Adrian had just kissed Dessa's hand as he applied the brakes. Luke was with Trixie, in front of them, in Laura's Blazer.
"How about dinner tonight?" Adrian asked.
"I have to work on a paper for my class," Dessa was taking part time management classes to help Laura with the business.
"One hour."
"I'll think about it," she said softly.
"What's wrong?" Adrian glanced at her.
"I'm just tired," Dessa said quietly.
"Don't lie."
"I-" Dessa's words cut off as she screamed.
Laura glanced in the rear view mirror. Luke and Trixie were buckled into the back seat and playing a game of counting blue cars. The light changed and she moved forward. Too late she saw the old pickup hurling through the intersection at her. Trixie's scream ripped through her ears as the sickening crunch of metal challenged the sound and the Blazer spun.
"Laura!" Adrian was out of the car and running towards the white Blazer, now half wrapped around a telephone pole on the opposite side of the intersection. All cars had stopped and people were getting out of their cars. The driver of the pickup was slumped over the wheel. "Laura!"
Dessa was on her cell phone calling 911 as she ran for Luke.
Adrian reached the car as Trixie got her door open. Screaming, she flew into Adrian's arms, followed by a shaky Luke. Dessa grabbed her baby brother and held him tight. Adrian could see Laura pinned in her seat by the airbag. She wasn't moving and blood was dripping down the side of her head. Gripping the hysterical child to him he got around to her side.
"Paramedics are on the way. Don't move her," a tall, thin young man stopped Adrian from tearing the door open. Ignoring the boy he opened the door. Trixie was wailing and holding onto him for dear life. Adrian kept her back to Laura so she wouldn't see the blood on her aunt's face. Shards of glass rested on Laura's shoulder, most of it was on the ground. The shriek of the ambulance was rapidly approaching. Dessa reached Adrian. Luke was pale and shaky but ok.
"Trixie, can you go to Dessa? " Adrian asked, smoothing her hair. Trixie 's screams had subsided into sobs. " Trixie? "
"Don't let me go Adrin. Don' t leave me like Daddy did!" she sobbed. Adrian held her tightly. How foolish of him to have forgotten she had watched her father die. Now Laura. . .
"Ok, I won't. I've got you. I've got you Trix," he whispered. The ambulance was here. Paramedics were rushing towards them. Several witnesses stood at the other driver ' s car, making sure he couldn "WP TypographicSymbols";'t leave. The police had arrived.
A paramedic cut the air bag open and it deflated rapidly.
"Smart girl. She had her seat belt on." One of them remarked.
Laura's eyes opened slowly. Adrian watched her closely. Where the hell was Adam?
"Where's Trixie?" Laura asked groggily.
"She's with Adrian, Laura. She's ok." Dessa gripped her friends hand as the paramedic lifted her out of the car. They were putting her on a stretcher.
"Was the child in the car too?" a paramedic asked. Dessa nodded.
"We need to take her to the hospital as well. The boy too."
"Can you talk to the police?" Adrian asked Dessa. She nodded. "I can't leave her. "
Dessa didn 't ask if he meant Trixie or Laura. Adrian kissed her lightly. "Meet us at the hospital. "
"Ok. "
* * *
Luke was pronounced still in shock but would be fine. Trixie had been given a sedative and fallen asleep in Adrian's arms. Laura was signing her release papers. She had escaped with a minor cut, a massive headache and a sprained wrist. The blazer was totaled. The other driver had fallen asleep at the wheel and he had survived without a scratch. The police had gotten Laura ' s statement. Laura would press charges.
"How you feel?" he asked, as he waited for Laura to be released.
"Awful. My head is pounding. "
"We'll take you home, don't worry. I 've already talked to your mother. She's worried and wanted to come see you but I told her you to wait until tomorrow. "
"Thank you," Laura smiled up at him.
* * * Dessa and Luke 's house was first, so Adrian dropped them off. He went inside to make sure they were ok and settled. Laura knew he had argued with Dessa when he returned by the tense look in his eyes.
"You should come back to her after you drop me off. "
"You're injured and Trixie is traumatized. I 'm not leaving you. Adam would hang me. "
"She's your girlfriend. "
"You know that's not the case. We have an open relationship with no commitment. "
"But you care for her," Laura countered.
