A Captivating Conundrum (38 page)

Beth dropped to her knees and picked Amber up. When her eyes returned to mine, the determined gaze was back in place. "You first. And I want you and Matt to practice together before we go back to the city, okay?"

Amber nodded hard. "Yes." Turning back to me she began waving her finger. "You need to be really good, you know."

Beth laughed, placing her hand over my heart. "That's true, Matt. YOU need the practice." 

I smiled back. "Well, no one can expect me to be a pro like this one." I pointed at Amber. "So I guess I better practice a lot just to keep up with you."

"That's right." Amber nodded. Suddenly the child began to stare; her eyes were caught by something that made her face light up like a Christmas tree.

Amber stared at Chris who was standing in the kitchen watching the show. Her eyes grew wide. "Is that one of Beth's cookies?"

Chris nodded slowly. A flash of fear raced through his eyes, like he was about to be attacked by a fierce warrior.

"Are there more?" Amber's voice grew deeper.

Chris slowly looked back at the counter and gave a huge sigh of relief. "Yes."

In a flash, Chris and Amber were sitting in the kitchen feasting on the one and only thing that was far more important than any Broadway show could possibly be.

"Wait," Bobby said. "How did you get here?" Turning, he caught sight of the small figure standing on the front porch. "Wow! I think that's the longest you've ever been silent."

Nicole smiled. "I missed you too."

~ Hers ~

I stared at Nicole in shock.

The evening had been such a high; I was already over the moon. I suppose what they say is true—with each horror comes a moment of sheer bliss. Apparently, that's the way the powers of Fate balance everything out. But
this
? This was unbelievable! "Are you sure?" I asked.

She grinned wide. "The organization told me. Prospective parents came in and met with Amber yesterday, and they have visits scheduled for later in the week. Apparently, they're also coming to Amber's big Broadway debut. I have it on very good authority that they may ask her to call them 'Mommy and Daddy' very, very soon. Maybe even on the big night."

My ears were echoing and my skin was tingling. It was as if my heart was trying its very best to expand out of my chest.

I could hear the music and laughter coming from downstairs. Down there was a best friend, a new friend, and a complete and utter soulmate that I wouldn't have counted on in a million years. And now…this. My Amber was finally going to have a family. Right now I could build a bridge, a pyramid, anything single-handedly because the energy that was running through me was miraculous. Closing my eyes, I wondered if perhaps Jerry had pulled some strings wherever he went in order to make this dream come true for this sweet little girl.

Sitting down on the bed I stared at my other best friend. "I can't believe this. I am SO happy. Does Amber like them? I mean, I know they didn't visit for long, but is she excited?"

Nicole smiled over my shoulder. "Heck, yeah. Like a kid in a candy store."

I followed her suddenly strange gaze. "Something wrong?"

Nicole nodded her head at the small bedside table. "Who's watch?" Standing up, she walked fast, grabbing the watch in one hand and Matt's t-shirt in the other.

Turning back to me, she raised an eyebrow. "You've become a cross dresser?" She tilted her head in sympathy. "I guess you
have
been alone a while."

I grabbed at the shirt but she ripped it away and brought it to her face. "Hmmm, smells like someone I know. Soap, a dash of your favorite cologne…not Bobby."

"Enough," I said. "Please, shut up."

The small body practically bounced on the bed beside me. "Is there something you would like to tell me?"

I looked away, trying to decide if tears, a smile, or perhaps an all-out admission of guilt was the right way to go.

Her hand touched mine. "I am sorry about Jerry. I know how much you cared for him."  

I nodded. "He's back with Missy now which is where he wanted to be." 

"You know, I would give my right arm for just a year in that kind of relationship."

I squeezed her hand. "Speaking of that how's Ken?"

The smile reappeared in an instant, as if a photographer had jumped out of the closet in order to capture her close-up. Nicole practically purred. "He's fantastic, thank you very much!"

I laughed as her face began to grow a bit wistful. "I do think I love him, Beth. And I KNOW," she said, standing up and pacing the room. "I know that's absolutely ridiculous. There is NO way you can fall in love with someone in days." She punched her fist on the table like a lawyer attempting to make her argument. "But I swear, Beth, we have spoken every moment since we've met. I know more about Ken than I do about you, and I've known you for how long now? Ten years?"

I smirked. "That's only because you never listen to me."

"Very funny," she snorted. "I even know his childhood stories already—first girlfriends, how he feels about his career, what he wants for the future—everything. It's like we interviewed each other up front just to get on with it."

I laughed. "Girl, maybe once you're our age the brain just knows we don't have time to dance around anymore. You either feel it." I looked away. "Or, you don't."

"HEY!" The little body was flung beside me once again, as Nicole wagged her finger in my face and gave me the dreaded 'mother' look. "I forgot you can deflect in an instant. WHY are there personal items of Mr. McKenna's in YOUR bedroom?"

