Parker's Island (48 page)

“I don’t have a prescription for that
,
”
m
y doctor said
sadly
, glancing at me with a worried look.

“This is ridiculous
,
Delaney.  Let me call him, please?”
m
y aunt pleaded
once we got home
.

“NO
!
  I’m sorry.  I just panicked.  I can do this on my own.”

“You’re not on your own
,
honey
.  Y
our mom will be here and so will I.”

“I know, thank you.”

“Delaney, why are you torturing yourself?”

“I’m not
,
” I said, defensively.

“Really?”

“Can we just get back to work?” I said, needing to keep my mind busy.

“Okay.  Are we ready for the Madison Show?”
s
he asked, giving up.

“Yeah
,
I shipped everything last week.  All you have to do is show up
,
” I said.

“Great!  You are wonderful.  So wonderful in fact, that I want you to go with me.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not?  You could use a break.  It’ll be fun.  We’ll do the show, hobnob with the elite, and then have a few expensive dinners on the Galleries
’
dime.  Come with me, please.”
             
“Thanks, but I have a lot to do here.  Keeping you on track is a full time job.”

“Am I really that difficult?”
s
he asked.

“I didn’t mean that…
”
             
“I’m teasing you
,
honey.  But, I am your boss and as your boss I am ordering
you
to go.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Life isn’t always fair
,
Delaney.  Get packed.”

As if I didn’t know that
life
was
n’t
always fair
; s
he was preaching to the choir.  “I don’t have anything to wear.”

“I already thought of that.  There are a few new things hanging in your closet.  Consider it a bonus
,
”
s
he smiled.

“You didn’t need to buy me anything,”
I said, remembering arguing with Logan over the very same thing a few months earlier at the maternity shop.  I knew I wasn’t going to win, so I said, “I guess I better book another flight.”

“I already did,” she grinned, and handed me a ticket.

Our flight left two days later.  My aunt was trying very hard to show me a good time, so I decided to make an attempt to at least look like I was having fun.

We toured the city’s attractions which left me exhausted by day’s end.  I was so tired that by the time I was dressed and ready for the art exhibit
,
I asked if I could bow out and stay in our room.

“Don’t you want to see all your hard work pay off?”

“Yes, but…
”

“Come on
,
honey
. 
I promise you don’t have to do anything.  You can sit and watch from the sidelines.  But I really would like you to see just how much
all your work
matters.  I think you’ll enjoy it.  Please come.”

“Okay.  I would like to see all of your work displayed.”  I said, yawning and stretching my back.

The gallery was lovely and my aunt’s artwork looked magnificent against the dark backdrops and perfect
light
ing
. 
Each piece was displayed beautifully. 
I made my way slowly through the halls, enjoying all of the exhibits
,
when I
turned a corner and
ran straight into Wesley Barnett.  I mean that in the literal sense
. 
I actually ran into him.  I looked up at the handsome older version of Logan and took a deep breath.  Panic started to creep in and I wanted to run and hide, but it was too late.  I knew he recognized me, so I uttered a quiet
,
“
H
ello.”

“Delaney, right?”
h
e said.

“Um, yes
,
” I said, swallowing hard.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me
, Wesley?” a
tall blonde woman asked.  She was standing at his side with her arms wrapped snuggly through his.

“She
used to be a
friend
of my son’s
,” h
e told her.
  He then turned to me and said,
“Glad to see you came to your senses.” 

“So, is that your son’s kid?”  The blonde asked
, pointing at my large belly
.

“No.  Logan’s married
to someone else,
and he’s going to stay that way.  They’re expecting a little bundle of joy all their own any day now
,
”
h
e said, with obvious venom.  “Good to see yo
u
,
Delaney
,
”
h
e said, looking happy that I was obviously so distressed.

I nodded my head and then slowly backed away.  Unfortunately, I didn’t look where I was walking and I ended up knocking one of my aunts’ art pieces over.  The crash was deafening, and everyone stopped and stared.  I didn’t know what to do
.
I was starting to panic and suddenly my aunt was
by
my side.

“Delaney
,
are you alright?”
s
he asked, studying me carefully for the slightest injury.

I was staring at him, terrified. 

“Delaney?”
s
he
aske
d again.  “DELANEY!”
s
he said, obviously worried about my state of mind at that moment.

“I’m sorry
,
” I said, and ran off
, looking for the nearest place to hide.

My aunt found me 30 minutes later hiding in the ladies room.  “Honey, I don’t care about the piece
. 
I can make another one.”
             
