Lessons of Love
Chapter 8 Relationships Change
Standard disclaimer: I don't own Monk.
Notes: Tuesday continued: Monk is still with Benji while Natalie and Sharona are at the airport, waiting to pick up the rest of the gang….Caution, lots of relationship-y stuff ahead! :p
Sorry I forgot to say this in the last post- Thank you so very much to those who take the time to review or PM! Ya'll are great! ((hugs))
Ignoring the travelers who bustled around their table in the airport café, Natalie tore her eyes from her triple chocolate and peanut butter ice sundae and gave Sharona a puzzled look, "What do you mean, 'be right back'? Where are you going?"
Rising from her seat, Sharona laughed, "I need to run back to a shop we passed on our way in….Don't worry, I'll be back in a flash."
Natalie spooned a large scoop into her mouth and thickly murmured, "Wait, I'll go with you."
Shaking her head, Sharona gathered up the remains of her small sundae, "No, you can't! Actually, I need to pick up a wedding gift." Raising her hand, she added, "Don't even ask."
Natalie settled back into her chair, sighing dramatically while her spoon dipped back into her sundae. Left alone at the table, she scanned the passing travelers. Her eyes soon fell upon a young couple wearing matching shirts the read 'Lake Tahoe is for Lovers." Natalie rolled her eyes and murmured aloud, "Don't you dare, Sharona."
Little did she suspect, Sharona's gift was much more serious. It would, in fact, be a relationship-changer.
~~~~~LOL~~~~~~
Sitting beside the fireplace in Sugar Pine's grand lobby with Benji, Adrian automatically rose to his feet as Deputy Alexander approached. She was in civilian clothes, snug jeans and a blazer, her long hair swinging loose around her shoulders. Adrian, noticing the set of her jaw, shifted his shoulder, "What's wrong, Deputy?" Benji quickly shot to his feet. He nodded a hello then returned to his chair, his eyes darting back and forth as if he were at a tennis match.
"Bad news, Mr. Monk. I drove out to the Fox Inn in Grass Valley. I'm afraid James Kelly's alibi holds up. There is no way he killed Mike Philips."
Adrian raised a hand to his brow, "But he's the guy. He had motive, opportunity, is the right height to have caused the wound on Mike's face-"
Shaking her head, the deputy took a small notebook from jacket pocket, "I spoke with the hotel's owner; their rooms have electronic door locks, every time a door is opened, from the inside or with a keycard, the time is recorded. Mr. Kelly's door remained closed from 8pm Saturday until 9am Sunday morning. Mr. Philips was killed at 8am Sunday. Mr. Kelly had room service delivered at 8pm Saturday night and he personally signed for the meal. His alibi is rock solid."
"I don't know how he did it, but he did it." Lacing his hands together, Adrian looked down, studying his bare left ring-finger. Of course! The detective raised his eyes, "Deputy, Mr. Kelly has a penthouse suite at his resort and is not married. Why do you think he stayed at a hotel a scant 15 miles away?"
She slapped her book against her palm, "He was with someone."
"Someone who's married," Adrian rolled his shoulder, "It's Tiffany Phillips, Mike's stepmother… During our interview today, James Kelly was not confused when I used the phase RED UP instead of clean up- that's one of Tiffany's favorite phrases."
Deputy Alexander's mouth dropped open and Adrian continued, "Actually, I noticed both Tiffany Philips and James Kelly possess a distinctive speech pattern. I'm sure if you do a background check, you'll find that the law college he attended is in her hometown. They must be old, you know, friends… Mike Philips must have stumbled upon them during one of their rendezvous. He had the initials F.I., Fox Inn, in his day journal… Maybe he confronted Tiffany. She couldn't risk him telling Sam."
"That all adds up, but doesn't explain how James Kelly exited a locked room."
Nodding in agreement, Adrian grew pensive. Deputy Alexander watched him for a minute before slipping her notebook back into her pocket. She raked her fingers through her hair, "I'm going to grab a bite before heading back to the stationhouse. Care to join me, Mr. Monk?" She cast a swift sideways glance at Benji, "Oh, and your assistant too."
His mind still working over the conundrum of the locked room, the deputy's words were seemingly far away and incomprehensible to Adrian. He blankly looked on as the deputy tilted her head questioningly.
