ONE:

I went into town to do some shopping about a month after Lara's birth. I was pushing her in her pram and she was silently taking in everything. On more than one occasion I was stopped by someone wanting to have a look at her. Most remarked on how happy she seemed.

"Yes," I'd agree. "She's a happy baby, and she's such a good baby too. You can give her a rattle or something and she'll sit and play with it for ages. Cary's convinced this patience is a sign of how smart she's going to be."

They'd laugh, and ask whether there was going to be another valedictorian in the family?

"If Cary's got anything to do with it there will be." I'd reply.

I stopped and looked in the window of one of the gift shops. It had occurred to me the other day that I should start collecting something for Lara. Not something she could play with as such, but rather something she could collect and be proud of. Back in Sewell when I was growing up my best friend Alice had been the proud owner of many ceramic, glass and even crystal, horses. Of varying shapes and sizes, and in different poses they'd sat proudly on a few shelves in her room. When I'd commented on them the first time I was over at her place she explained how her mother had bought her the first one when she was only a baby, and how the collection had grown from there. "And," she'd confided to me with a laugh. "I don't even really like horses." Every time I was there after that my gaze would always wander to those horses a little jealously. Not so much because I wanted them, but more because her mother had thought to do something like that for her in order to show her love and my mother hadn't. Maybe even back then I realised a little how selfish my own mother could be?

"Hello Melody." A voice near me said, making me jump.

"You startled me," I said with a laugh, turning round to see who it was. But then my laugh died on my mouth when I saw who it was. Adam Jackson.

"Well don't look so happy to see me." Adam complained. "There was a time not that long ago when you were certainly a lot happier to see me."

I itched to smack his arrogant smirk off his face. "Shouldn't you be back in college by now?" I asked instead. It was October already, how fast the last month had gone!

"I should be." Adam admitted. "But I'm taking the year off. I didn't do so good last year and I thought some time off might help me. My parents have offered to pay for me to go to Europe."

"Well why aren't you there?" I asked.

Adam frowned, but then smiled again. "You sound like you want to get rid of me." He said a little petulantly.

"Wherever did you get that idea from?" I asked sarcastically, and he threw back his head laughing.

"Now I know what attracted me to you Melody. That wonderful sense of humor." He said.

I felt my face redden a little. The thought of that night on the beach where I possibly could have willingly given myself to Adam if I hadn't gotten sick, and if Cary hadn't arrived to save me embarrassed me greatly. I had honestly believed that Adam Jackson was interested in me, not just in another notch on his belt.

He must have noticed my blush. "Are you thinking about how close we were Melody?" Adam asked leaning closer to me. Do you remember the day I took some photos of you on the boat? Well I've still got those photos Melody. Sometimes I get them out to look at."

I moved back, away from him. "Do you do the same for the photos of your other sister?" I asked sharply.

Adam's face paled. "I hate my father for that." He said. "If he had of been able to keep his pants on-"

"-Adam!" I interrupted shocked.

"Well if he had we'd have been able to be together. I've never met anyone like you Melody." Adam said.

I was shocked at the intensity of his words, and decided that the only way to stop him was to be hard. "We'd never have been together Adam Jackson." I told him. "You didn't know how to treat me. All I was to you was another conquest."

"That's not true Melody." Adam whined. "The only reason the girls told you that was because they were jealous of you. They didn't want you to be with me so they made up lies to make you hate me. And they worked didn't they?"

He looked so forlorn then that I actually felt sorry for him. "I don't hate you." I said simply. "I just don't love you. And don't forget you're my brother."

My words sparked him up a bit and he smiled again. A calculating smile this time as he said "Nobody knows we're related. We could be together and nobody would say anything."

"Your father knows." I reminded him. "Do you think he'd just stand by and say nothing?"

"We'd run away. Us and baby Lara. Beginning a new life." Adam said, and his eyes took on the dreamy expression one gets when one is imaging things. My heart began to beat a little faster.

"Adam let me remind you not only are we half-brother and sister, but I am also married to Cary whom I love more than anyone in this world." I said, and I maneuvered the pram, deciding that collecting porcelain dolls for Lara could begin another day.

But Adam caught hold of the pram. "Melody, I don't think you understand." He implored me.

Even though his attitude was concerning me I acted brave. "No Adam I don't think you do. Let go of the pram. I've got to go home." I said.

"Melody, please." Adam begged.

"Adam, let me go." I said sharply. "You've got to realise that there can never be anything between us, even if I wanted that- which I don't!"

"I can't love anyone else. Even when I'm making love to another woman all I see is your image in my mind." Adam told me. "I was going steady with a woman at college, I still am. Our parents think we should get married- since we'd be a perfect match. She's rich and proper and boring. I look at her, and she's plain and boring, and I can only think of you. When she kisses me I'm really kissing you."

Now I was beginning to get creeped out by Adam's comments. "Adam, you're going to have to let go." I said, trying to vainly to move the pram onwards, but Adam's grip was strong.

"No." He said simply.

I stared at him, wondering whether it would be at all possible for me to simply hit him and run. People were out and about in the town, but they didn't know what was going on here. They probably assumed two old schoolfriends were simply catching up! And then my savior appeared- the last person I had ever expected to be my savior.

"Melody. Adam." Mr. Jackson said, walking over. His eyes took in the way Adam was holding the pram, and the expression of relief on my face. "Adam I thought you were just going to post the letter for Francis and then get back to the office. We've got a lot to get through today and you're meant to be helping me."

"I posted it. Melody and I were just having a chat." Adam said, staring at his father with some defiance.

"In that case perhaps you could get back to the office. There's no way you're going to be able to get away to Europe to meet Francis on time if we don't get the work done you promised to help with." Mr. Jackson said.

Adam hesitated for a moment and then he smiled at me. "See you around Melody." He said before walking away.

Mr. Jackson watched him walk off before turning back to me. I took a few deep breaths relieved that Adam had left. "Did he bother you?" Mr. Jackson asked, seeming concerned.

"Remember I asked one favor from you Mr. Jackson?" I replied. "And that was to keep your son away from me. Please do that in the future."

"He's a stubborn one." Mr. Jackson said with a sigh. "I know he admires Francis, but he doesn't love her. He certainly doesn't feel for her what he feels for you. Even though I repeatedly remind him you're his sister." Why was he honestly telling me his troubles?

I wanted to tell Mr. Jackson that Adam had never seemed to feel anything for me, at least nothing more than as another notch on his belt, but I didn't. Instead I said, "Please make sure he leaves me, and indeed my family, alone Mr. Jackson."

Mr. Jackson nodded. "I'll make sure of it." He promised.

"Thank you. Goodbye." I said formally.

"Goodbye Melody." He replied with another sigh.

It was only after I was out of his sight that I allowed myself to shake. The encounter with Adam had shaken me more than I was willing to admit. However by the time I returned home I was feeling a lot calmer and Cary had no idea that something had bothered me whilst in town.