“That’s not it
.
I am sorry I broke such a beautiful sculpture, but that’s not why I ran off.  Is he gone?” I asked,
still visibly
shaking.

“Is who gone?” 

“Wesley Barnett.”

“Was that the man you were talking to before you ran off?”
s
he asked.

“Yes.”

“I don’t know where he is.  I’ve been searching for you.”

“May I please go back to the hotel now?” I asked, desperate to leave.

“Who
’s
Wesley
Barnett,
oh wait,
Logan
Barnett
…
was
that
Logan’s
father?”

“Yes.”

“I wished I’d known
that’s who he was.  I have a few things I would have loved to say to him.”

“Please, just make sure he’s gone so I can leave.”

“Why are you hiding?  You’ve done nothing wrong!  I hope he is still out there so I can give him a piece of my
..
.”
             
“Please don’t, please.
  For me?”

“Okay
honey
, let’s go
,
”
she said, putting her arm around me, obviously worried about my current state of mind.

“You don’t have to go
.  J
ust see if he’s gone and I’ll take a cab back to the room.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. 
I’m not leaving you like this.  Why are you so frightened of him?”

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly.  The man terrified me and I felt
terrible that Logan had to be raised by such a
dreadful
man.

She put her arm around me and walked me outside.  We took a cab back to the hotel and then
I convinced her to head
back to finish up her show.  I paced the room, unsure of what to do with myself.  I really wanted to talk to someone, so I decided to give Molly a call.

“Hi
,
Delaney
.  S
he’s not home right now.  She’s out with Brian again.  We sure miss seeing you around here.  Can I give her a message
for you
?”

“No, no message.  Thanks.”

It was silly, but
I almost found myself calling Brian’s house.  “You
can
not talk to Brian about this!”  I scolded myself just as the phone rang.

“Delaney?”

“Brian?” I asked, so happy to hear his voice.

“Yeah, Molly’s mom just called and said you sounded upset.  Molly just left
.  S
he should be home by now
, or very soon
.  What’s wrong?”

“I just needed a friendly voice
.
I’m okay.”

“What happened?” 

“I shouldn’t bother you with this
.  I
t’s not fair.”

“Delaney, I told you to call if you needed to talk.  I care about you.  Tell me what’s wrong.”
             
“Are you sure?”

“Delaney, please.”

“I ran into…
wait, before I tell you this
,
you have to promise that you won’t beat him up!” I said, and grinned, feeling better just hearing Brian’s voice.

“That all depends on
who
he
is and
what
he
did
?”
h
e said, honestly.

“You’re impossible!  I miss you
,
”
I almost laughed.

“I miss you
,
too.  Now, who am I not supposed to beat up?”

“It doesn’t even matter anymore
.  Y
ou’ve already made me feel better.  Thank you.”

“Oh come on, I was looking forward to kicking someone’s butt!”

I laughed then, and it felt good.  “How are you?”

“I’m okay.  And you?”

“I’m better now that I’m talking to you!  How are things with Molly?”

“Um, they’re fine
,
”
h
e said sheepishly.

“
Just fine?  That’s all?”
I asked, probing for more.

“They’re great
,
actually
,
”
h
e said, sounding almost embarrassed.

“I’m so happy for you.  You deserve it, and so does
Molly.  Thank you for calling…
I feel so much better now.”

“Anytime.
  Are you feeling okay?  You must be getting close to having the baby?”

“A few more weeks
,
”
I said, absentmindedly rubbing my belly.

“Delaney, do
you want me to come down there…
you know, when it’s time?  You can scream and shout at me, break my hand or something.”

“Thank you, but I’m not sure Molly would appreciate that.  Besides, my mom and aunt will be there
,
” I said, once again reminded of what a wonderful man Brian is.”

“I will
..
.if you want me.”

“I’ll be fine.  Goodnight, and thanks again.”

“Goodnight, Delaney.  Take care of yourself, and the offer still stands,” he said and hung up the phone.

I felt much better after talking to Brian. I got ready for bed and once again,
I
l
aid
there, thinking of the two
wonderful
men in
my life
.  And then my thoughts once again, turned to
Logan
..
.

Over the course of the next two weeks, I threw myself into my work.  I didn’t stop except to eat or sleep.  My aunt was getting extremely worried and said so on a daily basis.

“Delaney, you need to slow down.  This is not good for you or the baby.  What good are you going to be to me if you pass out from exhaustion?
”