Benji suddenly stumbled to his feet and answered for his boss. "Thanks for the invite but I think Mr. Monk wants to wait for his fiancée, Natalie. As we speak, she's picking up some friends at the airport."
Deputy Alexander took a shallow breath, a slight twitch coming to her right eye, "Oh. Okay. Good. I, I should get going….I'll do a background check on our 'friends' and let you know what I find." Turning on her heal, she quickly strode through Sugar Pines' main hallway. Reaching the main exit, she did not look back.
Plopping back into his seat, Benji smirked, "Wow, you are quite the chick magnet!"
"What!" Adrian squealed, rolling one shoulder then the other before gingerly retaking his chair.
"The deputy! She's got the hots for you!" Seeing Adrian's doubtful scowl, Benji added, "And that Tiffany Philips! She was making serious cow-eyes at you during the interview too."
"Deputy Alexander?" Snorting derisively, Adrian shook his head, "She's a colleague, Benji! And Tiffany Philips? What, pray tell, are cow-eyes? That sounds…unpleasant." Adrian shuddered.
Benji laughed, "It's not unpleasant. Just think of how Natalie looks at you."
Caught off guard by Benji's suggestion, Adrian couldn't help but smile. Those exquisite blue eyes, so warm and tender, had a way of drawing him in and rendering him helpless. Adrian looked away, a blush heating his skin.
Eventually his eyes reconnected with Benji's and his grin melted to a frown, "Why would Tiffany Philips look at me that way?"
Benji shrugged, "That's something you need to figure out, boss." Adrian's attention drifted and Benji pulled his cell phone from his pocket. Checking the time and his text messages, he fidgeted. Clearing his throat, he broke the silence, "Hey, so are we done for the day? Julie wanted me to meet up with her."
"Sure, you can take off. Thanks for your help today." Adrian lazily waved his hand, his eyes turning back to the roaring fire in the fireplace. A shadow of an idea gnawed at him, holding him captive.
Natalie, with the rest of the gang in tow, found him there an hour later. Reunited with Natalie, the investigation temporarily set aside, the remainder of the day was a happy blur.
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
Not yet. Not yet. Not yet…
Sitting on the bed, his eyes darted between the phone and the clock, waiting for the time to 'even-up' before calling Natalie. Ensconced in silence, Adrian startled when a loud knock shook his door.
Why didn't Natalie just use her key? He rushed across the room and pulled the door open. A sigh of disappointment escaped his throat.
"What a welcome, thanks!" Feigning insult, Sharona strode in, a package clutched against her chest.
"Sorry, Sharona. I, I-" he stopped when Sharona waved off his apology. She then held out the bagged item, offering it to Adrian. "What's this?"
"I know, you were expecting Natalie. Don't mind my teasing…Anyway, I just wanted to give you this, ahh, early wedding gift…. And, to see if you wanted to talk."
Taking the package from her hand, he gave her a puzzled look then peered into the bag. He paled and began to stutter, "Sha, Sharona! Wh, what the hell is, is, this?" Crumpling the bag shut, he attempted to hand it back to Sharona, but she shook her head and held her hands aloft in a classic surrender pose. Violently rolling his shoulder, he turned and dropped the package on the dresser. "What's wrong with you?"
"Calm down Adrian!" Scooping up the bag, Sharona walked past Adrian, over to the room's little sitting area. She settled onto the loveseat and gently placed it on the coffee table. Adrian hadn't moved and so she motioned him over, "Come here Adrian, we need to talk."
We need to talk?
Adrian's heart grew cold. He reluctantly trudged over and, avoiding all eye contact, sat in the chair alongside the loveseat. He laced his fingers together and concentrated on breathing, the mechanics of which he had suddenly forgotten. He thought of what was in the bag and felt his lungs fail.
This was bad…very bad. Why did she give him that- that! God, what did Natalie tell her? Was he so pathetic…?
Raising her voice, Sharona called him a second time,"Adrian! Listen to me, okay?" He slowly raised his eyes, hurt and resignation frozen across his face. She leaned forward and lightly touched his forearm, "I promise, this is a good thing. I know you're probably thinking I'm butting in where I don't belong…. Maybe I am but, I hope you realize I'm doing this for you...I know you don't think you have anyone who could, well, advise you in these matters. But, believe it or not, I can."
