CHAPTER 10
Beth sat in front of the yellow wood frame house for almost 20 minutes before she had the
courage to get out of the car. She noticed the windows appeared to have a new coat of trim
paint, and everything looked clean and neat from the outside.
Her steps were slow as she held onto the rail and climbed the porch stairs. She couldn't help but
remember all the times when the door would open just about the time her foot would hit the porch
floor and Craig would throw her over his shoulder and carry her laughing and kicking inside.
Today, she had to open the door herself. She turned the lock and let the door swing open of it's
own accord before inhaling the familiar scent of the home she'd left over a year ago. The wood
floors were polished to a high gloss, and she noticed the furniture was free of dust and suspected
her sister and mother had kept things clean … for when she would return.
She walked into the main room of the house and ran her hand over the back of the leather sofa.
On the table beneath the large window, stood a neat row of picture frames. A few were from their
wedding, and others were of she and Craig with their horses and Barkley. She picked up one of
the photos and traced her hand over Craig's face before setting it back in place.
The kitchen had a fresh linen on the table and the herb garden in the window was thriving. It was
almost as if she'd never left. She didn't feel the need to go upstairs. There were two finished bed
rooms and a bonus room for their children's toys when they thought they might have a big family.
But since it just the two of them, she only went up there to clean and change the bed linens.
Beth took a deep breath and walked down the hallway toward the master bedroom. She passed
the small room across the hall, the one they had already painted and converted from a sewing
room to a nursery. A bittersweet smile touched her mouth as she thought about how this room
had been meant for Cassie.
She turned and held onto the doorframe with one hand as she walked into the room she'd shared
with Craig. The white linens that had been on the king size canopy bed had been replaced with a
yellow and light blue quilted comforter and matching shams. She supposed her sister and mother
thought it would be a good idea to make the change, and she agreed. She still wasn't sure what
she wanted to do with the house. In fact, she didn't know what she and Adam would do about
their future and where they would live. It was a subject they'd decided to discuss after she'd had
some time with her family and he'd had a chance to see what life would be like in Tennessee.
They didn't know about the house before they got here, so it hadn't been an issue. But she
wasn't worried. They had time to make any permanent decisions.
She looked around the room and opened the closet doors, seeing that Craig's closet was empty
while hers still contained her wardrobe. Chris told her the night before that Craig's things had
only been boxed up, so she wouldn't be upset when they were missing. A pile of cd's sat on the
entertainment center. The one on top Craig had recorded for her for their last anniversary. It was
a cd of originals he had written. Beth put one in the player and the room filled with the sound of
his voice. Walking over to the bed, she sat on the edge and lifted a throw pillow, hugging it as the
tears began to run down her face. She cried from the depths of her heart, rolling on her side
curling into a ball as the sound of his gentle voice filled her ears.
Beth didn't know how long she'd been there when she heard footsteps in the hallway, but the light
coming through the windows on that side of the house let her know it had been awhile. It was
late afternoon, she knew that. Sitting up she wiped her eyes, expecting to see Adam in the
doorway. He'd probably been worried when she'd been gone so long.
But instead it was Garrett who knocked gently on the doorframe. "Hey … I saw your car … are
you all right?" he asked as he waited for her to nod for him to come in.
"I'll be fine … it's just hard ya know?" she replied as he came to sit beside her. "I haven't been
here since he died."
"I know … I miss him too. I missed both of you. You don't know how relieved I was to hear you
were alive. It was like getting a part of me back that I thought had been permanently cut out."
He replied, putting his arm around her and letting her lean her head on his shoulder.
"He made such beautiful music." Beth said as the cd continued to play.
"I don't think I'll ever enjoy playing with anyone like I did Craig. He had a way of pulling it all
together." Garrett replied. "He put his whole heart out there and you couldn't help but respect his
honesty."
"Who are you playing with now?" she asked.
"It's a new group … except for Wayne Matthews, you remember him … played bass, pony tail?
We're playing the New Year's Eve party at The Barn."
"Does that mean you won't come to my wedding?" She asked sadly.
"Depends … what time and where?"
"6:30 at the house." She told him.
"We don't start playing till 9, and I could ask the guys to be flexible on sound check. I'll be there
for you, you can count on it." He told her. "But Leandra, are you sure this is the right thing? I
mean … it hasn't been much more than a year. How can you move on so quickly after what you
and Craig shared?"
