A Man to Call My Own

Chapter 52

MAYBE YOU CAN HAVE a little talk with her?" Stuart suggested.

Stuart and Kathleen were the only two left in her room. Spencer and Amanda had gone back to theirs, and Chad left soon after. Without actually planning it, they found themselves suddenly alone. It was still soon enough after Marian's departure that Kathleen didn't need to ask Stuart of whom he was speaking.

"I probably should. Something is definitely bothering her."

"I don't mean about that, I mean about my boy. He's got some powerful feelings for her, but she's driving him crazy. She treats him like he's invisible."

"Of course she does," Kathleen said in Marian's defense. "I would, too, if a man who'd made love to my sister suddenly started showing interest in me."

Stuart sighed. "You know that was a mistake. Dammit, Red, the boy was tricked. You know it. I know it. It's about time Marian knew it."

"I doubt it will make much difference."

"Or it could make all the difference," he insisted. "So tell her."

Kathleen shook her head. "If she hears it from anyone, it should be him. If he's got powerful feelings for her, why hasn't he told her about them?"

"Because he's thinking the same way you are, that it won't make much difference. You could at least find out if he's got any chance at all."

Kathleen rolled her eyes. "So could he. If they can't get together on their own, then they weren't meant to. I'm no matchmaker. Neither are you, for that matter. So what brought all this on?"

He mumbled, "Young folks make mistakes they end up regretting. You did. Married a man you didn't love just to get out of this town. Chad did, made love to the wrong woman. 'Course he didn't know it, and that's what really stinks about this whole thing. If that ain't enough to regret, I don't want to see him regretting a lost opportunity with the woman he does want."

"So why aren't you pestering him to do something about it already?"

"Already did," Stuart admitted in a grumble. "But you know him well enough by now to guess his answer. He told me to mind my own business."

Kathleen burst out laughing and moved over to sit on Stuarts lap. "Sound advice. And you have some business you can mind right now."

That got a smile out of him as she knew it would. They were so compatible, it seemed like they'd always been together. She pretty much knew what he was going to say before he said it. There were few surprises with Stuart. For all his gruffhess, he had a big heart.

Funny thing about being happy. It made you want everyone else around you to be happy, too. So of course he'd be concerned about his son's dilemma. She was just as concerned about what was bothering Marian, but she figured it was related to where they were. Marian had a lot of unpleasant memories associated with this town. Kathleen did, too, but she'd been away long enough for it not to affect her. Not so for Marian.

What she didn't think, was that Marian's sudden bad temper had anything to do with Chad. She'd done too good a job of ignoring him. She was afraid Chad was going to be flat out of luck where she was concerned, that any feelings involved were completely one sided. Which was too bad.

He should have told her how he felt about her sooner. He should have at least let her know what really happened in that stable, that he'd thought it was she with him that day. But he'd let too much time go by without telling her about his feelings. Just like a man, to prevaricate too long.

Kathleen blushed with the thought. She'd done the exact same thing by not letting Stuart know about her love for him. He'd scolded her thoroughly for that. If he hadn't tried to distract her from worrying about Marian the night of the barbecue, they might never have realized that their feelings were mutual.

She hugged him, tightly, for what she might have missed out on. Her present happiness still dazed her. And she was enjoying this trip back to Haverhill immensely—because Stuart was with her.

"You getting emotional on me again, Red?" Stuart guessed, chuckling.

Kathleen leaned back, grinning at him. "It's a good thing you don't mind."

His arms gathered her closer. Their lips met, gently at first, then with a great deal of passion. Soon, they were oblivious to their surroundings, aware of nothing but each other. Making love with Stuart was like making love for the first time. Kathleen would never have guessed just how wonderful it could be—with the right man.

Marian wasn't a bit surprised to find she'd wandered toward home without paying attention. Her old home.

She stood in front of the large three-story house for the longest time, just staring at it. It wasn't vacant. New drapes adorned the front windows. Someone had redecorated, and was living in it. Albert? She could at least hope so. That would mean it hadn't been sold, and they might be able to recover it.

"Excuse me," a female voice said. And then a bit more harshly, "Excuse me, you're blocking the gate."

Marian finally heard the woman next to her and blushed, quickly stepping out of the way. "I'm sorry. I'm afraid I was lost in thought."

"An odd place to stop and think," the woman huffed, and moved the baby stroller she was pushing forward so she could open the short gate at the pathway that led up to Marian's house—her old house.

Marian frowned when it was obvious the woman and child were going to enter the house. "A moment, please," she said, quickly following her up the path to the door. "Do you know who lives here?"

"I do," the woman said impatiently.

"Oh," Marian returned in disappointment.

So much for thinking the house might be recovered. The woman wasn't a servant. She was dressed in the height of fashion. While some servants could afford fashionable clothes, they couldn't afford fashionable clothes made out of such rich materials as this woman was wearing. Besides, she was much too snippy to be a servant.

Marian turned to leave, but then thought to ask, "Do you know Albert Bridges?"

"Certainly. He's my brother."

Marian caught back the gasp before it escaped. So she had been right. Albert was living there and had apparently moved in his whole family—sisters, brothers-in-law, nephews, and who knew who else.

The woman was tapping her foot. The baby was starting to fuss.

"I'm sorry to have bothered you," Marian offered, and turned to leave again.

"Just a minute," the woman demanded. "What do you want with Albert?"

Marian decided a fabrication was in order, so as not to cause any suspicion. She quickly offered one.

"My husband wishes to retain Mr. Bridges's legal services. He went by his office, but was told he was presently out of town."

"And so he is. He's not due back until the end of the week."

"I'm not sure we can wait that long. The matter is rather urgent."

"Hardly my concern," Albert's sister said tersely. "Either have your husband get an appointment at Albert's office or find another lawyer. But in either case, stop bothering me. Good day."

The door was slammed shut on Marian. What a rude, unpleasant woman. She wondered if she'd always been that way, or maybe guilt over what Albert had done had turned her into a shrew.

But Marian didn't tarry any longer. She walked back to the hotel, passing through the busier areas of town, lost in thought again. She had to decide whether to confess to the others that she'd gone out, when she'd been warned not to. She'd have to if she was going to tell them what she'd found out. Or she could just say nothing.

It wasn't really pertinent, after all, that Albert was living in their old house. Only Amanda would be glad —or enraged—to hear it. And she was sure that before Friday one of the men would find out where he lived, since they would want to cover his office, his home, and the train station on the day he was due back, to make sure they didn't miss him.

And she'd already done the most that she could do to help to apprehend him. She'd painted each of the men a small portrait of Albert from memory, so they'd know who they were looking for. Albert really didn't stand a chance of eluding them—if he returned to town.