Struck mute, Adrian felt himself on the verge of fainting.
Sharona gently continued, "Excuse my mushiness Adrian, but I love both you and Natalie and want you to be happy. In every way imaginable.… And this-" She glanced at the bag, "this is a gift. For you and Natalie. "
Gathering his courage, Adrian croaked, "But why are you giving me-" cringing, he reluctantly waved at the package. "Did, did Natalie tell you I, ahh, is she-" mortified, he fell silent.
Sharona shook her head, "No Adrian, Natalie didn't say anything. She is so very happy with you! She loves you, Adrian." After a smile, Sharona lowered her voice and added, "But I know how you are. And you know, thanks to my years helping the world's best detective, I couldn't help but notice a few things."
He forced the question out,"What things?"
Sharona counted off on her fingers, "Well, I've noticed that Natalie is the one who always kisses you hello or goodbye, she's the one who always takes your hand or arm, she's the one who hugs you, she's-"
"Stop, I get it." Adrian turned his face away, blinking back the tears that brimmed in his eyes.
"I know this is incredibly uncomfortable for you, but it's nothing to be embarrassed about. This is just another part of life, of being human." Sharona slid the package toward him, "You and Natalie love each other. She's going to marry you, Adrian. You're going to be her husband. And, like it or not, you need to know a few things."
So as Sharona talked, Adrian remained frozen, his heartbeat deafening. Shaken by her bluntness, he nevertheless hung on every word, a grudging gratefulness stirring in his chest. While she spoke, he dare not look up, keeping his scarlet face averted until she declared her lecture over.
His eyes nervously drifting toward the bag, Adrian cleared his throat. He couldn't believe Sharona, a woman!, had given him this talk or this 'gift.' And yet it somehow seemed appropriate; she had been his nurse after all and they had shared more intimacies then he cared to remember.
Shyly raising his gaze, he met his friend's encouraging stare. He took a breath and unconsciously touched the table's edge, "Thank you, Sharona."
"You're welcome." She smiled and tilted her head, "So, do you have any questions?"
"NO!" He barked and she laughed, rolling her eyes.
Getting up from the sofa, Sharona lightly touched him on the shoulder, "You're a good man, Adrian Monk. Natalie's lucky to have you."
He murmured his thanks and, after they said their good nights, he found himself alone. Staring at the bag, he took a breath. Nervous but determined, one thought spurred him on- this is for Natalie. Sweat broke out on his brow. He reached over and emptied the contents onto the table.
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
His heart still beating double-time, Adrian picked up the phone, his hand trembling. Answered on the sixth ring, Adrian huskily croaked, "I, I need to talk. With you. Not here though. Can you meet me downstairs, in the bar?" Wincing at the grumbling, Adrian insisted, his voice frantic, "No, it really can't wait. It's important… a matter of life and death…You will? Thank you. I'll see you in a few minutes."
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
Sugar Pine's pub was surprisingly busy for a Tuesday night. Or rather, for a Wednesday morning, since it was almost 1:00 a.m. Clusters of ski bums and off-duty lodge employees caroused, drinking and dancing, a steady hum filling the tavern. Almost everyone was happy. Almost.
Seated at the back corner booth, facing the front door, Adrian nervously rotated the water glass in his hand. Nearly half an hour had passed. He wanted to leave, to just give up and forget this entire night had happened. But instead he remained, waiting. He needed to do this, for both Natalie and himself. Staring glumly at his glass, he could feel himself drifting out of his own skin.
A familiar figure eventually appeared in the doorway. Timidly raising his hand, Adrian dropped it when the wave was returned. He gulped, watching his guest lumber closer.
"So what's the deal, Monk?" Leland dropped heavily into the bench seat across the table, his face showing faint pillow creases. "You said this is 'life or death'. Is this about that Philips case you got sucked into?"
"No," Adrian weakly replied. He opened his mouth, only to close it when a waitress materialized beside their booth.
"Can I get you anything, hun?" She eyed the Captain.
Smirking at Adrian's bottled water on the table, Leland rubbed his jaw, "Yuengling?" With a nod, the waitress went to fetch his beer. The Captain suppressed a yawn, "So, if it's not your murder case, what's up?"