"I can't explain what I don't understand myself. And if you'd asked me a year ago if I thought I'd
ever love again … I'd have said it wouldn't be impossible. But then I met Adam, and I couldn't
help but love him. You have no idea how he makes me feel … what he feels for me. It's not the
same as what I shared with Craig, but it's every bit as deep. I love him Garrett … and that's all I
know."
"When I talked to Kyle after you left the stable, he wasn't so sure about this Adam guy." Garrett
said, shaking his head. "Don't you think maybe you should wait to take such a big step? I mean
don't you trust your family to know what is good for you when it's obvious you are still dealing with
the stress of Craig's death … not to mention the baby. It's not like she would be at a loss for
father figures between your Dad and brothers. And I'll be here for both of you, you know that.
You're safe now and you don't need to rush into something because you think you owe him or
you need protection."
"That's not why I'm marrying Adam, and what did Kyle tell you about the baby?" Beth wasn't
pleased her family had been discussing Adam at all, much less Cassie.
"I know she's Craig's." Garrett admitted.
"He had no right …" Beth was livid at her brother for telling someone outside the family.
"He didn't tell me … not really. I guessed." Garrett lied. It had been more than a guess. "When I
found out why you were in Atlanta in the first place, and then learned you came home with a
baby, I knew you wouldn't have given up on that dream … especially when it means you have a
little piece of Craig with you forever."
Beth bought his explanation. "I had to do it … but I want Cassie to have a normal family, and
Adam is her father. He loves her and we're a family." She said confidently.
Garrett frowned, but he didn't argue even though he didn't like the idea of someone else taking
his friend's place in his daughter's life. "Are you moving back in here?" he asked, changing the
subject as he looked around the room.
"I don't know what I'm going to do with it. We have friends coming in for the wedding … I thought
they might be more comfortable here than a hotel." She said. "After that … we'll see. Adam and
I haven't discussed it."
"But you are staying here with your family? You aren't leaving again are you?"
"I don't know. It's not just my decision. If Adam isn't happy here … then we'll go where we can
be." She replied. "That is why I am hoping all of you will make him welcome. Don't make me
choose, because I'll choose him. I'll choose our family."
"You shouldn't have to give up everything for him." Garrett wasn't happy with her response.
"Believe me Garrett, I gain much more than I could ever give up by loving him. We're happy.
Just be happy for me."
Garrett felt a sensation and held his head in his hands.
"Garrett? What's wrong?" Beth was immediately concerned.
"I don't know … it's one of those headaches …" he gasped.
It was then she heard Adam in the doorway. "Adam, he's having another one of those
headaches … maybe we should get him to a doctor."
Adam leaned in the doorway, watching as the pain seemed to subside. If he was faking, he was
convincing.
"It's better … just a dull ache." Garrett told her. "Nothing an aspirin won't cure."
Adam had been concerned when Beth hadn't come home after a couple of hours. Cassie was
starting to get fussy so he thought he should make sure she was all right. He'd walked down
across the field to find her, and had been a bit surprised when he sensed Garrett's presence in
the house … even more when he found him sitting on the bed with his arm around Beth. He
stuffed his hands deeper into his pockets and concentrated on the advice MacLeod had given
him.
"We were worried about you." He said, still not moving from the doorway as his eyes moved from
Beth to take in the rest of the room.
"I didn't realize how long I'd been here." She replied honestly. "But I'm glad you came to find me.
Garrett saw my car and came to check on me too. We were catching up, and I was making sure
he agreed to come to the wedding."
"Yeah … wouldn't miss it." Garrett said, his eyes betraying his lack of sincerity to Adam. "And
afterwards, if you haven't planned a reception or anything … you should come to The Barn. The
whole town will be there for the New Year's Eve party. I'm sure no one would mind having
something else to celebrate, and you could talk to Varney about reserving some tables for the
family." he added.
"That sounds great." Beth replied, not realizing Adam didn't seem so enthused.
"I'll leave you two alone." Garrett said, moving past Adam and into the hallway. The two men's
eyes locked as they passed. And Beth could definitely feel the tension between them.
"Goodbye Garrett." Beth called as he disappeared.
For almost a minute, neither Adam nor Beth said a word. He leaned in the doorway with his
hands still in his pockets as she sat on the end of the bed. The cd player was repeating for the
fifth time the songs Craig had recorded for her.
