CH 12

Christina was trying to warm Kelly's formula when the phone started to ring. She quickly answered it not wanting to wake anyone else up.

"Good morning Christina, how was the trip home?" her mother asked.

"It was ok. We got to the cottage close to midnight."

"I won't hold you up. You can call me later when Kelly is asleep. Is Lisa there?"

"She is still asleep. Is something wrong?" Christina propped the phone on shoulder trying to struggle with the warm water.

"No, just tell her to call me as soon as she wakes up. I'll talk to you later. Bye," her mom hung up before Christina could ask anymore questions.

"You need some help," Lisa's sleepy voice surprised her.

"Yes," Christina handed Kelly over to her. "Did the phone wake you?"

"Yes, who was it?"

"Mom, she wants you to call right away," Christina heated the bottle.

"I hope nothing is wrong," Lisa picked up the phone dialing her mom. Her mom answered right away. Christina watched as Lisa listened intently to what their mother was saying. Christina saw no emotions on Lisa's face as she nodded her head silently.

"Ok mom. I will be there in about 20 minutes," Lisa hung up the phone.

"What's up?" Christina asked taking Kelly back from Lisa.

"Mom needs me to come over," Lisa smiled. "I'm going to change and head there. Please let Mark know I will be back in about an hour."

"Can you please tell me why," Christina asked.

"I will tell you when I come back," Lisa said heading towards her bedroom. Christina sat down in a chair wondering what was going on. Lisa changed quickly into shorts and tank top. She gave Christina a hug goodbye on her way out. Christina was about to put Kelly down when she heard a noise behind her.

"Did you forget something?" Christina thought it was Lisa.

"No, where is Lisa?" Mark leaned in the kitchen doorway staring at her with sleepy eyes.

"She went out on an errand. She will be back in an hour," Christina tried to not look into his eyes afraid her own worries would betray her.

"What errand? You're not telling me something," Mark said crossing his arms.

"She went to the bed and breakfast my mom lives at. She didn't tell me why but I have a feeling it has something to do with her boyfriend. He might even be there," Christina said making Mark tense up.

"How do I get to your mom's? I'm not letting that son of bitch hurt her," Mark stared at her. Christina didn't try to stop him giving him the directions then watched as he stormed out the door.


Mark found the place easily. He pulled the truck into a parking spot across the street looking at the huge Victorian in front of him. He was about to get out of the car when he saw Lisa come out of the front door. His heart stopped when he saw the man behind her.

"No way that can't be her boyfriend," Mark said out loud watching Lisa pace in front of the house. "She is dating Bradshaw."

"You could have at least given me enough time to finish getting dressed," John Layfield yelled at Lisa zipping up his pants.

"You should know better than to say things in front of her. I don't want her upset," Lisa said back loud enough for Mark to hear.

"Neither do I. I don't want to fight with you. I came here because I am extremely worried about you," John stared at her "Can I at least get a hug?"

"Fine," Lisa hugged him making Mark look away. He knew she was with someone but it was too much to stomach to actually see her with the guy. "Why did you rush here?"

"I had to come after the meeting I had with Vince last night," John stared at her. Mark felt wrong listening to their conversation. He was about to start the car when he saw John telling Lisa something he couldn't hear. Lisa's whole expression changed as she listened to him talk.

"What the hell is going on? Come on talk louder," Mark cursed wanting to know what was being said.

"No way! You can't be serious." Lisa exclaimed shaking her head.

"Hey calm down it's not the end of the world," John caught her in his arms as she started to cry. Mark's heart ache became unbearable at that moment as John kissed Lisa's forehead. Lisa broke down in John's arms clinging to him. That should be me comforting her not that bastard, Mark thought as he pulled the car out of the spot looking in the rear view mirror in time to see John leading Lisa back into the house. He hit the steering wheel as the reality of her truly not being free started to sink in. The last few nights of cuddling with her had been just stolen moments never to develop into anything more he thought pulling the car up to the cottage. He turned it off resting his head on the steering wheel letting the pain consume him realizing he had been living in a fantasy world.


Christina was pacing in the kitchen worried about her sister and Mark. She rested her hands on the counter looking out the window at the empty parking spaces. She felt strong arms go around her waist.

"Good morning," Glen whispered in her ear. "What are you looking at?"

"I did a foolish thing and now I feel guilty," Christina sighed leaning back against him.

"What did you do?" Glen held her close feeling her tension.

"My mom told Lisa to come over this morning and I told Mark I thought the reason was her boyfriend being there. Now I think I overreacted and should have never said that to Mark," Christina felt awful for what she did.

"He is a big boy he will be fine," Glen laughed trying to calm her down.

"You don't understand Lisa's boyfriend is a pro at causing trouble," Christina tried to explain her concerns.

"Believe me Mark can handle any trouble that comes his way. Just relax. Would you feel better if I go over there?" Glen let her go sitting in one of the kitchen chairs.

"No please stay here," Christina stared at him with a hint of fear in her eyes.

"I will stay. Please stop worrying everything will be ok," Glen patted her hand. He had a feeling like there was something else bothering Christina.

"How about joining me on the porch for coffee?" Christina smiled at him.

"I would love to," he enjoyed spending time with her. He just wished she would open up to him more. He picked up the coffee tray for her carrying it out on the porch.

"I'm going to check on Kelly I will be right," Christina kissed his cheek.

Glen stretched out on the porch drinking his coffee when he heard a car pull up in the gravel driveway. When no one came he decided to go check it out. He was surprised to find Mark sitting in the car leaning over the steer wheeling.

"Hey Mark what's wrong?" Glen ran to the car opening the door.

"He is here and she is with him right now," Mark said softly not moving from the seat.

"Who is here?"

