CHAPTER 16
Adam intended to drop Beth and Richie off at the house so she could feed Cassie and they could eat lunch with her family while he and Duncan picked up the others at the airport. But shortly after they walked in the door a black pickup truck drove into the drive.
"Garrett!" Peter Harris greeted the young man as he stepped onto the porch.
"Hope my invitation for lunch is still open." Garrett said as he walked past the man into the main room of the house.
"Of course it is." Peter Harris replied, slapping him on the back and calling for Rayna to add another plate to the table.
Beth had taken Cassie upstairs to feed her after she'd introduced Duncan and Richie to her sister, who was more than happy to entertain them while she put dinner on the table. Adam had followed Beth up since he hadn't really seen his daughter that morning. He had only just passed the baby to Beth when he felt another presence in the house and they both heard her father's greeting.
Beth bit her bottom lip as her eyes locked with Adam's. She could see he was annoyed. "My father invites him for lunch every Sunday." She explained, hoping he could find a way past his anger with Garrett.
Adam didn't respond right away. He could see the hope in her eyes as he watched her sweetly holding their child to her breast and he knew he needed to find a way to make this right for her, or at least try. Aside from foolishly trying to appear unaware of his immortality, Garrett had really not done anything to provoke his wrath. More than that, she cared about Garrett. He'd been a part of her life for a long time and if he didn't try to at least keep peace between the two of them, it would be Beth who got hurt. Unless they found out something else or he posed a threat, he knew he needed to try and get along.
Adam took a long breath and ran his hands over his face and through his hair. "I'm staying with you. Duncan and Richie can pick up the others." He squatted down in front of the rocking chair and ran his finger along first Cassie's soft cheek and then reached up to do the same to Beth's.
"It will be all right." He told her.
"I trust you Adam."
Duncan knew Adam must be aware of Garrett's presence in the house, and wondered why his friend didn't come down immediately.
Peter Harris introduced Garrett to Richie and Duncan. "Garrett's been coming for Sunday dinner for as long as I can remember." He told them. "Except for when we thought we lost him that is." The older man obviously cared about Garrett and had a soft spot for him. The young immortal also seemed to feel less threatened, probably because he'd had time to prepare and was confident there wouldn't be any trouble at the Harris home.
"The Harris' are like my family since my own parent's passed away a few years ago." Garrett told them, his gaze was direct as he let the two immortals know how tightly he was connected to this family.
"It's good you had someone that wanted you around." Richie tried to make a connection with his conversation. "I spent enough time in foster homes to know what it's like to be in the way."
"Garrett's like one of my own sons." Peter Harris told them. "He's a hard worker when he isn't banging those drums and staying up till all hours at the club."
Garrett couldn't help but grin at the older man. "Have I been late to feed the horses once?"
"No . no you haven't." the older man chuckled as Rayna called them all to the table.
Duncan looked down at his watch and then back at the staircase, wondering where Adam was. They had less than an hour to pick up Amanda, Claudia and Joe. And it didn't seem like him not to come down as soon as he sensed Garrett's presence.
"Would you mind if I stopped by the stables tomorrow to help you?" Duncan asked Garrett, looking for an opportunity to learn more about him and to find out just where the young man was coming from. "It's been a while since I've had a chance to get my hands dirty."
Garrett didn't know what the man wanted. His demeanor seemed friendly enough, but he was the immortal his teacher had been interested in and therefore suspect until he could find out what the connection was. "I get started around 6." He replied, hoping that would be too early for the city dweller.
"I'll see you then." Duncan stood up as Adam and Beth came downstairs. He couldn't help but notice that both of them looked at ease.
"Do you think you could find your way to the airport and back on your own MacLeod?" Adam asked.
"The map seems easy enough." Duncan replied, realizing that with Garrett's presence, Adam wasn't about to leave.
"I didn't know how much Beth wanted me to stay for lunch with the family when we made plans earlier." Adam told him as he looked down at her under his arm.
"No problem. Richie and I will get going now and meet you back at the house with the others in a few hours. We will probably have an early dinner in town." Adam had given them a key to the house already. "It was nice to meet all of you." Duncan said as he nodded for Richie that it was time to leave.
