Carved in Stone (32 page)

“That figures,” Carrie snorted, trying to join in the weak joke.

“There’s a small television in your bedroom. I’m not completely selfish,” Michael said, grinning.

Was she actually agreeing to this madness? She thought of her bathroom at home and how she had been too sick to clean up after herself. That was probably reason enough to let him help her. This was his child after all. Her condition was his fault as well as hers.

“I’m too sick to turn down the offer,” she told him finally. “But I’m keeping my own place regardless of how it looks. I want contingency clauses in the prenuptial agreement if it doesn’t work out.”

Michael nodded his head. “Send your stipulations to the attorney listed on the agreement. He’ll let me know. I’ll get back to you on anything I disagree with.”

“Don’t read too much into my capitulation, Michael,” Carrie said tiredly. “The situation isn’t giving me much choice.”

Michael stood and walked to the door. “Come spend a couple days as a trial, and then we’ll move your things this weekend. By then you’ll have settled into the space.”

“If you want to meet me here tomorrow at one, you can drive me to the doctor’s appointment,” she said weary of the whole situation. “When I get to feeling better, I’m probably going to regret letting you talk me into this.”

“We’ll deal with that when the time comes,” Michael told her. “You want me to take you home?”

Carrie shook her head. “The wave has passed for the moment. I need to get as much done as I can before the next one hits.”

“See you tomorrow then,” Michael said, keeping his back to her. “I’m glad you like the ring. It suits you.”

Chapter 21

“Well, at least Jessica’s not still mad at you,” Will said, sipping his cold coffee just for something to do. “I would have told her it was my fault that you didn’t tell, but she’s not talking to me.”

Melanie topped off Will’s coffee to warm it up. The man was barely functional.

“Any other time she would have laughed about finding out about your past. It’s a silly thing to be so mad about, and I’m not buying that’s the problem,” Melanie said, for once taking Will’s side over Jessica’s. “Something else is going on with Jessica. She’s back in therapy. I only know this because she left here to go there and accidentally mentioned it. Then she looked like she wished she hadn’t.”

Will closed his eyes, feeling the hurt to the depths of him. It was Nathan, he thought. Jessica had gone back to therapy because she was remembering Nathan. Also his fault, he decided, even as he wondered for the millionth time how he managed to do so much unintentional damage to a woman he loved.

“Jessica has survived a lot worse in her life than our relationship,” Will said softly. “I’m sure what we had will seem like nothing more than a minor speed bump along the road of her life one day soon.”

“I’m not worried about her getting over you. I’m worried because she’s stopped flirting,” Melanie said briskly. “I’ve known Jessica Daniels for over a decade. Men come and go, but this is the first time she has gotten to a point where she doesn’t flirt, laugh, or tease no matter what a man says to her. Poor old Mr. Beaumont was devastated when she didn’t kiss him on the cheek when she left the other day.”

“Great. It’s barely been a week and she’s kissing other men already,” Will said morosely.

“No, it’s not great. Mr. Beaumont is ninety-two. Jessica always flirts with him and kisses him goodbye.” Melanie wiped the counter furiously. “She’s not happy anymore, Will. That’s what always set her apart from other women. Jessica Daniels was always happy with herself. She was my role model.”

Will wanted the ground to just open up and swallow him. His guilt over ruining Jessica Daniels’ happy life was so heavy it was breaking his back to stand up straight.

“I can’t fix this if she won’t talk to me,” Will said sadly, rubbing his face as he slid off the bar stool. He tucked bills beside his coffee cup and picked up his helmet. “If you have any suggestions, let me know.”

Melanie nodded and watched Will walk out the door. She could think of nothing this time to help either of them. The best she could hope for was for Jessica to come around.

***

“I know it’s been a while since I came by for a visit, but I met this man I really needed to talk to you about. The funny thing is he’s a lot like you.”

Jessica dropped to the grass besides Nathan Daniels’ grave and sat. The Lexington Cemetery was as beautiful as any park, and you forgot that if you didn’t visit much.

“I’m thinking about marrying him, Nathan. What I feel for him has made it pretty obvious to me that I need to let go of you completely before I do.

She plucked at the grass and ran a hand over the ground.

“You were a good husband for the short time we were together. I know you couldn’t be there after the rape, but I always thought you somehow sent the good men my way to help me. I just never could get serious about any of them though.”

Jessica reached out and arranged the flowers she’d brought with her in the little vase she had buried in the ground by his headstone years ago.

“Okay. So the man’s name is William Larson. He’s both a retired principal and a stone sculptor. I’m mad at him right now because he—well, it’s complicated. And stupid, I guess, if I believe everybody else. I think I have right to be upset, but Dr. Whitmore says I’m just looking for an excuse to push Will away like I did with all the other men since you. Do you think that’s true?” Jessica asked sadly, her voice starting quiver as her eyes filled with tears.

“You know, I told myself after I lost you that I was never going to love any man that much again, and I haven’t until now. Dr. Whitmore keeps telling me I need to go tell Will I love him and talk things out.” Jessica sniffed. “I miss him, Nathan. I don’t know if that means I love him or not, but I miss him more than I even missed you when you died. I hope you think this is okay because I don’t think all the therapy in the world is going to change how I feel about him.”

She stood and looked down at the grave, sniffling and fighting tears while she tried to finish. “This is probably going to be my last grave visit for a very long time. I would appreciate it if you would stay out of my dreams because I really don’t want any more confusion. I’m going to have to go take on an ex-wife who wants Will back, and two of the sweetest, but most interfering adult children on earth. Brooke is going to love them, but the Larson family is not restful or easy. I need a clear mind to deal with them.”

Jessica pulled up the bottom of her tee shirt and used it to wipe her eyes and nose.