Adrian squirmed. After the visit from Sharona, he wanted, no, he needed Leland's advice. A man's opinion. But Adrian was temporarily struck speechless, the topic too personal. He finally stammered, "I, well, you know, it's not, no, I-" he stopped when the waitress delivered Leland's beer. Adrian expected her to leave but instead she remained next to their booth, waiting for the payment.
Leland took a sip of his beer then stared icily at Adrian. After a moment, Adrian got the hint and fished a five dollar bill from his wallet. So distracted, he didn't even complain when she took off, keeping the change as a tip.
After taking a long swig, Leland turned the bottle on the table and looked at his friend. Adrian remained silent, a look of dismay across his face. The Captain suddenly frowned, "Monk, you're not having second thoughts about the wedding, are you?"
"WHAT? No!" Adrian grimaced, outrage hardening his eyes. "Never!"
Holding up a calming hand, Leland prodded, "Well then what's the problem, buddy?"
Shifting his shoulder, hoping to find the words to explain the source of his anxiety, Adrian's eyes darted around the room. His gaze came to focus on a couple on the dance floor. Slow dancing, they were obviously very comfortable with each other. Adrian blushed and blurted out, "Dancing."
"Dancing? What the hell does that mean?" Turning to watch the entwined couple, he blinked several times.
Twitching, Adrian bashfully added, "If you know what I mean."
The Captain turned back and, upon seeing Adrian's scarlet face, raised an eyebrow, "Oh! You mean 'dancing.' And you need advice?"
Sneaking a glance at the Captain, Adrian nodded then dropped his eyes, "It's not like Natalie and I don't, you know, we do, ahh, 'dance,' a lot, but, it's, you know-"
"God Monk, spit it out already." Exasperated, Leland spun his hand in a 'come-on-already' motion.
Ready to bare his soul, Adrian's voice pinched tight, "Natalie's great, perfect, wonderful, but…But sometimes, I, well, I want to, you know, lead…I think about it, a lot, maybe too much. But I just can't seem to, to take that first step…Leland, I love her so much. What's wrong with me?"
"Nothing's wrong with you buddy, you're just …reserved. But the fact that you're having these thoughts is a good thing. .. I know it's scary but you just have to take the leap." Leland's face softened, "Adrian listen, Lord knows I'm no expert on women. But I do know a few things. Women want to feel wanted and safe. And they want to know that they're cherished and respected, that their partner will do anything for them. And I think Natalie feels those things from you."
Leland then leaned forward and lowered his voice, "But they also want to feel attractive and desired. That can't happen if she's the one who always initiates se-, leads during the 'dancing.' Got it?" Adrian nodded and Leland added, "Don't be afraid to be the man."
Adrian shyly met his friend's stare, "I got it."
"Good. Any other questions?" Leland picked up his drink, waiting.
"No more questions," Adrian breathed a sigh of relief.
"My work here is done then." Leland drained his beer and pushed his empty bottle to the edge of the table. He waved off the approaching waitress. "I'm going back upstairs. You coming?"
"No, I'm going to stay and finish my water." Fiddling with his glass, he looked up, "Thank you, Captain, Leland. I appreciate the advice."
Leland slid from the booth, "Anytime, buddy. See you tomorrow at breakfast."
Bobbing his head, Adrian added, "Oh, I'm going running tomorrow at six. Natalie might too. Did you want to join us?"
"Six? In the morning?" A smirk grew under the Captain's mustache, "Thanks, but I think I'll pass. You have fun though."
As the Captain turned his back and walked away, Adrian's gaze swept the room. He didn't notice the man who was talking on a phone and surreptitiously staring in his direction. Instead he once again found the couple on the dance floor. His eyes soon lost focus, his thoughts turning to Natalie. His soon-to-be wife. His Natalie.
Sliding out of the booth, anticipation and a calm confidence filled Adrian's heart. For Natalie, he would be the man.
A/N: Hmmm, wonder what Sharona gave Adrian? Oh drat, we won't find out until the honeymoon chapter. LOL! ~~But anywho, looking toward the next chapter, we might want to worry about the man who was spying on Adrian in the bar…Eek! ;)