"Please feel free to come to our home anytime while you are visiting." Peter Harris told them. He'd liked Duncan from the moment the man introduced himself. He sensed something genuine in him, and Richie seemed like a good kid.
After they had gone, Chris and Gary arrived and the family sat down for Sunday dinner. Beth could see Adam and Garrett silently regarding one another across the table. Adam was making an effort, but the twitching of the muscle in his jaw betrayed him to her more than once. It was all he could do not to question the young man about the past few years, but this was not the time and it would be better if MacLeod were the one to speak with him.
It turned out Adam was the one receiving the bulk of the questions as the family asked about where he had grown up and the places he'd lived. Beth was impressed with the ease in which he answered their questions and how every detail fit together perfectly. He told them his parents were dead and that he'd spent the better part of his life travelling and doing research for his passion . history. They seemed satisfied, and even a bit envious that he had seen and done so much, all of them except Garrett that is. He knew very well that although Adam had probably been to all the places he mentioned, his story was not as it seemed. It didn't matter to Garrett that there was a good reason for the deception. He set in his mind how wrong it was for this man to lie to the family he loved, and reasoned it to be one more example of why Adam Pierson could not be allowed to remain.
Beth tried to read Garrett's expression. He wasn't himself, and he kept meeting her gaze with a very direct one that let her know he had something to say. Rayna seemed to pick up on it, but her father and the others were oblivious.
More than a few times Garrett managed to bring Craig's name and some memory of their time as a trio into the conversation. Beth knew he was doing it to get to Adam, and gave him a look that told him to cut it out . but he didn't.
Adam handled it well. Garrett wasn't the first to try and get to him. If he hadn't sensed that Beth was so concerned, he would almost have found it amusing. More than once he bit his tongue before using his wit to reply. He would have loved nothing more than to put the upstart in his place, but the Harris' were a nice family, a family he was to become a part of in two days. He wasn't going to do anything to make them any more uncomfortable with Beth's decision if he could help it.
When she was done with her meal, Beth slid her hand over Adam's thigh and waited for him to lace his fingers through hers. It was their way of silently supporting the other and a means of connection. He really didn't need reassuring, but she needed to let him know she knew what was happening.
It was almost 2:00 before they finished their desert and conversation around the table. Chris and Gary and their children had things to do at home, so they didn't stay once everyone got up. Beth and Adam began to help Rayna with the dishes, but Cassie's cry sent Beth up the stairs to check on her.
Garrett had been talking with Mr. Harris in the main room, but when he saw the opportunity he slipped upstairs and found Beth changing the baby's diaper.
"You know he'll leave you don't you?" Garrett said from the doorway.
Beth looked up, startled by his voice. "What?"
Garrett closed the door behind him and came to stand on the other side of the bed while she finished with the baby. "When you start to age, he'll leave you."
"Adam loves me. We're committed to one another, and we have Cassie." Beth replied.
"You do know what I'm talking about don't you?" Garrett asked.
"If you mean do I know about his immortality . and yours, then yes I know all of it."
"Then you know why I'm so concerned." Garrett continued. "I don't want to see you get hurt Lea. You've already lost Craig, and from what your family told me . you weren't far from going into that sanitarium yourself. I worry what will happen when he decides to look for someone else down the road . when time begins to show."
"If you took the time to get to know Adam, you would understand why I'm sure that won't happen. Really Garrett, I've never known you to be so unfair." Beth started to walk past him with the baby on her shoulder, wondering why Adam hadn't noticed Garrett coming upstairs and not wanting to have a new misunderstanding arise from her talking to her friend.
"Please . you know how much I care about you. Please listen to what I'm saying." Garrett blocked her way. "I've known you my whole life, and Craig was like a brother to me. I know you think you love this guy, but it doesn't make sense to me. He is nothing like Craig and I can't believe you'd just forget that kind of love so quickly."
