wouldn’t be a great mom baffled him. He
knew that to be completely false and wanted Shelby to realize it. But how?

He didn’t have a chance to dwell on it though. Janie knocked
on the door, forcing his eyes open. He yelled for her to come in and she walked
in to find her son doing nothing, just as she’d hoped.

“I need you to run into town for me. Could you please?”

Adam shrugged. “I guess. You’re not sending Cynthia or Bob?”

“Cynthia has already started dinner preparations and Bob is
helping Peter with something,” she lied.
Well, it isn’t a total lie,
she
told herself. Cynthia was peeling potatoes, but she had no idea where Bob was
or what he was doing, but he had to be doing
something
.

“Alright. What is it you need?”

“Milk.”

“How? We had like five gallons in the fridge this morning!”

Janie shrugged. She wasn’t a good liar. Better to keep it
simple. “It’s all gone.” That
was
the truth after all.

“Fine. Just write down exactly what you want,” he said as he
stood and walked over to his flip flops.

Janie turned and all but ran back to the house, almost
knocking over Matt as she flung open the French doors looking for Katy.

“Okay, he’ll go, but he’s going now,” she blurted to Katy
who was coming down the stairs.

“Now?”

Janie nodded.

“But Shelby’s in the pool!”

“I know!” Janie replied.

“What are you two going on about?” Matt asked.

Taking two steps at a time, Katy flew down the stairs and
out to the patio. Ripping off her shorts and t-shirt, she dove into the pool
and swam to Shelby and all but yanked Lisa from her hands.

“My turn,” she exclaimed, leaving Shelby with a confused
look on her face.

Shelby stood up, the water at her waist and watched Katy bob
down the pool with Lisa in tow. She walked to the steps and climbed up and out
just as Adam exited the pool house.

“Here you go,” Janie smiled at him as she handed him a list
on a post it note, the keys to the car, and a wad of cash.

“I have money,” he frowned.

“Just take it,” she smiled, pushing it into his hands.

Shelby brushed past them as she walked to the bench that
held her towel.

“Why don’t you take Shelby?” Janie suggested.

“Um, okay,” Adam stuttered.

“Shelby?” Janie swung around. “I need Adam to go buy milk.
Why don’t you go with him?”

“I’m wet.”

“You’ll dry off in the car. It’s a warm day,” Janie said.

Matt, watching the conversation, shook his head in
disbelief. Katy flicked water at him and when he looked down at her she shook
her head and hissed, “Shhhhhhh.” He chuckled and walked into the house.

“Yeah, okay,” Shelby shrugged. “Let me grab my sandals.”

Within just a few minutes the two had walked to the garage,
climbed into the Jeep and were pulling out of the driveway. Janie collapsed on
the chair by the pool and buried her face in her hands.

“What?” Katy asked her.

“That was horrible!” she muttered. “I don’t think I can do
that again.”

“Good!” came the voice from the doorway.

Janie jerked her head up to see Matt looking down at her.
“You two should stay out of this.”

“Why?” Katy said. “There are obviously sparks there. We just
need to provide some oxygen to fan the tiny little flames.”

“Good grief.” Matt rolled his eyes.

*****

The drive to the market was about fifteen minutes. The
picturesque scenery was worth the trip. Miles of white sand lay outside of
Shelby’s window with the bluest of blue water for as far as the eye could see.

“I can’t imagine why Leslie and Jackie didn’t want to come,”
Shelby frowned. “It’s so beautiful and peaceful here.”

“I’ve only met them a couple of times,” Adam said. “They
weren’t very close to Ray, well, not until recently. From what Matt said, the
divorce was anything but amicable and once his ex moved to Detroit, I think she
hoped Ray would be out of their lives permanently. And it’s sad,” he added.
“Ray was one of the kindest men I’ve known. To deprive your children of their
father out of spite is awful. I think it must have taken an enormous amount of
strength to show such love for their father and ask Matt to scatter his ashes.”

“How?”

“It would be hard to accept that your dad’s boss was more of
a family to him that you were. Who did Ray spend holidays with? Us. Who did he
vacation with? Us. And Jackie and Leslie knew it.”