"Are you sure you're all right." He said finally. He'd noticed the puffiness around her eyes and
the slight shadows of tear stains on her face.
"I'm fine. It still hurts, but I'm fine." She replied, moving to turn off the music. "Would you like to
look around?" she asked and he nodded, whatever she wanted.
"I'm sure you figured out this is the master bedroom. There are two walk in closets here … and
the bath has a separate shower and garden tub." She said flipping on the lights, as he followed
to look over her shoulder. "And see … the fireplace in the bedroom opens up on both sides."
"Don't tell me … the garden tub was your idea." He said, noticing how the side of the fireplace
that opened up into the bathroom above the tub was covered with glass. Adam's mind couldn't
help but envision her body glistening with water in the firelight. And he had to push from his mind
the thought that the last time she'd been in that tub, she had probably not been alone.
"Actually … it was all my idea. Craig wasn't really into the whole house plan thing. A friend of
mine who is an architect laid out all the rooms once we talked about what I liked." She replied
proudly. "As long as it had a porch for Craig to sit and look at the hills when he was writing his
music, he didn't care."
Adam felt a little better knowing this place had been mainly Beth's idea. He supposed maybe
Craig's ghost did have a little effect on him, even if he wasn't a threat.
She showed him the nursery. "Craig painted the clouds on the ceiling and I stenciled the ponies
on the wall." She told him. "We did it in shades that would work for a boy or a girl … " Beside
the crib there was a single bed and a deep rocking chair with a high back as well as a few book
cases that he supposed were meant to contain toys.
"It's a beautiful room." He told her, touching one of the little horses on the musical mobile above
the crib. They were both a little surprised when it began to play and spin. Beth couldn't really tell
what he was thinking as they walked out of the room and down the hall. He seemed to be taking
it all in, but she didn't know if he felt uncomfortable or not.
"There are two bedrooms and a large bath upstairs as well as a big empty room … a play room."
She said, as they passed the staircase and he nodded.
When they walked back into the main room, he scanned the fireplace. There was a fresh stack of
wood set in the bin to the side. "Your family seemed to be ready for whenever you came home."
He commented as he walked to the window and looked down at the row of photos.
Beth couldn't help but be a little uneasy. If he hadn't come in unexpectedly, she would have had
time to put those away. It was one thing for him to understand about her life with Craig. Another
to have it thrust in his face.
He picked up a photo of her standing in a field, alone in her wedding dress. The dress was made
of white antique lace and came to her ankles, and her feet were bare in the green grass. The
waves and curls of her dark hair were woven with tiny wild flowers and baby's breath, and she
carried a simple bouquet tied with streamers of multicolor ribbon. But the thing that really moved
him was the smile on her face and the glow in her eyes. She hadn't just been beautiful that day
… she was radiant.
Beth didn't know whether to interrupt him or let him finish his thoughts. She nibbled her bottom
lip nervously as she waited.
He didn't say anything but simply placed the portrait back down next to the others.
"Adam? Are you all right? I hadn't planned for you to see these. I was going to put them away
before I left." She said.
"I'm glad you didn't. And I hope you share these photos with Cassie some day. When she's old
enough to understand, it will be important for her to see that she was created by two people who
loved each other very much. She won't be able to miss what is written all over your face in that
photo."
"Adam you don't have to say that. You know you don't have to." She wrapped her arms around
his waist and looked up into his eyes.
"But I need you to know I can say it Beth. You need to know that whatever ghosts are in this
house or the memories you have in your heart, I'm really ok with it. By the time Cassie is old
enough to be told about her real father, I will have had years to show her how much I love and
care for her. I'm not afraid of her knowing how wonderful he was to you." He pushed some of
her hair back over her shoulder as he looked down at her.
"I don't want you to feel like you've stepped into someone else's life Adam. That's part of the
reason I didn't ask you to come here with me to the house and I'd never ask you to live here. I
didn't want you to feel Craig everywhere you turned or wonder if I was thinking about him every
time I stared too long at something familiar. I need you Adam, and I don't want you to ever think I
am less than completely committed to you or our life together. "
Adam took her hands and held them in his own. "I know it's important for you to live near your
family for as long as we can." He began. "And I don't mind staying here in this house for awhile,
but can you understand why if we decide to stay, we would need to find a place we could make
our own? A place that would give us the space we need to keep things that need to be private,
private? We would need to find some property on the other side of town or even further removed
from the watchful eyes of everyone you know? " he asked.