Beth sighed, hearing the concern in his voice. "Garrett I know you don't trust Adam, but you need to try and see what I see in him. And I haven't forgotten anything. Losing Craig almost killed me. I lost my will to live. Carrying his child helped me to make it through each day I was alone and gave me the strength to try and build a life for us. But it wasn't until Adam that I honestly felt alive again. He loves me with his whole heart, and he'd die to protect either of us. He's already proven as much. You need to understand. I'm making my life with Adam and if you care about me you will be happy I'm not just going through the motions and can build a life for Cassie that Craig would have wanted. She's going to be raised by two people who love one another. And Adam isn't going to leave us."
"I wish I could believe that." Garrett replied, his eyes glistening with emotion. He could see how taken she was with this man, but he knew in his gut this was wrong.
"Garrett, I value your friendship above almost anything else in my life. And when Cassie is old enough to know about Craig, I want her to be able to hear from the people he was closest to just how wonderful he was. But if you can't find a way to bury whatever problem you have with Adam, then I can't be around you."
"You would throw away the more than 20 years we've been friends for someone you have only known a few months? That doesn't make sense Lea." Garrett argued.
"I don't want to. But I won't hurt the man I love by keeping a relationship with someone who clearly sees him as an enemy. And Garrett . you don't want him as an enemy. You have no idea who you are crossing."
"Great. He wants to take my head already."
"No . no he doesn't. And neither do Duncan or Richie. They are all good men, and they are fair. They know you are my friend and even if you weren't they don't have a quarrel with you . unless you start one."
"So you are saying I need to bow down to them or else? Leandra don't you see how sick this is?"
He wasn't hearing her. He was too wrapped up in whatever problem he had with Adam to see she was trying to help him.
"Garrett, they've been at this a lot longer than you. And if you will let them, they can be your friends. The life you are going to lead will be very lonely without friends, and you know you won't be able to stay here forever. As much as you love this family, the day is going to come when you have to leave or be found out. Mortals can only be with you for a certain amount of time before you have to say goodbye or lose them. My friends are good people, and with them you can be safe if you will let yourself."
"Are you prepared to let him go when the time comes?" Garrett asked. Beth didn't reply. Normally she would trust Garrett with anything, but not this time. He wasn't listening to reason and she couldn't share her secret with him.
"I need to take Cassie downstairs." She insisted and this time he let her pass.
"Just remember what I said Lea. I'm here for you. And when you realize Adam isn't what you really want for yourself or Craig's daughter, I can help you."
Beth just shook her head in frustration and walked downstairs with Cassie. Adam and Rayna were almost done with the kitchen and she'd had about as much negativity as she could stand for one day.
"Duncan and Richie should be back with the others soon. I thought we could meet them at the house." She said to Adam before picking up Cassie's diaper bag from beside the sofa.
"Go ahead, I've got it." Rayna said to Adam, seeing her sister was fighting back tears. He tossed her his dishtowel and went into the main room to get their coats from the closet. He'd noticed Garrett following Beth down the stairs and from the look on her face, she wasn't at all pleased with their conversation. He gave the young immortal a disapproving glance before telling Peter Harris goodbye, helping Beth to the car and putting Cassie in her car seat.
"You did remember they were going to stop for an early dinner before coming to the house. It will be a few hours before they get there." He reminded her as they started down the driveway.
"I know. But I couldn't stay there another minute." Beth slid to the middle of the seat and leaned her head against his shoulder. "I just want to be somewhere quiet and feel your arms around me. I only want to be with you for awhile Adam."
"I think that can be arranged." He said with a smile as he slipped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple before turning onto the road for the short drive to the other house. "Want to tell me what happened?" he asked.
Beth's eyes filled with tears. "He doesn't understand about us." She began. "He followed me upstairs and the first thing he said was that you would leave me."
Adam cursed under his breath. "You know that isn't going to happen."
"I do know that. It's probably the only thing right now I do know for sure." She replied, running her hand over his chest as the car approached the house. "But I also know that if he doesn't start to understand, I'm going to lose a friend. And losing him will break my heart."
Adam stopped the car and turned to pull her into his arms. "Maybe he'll figure it out before that happens." He tried to console her, but he knew that Garrett wasn't going to be easy to convince. He had this idealistic memory of his friend Craig, and seemed determined to preserve the dead man's position in Beth's heart and life.