“I guess,” Shelby said, although unconvinced.

Adam noticed her skepticism. “They asked the person who knew
Ray the best, spent the most time with him, to say goodbye. I think it’s a very
unselfish thing for them to do.”

“But Matt asked them to come and they refused.”

“Would you want to have gone with a family you barely knew?”

“Probably not.”

“It’s made me think about what I would want my family to do
after I die.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Mom and Matt have their funeral already planned. They’ve
bought plots here on the island. Wills are all signed and everything is taken
care of – they have left all questions answered. I’d like to do the same.”

“I don’t see what the big deal is,” Shelby shrugged. “You’ll
be dead. You won’t know…or care.”

“But the family I leave behind will. I want it to be as
painless as possible.”

“Then I guess it’s a good thing I won’t be leaving any
family behind when I die,” Shelby snorted.

“That is the saddest thing I’ve ever heard!” Adam replied.

“Why?”

“If you die without a family to mourn you, it will have
meant you’ve
lived
without a family.”

“So?”

“So?” he repeated. “It means you’ve been alone…your entire
life.”

“So?” she said again.

“Don’t you want somebody to laugh with? To spend the
evenings with? To make love with?”

“That just opens you up to pain. I’ve seen pain and I’m not
interested in inviting it back to live with me permanently.”

They drove the rest of the way in silence.

*****

That night as Adam lay in bed, Shelby’s words rolled around
and around in his head. How sad it was to know that to her, family meant pain.
The idea was so foreign to him that he couldn’t even begin to understand it.

Unable to sleep, he threw back the sheet and climbed from
the bed. Stepping into the clothes he’s just taken off, he headed outside.
Looking up at the main house, most lights were off, so he wandered around
through the garden and headed for the beach.

A silhouette stood before him as he stepped onto the sand.
It was either Matt or one of his uncles…all the brothers looked pretty much the
same from behind and in the dark. As he moved closer, the figure swung around
to see who was approaching.

“Adam,” smiled Matt. “Can’t sleep?”

“Nah. You?”

He shook his head then turned back to the peace of the sea.
“It’s calming to just breathe the air and listen to the water.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” Matt nodded.

“Before you met Mom, you weren’t going to get married
again.”

Matt nodded again.

“So what made you change your mind?” Adam asked.

Matt chuckled. “Your Mom did.”

“How?”

“You want the long version or the short version?”

Adam shrugged.

“Let’s sit,” Matt said as he walked to the beach chairs.
Once settled, he took a deep breath and began. “How much do you know?”

“Well, you met on the plane when Mom went to New York for
her vacation. You spent some time together and then she came home. You missed
her and went to Portland a few weeks later and told her you loved her and were married
in August.”

“That is the
very
abridged version,” Matt chuckled.
“But accurate enough.”

“So there’s more to the story.” It was more of a statement
than a question.

“Oh, yeah. A whole lot more. You know I’d been
divorced…twice. Both complete disasters and neither of them involving any kind
of love or emotion. But then along came your Mom and…well, she knocked the air
from my lungs. And the few days I spent with her in New York were the happiest
of my life, up until that point, of course,” he grinned. “She was nothing like
the women I knew and when she left to go back to Portland, well, let’s just say
that I was left an empty shell. Once I decided to go and beg for her to let me
be a part of her life, I knew what I wanted and it was the whole thing; the
woman, the commitment, the trust…everything! And only with her. If she’d said
no, well, I don’t want to think about it.”

“She didn’t say no.”

“No, thank God,” Matt smiled. “She didn’t. And now I have
four amazing kids and a life I’d never even allowed myself to dream of.”

Adam listened, pondering Matt’s words. “Shelby doesn’t want
a family. Not a husband or kids…nothing. She says it will cause too much pain.”

“I’m not surprised,” Matt whispered.

“Really?”