“You know that I’m usually not such an emotional mess. Will just does this to me. It’s one of the many reasons I tried not to get involved with him for so long. But I don’t think you can choose who you love.

She looked around the other graves. It wasn’t her time yet. And she didn’t want to go before she had lived and loved with everything in her. “You know I really loved you, Nathan. Will is the first man I’ve loved since you, and I just needed to let you know about him before I try to make it work.”

“I hope wherever you are that you are happy,” Jessica added. “Wish me luck, okay?”

She rubbed her runny nose on her sleeve again as she walked back to her car.

***

Michael carried Carrie’s overnight case into his bedroom and set it on the bed.

“So this is your room. I haven’t completely emptied the bathroom yet, but I’ll get that done before you move in,” he said, searching her fearful gaze for signs that she was going to break and run. “Please stop looking like this is a prison cell. Can’t you spin it a little bit positively in that business brain of yours?”

Carrie shook her head to clear the overwhelming confusion she felt. “Sorry. You’ve been great. You were great today and I—I don’t mean to be ungrateful for your help.”

“Okay, that’s more contrition than I can handle,” Michael said, walking to her and putting his arms around her to hug gently. She froze in his arms, but he ran comforting light hands over her back until she relaxed against him for a moment. “We’ve been lovers. You’re carrying my child. You have to let me try to be your friend for a few months while we deal with this situation. I’m too emotional a person to walk around here being stoic while you hurt.”

“Give me a few days,” she said, pulling out of his arms and walking a few steps away. “I’ll try to find some way to think about all this that won’t be obnoxious.”

“You’re not being obnoxious,” Michael declared, shoving hands in his pockets to stop from reaching for her again. “I just—look, settle in and then come find me. I’m working on a new piece out in the courtyard. Dad’s out there finishing a marble bust that I think you’d enjoy seeing. My mother is picking up food on the way over. I hope the medicine will let you eat.”

“Okay,” Carrie said, because it seemed the only polite answer to give. “Thanks, Michael.”

When Michael walked out of the room and closed the door softly behind him, Carrie collapsed on the bed and thought about how much the room smelled like him. It was the only scent that didn’t seem to send her immediately running to be sick.

She stretched out with her shoes still on and closed her eyes, thinking she’d just give herself a few moments to rest. A couple minutes later she was fast asleep.

***

“Carrie’s in the bedroom settling in,” Michael told his father as he watched him remove the dust from the bust’s breasts with a soft brush. “That’s absolutely some of your best work.”

Will turned and looked at his son. “I know, and thanks.”

“Why a bust?” Michael asked. “Why not a full statue? A Venus de Milo with Jessica’s body and face would be an amazing piece of work. Your girlfriend’s hot.”

“Overlooking the
hot
comment from the newly engaged man, I’m just going to tell you I chose a bust because the look on Jessica’s face is what I miss the most when we’re not together,” Will said quietly. “The first time I picked her up to go out, she had the most eager, open expression I’ve ever seen on any woman over seventeen. There are very few circumstances that put that level of happiness on her face. I hope she finds someone to do that for her again. I carved what I wanted for her—for both of us.”

“Jessica’s coming back to you, Dad. She just needs some time to get over the fact she overreacted. I think I understand her. She and I are a lot alike,” Michael said. “Damn if Shane’s touchy-feely lingo isn’t rubbing off on me.”

“Did I hear my name being used in vain?” Shane said, walking up to his brother and father. “Where’s the woman we’re supposed to meet. Gee Dad, nice bust of Jessica.”

“Thanks,” Will said, smiling at Shane’s unabashed appraisal.

Shane walked over and ran a hand over the statue’s face and his fingertips over her breasts. When he looked at his father, he simply couldn’t stifle the laugh at his Dad’s angry expression.

“What? You created it. Better get used to it being touched. It’s damn near irresistible. All your statues are, Dad,” Shane said, grinning.

Will sighed and frowned at him. “Put my reaction in your damn book and you will die a slow, tortuous death. Fathers have sacrificed their children throughout history. I’m still young enough to make another child to replace you.”

Shane exchanged a wicked look with Michael, who was grinning but saying nothing. “Tell me you haven’t wanted to touch it.”

“Don’t look at me, bro. I have enough problems,” Michael said. “I don’t need Dad upset with me.”

“Your mother move completely out yet?” Will asked Shane, trying to get the conversation onto something other than the bust of Jessica and how appealing it was.

“I have the rest of her stuff in my car. She and Luke are coming to dinner, right?” Shane said.

Michael nodded. “Yes. I thought we would do one dinner meet and greet with Carrie to get it over with quickly. She’s still pretty sick, so she may end up heading to her room for most of the evening. Mom is picking up the catered food I ordered. I didn’t want to fill the house with cooking smells until Carrie’s medicine starts to take better effect. The doctor said it would be two or three days.”

Will patted Michael on the shoulder. “That was very thoughtful. Your mother was sick both times she was pregnant. It’s really awful watching someone go through it. I can’t imagine how it is to be the one sick for months and months.”

“If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know,” Shane said, keeping his voice quiet.

Michael nodded. “Just try not to scare her with your ugly mug. Are you ever going to get a haircut again or shave on a regular basis?”

Shane raked a hand through his shoulder length blond locks and tucked them back behind his ears. “There. Is that more respectable?”

“No. It’s still on your head,” Michael said on a laugh. “But I guess it will have to do.”

A rap on the patio door had them all looking at the cool blond smiling and waving at them.

“Mom looks so much happier. I don’t know what happened, but it was good,” Shane said, smiling.

Will looked at Ellen and watched her setting the food out on Michael’s kitchen table. He walked back to the bust of Jessica.

“I guess Luke forgave her,” Will said softly, taking a cloth and wiping the rest of the dust away.