"Yes I do. Deeply. But I care about the two of you as well, and Adam would hang me if I left you alone. As it is, he ' ll kill me for not calling him immediately. "
"He'll be back tomorrow. Don't call him. I 'll talk to him then. "
"Bad idea, Laura. " They pulled into her driveway. "Adam hates that kind of thing."
"Adam doesn 't need to know. He's got that big deal he's working on and I don't want to ruin his concentration. "
Adrian carried Trixie in and settled her into bed. Laura changed into her peach pajamas and climbed into her own bed. Adrian appeared in the doorway, then came in and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Trixie should sleep through the night. The sedative they gave her is pretty strong. "
"We'll be fine Adrian. "
"I'd like to stay in case she wakes up with nightmares. It wouldn't be unheard of. "
Laura sighed.
"Adrian, I'm fine. " " No, Laura you 're not. You could have died today. You and Trixie both. And I had to watch," his eyes were furious and Laura swallowed. "My heart stopped when that truck slammed into you and I thought you were dead. You weren't moving and that poor kid was reliving her father's death. She begged me not to leave her Laura, and I couldn't. I can't. I won't. And I won't leave you either. " " Because Adam will hang you. Yes I know," she laid back against the pillows, her eyes half closed. Adrian growled low in his throat. "You don't get it. " "Get what?" the sedative they had given her was clouding her thoughts. He was so handsome, she thought drowsily. Adrian touched her cheek and kissed her deeply. Laura was floating away, kissing him back, wanting him, her hands moving for him as she was falling into sedated sleep. "You don't get that we belong together, " he whispered. Laura pulled away, confused. Adrian knew by the glazed look the medication were taking over. “Adrian," she said thickly. "Go to sleep Laura," he said bitterly, leaving the room.
* * *
Adam was there within hours. Dessa had thought to call him, unaware of Laura's desire for him not to know. He cemented his deal and left New York immediately. Laura was still knocked out from the medications. Dessa had arrived to relieve Adrian from watch duty.
"What 's wrong?" she asked as he was pulling on his coat.
"I'm taking a trip. "
"What? Where? " Dessa demanded. His dark eyes were furious and bitter. Dessa stood in a defensive position, arms crossed over her chest, emerald eyes hard. She had wanted him to stay with them last night, Luke was silent and shaky, and her heart had raced for hours as she relived watching the blazer spin through the intersection. But Laura had come first.
"I don't know. Anywhere. Just away. "
"Adrian, what happened? " she touched his arm.
"I just need to get away."
"Trixie needs you."
"I already talked to her. Besides, Adam will be her new father shortly. She won't need me," he said angrily. "I'm just the fill in."
Dessa watched with despair as the younger brother stormed out of the house.
Sighing, she peeked in on Trixie. The girl had fallen asleep reading. Quietly, Dessa removed the book and set it aside, pulling the covers over the girl. Next she checked Laura's room. Her friend was out cold, so she returned to the living room. Instinct told her Adrian couldn't take being on the sidelines anymore. He wanted Laura. It was in the way he looked at her, the way he touched her. Laura refused to see it and Adam ignored it. Surely he knew how his brother coveted his fiancee.
Laura tossed on the bed, trapped in the wedding dream. Adam was spinning her around but she couldn't hear him. She could hear a male dimly calling her voice. . . begging her to love him.
"I do love you," she mumbled. He claimed they belonged together. Of course they did. . .
Slowly the dream faded and Laura lapsed back into quiet sleep.
Dessa was reading when she heard footsteps approaching. Adam opened the front door and set his briefcase down.
"How is she?" he demanded.
"She's ok. Asleep still. They gave her a heavy sedative."
"Trixie?"
"Asleep."
"I should have been here. I should have been with her."
"Adam, the passenger side was completely caved in. If you had been in the car you might have died," Dessa pointed out. Adam ran his hand over his hair.
"Where's Adrian?"
"Not sure. He'll be back, don't worry," Dessa said. Adam sank onto the couch as Dessa told him everything that happened.
"It just seems like I've never here when she needs me. Every time I leave her for business, something happens. I've got to convince Adrian to take over this part of the business. I need to be with her more. And Trixie. I need to be here more. Especially once we're married."