Adam intended to drop Beth and Richie off at the house so she could feed Cassie and they could eat lunch with her family while he and Duncan picked up the others at the airport. But shortly after they walked in the door a black pickup truck drove into the drive.
"Garrett!" Peter Harris greeted the young man as he stepped onto the porch.
"Hope my invitation for lunch is still open." Garrett said as he walked past the man into the main room of the house.
"Of course it is." Peter Harris replied, slapping him on the back and calling for Rayna to add another plate to the table.
Beth had taken Cassie upstairs to feed her after she'd introduced Duncan and Richie to her sister, who was more than happy to entertain them while she put dinner on the table. Adam had followed Beth up since he hadn't really seen his daughter that morning. He had only just passed the baby to Beth when he felt another presence in the house and they both heard her father's greeting.
Beth bit her bottom lip as her eyes locked with Adam's. She could see he was annoyed. "My father invites him for lunch every Sunday." She explained, hoping he could find a way past his anger with Garrett.
Adam didn't respond right away. He could see the hope in her eyes as he watched her sweetly holding their child to her breast and he knew he needed to find a way to make this right for her, or at least try. Aside from foolishly trying to appear unaware of his immortality, Garrett had really not done anything to provoke his wrath. More than that, she cared about Garrett. He'd been a part of her life for a long time and if he didn't try to at least keep peace between the two of them, it would be Beth who got hurt. Unless they found out something else or he posed a threat, he knew he needed to try and get along.
Adam took a long breath and ran his hands over his face and through his hair. "I'm staying with you. Duncan and Richie can pick up the others." He squatted down in front of the rocking chair and ran his finger along first Cassie's soft cheek and then reached up to do the same to Beth's.
"It will be all right." He told her.
"I trust you Adam."
Duncan knew Adam must be aware of Garrett's presence in the house, and wondered why his friend didn't come down immediately.
Peter Harris introduced Garrett to Richie and Duncan. "Garrett's been coming for Sunday dinner for as long as I can remember." He told them. "Except for when we thought we lost him that is." The older man obviously cared about Garrett and had a soft spot for him. The young immortal also seemed to feel less threatened, probably because he'd had time to prepare and was confident there wouldn't be any trouble at the Harris home.
"The Harris' are like my family since my own parent's passed away a few years ago." Garrett told them, his gaze was direct as he let the two immortals know how tightly he was connected to this family.
"It's good you had someone that wanted you around." Richie tried to make a connection with his conversation. "I spent enough time in foster homes to know what it's like to be in the way."
"Garrett's like one of my own sons." Peter Harris told them. "He's a hard worker when he isn't banging those drums and staying up till all hours at the club."
Garrett couldn't help but grin at the older man. "Have I been late to feed the horses once?"
"No . no you haven't." the older man chuckled as Rayna called them all to the table.
Duncan looked down at his watch and then back at the staircase, wondering where Adam was. They had less than an hour to pick up Amanda, Claudia and Joe. And it didn't seem like him not to come down as soon as he sensed Garrett's presence.
"Would you mind if I stopped by the stables tomorrow to help you?" Duncan asked Garrett, looking for an opportunity to learn more about him and to find out just where the young man was coming from. "It's been a while since I've had a chance to get my hands dirty."
Garrett didn't know what the man wanted. His demeanor seemed friendly enough, but he was the immortal his teacher had been interested in and therefore suspect until he could find out what the connection was. "I get started around 6." He replied, hoping that would be too early for the city dweller.
"I'll see you then." Duncan stood up as Adam and Beth came downstairs. He couldn't help but notice that both of them looked at ease.
"Do you think you could find your way to the airport and back on your own MacLeod?" Adam asked.
"The map seems easy enough." Duncan replied, realizing that with Garrett's presence, Adam wasn't about to leave.
"I didn't know how much Beth wanted me to stay for lunch with the family when we made plans earlier." Adam told him as he looked down at her under his arm.
"No problem. Richie and I will get going now and meet you back at the house with the others in a few hours. We will probably have an early dinner in town." Adam had given them a key to the house already. "It was nice to meet all of you." Duncan said as he nodded for Richie that it was time to leave.