Beth understood what he was saying. Even if it weren't for the secret of his immortality, Adam
liked to have his space. He wouldn't be comfortable living in a fish bowl where her family and the
neighbors could watch his every move. "Do you think we could have enough space for a barn
and a few of the horses? She asked as she pressed her face against his shoulder, happy that he
was even considering making this their home for awhile.
"I think we could manage that." He replied, knowing how important it was to her, and thinking he
would enjoy it as well. In his mind he could already envision some type of log structure for the
house and the barn, set back far from the road and surrounded by woods. "Would you want to
stay here until we can find a place of our own and then let your family have this house back?" he
asked.
Beth nodded. "If you are sure that is all right with you then I can call a friend of mine who is a
realtor tonight. And I think giving it back to the family would be the right thing. They sacrificed a
lot to keep it and I wouldn't feel right putting it on the market. But Adam, I don't want to stay in
this house on our wedding night." she replied. "So I guess that means we move into Chris' old
room at the main house for the night."
"Not a chance." Adam grinned. No way they were spending their wedding night in the same
house as her father. "Just make sure you have a little something packed … and the diaper bag."
"Where are we going?" she wondered, raising one eyebrow.
"I've got it all taken care of and that is all you need to know." He replied.
"Secrets already Mr. Pierson?" she laughed as she pressed her face in the neck of his sweater.
The topic of accommodations made her think of Duncan, Richie and the others. "I thought maybe
instead of a hotel in Nashville where they would be far away, that maybe Duncan and the others
could stay here. There are two beds downstairs so Joe wouldn't have to maneuver more than the
3 porch steps."
"That's a good idea." He replied. What he didn't say was that with this other young immortal
running around it would be good to have MacLeod and the others close by. He was about to
loosen his hold on her when his eyes settled on the photos of Beth, Craig and their horses.
"Gallahad was Craig's horse?" he asked, and Beth bit her bottom lip as she nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I'd just finished telling you to choose whatever horse you liked, and I knew if I told you
… you'd change your mind. Adam, I don't want you to settle for second … ever."
Beth sat in front of the yellow wood frame house for almost 20 minutes before she had the
courage to get out of the car. She noticed the windows appeared to have a new coat of trim
paint, and everything looked clean and neat from the outside.
Her steps were slow as she held onto the rail and climbed the porch stairs. She couldn't help but
remember all the times when the door would open just about the time her foot would hit the porch
floor and Craig would throw her over his shoulder and carry her laughing and kicking inside.
Today, she had to open the door herself. She turned the lock and let the door swing open of it's
own accord before inhaling the familiar scent of the home she'd left over a year ago. The wood
floors were polished to a high gloss, and she noticed the furniture was free of dust and suspected
her sister and mother had kept things clean … for when she would return.
She walked into the main room of the house and ran her hand over the back of the leather sofa.
On the table beneath the large window, stood a neat row of picture frames. A few were from their
wedding, and others were of she and Craig with their horses and Barkley. She picked up one of
the photos and traced her hand over Craig's face before setting it back in place.
The kitchen had a fresh linen on the table and the herb garden in the window was thriving. It was
almost as if she'd never left. She didn't feel the need to go upstairs. There were two finished bed
rooms and a bonus room for their children's toys when they thought they might have a big family.
But since it just the two of them, she only went up there to clean and change the bed linens.
Beth took a deep breath and walked down the hallway toward the master bedroom. She passed
the small room across the hall, the one they had already painted and converted from a sewing
room to a nursery. A bittersweet smile touched her mouth as she thought about how this room
had been meant for Cassie.
She turned and held onto the doorframe with one hand as she walked into the room she'd shared
with Craig. The white linens that had been on the king size canopy bed had been replaced with a
yellow and light blue quilted comforter and matching shams. She supposed her sister and mother
thought it would be a good idea to make the change, and she agreed. She still wasn't sure what
she wanted to do with the house. In fact, she didn't know what she and Adam would do about
their future and where they would live. It was a subject they'd decided to discuss after she'd had
some time with her family and he'd had a chance to see what life would be like in Tennessee.
They didn't know about the house before they got here, so it hadn't been an issue. But she
wasn't worried. They had time to make any permanent decisions.