Dessa didn't bother to point out that Adrian probably wouldn't be seen for a while. Something told her he was going to go roam through the mountains for a while.
* * *
Dessa's feelings were right. Adrian vanished for almost two weeks, but Trixie didn't seem phased. Laura wondered if they had some kind of secret communication she didn't know about. It was late April and Spring had just started.
Adam was around constantly; Laura knew he was battling guilt for not being around during the accident but he was driving her crazy.
"The dress is going to turn out just like I envisioned," Dessa gloated as they left the seamstresses house.
"I hope so. I guess we need to work on the other details, huh?"
"Actually we're having lunch with Naida Manning to discuss all that. I told her what you wanted and she's working on it. The Botanical Gardens are definitely booked. They even have a floral specialist who will do the bouquets."
"Great," Laura replied. Dessa glanced at her.
"Why such a Gloomy Gus?"
"I don't know. I'm worried about Adrian. And Adam is making me crazy."
"How?"
"He's just...there. I'm used to him being in and out with his meetings and whatnot but he's around practically all the time."
"Get used to it," Dessa said dryly. Laura sighed.
"After lunch, let's go look for your dress."
"Ok," Dessa grinned. She knew Laura wanted her mind off of the brothers.
* * *
Adrian reappeared as suddenly as he disappeared. Adam was at the mansion one evening, selecting a bottle of wine for a surprise midnight picnic with Laura when his brother, sporting a full beard, appeared in the doorway.
"Where the bloody hell have you been?" Adam demanded. "No one has been able to find you."
"Yeah well, I needed a vacation," Adrian dropped his duffle bag on the floor. "Trixie knew where I was."
"She did?" Adam turned around, incredulous. The youngster had been questioned several times and claimed not to know his whereabouts.
"I told her how she could reach me, but only if it was an emergency. I told her I needed some time alone and I would be back in two weeks," Adrian opened the fridge and took a beer out.
"So where have you been?" Adam demanded as he set a package of strawberries into the basket.
"Tibet."
"Tibet?!"
"Yep. I'm going to bed. I have a date with Trixie in the morning."
Without another word Adrian left the kitchen, leaving Adam speechless.
* * *
When Laura opened the door the next morning immense relief washed over her. Without thinking she threw her arms around Adrian and hugged him tightly. It took her a few seconds to realize he was barely touching her back. Something had changed in him.
"Where have you been?" she demanded, searching his eyes for an answer. The beautiful chocolate brown eyes were closed to her and she didn’t like it.
"Adam didn't tell you?" he asked. Laura frowned.
"Adam knew where you were?"
"No, that I was back."
"No, he didn't. When did you get back?"
"Last night. I saw him at the house. I think he was on his way over here."
"Yeah, he was. Are you ok?"
"Fine. Here to pick up Trixie." She didn't like the beard.
"Adrian," she touched his face lightly. He didn't flinch, didn't move. "What's happened to you?"
"Nothing at all," he smiled politely.
"Adrin!"
Trixie flew down the hall to her hero and jumped into his waiting arms. He held the little girl tightly. Laura stood watching, silent and unnerved.
"We'll be back," Trixie announced. She was dressed in her pink jacket and hat.
"Ok." Laura managed. What the hell was going on?
* * *
"Get rid of the beard," Trixie told him as she licked her ice cream cone. Adrian's eyes studied her lovingly. If only she was his daughter.
"You don't like it?" he asked, amused.
"No. It's scratchy."
"I'll shave it today," he promised.
"So what is Teebet like?"
"Tibet," he corrected her. "It's very peaceful. Very spiritual. Someday I'll take you there and you can see it for yourself."
"Okay," Trixie grinned happily at him. Her adult teeth were starting to grow in slowly. "I missed you."
"I missed you too Trix. I just hope you understand why I had to go away."
"No but I knew you'd be back so it's okay."
"How's Laura?" he asked. Trixie shrugged.
"Weird since you left. I think she missed you."
"Adam?"
"He's around too much," she replied. Adrian tried not to choke on his soda as he muffled a laugh.
"You know Trix, once they're married he'll be around all the time. He'll be your new daddy."
"I don't want him to be my new daddy. I want you to be my new daddy."
"Me too Trix. But it's not working out that way."
Trixie's gray eyes suddenly lit up. Adrian sensed trouble.