"Please feel free to come to our home anytime while you are visiting." Peter Harris told them. He'd liked Duncan from the moment the man introduced himself. He sensed something genuine in him, and Richie seemed like a good kid.
After they had gone, Chris and Gary arrived and the family sat down for Sunday dinner. Beth could see Adam and Garrett silently regarding one another across the table. Adam was making an effort, but the twitching of the muscle in his jaw betrayed him to her more than once. It was all he could do not to question the young man about the past few years, but this was not the time and it would be better if MacLeod were the one to speak with him.
It turned out Adam was the one receiving the bulk of the questions as the family asked about where he had grown up and the places he'd lived. Beth was impressed with the ease in which he answered their questions and how every detail fit together perfectly. He told them his parents were dead and that he'd spent the better part of his life travelling and doing research for his passion . history. They seemed satisfied, and even a bit envious that he had seen and done so much, all of them except Garrett that is. He knew very well that although Adam had probably been to all the places he mentioned, his story was not as it seemed. It didn't matter to Garrett that there was a good reason for the deception. He set in his mind how wrong it was for this man to lie to the family he loved, and reasoned it to be one more example of why Adam Pierson could not be allowed to remain.
Beth tried to read Garrett's expression. He wasn't himself, and he kept meeting her gaze with a very direct one that let her know he had something to say. Rayna seemed to pick up on it, but her father and the others were oblivious.
More than a few times Garrett managed to bring Craig's name and some memory of their time as a trio into the conversation. Beth knew he was doing it to get to Adam, and gave him a look that told him to cut it out . but he didn't.
Adam handled it well. Garrett wasn't the first to try and get to him. If he hadn't sensed that Beth was so concerned, he would almost have found it amusing. More than once he bit his tongue before using his wit to reply. He would have loved nothing more than to put the upstart in his place, but the Harris' were a nice family, a family he was to become a part of in two days. He wasn't going to do anything to make them any more uncomfortable with Beth's decision if he could help it.
When she was done with her meal, Beth slid her hand over Adam's thigh and waited for him to lace his fingers through hers. It was their way of silently supporting the other and a means of connection. He really didn't need reassuring, but she needed to let him know she knew what was happening.
It was almost 2:00 before they finished their desert and conversation around the table. Chris and Gary and their children had things to do at home, so they didn't stay once everyone got up. Beth and Adam began to help Rayna with the dishes, but Cassie's cry sent Beth up the stairs to check on her.
Garrett had been talking with Mr. Harris in the main room, but when he saw the opportunity he slipped upstairs and found Beth changing the baby's diaper.
"You know he'll leave you don't you?" Garrett said from the doorway.
Beth looked up, startled by his voice. "What?"
Garrett closed the door behind him and came to stand on the other side of the bed while she finished with the baby. "When you start to age, he'll leave you."
"Adam loves me. We're committed to one another, and we have Cassie." Beth replied.
"You do know what I'm talking about don't you?" Garrett asked.
"If you mean do I know about his immortality . and yours, then yes I know all of it."
"Then you know why I'm so concerned." Garrett continued. "I don't want to see you get hurt Lea. You've already lost Craig, and from what your family told me . you weren't far from going into that sanitarium yourself. I worry what will happen when he decides to look for someone else down the road . when time begins to show."
"If you took the time to get to know Adam, you would understand why I'm sure that won't happen. Really Garrett, I've never known you to be so unfair." Beth started to walk past him with the baby on her shoulder, wondering why Adam hadn't noticed Garrett coming upstairs and not wanting to have a new misunderstanding arise from her talking to her friend.
"Please . you know how much I care about you. Please listen to what I'm saying." Garrett blocked her way. "I've known you my whole life, and Craig was like a brother to me. I know you think you love this guy, but it doesn't make sense to me. He is nothing like Craig and I can't believe you'd just forget that kind of love so quickly."