She looked around the room and opened the closet doors, seeing that Craig's closet was empty
while hers still contained her wardrobe. Chris told her the night before that Craig's things had
only been boxed up, so she wouldn't be upset when they were missing. A pile of cd's sat on the
entertainment center. The one on top Craig had recorded for her for their last anniversary. It was
a cd of originals he had written. Beth put one in the player and the room filled with the sound of
his voice. Walking over to the bed, she sat on the edge and lifted a throw pillow, hugging it as the
tears began to run down her face. She cried from the depths of her heart, rolling on her side
curling into a ball as the sound of his gentle voice filled her ears.
Beth didn't know how long she'd been there when she heard footsteps in the hallway, but the light
coming through the windows on that side of the house let her know it had been awhile. It was
late afternoon, she knew that. Sitting up she wiped her eyes, expecting to see Adam in the
doorway. He'd probably been worried when she'd been gone so long.
But instead it was Garrett who knocked gently on the doorframe. "Hey … I saw your car … are
you all right?" he asked as he waited for her to nod for him to come in.
"I'll be fine … it's just hard ya know?" she replied as he came to sit beside her. "I haven't been
here since he died."
"I know … I miss him too. I missed both of you. You don't know how relieved I was to hear you
were alive. It was like getting a part of me back that I thought had been permanently cut out."
He replied, putting his arm around her and letting her lean her head on his shoulder.
"He made such beautiful music." Beth said as the cd continued to play.
"I don't think I'll ever enjoy playing with anyone like I did Craig. He had a way of pulling it all
together." Garrett replied. "He put his whole heart out there and you couldn't help but respect his
honesty."
"Who are you playing with now?" she asked.
"It's a new group … except for Wayne Matthews, you remember him … played bass, pony tail?
We're playing the New Year's Eve party at The Barn."
"Does that mean you won't come to my wedding?" She asked sadly.
"Depends … what time and where?"
"6:30 at the house." She told him.
"We don't start playing till 9, and I could ask the guys to be flexible on sound check. I'll be there
for you, you can count on it." He told her. "But Leandra, are you sure this is the right thing? I
mean … it hasn't been much more than a year. How can you move on so quickly after what you
and Craig shared?"
"I can't explain what I don't understand myself. And if you'd asked me a year ago if I thought I'd
ever love again … I'd have said it wouldn't be impossible. But then I met Adam, and I couldn't
help but love him. You have no idea how he makes me feel … what he feels for me. It's not the
same as what I shared with Craig, but it's every bit as deep. I love him Garrett … and that's all I
know."
"When I talked to Kyle after you left the stable, he wasn't so sure about this Adam guy." Garrett
said, shaking his head. "Don't you think maybe you should wait to take such a big step? I mean
don't you trust your family to know what is good for you when it's obvious you are still dealing with
the stress of Craig's death … not to mention the baby. It's not like she would be at a loss for
father figures between your Dad and brothers. And I'll be here for both of you, you know that.
You're safe now and you don't need to rush into something because you think you owe him or
you need protection."
"That's not why I'm marrying Adam, and what did Kyle tell you about the baby?" Beth wasn't
pleased her family had been discussing Adam at all, much less Cassie.
"I know she's Craig's." Garrett admitted.
"He had no right …" Beth was livid at her brother for telling someone outside the family.
"He didn't tell me … not really. I guessed." Garrett lied. It had been more than a guess. "When I
found out why you were in Atlanta in the first place, and then learned you came home with a
baby, I knew you wouldn't have given up on that dream … especially when it means you have a
little piece of Craig with you forever."
Beth bought his explanation. "I had to do it … but I want Cassie to have a normal family, and
Adam is her father. He loves her and we're a family." She said confidently.
Garrett frowned, but he didn't argue even though he didn't like the idea of someone else taking
his friend's place in his daughter's life. "Are you moving back in here?" he asked, changing the
subject as he looked around the room.
"I don't know what I'm going to do with it. We have friends coming in for the wedding … I thought
they might be more comfortable here than a hotel." She said. "After that … we'll see. Adam and
I haven't discussed it."
"But you are staying here with your family? You aren't leaving again are you?"
"I don't know. It's not just my decision. If Adam isn't happy here … then we'll go where we can
be." She replied. "That is why I am hoping all of you will make him welcome. Don't make me
choose, because I'll choose him. I'll choose our family."