Matt shook his head. “Adam, do you understand what her
family was like? Can you imagine being a child and having to deal with a mother
who’s a drug addict and letting her boyfriends do whatever they wanted to you?
The horror that she must have faced, well, I can’t even imagine. I grew up with
parents who adored me and protected me and provided me with everything I
needed. So did you. We don’t have a fucking clue what it was like for her. I’m
not going to judge her choice for not wanting to be vulnerable. I think she’s
wrong because she has so much to give. She’ll be an amazing wife and mother.
But I acknowledge it’s her choice to make.”

“What if you knew that a good guy wanted to love her and
protect her and provide her with all she needed and she refused him?”

Matt looked at Adam and knew who that
good guy
was.
“Adam. Have you told her?”

He shook his head. “I only just figured it out myself.”

“Your last name may be Anderson but you really are a
Lathem,” Matt grinned. “We always figure it out before the women do. But that’s
a good thing,” he added. “We get to prove to them that we deserve their trust
and respect and their love.”

“And will it work?”

“We’re all happily married, aren’t we?”

Adam couldn’t argue with that.

Ella wanted a pedicure, so Katy declared a Spa Day. All the
women, even the toddler women, would go into town and be pampered. Taxis were
called and diaper bags were packed. Sophia and Lindsey were fortunately feeling
well enough to join, so only men were left at home.

Maureen was thrilled with idea of three generations of
Lathem women spending a few hours together and said so repeatedly on the drive
to town and to the spa.

“When Shelby has a baby, we’ll have four generations!”
Maureen declared.

The statement had a duel effect on Shelby. She was pleased
and grateful that Maureen considered her a grandchild. The Lathems had shown
her nothing but love and kindness and treated her as Mark and Katy’s daughter.
But on the other hand, the idea that they were all waiting for her to settle
down with a husband and children unnerved her. It wasn’t exactly irritation,
but more a feeling of knowing that she couldn’t fulfill their desires and
unable to vocalize her feelings. She’d tried with Adam and he hadn’t understood.
So Shelby just smiled and looked out of the window and waited for someone to
change the subject.

The manager of the day spa greeted the three vans as they
pulled up in front of the building. She remembered Janie and Ella from their
past visits, a tradition for mother and daughter to have perfectly painted toes
for the beach, and hurried the group inside where lemonade and piña coladas
awaited. They would have to be divided into smaller groups to accommodate the
large number of them, but within seconds the women had paired off with children
included and the fun began.

Lindsey and Sophia and their three girls stood together in a
group. Nic held Annie’s hand, and Beth had Isabelle with her, promising Rory
and Andrew she would never leave her eyesight. Maureen decided to join with
them, leaving Katy, Janie, Ella and Shelby to form the last group. Shelby,
watching Lindsey contend with her girls that were tired of standing still, took
a step towards them.

“Why don’t you and I be partners, Amanda? Will you help me
pick out nail polish for my toes?” Shelby asked the four year old.

“I’d love to,” Amanda beamed. “I know all my colors.”

“Thank you,” Lindsey mouthed as Shelby swooped up Amanda
into her arms.

“We can take the girls while you’re getting facials,” Katy added.

“I think this is going to be fun,” Sophia grinned as they
were led off to the different areas of the spa.

As Janie and Katy settled in on the massage table, Ella on
the table next to them, they both were thinking the same thing. Shelby had
confided in Katy that she wasn’t planning on having children, fearing her lack
of maternal nature.

“She’s convinced herself of something that isn’t true,” Katy
frowned. “She will make a wonderful mother. She has a heart full of love just
waiting to blanket another person with. Why can’t she see it?”

Janie agreed. “I think it’s fear. She’s just scared. Maybe,
when she realizes that, she’ll be able to work through it. Sadly, we can’t do
it for her.”

The massage therapists worked their magical hands up and
down their backs and the muscle tension slowly oozed from their bodies, leaving
them relaxed and refreshed.

“It will happen,” Janie said as they wrapped themselves in
the soft robes, ready for their facials. “I see in Adam’s face a determination
that wasn’t there before. He has decided he wants something and I’m assuming
it’s Shelby,” she shrugged. “You and I both know that there’s nothing more
persuasive than a Lathem man,” she grinned.

“Let’s hope so,” Katy replied.

