Just Around the Corner

Her heart leapt, just looking at him. Out of incredible desire. And an equal measure of fear. Could she do this? Could she really allow herself to believe to that this man wanted her?

How could she trust that much?

How could she not?

“There’s oatmeal…”

“I don’t normally eat breakfast.” He glanced at her, and she could see the desire, banked but still glowing, in his eyes. Yet there was uncertainty, as well as satisfaction in his demeanor. She could read it in the way he was rocking, almost imperceptibly, back and forth on his feet. The tension in his hands. The brevity of his gaze.

“I didn’t, either, until I was eating for three,” she said.

He grinned at

her. At least the babies were something certain between them. “Then you’d best get to feeding them before they start to complain,” he said.

Phyllis nodded, grateful to have something to do as she filled a bowl, buttered a piece of toast and, in bare feet, crossed the room to her usual place at the table.

“Will’s going to be taking a final count at the meeting this morning of all the faculty planning to attend his New Year’s Eve party,” she said. She’d been planning to go—she’d gone the previous year, when it was still an annual Christmas open house, and she’d had a great time—but suddenly wondered about the protocol of things here. Did they go as a couple? Were they a couple?

Or did she just go alone, as usual?

This was all so awkward. So complicated and confusing.

“Seems to me that would be a good time to come out—so to speak,” he said, still rocking. His eyes were jumping from one object to another in her kitchen. “You won’t be able to hide your pregnancy much longer….”

“I’d already decided to tell everyone.”

He looked directly at her. “But the telling’s going to be different now, isn’t it?” His gaze was steady now, calming her just a bit. “Those babies have a father.”

Something lifted inside Phyllis. A weight she hadn’t known was there. “They always did have.”

He was still watching her. “We’re in this together, then. The New Year’s Eve party would be as good a time as any to get everybody used to that fact.”

Phyllis nodded.

Grabbing his keys from the pocket of his jacket, Matt moved toward the hall that would take him to the front of the house. “Kind of fitting, in a way,” he said, standing there with one foot in the kitchen, one in the hall. “New Year’s Eve—time of new beginnings.”

And with that—and no kiss—he was gone.

Phyllis wondered which of them was more relieved.

IT WAS SATURDAY afternoon, three days before Christmas and two days since Matt had spent the night at her house. Although he’d been over the day before, there’d been no repeat performance of that incredible lovemaking. But they’d talked. About their pasts. And about the future they both wanted, but weren’t sure they could trust.

“Hey, Tor, it’s Phyllis. Got a minute?”

Perched on the edge of her bed, Phyllis twirled the phone cord around her index finger.

“Of course,” Tory said. “Chrissie’s asleep, Ben and Sam are out shopping—last-minute, typical-male style—and Carol drove down to the diner to pick up some lunch. Alex went with her.”

Phyllis had to grin. It felt so damn good to hear the happiness in Tory’s voice. The perfect family scenario she’d described. Ben Sanders and Sam Montford were cousins, joint heirs to the Montford fortune, who’d only found each other within the past year.

“Carol’s still coming over everyday?” Phyllis asked. As neither Tory nor Ben had living parents, Sam’s mom, Carol—Ben’s aunt—had taken over the role of mother to Tory and Ben, too.

“Yes,” Tory said, but although she tried to sound exasperated, her tone was filled with wonder. And love. “I got my stitches out four days ago, but she still insists I shouldn’t be left alone.”

“She’s a very special person,” Phyllis said, wishing she could hug Carol right then and there. Phyllis might be able to help people think through their problems, but Carol Montford was the real healer among them.

“I know,” Tory said, her voice as quiet as it used to be when Phyllis had first met her. “I can’t believe I’m so lucky.”