"You shouldn't have to give up everything for him." Garrett wasn't happy with her response.
"Believe me Garrett, I gain much more than I could ever give up by loving him. We're happy.
Just be happy for me."
Garrett felt a sensation and held his head in his hands.
"Garrett? What's wrong?" Beth was immediately concerned.
"I don't know … it's one of those headaches …" he gasped.
It was then she heard Adam in the doorway. "Adam, he's having another one of those
headaches … maybe we should get him to a doctor."
Adam leaned in the doorway, watching as the pain seemed to subside. If he was faking, he was
convincing.
"It's better … just a dull ache." Garrett told her. "Nothing an aspirin won't cure."
Adam had been concerned when Beth hadn't come home after a couple of hours. Cassie was
starting to get fussy so he thought he should make sure she was all right. He'd walked down
across the field to find her, and had been a bit surprised when he sensed Garrett's presence in
the house … even more when he found him sitting on the bed with his arm around Beth. He
stuffed his hands deeper into his pockets and concentrated on the advice MacLeod had given
him.
"We were worried about you." He said, still not moving from the doorway as his eyes moved from
Beth to take in the rest of the room.
"I didn't realize how long I'd been here." She replied honestly. "But I'm glad you came to find me.
Garrett saw my car and came to check on me too. We were catching up, and I was making sure
he agreed to come to the wedding."
"Yeah … wouldn't miss it." Garrett said, his eyes betraying his lack of sincerity to Adam. "And
afterwards, if you haven't planned a reception or anything … you should come to The Barn. The
whole town will be there for the New Year's Eve party. I'm sure no one would mind having
something else to celebrate, and you could talk to Varney about reserving some tables for the
family." he added.
"That sounds great." Beth replied, not realizing Adam didn't seem so enthused.
"I'll leave you two alone." Garrett said, moving past Adam and into the hallway. The two men's
eyes locked as they passed. And Beth could definitely feel the tension between them.
"Goodbye Garrett." Beth called as he disappeared.
For almost a minute, neither Adam nor Beth said a word. He leaned in the doorway with his
hands still in his pockets as she sat on the end of the bed. The cd player was repeating for the
fifth time the songs Craig had recorded for her.
"Are you sure you're all right." He said finally. He'd noticed the puffiness around her eyes and
the slight shadows of tear stains on her face.
"I'm fine. It still hurts, but I'm fine." She replied, moving to turn off the music. "Would you like to
look around?" she asked and he nodded, whatever she wanted.
"I'm sure you figured out this is the master bedroom. There are two walk in closets here … and
the bath has a separate shower and garden tub." She said flipping on the lights, as he followed
to look over her shoulder. "And see … the fireplace in the bedroom opens up on both sides."
"Don't tell me … the garden tub was your idea." He said, noticing how the side of the fireplace
that opened up into the bathroom above the tub was covered with glass. Adam's mind couldn't
help but envision her body glistening with water in the firelight. And he had to push from his mind
the thought that the last time she'd been in that tub, she had probably not been alone.
"Actually … it was all my idea. Craig wasn't really into the whole house plan thing. A friend of
mine who is an architect laid out all the rooms once we talked about what I liked." She replied
proudly. "As long as it had a porch for Craig to sit and look at the hills when he was writing his
music, he didn't care."
Adam felt a little better knowing this place had been mainly Beth's idea. He supposed maybe
Craig's ghost did have a little effect on him, even if he wasn't a threat.
She showed him the nursery. "Craig painted the clouds on the ceiling and I stenciled the ponies
on the wall." She told him. "We did it in shades that would work for a boy or a girl … " Beside
the crib there was a single bed and a deep rocking chair with a high back as well as a few book
cases that he supposed were meant to contain toys.
"It's a beautiful room." He told her, touching one of the little horses on the musical mobile above
the crib. They were both a little surprised when it began to play and spin. Beth couldn't really tell
what he was thinking as they walked out of the room and down the hall. He seemed to be taking
it all in, but she didn't know if he felt uncomfortable or not.
"There are two bedrooms and a large bath upstairs as well as a big empty room … a play room."
She said, as they passed the staircase and he nodded.
When they walked back into the main room, he scanned the fireplace. There was a fresh stack of
wood set in the bin to the side. "Your family seemed to be ready for whenever you came home."
He commented as he walked to the window and looked down at the row of photos.