"Don't worry Adrian," she said happily. "I'll take care of it all."
Adrian raised one eyebrow but thought it wise not to ask.
* * *
Laura sank down onto the couch, her feet aching. The last two weeks her sleep hadn't been restful and working at the bakery all day had worn her out the last few days.
Picking up the bridal magazine on the table, she wanted to look again at the styles Dessa liked. With only one attendant, she didn't really mind what Dessa wanted. She hadn't even settled on a color yet.
Flipping it open, Laura was aghast to find all the pages slashed and torn. What the hell? Reaching for another magazine she found the same thing. With a sinking feeling, she picked up the notebook with some of the early sketches Dessa had done for the dress. They were scribbled on with black marker.
Mind reeling, Laura knew there could only be one culprit. Adam would be here shortly and she wanted this taken care of.
"Trixie." The girl was lying on her bed, coloring.
"Yeah?"
"Did you do this?" Laura held out the magazines.
"Yep," she replied casually. Laura waited for an explanation but none came.
"Why?"
"I don't want you to marry Adam."
"Why not?"
"I don't want him to be my daddy," Trixie didn't look up from her picture.
"I thought you liked him," Laura sat on the bed. Trixie shrugged.
"I do. He's nice. I just don't want you to marry him."
Laura rubbed her temples.
"I need a better reason than that," she said quietly. "I love him Trix, and we want to be together."
"No you don't," Trixie switched to a blue marker.
"Excuse me?"
"You love Adrin."
Laura shook her head.
"Trixie, I plan to marry Adam unless you give me a very good reason not to. He will make a good father for you, if you give him a chance and I expect you to."
"No," Trixie sat up. "You love Adrin. You should be marrying him."
"Trixie, Adrian has never shown interest in me, except as a friend. I love Adam." Liar, she thought guiltily.
"No you don't," the girl remained adamant.
"Trixie, listen to me," Laura said sternly. "You need to get used to Adam as your new father. I don't want any more of this destruction stuff got it?"
"Fine," Trixie pouted. She had more plans.
* * *
Trixie moved plan B into action the next day, when Adam took them out for dinner. He took them to an elegant restaurant and Trixie saw her opportunities. First she ordered soda, declared it no good and sent it back twice before settling on the glass. When the waiter brought their salads, she refused it, saying it had onions on top and she couldn't eat them. The waiter returned with an onionless salad but Trixie claimed she could still smell them on the salad and the dressing was wrong.
When Trixie turned to her left and started talking in a loud voice to her imaginary friend, Laura laid her fork down and took Trixie to the ladies' room. Other diners were staring at them.
"You sit down and listen to me." Laura was shaking with anger. Trixie sat on the plush couch in the ladies room, which she noted was rather fancy, in mauve and gold, and flowers everywhere. "This is unacceptable Trixie."
"What is?" Trixie asked innocently.
"Stop this behavior right now. We're going to go back out there and you're going to behave like a normal little girl or we're going to go home and you have no tv, no computer, no sweets or visits from Adrian for a month, understood?"
Trixie swallowed. Laura was really mad if she was thinking of that severe a punishment.
"You're also going to apologize to Adam for ruining dinner. Are we clear?" Laura's gray eyes were flashing with fury. Trixie nodded.
"Good. Now get up, and let's go back out there. And you behave," Trixie nodded.
Trixie pouted back to the table but once she was seated she mumbled "Sorry Adam." and picked up a roll. Adam nodded, not sure what to say. He knew Trixie was acting out, but why all of a sudden he didn't understand.
* * *
"She doesn't want us to get married, does she?" Adam asked. Laura rolled over against him, curling her body against his.
"I don't know what brought this on. She's been fine with you up until now."
"Do we need to postpone the wedding?" Adam asked quietly. Laura sighed.
"No. She'll be okay," she kissed his forehead lightly. "Don't worry about Trixie. This is what I want. You'll be good for her."
Adam kissed the top of her as she dozed off. If Trixie didn't accept him, his future with Laura was jeopardized.
* * *
Early the next morning Adam left for Atlanta on business. Laura spent an uneventful day at the bakery, wondering about Trixie's sudden change of attitude.
In the afternoon, Laura received a phone call from Randy. She was to be in the judge's chambers at nine the following morning.