"Lisa's boyfriend is here. She is at her mom's with him right now crying in his arms," Mark looked up at Glen.

"Who is he?" Glen couldn't help being curious.

"Its Bradshaw I mean John," Mark sat back in the seat sighing.

"Are you sure?" Glen asked not believing John would treat a woman badly. He had known John for quite a few years and John was always a gentleman around women.

"He was hugging her," Mark said rubbing his face.

"Did he kiss her?"

"Not really," Mark got out of the car slamming the door. "It doesn't really matter he is here and I shouldn't be here. He seemed to have no problems comforting her back there. I'm packing and getting the hell out of here before I say something to her or him that I regret."

"Why are you leaving?" Christina came out on the porch staring at the two men.

"Your sister's boyfriend is here," Glen filled her in. "Mark saw them together at your mom's."

"I wondered why my mom just didn't tell me that," Christina wondered remembering all the times before her mom told her. Christina could feel something wasn't right. She about to say something when Lisa pulled up in the driveway with a passenger. Mark and Glen stared at the car while Christina came off the porch nearing it. She walked slowly till she saw the passenger. When Christina saw John a smile filled her face as she ran towards him throwing her arms around him surprising Mark and Glen.

"Surprise," John said hugging Christina tightly.

"Ok now I'm confused I thought she hated Lisa's boyfriend," Glen whispered to Mark. Mark didn't say a word just stared at Lisa. Lisa saw the pain in his eyes wondering what was wrong.

"Mark, Glen, how are you guys doing?" John nodded at them. "What is up with you two you're staring at me like you want to kill me?"

"Someone should kill you for the way you treat Lisa," Mark raised his voice startling Lisa for a moment.

"Excuse me," John came towards Mark.

"You heard me you treat her like shit. I've seen the fear in her eyes after she gets done talking to you," Mark pointed at John. Lisa immediately knew Mark thought John was her boyfriend.

"I think I have a hearing problem. I have never done anything to Lisa besides harmlessly teasing her. So I suggest you shut your mouth," John went towards Mark.

"John, back off," Lisa pushed him back. "Mark, he isn't who you think he is."

"Wait who does he think I am," John stared from Mark to Lisa.

"You're her boyfriend right?" Mark asked resting his hands on his hips.

"No I'm not that loser," John laughed as Christina elbowed him. "Lisa, do you want to explain or should I?"

"I will," Lisa looked up into Mark's eyes. "John is my step brother. My mom married his dad ten years ago."

"Step brother? I didn't know you had a brother," Mark couldn't believe what a fool he had been for jumping to conclusions without talking to her.

"Well here I am. I answered your question now why don't you tell me what you two are doing here." John put his arm around Christina.

"They are my guests," Lisa said happy to see Mark start to relax.

"Cool, where is my little ray of sunshine?" John looked at Christina.

"Kelly is sleeping," Christina smiled at him. "Lisa, I need your help in the house for a minute."

"Ok, we will talk later. I'm sorry you got upset," Lisa squeezed Mark's hand as she went by. Mark watched her go feeling a relief in his heart.

"Feel better now?" Glen asked leaning on one of the cars.

"Yes. John, I'm sorry for my behavior," Mark apologized to John.

"Its ok no harm done. So what's the deal you sweet on Lisa?" John smiled at Mark.

"I'm not going to lie I am interested in her," Mark sighed knowing he had fallen in love with her.

"Think you can steal her away from the loser she dates now?" John motioned for them to move on the porch.

"I was hoping she would leave him willingly," Mark sat down on one of the wicker chairs.

"She seems to have no problem leaving its not returning to him that is the problem. He is good at guilting her into coming back," John said softly not wanting Lisa to hear him. "We can talk about it later when the girls go out shopping or something. I do have one more question before the girls come out. Glen, what is the deal with you and Christina?"

"I like her a lot. We have a good time together. I want to see what happens between us," Glen said immediately wanting to take things slow with Christina. He felt she was holding something back from him and he needed to find out what it was before he let the relationship go further.

"Well all I can say is I won't stand in either of your ways unless you treat them wrong," John smiled rocking back and forth in the chair.

"John, who is Lisa's boyfriend?" Glen asked surprising Mark.

"Its …" John was cut off by Christina coming through the door with Kelly crying.

"I think she wants her uncle," Christina handed Kelly to John. Kelly immediately stopped crying making John laugh.

"She sure did. Listen fellows we will talk later I'm going to take my niece for a stroll," John excused himself making Glen sigh in frustration.

"What's wrong?" Christina looked at him as Mark motioned for him to drop it.

"Nothing, would you like to go for a walk?" Glen extended his hand to her.

"Sure," Christina smiled taking his hand leaving Mark alone on the porch lost in his thoughts. I acted like a jealous fool I wouldn't be surprised if Lisa never wants to talk to me again, Mark thought resting his head in his hands. He suddenly heard glass breaking from the house. He rushed in finding Lisa on the kitchen floor picking up broken pieces of a vase.

"What happened?" Mark bent down helping her.

"The wind must have blown the vase over. I was finishing the dishes when I heard it crash," Lisa stood up grabbing the trash can.

"Are you mad at me?" Mark blurted out what was on his mind taking her by surprise.

"No, why would I be mad?"

"For the way I acted following you to your mom's then being rude to John," Mark sighed as she took his hand.

"Mark, its ok I understand. I feel like I'm leading you on," Lisa caressed his hand.

"You're not I have known from the start you have a boyfriend," Mark reached out running his fingers through her hair. "It might be wrong but I love what is happening between us."

"I love it too. Mark, I promise you I will find a way to make this right," Lisa loved feeling his touch. "Do you want to help me make an early lunch?"

"Sure," Mark was relieved she wasn't mad at him. He wondered what she meant by making it right was it possible she was thinking of ending her current relationship.