Beth couldn't help but be a little uneasy. If he hadn't come in unexpectedly, she would have had
time to put those away. It was one thing for him to understand about her life with Craig. Another
to have it thrust in his face.
He picked up a photo of her standing in a field, alone in her wedding dress. The dress was made
of white antique lace and came to her ankles, and her feet were bare in the green grass. The
waves and curls of her dark hair were woven with tiny wild flowers and baby's breath, and she
carried a simple bouquet tied with streamers of multicolor ribbon. But the thing that really moved
him was the smile on her face and the glow in her eyes. She hadn't just been beautiful that day
… she was radiant.
Beth didn't know whether to interrupt him or let him finish his thoughts. She nibbled her bottom
lip nervously as she waited.
He didn't say anything but simply placed the portrait back down next to the others.
"Adam? Are you all right? I hadn't planned for you to see these. I was going to put them away
before I left." She said.
"I'm glad you didn't. And I hope you share these photos with Cassie some day. When she's old
enough to understand, it will be important for her to see that she was created by two people who
loved each other very much. She won't be able to miss what is written all over your face in that
photo."
"Adam you don't have to say that. You know you don't have to." She wrapped her arms around
his waist and looked up into his eyes.
"But I need you to know I can say it Beth. You need to know that whatever ghosts are in this
house or the memories you have in your heart, I'm really ok with it. By the time Cassie is old
enough to be told about her real father, I will have had years to show her how much I love and
care for her. I'm not afraid of her knowing how wonderful he was to you." He pushed some of
her hair back over her shoulder as he looked down at her.
"I don't want you to feel like you've stepped into someone else's life Adam. That's part of the
reason I didn't ask you to come here with me to the house and I'd never ask you to live here. I
didn't want you to feel Craig everywhere you turned or wonder if I was thinking about him every
time I stared too long at something familiar. I need you Adam, and I don't want you to ever think I
am less than completely committed to you or our life together. "
Adam took her hands and held them in his own. "I know it's important for you to live near your
family for as long as we can." He began. "And I don't mind staying here in this house for awhile,
but can you understand why if we decide to stay, we would need to find a place we could make
our own? A place that would give us the space we need to keep things that need to be private,
private? We would need to find some property on the other side of town or even further removed
from the watchful eyes of everyone you know? " he asked.
Beth understood what he was saying. Even if it weren't for the secret of his immortality, Adam
liked to have his space. He wouldn't be comfortable living in a fish bowl where her family and the
neighbors could watch his every move. "Do you think we could have enough space for a barn
and a few of the horses? She asked as she pressed her face against his shoulder, happy that he
was even considering making this their home for awhile.
"I think we could manage that." He replied, knowing how important it was to her, and thinking he
would enjoy it as well. In his mind he could already envision some type of log structure for the
house and the barn, set back far from the road and surrounded by woods. "Would you want to
stay here until we can find a place of our own and then let your family have this house back?" he
asked.
Beth nodded. "If you are sure that is all right with you then I can call a friend of mine who is a
realtor tonight. And I think giving it back to the family would be the right thing. They sacrificed a
lot to keep it and I wouldn't feel right putting it on the market. But Adam, I don't want to stay in
this house on our wedding night." she replied. "So I guess that means we move into Chris' old
room at the main house for the night."
"Not a chance." Adam grinned. No way they were spending their wedding night in the same
house as her father. "Just make sure you have a little something packed … and the diaper bag."
"Where are we going?" she wondered, raising one eyebrow.
"I've got it all taken care of and that is all you need to know." He replied.
"Secrets already Mr. Pierson?" she laughed as she pressed her face in the neck of his sweater.
The topic of accommodations made her think of Duncan, Richie and the others. "I thought maybe
instead of a hotel in Nashville where they would be far away, that maybe Duncan and the others
could stay here. There are two beds downstairs so Joe wouldn't have to maneuver more than the
3 porch steps."
"That's a good idea." He replied. What he didn't say was that with this other young immortal
running around it would be good to have MacLeod and the others close by. He was about to
loosen his hold on her when his eyes settled on the photos of Beth, Craig and their horses.
"Gallahad was Craig's horse?" he asked, and Beth bit her bottom lip as she nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I'd just finished telling you to choose whatever horse you liked, and I knew if I told you
… you'd change your mind. Adam, I don't want you to settle for second … ever."