*****

Just like she’d offered, Shelby let Amanda pick out the
polish that would be painted on her toes. Bright yellow would not have been her
first choice, but Amanda was thrilled with it, so yellow it was. In fact,
Amanda wanted them to match so they both ended up with neon yellow toenails.

They chatted away about Dora and The Little Mermaid and why
her mommy didn’t like bacon anymore. Shelby laughed as the conversation turned
to her dad and how much hair he had on his face when he didn’t shave. She
didn’t like it and Shelby had to agree. She preferred clean shaven men, too.
She didn’t like beards…not at all.

I’ve never seen Adam unshaven
, she thought and
somehow the thought gave her comfort.
He
had a beard…the bastard who’d
almost killed her. No, Shelby didn’t like beards either.

With the manicures completed and toenails painted, it was
time for facials. All the children were ushered into the back where the manager
had offered her two teenage daughters as babysitters. The moms eagerly accepted
the generous offer, allowing all the women to enjoy quiet time as the pampering
continued.

The conversation drifted to babies and motherhood, Beth
asking question after question, unable to conceal her excitement and obvious
inexperience.

“I don’t feel any different,” Beth said.

“Yet,” Lindsey laughed.

“Thank your lucky stars,” Sophia groaned.

“You poor thing,” Janie sympathized. “You’ve had some rough
pregnancies.”

Sophia sighed. “You know, I remember being sick with Alex,
but it didn’t knock me out like this. Not that it would’ve mattered. I still
would’ve had to work two jobs anyway.”

“I can’t even imagine,” Janie frowned.

“Ben is wonderful though,” Sophia grinned. “So considerate
and thoughtful. And having mom and dad across the street helps, too. They love
to come and play with Charlie and Lisa and give me a break. Although I’m always
sick, I know I get a baby at the end, so I’m not going to complain
too
loudly,” she grinned.

“I want to experience it all,” Beth said wistfully. “This
may be the only pregnancy I have so I want to treasure every minute of it.”

Maureen smiled and patted her daughter-in-law’s hand. “It
took us almost five years to have Matthew. And then look what happened. Boom,
boom, boom, boom! A total of seven and they came quickly,” she chuckled. “Don’t
rule out anything. God has a plan for you, my dear. Just wait and see.”

Shelby listened but didn’t offer any pearls of wisdom from
experience. She had no experience…no idea what they were all talking about. But
she listened intently as all three pregnant women spoke with such love about a
bunch of cells in their womb. They spoke of these cells as if they were already
a child and completely head over heels in love with it. She didn’t share her
confusion. She just listened.

*****

The girls compared toenails as the taxis returned them to
the estate. It had been a great way to spend a day and each of them had enjoyed
it. The bond between these women was unbreakable. They were the best of friends
and the closest of sisters, with Shelby accepted as one of their own.

She’d also enjoyed the day. She loved a day of pampering
like the next woman, but she also loved the Lathem family, even though at times
she thought they were all a bit crazy.

As the taxis pulled into the circular driveway and the men
ran out to help everyone out of the cars and into the house, Shelby found
herself with Adam at her arm.

“Have fun?” he grinned.

“I did,” she smiled. “Amanda picked out my nail polish. Like
it?” she asked as she lifted one of her feet and wiggled it in the air.

“Sexy,” he winked. “
And
, you’ll be able to jog in the
dark.”

“Ha ha,” she grinned.

They walked into the house where kids were running
everywhere and a steady hum of voices talking made it difficult to think.

“Wanna go for a walk?” she said, looking at Adam.

“Sure.” He took her hand and led her through the great room
and out the French doors that led to the walkway down to the beach. Several
pairs of eyes watched them go.

Katy waved her arm to get Janie’s attention and nodded in
the direction of their kids. Janie smiled and hooked her arm through Matt’s.

“Just let them find their own way,” he whispered into her
ear. It fell on deaf ears.

*****

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” Adam replied.

Shelby kept walking, kicking and splashing water with her
feet as she went. It was several seconds before she asked her question.

“How soon do you feel the baby?”

“Huh?”