I sighed. "He was helping me through. After Jerry…he stayed with me." 

Nodding slowly, Nicole squinted at me as if looking for any secrets. "Well…that was very nice of him. Matt seems like he has some of those hero qualities you always tout in your books." Her stare soon turned into that of a kidnapper's ready to waterboard her victim. "No," she finally said, shaking her head. "That's not it."

I gasped. "I'm serious. Matt was very kind and compassionate after Jerry's death." I
was
telling the truth, after all, so my eyes never wavered from hers. Unfortunately, the blush was uncontrollable.

Nicole's eyes grew wider as my cheeks grew hotter, and she suddenly looked as if her headband had tightened around her skull and the plastic needles were now officially touching her brain. "You slept with him."

"That's usually what it means when someone comes in and holds you while you sleep."

"NO!" She shook her head, and I rose off the bed. I really needed those exits on either side of my body in order to finish this conversation. "You did!"

I put my hand in the air. "No. I did not make love to him, and he did not make love to me."

She sat back. "Well, there's SOMETHING you're not telling me."

I sighed heavily. "Oh, for crissake…we had an intimate moment, that's all."

The clapping hands were louder than her voice, if that was at all possible. "YAY!" Nicole grabbed my hand and practically threw me on the bed. "Tell, tell. What's he like? Was he gentle? Tough, rough, ready? Is he…well-endowed?" She laughed, elbowing me in the side as she immediately turned into a fifteen-year-old girl who'd just been felt up for the very first time.

"Like I'm going to answer any of that." I leaned in. "How's Ken in that department?"

Nicole's mouth snapped shut as her eyelashes flickered like a mare in heat. "Honey, he's Texan."

"And?" I pushed.

"And everything's bigger in Texas."

We burst into laughter as a knock came at the door.

"Yeah?" I called out.

The door opened and Matt walked down the small hallway into the room. It still sounds so unbelievably asinine, but my breath caught in my throat as if I was just seeing him for the first time. I suddenly felt as if it would take only one word from him for me to toss Nicole out the window so we could be alone.

As if oblivious to the other woman in the room, Matt wrapped his arm around my waist and pressed his full lips to mine, kissing me as if he'd been overseas for the past year and had just returned home from the battle. Well, to be fair, being around Nicole was a bit like standing in a war zone. 

I tried to pull from his embrace when the kiss ended, just to locate my lungs in order to make them work again, but he held me to him. "Hi," he said, with a smile.

I could hear my hard swallow in my ears. "Hi," I whispered back.

I felt his hand playing with the hair down my back.

"Damn, girl! If this is the new standard greeting in your household I'm moving in!" Nicole spoke loudly, as if reminding Matt there was another entity in the room.

I glanced at the open window. She
was
small…it wouldn't take much.

Matt turned to Nicole, who was standing with her arms outstretched, and kissed her on the cheek. "Hi, Nicole."

Her frown was immediate. "Figures."

"I've met Ken." Matt laughed. "The man could kill me with one punch, so I'll stick with the cheek."

"I'll give you that one." Nicole grinned. "Wise choice, son."

Those brilliant eyes that were now green to match his pale green shirt turned back to me. "Did she tell you about Amber?"

All the blood rushed back to my head and I grabbed him, hugging him tight. "Yes!"

"She is so excited," he said.

I pulled back, noticing that we were dancing in each other's arms. 

Spinning me out, Mat pulled me back in—a small victory dance that I truly thought was the most romantic thing any man could ever do.

"She wants to see you," he said, turning to Nicole. "AND, she wants to show YOU the big finale of our piece together so that you can rave about what an amazing singer and dancer she is."

Nicole hit him gently on the chest. "Oh, I already know she's gonna steal the show right out from under you."

Heading out the door, Matt and I were right behind Nicole. His hand was once again on my back and I felt…comfortable. I'd always hated that word.
Comfortable
had to be the most boring adjective in the world when it came to relationships. But, for some reason, at this moment 
comfortable
meant secure, peaceful and tremendously happy.

When we reached the landing the small body before us immediately spun around. "Oh, by the way," Nicole began, her professional tone back in place. "Amber and I are staying tonight and we can all head back into the city tomorrow. So we need to share your room."

I nodded. "Duh."

She offered a slightly teasing smile as she looked Matt up and down. "No, I mean…"

I sent her a glare, trying to stop her from saying anything that would embarrass me enough to want to jump off the roof.

"I mean…if there's any funny business inside the house." She leaned toward a smiling Matt. "You know, I think your friend Chris and Bobby are heading down the path of true love. So I think it would be best to remind them that a child will be in the house." 

He nodded, as I felt my face burn. "I'll have a talk with Chris."

Nicole spun around and headed down the stairs. "Of course, I hear that the beach alcove  on your property, Beth, is very romantic. It really shouldn't go to waste."