Beth sighed, hearing the concern in his voice. "Garrett I know you don't trust Adam, but you need to try and see what I see in him. And I haven't forgotten anything. Losing Craig almost killed me. I lost my will to live. Carrying his child helped me to make it through each day I was alone and gave me the strength to try and build a life for us. But it wasn't until Adam that I honestly felt alive again. He loves me with his whole heart, and he'd die to protect either of us. He's already proven as much. You need to understand. I'm making my life with Adam and if you care about me you will be happy I'm not just going through the motions and can build a life for Cassie that Craig would have wanted. She's going to be raised by two people who love one another. And Adam isn't going to leave us."
"I wish I could believe that." Garrett replied, his eyes glistening with emotion. He could see how taken she was with this man, but he knew in his gut this was wrong.
"Garrett, I value your friendship above almost anything else in my life. And when Cassie is old enough to know about Craig, I want her to be able to hear from the people he was closest to just how wonderful he was. But if you can't find a way to bury whatever problem you have with Adam, then I can't be around you."
"You would throw away the more than 20 years we've been friends for someone you have only known a few months? That doesn't make sense Lea." Garrett argued.
"I don't want to. But I won't hurt the man I love by keeping a relationship with someone who clearly sees him as an enemy. And Garrett . you don't want him as an enemy. You have no idea who you are crossing."
"Great. He wants to take my head already."
"No . no he doesn't. And neither do Duncan or Richie. They are all good men, and they are fair. They know you are my friend and even if you weren't they don't have a quarrel with you . unless you start one."
"So you are saying I need to bow down to them or else? Leandra don't you see how sick this is?"
He wasn't hearing her. He was too wrapped up in whatever problem he had with Adam to see she was trying to help him.
"Garrett, they've been at this a lot longer than you. And if you will let them, they can be your friends. The life you are going to lead will be very lonely without friends, and you know you won't be able to stay here forever. As much as you love this family, the day is going to come when you have to leave or be found out. Mortals can only be with you for a certain amount of time before you have to say goodbye or lose them. My friends are good people, and with them you can be safe if you will let yourself."
"Are you prepared to let him go when the time comes?" Garrett asked. Beth didn't reply. Normally she would trust Garrett with anything, but not this time. He wasn't listening to reason and she couldn't share her secret with him.
"I need to take Cassie downstairs." She insisted and this time he let her pass.
"Just remember what I said Lea. I'm here for you. And when you realize Adam isn't what you really want for yourself or Craig's daughter, I can help you."
Beth just shook her head in frustration and walked downstairs with Cassie. Adam and Rayna were almost done with the kitchen and she'd had about as much negativity as she could stand for one day.
"Duncan and Richie should be back with the others soon. I thought we could meet them at the house." She said to Adam before picking up Cassie's diaper bag from beside the sofa.
"Go ahead, I've got it." Rayna said to Adam, seeing her sister was fighting back tears. He tossed her his dishtowel and went into the main room to get their coats from the closet. He'd noticed Garrett following Beth down the stairs and from the look on her face, she wasn't at all pleased with their conversation. He gave the young immortal a disapproving glance before telling Peter Harris goodbye, helping Beth to the car and putting Cassie in her car seat.
"You did remember they were going to stop for an early dinner before coming to the house. It will be a few hours before they get there." He reminded her as they started down the driveway.
"I know. But I couldn't stay there another minute." Beth slid to the middle of the seat and leaned her head against his shoulder. "I just want to be somewhere quiet and feel your arms around me. I only want to be with you for awhile Adam."
"I think that can be arranged." He said with a smile as he slipped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple before turning onto the road for the short drive to the other house. "Want to tell me what happened?" he asked.
Beth's eyes filled with tears. "He doesn't understand about us." She began. "He followed me upstairs and the first thing he said was that you would leave me."
Adam cursed under his breath. "You know that isn't going to happen."
"I do know that. It's probably the only thing right now I do know for sure." She replied, running her hand over his chest as the car approached the house. "But I also know that if he doesn't start to understand, I'm going to lose a friend. And losing him will break my heart."
Adam stopped the car and turned to pull her into his arms. "Maybe he'll figure it out before that happens." He tried to console her, but he knew that Garrett wasn't going to be easy to convince. He had this idealistic memory of his friend Craig, and seemed determined to preserve the dead man's position in Beth's heart and life.