“When a woman is pregnant, how soon does she feel it?” she
clarified. “I mean, I’ve been through medical school and I understand what
happens and everything, but when do you
feel
it?”

“I’m not an OB,” he prefaced with, “but I would suppose from
everything I’ve seen, around eighteen weeks, give or take.” When Shelby didn’t
respond, he added, “Why?”

“Oh, I’m not pregnant!” she gasped. “If that’s what you were
thinking.”

“Okay.”

“Just some of the stuff they were talking about today made
me wonder.”

They continued walking along the shore, the afternoon sun
providing nourishment for the soul.

“Shelby, if I asked you to dinner, would you go?”

“Of course,” she scoffed. “When have I turned down a free
meal?” she joked.

“Shelby.” Adam stopped walking and grabbed her arm. “Look at
me.”

She did.

“If I asked you to dinner…If I asked you on a date, would
you go with me?”

“Why would you ask me on a date?” she whispered.

He stepped closer and moved a strand of hair caught in her
eyelash. He gently tucked it behind her ear but didn’t pull his hand away.
Rather, he cupped her cheek and lowered his head ‘til he was just inches from
her face.

“Shelby,” he whispered, and brushed his lips across hers for
just a moment. “Would you have dinner with me?”

“Okay,” she choked out.

“This evening?”

“Okay.”

He brought his lips back to hers and pressed softly…a chaste
kiss…gentle and sweet.

“Thank you,” he smiled and stepped back. “You’ve made my
day.”

Taking her by the hand, he turned them around and headed
back to the house. They walked in silence until they reached the screen doors.

“Seven?” he asked.

Shelby nodded and bit her bottom lip. Adam wondered if it
was to hide a smile. He kissed her cheek and headed for the pool house. As she
walked into the great room, Katy stood watching her, eyebrows raised.

“I won’t be here for dinner,” she said matter-of-factly.

“I’ll let Cynthia know,” Katy said.

“Thank you,” replied Shelby as she dashed up the stairs.

*****

Soaking in the bath tub, Shelby let her mind wander back to
the kiss on the beach. He’d startled her, but she’d liked it. For twelve years
they’d been friends and now? She’d felt it the other day on the beach…when they
were playing in the water. She’d wanted him to kiss her. The realization had
come like a wave crashing over her that Adam was more than a friend…and had
been for some time. She just couldn’t admit it.

But now. Now he’d crossed the line. He’d kissed her and
she’d wanted him to. Yet the fear of allowing someone to get close still
persisted.

“But it’s Adam,” she said out loud. “He’s already close.”

Another realization. She slid down into the warm water,
allowing it to cover her head.
It’s just dinner!

Drying herself and then her hair, Shelby took her time
getting ready. She used lotion scented with vanilla and pear and rubbed it into
her soft skin. She pulled a dress from a hanger hung on the bookshelf. It was a
pale mint green halter dress that went half way down her thighs. She added
wedges to her feet that showed off her marvelous yellow toenails. With her
makeup expertly done, her hair cascading down her back, she was ready with
fifteen minutes to spare. She grabbed her clutch and headed downstairs.

Before she hit the last step, the cat whistle made her look
up. Mark and Peter sat on the leather sofa, both looking up at her and
grinning.

“You are a gorgeous girl,” Peter smiled. “If only I was
fifty years younger.”

Mark chuckled. “You do look beautiful, Shelby. Where are you
off to?”

“Just into town for dinner,” she smiled, blushing slightly.

“And what lucky young man gets to spend his evening with
such a lovely young lady?” Maureen asked as she handed Peter a glass of water
and then sat down beside him.

“That would be me!” Adam beamed as he entered the room
through the open French doors.

“Well, that’s…that’s just wonderful!” Maureen replied,
obviously surprised at the revelation. “You two have a good time.”

“We will,” Adam grinned. “Ready?” he asked Shelby.

Shelby nodded and stepped off the last step and took his
waiting hand.

“A woman who’s ready early! How can I be so lucky?” he
chuckled as he escorted her through the doors and onto the patio.

“Well look at you two!” Janie said, as they walked by her.
“Have a great time.”

They just smiled and kept walking.