At My Door

Authors Note- Thank you very much for the reviews everyone, the compliments are great motivation to keep going. Another thank you to Brittany, the newest character in the story was named after her brother, and she's been more than helpful with the plot.



Chapter Twenty-One: Face of the Past

Finally, after three-and-a-half months going on an eternity, Shelby found the time to actually tell Scott. While the envelope still remained in Morgan's toy bin, opening it was a decision they would both have to make. It wasn't only her anymore.

Morgan was asleep and Scott was working late. With the candles, the fine china, and the gourmet cooking, Shelby had the perfect atmosphere set. There was only one thing missing, Scott.

" What's all this?" he had just walked in as she was lighting the lat candle.

She grinned, waving out the match, " nothing special, I guess you can say that's it's a small celebration".

He walked closer, " I don't want to remember what happened the last time you did this" they both remembered the night, years ago, that Shelby planned to seduce Scott, though it was the nice their relationship began.

" It's nothing like that" she walked around the table, " though, that wouldn't be too much of a bad thing".

Scott was still puzzled, " then what is it?".

She took one of his hands, placing it on her abdomen, " Scott, I...".

A knock interrupted her.

" I'll get it" Scott said.

Disappointed, Shelby followed him to the hallway. Scott peered through the peep hole on the door. " Oh my god".

He opened the door to reveal a man, no older than Scott. He had light brown hair matching his hazel eyes, and that kind smile.

" Chris Bryant" Scott said, grinning.

The man stepped inside, " one and only".

" I can't believe you're here" Scott said, still in awe, " where have you been for the past-how long has it been?".

" Seven years, and I've been right under your nose".

Scott remembered Shelby, " oh, Chris, this is my wife....".

" Shelby" Chris finished from him, offering his hand to her.

She accepted in a sour manner, " one and only" she repeated his line.

Scott glared between the two, " how do you guys know each other?".

Shelby looked away, leaving Chris for an answer, " um, we met after I moved, she lived in the next town".

" Back in the dark days" she muttered, " what about you two?".

Chris rested an arm on Scott's shoulder, " we use to be on the football team together, until I moved and he was kicked off".

" Shut up" Scott mumbled.

Shelby laughed, for Scott's sake, " there's not a thing that we don't know about each other" with that one exception.

Chris glared at her, " we all have our secrets" that caused a chill to run up her spine.

Scott changed the subject, " so, how have you been right under my nose?".

Chris cleared his throat, " I work in the mailroom at Global Productions, I saw your name on your company's list, and did a little research" he paused, staring at Shelby, " talk about a small world, you two getting married, how long?".

" Two years" Shelby answered.

" And who's that?" Chris was looking behind her.

They both turned, there was Morgan, huddled against the wall in her nightgown with a teddy bear tucked under her arm.

" Hey you" Scott bent down, picking her up.

He laughed, in a way that Shelby wanted to take her car keys off the hallway table and ram them into his neck. " A kid already? Wow, you two don't waste any time".

" There's a lot more than you think".

" Here, I'll put her back" Shelby took Morgan from his arms and left the two boys alone, something she was aching to do.



When she walked back into the living room, Chris was no longer there, but she knew it wouldn't be the last of him.

" So what is it that you wanted to tell me?" Scott asked.

Shelby's mind had been poisoned by the thought of Chris Bryant, nothing else mattered at the moment.

" Forget it".





Authors Note- The next chapter will have more about Chris's history with Scott and Shelby, and why she hates him so much.