Convictions: Kelly and Stephen (8 page)

When Stephen got up to put on the coffee Friday morning Kelly reached for her cell phone.  She had vaguely registered a chirp and vibration a few hours earlier, indicating the presence of a message and at that time of night it was most likely her agent.  Dale was the only person she knew who did not keep regular hours, especially for sleeping.

“Kelly, it’s Dale, again.  Listen I don’t know what’s going on with you but could you please call me back?  I left you a message last week and never heard back from you.  Your publisher has had a revised contract drawn up, with new dates, since you’ve missed the old ones.  I put it in the mail and you should have it by now.  You will need to initial the dates, sign it, and send it back ASAP.  Kelly, this is serious.  They’ve given you a break because you’re their rock star but if you don’t meet these new dates the next thing they will send you is a non-performance cancellation and a request for their advance back, dead serious.  Call me.”

Kelly hit the end button, letting go of a big sigh.  Dale was right of course.  She had pushed this as far as she could.  It was time to get back to work.

In the kitchen the coffee was ready and Stephen was gulping down his breakfast.  As she poured a cup she told him about her phone message and that she would need to go to town for her mail.  He laughed softly, between bites adding “what are they going to do, fire you?”

“They could, if I don’t get something to them soon and then you’ll be stuck supporting me!  But I won’t feel too bad for you because all of this is your fault in the first place.  You’re continually distracting me!”  She flashed him her most tempting smile. 

“Keep it up and I’m taking you back to bed” he said, getting up from his chair and crossing over to where she stood in front of the sink.  He reached around her and deposited his dishes.  “But one of us does have to work and I have some things that need to get done today.”  Placing his hands on her buttocks, he lifted her up like she weighed nothing, nuzzled his face in her neck and planted a fiery trail of kisses across the top of each breast. 

Before she could react he dropped her back to the floor, turned and headed for the door.  When he got to the hall he turned to her and said “I would consider it an honor to support you.  I said I love you and I meant it, forever.”

He disappeared out the door leaving her breathless once again.  He was a man of few words but the few words he chose were amazing.  Amazing because his feelings were so obviously backing up his words, amazing because of the seriousness with which he delivered them, and amazing because of the impact it had on her.  Why is it that with each new discovery of him she found only doubt and suspicion, but his devotion to her remained rock solid through each day and each revelation?

With dishes done she showered and dressed.  While in Hanlon she would pick up some groceries, and stop in to the Kramer’s so that Will could have his promised visit with Max.  Summer vacation had officially started in Alaska which meant that Will would be home to watch Max while she ran her errands.  Lastly, she would pop in to Hawley’s Hardware to say hello to Bill.  With Max loaded in the back of the Jeep she set off for town.

The forty-five minute drive left time for her mind to wander.  Kelly should be spending the time developing her characters and working on the next chapters of her book, but instead her brain chose to focus only on thoughts of Stephen.  It seems that when her life with Stephen began, the lives of fictional characters stopped.  What she used to only be able to write about, she now was living first hand.

Stephen, Stanford graduate, engineer by trade, earning his way in Alaska as a welder.  Stephen, the first man who had ever left her breathless with desire; the first man who had created within her waves of insatiable need.  The thought of being away from him for even a few hours was almost unbearable.  But no matter how much she cared for him she couldn’t let go of the many mysteries that he presented her with. 

Kelly pulled into the Kramer’s driveway, glancing over to find that all looked well and tidy with her own home.  Will had been playing out back and came running when he recognized Kelly’s Jeep.  Kelly barely got the back door opened in time for Max to jump out and tackle Will to the ground, covering him with licks.  “Max!  I’ve missed you too!” Will giggled.  “Wait till you see what I got, Ms. Sherman!”  Will climbed to his feet and both he and Max disappeared around the back of the house.  Kelly followed with a good idea of what she was to find out back.

Her suspicion had been right.  A small bundle of black fur that was clumsily bouncing around the back yard turned out to be a puppy.  “I got a puppy of my own, he’s a black lab.” Will beamed “now Max will have a playmate when he comes to visit.”  Max sniffed at this new fur ball, deciding it was harmless enough but too small to be of much interest to him yet. 

Kelly, laughing at Max’s reaction to the new annoyance, said “Hey Will, would it be ok if I left Max here for a bit while I run some errands?”

“Sure, leave him as long as you like, we’re not going anywhere and they can get to know each other.”  Kelly said thanks and climbed back into the Jeep. 

She headed first for the post office.  She found the expected manila envelope in her PO Box, along with a letter from her parents, some assorted junk mail, solicitations, and a small white envelope with her house address in the upper left corner.  She opened the last one first to find a note from Mr. Locke along with his check for the three months of rent that they had agreed to. 

In her haste to get back to Stephen’s she had never asked Mr. Locke for a deposit.  It’s a good thing for her that he was an honorable man.  Along with the check was a short note penned by hand letting her know that all was well with the house, he was very happy with it, and that there was a good chance he might want to extend the rental agreement another three months.  He would let her know when the time got closer.

Kelly glanced again at the envelope written in her mother’s distinctive script and decided to wait until she got home to open it.  Noting that the address on the front center, her old address, had been crossed out and her PO Box number scribbled over it in Alice’s handwriting gave her a twinge of guilt.  Kelly still hadn’t told her parents of the change in her residence. 

She didn’t like to hide things from them, and she certainly was old enough to make her own decisions, but she wasn’t looking forward to the inquisition that was sure to follow.  They were her parents after all so it would be natural for them to wonder why she had moved in with a man whom they had never heard about.  They would want to know how long she had known him and they would no doubt be full of questions about Stephen the man, for which Kelly may not have answers.  No, she would wait a while longer before sharing that bit of news.

Kelly closed her PO Box and headed across the street to the bank where she deposited the check from Mr. Locke.  She asked the teller, Trudy, if it would be possible to get something notarized.  Trudy showed her to a small table and informed her that the bank manager would be able to help her and would be back shortly. While Kelly waited she opened the envelope from her agent and reviewed the new contract.

The new dates would not be unreasonable if she could just find the motivation to get started.  Unfortunately, motivation or not, these new dates were not flexible.  She would have to meet them or suffer the consequences and despite Stephen’s offer, she did not wish to be dependent upon anyone but herself, ever. As much as she knew that she loved him, and couldn’t imagine ever living a life without him in it, she was still a realist.  Having her own source of income was something she would not compromise on for anyone, even Stephen.  So write she would come hell or high water.

“Hello Kelly, to what do we owe the honor of your visit today?”  Mr. Kendal, the bank manager and a licensed notary, came up behind her.  His approach had been quiet while she was deep in thought so when he spoke she was visibly startled.

“I’m so sorry Kelly, obviously I startled you.  And to think that my wife is always telling me that I’m too loud!  What can we do for you today?”

“That’s ok Don, it wasn’t your fault.  I must have been lost in deep thought.  Thank you for making time for me.  I have a revised contract that I need to have my signature notarized on.  Would that be something you could do for me today?”

“No problem.  I’ll go get me stamp and be right back.”

With her banking business complete Kelly thanked them and headed back over to the post office.  She needed to have Alice send it back as soon as possible.  The only route for mail coming in or out of Hanlon was by air so every day, every Spirit Air flight left with a tan canvas bag in the back marked USPS. 

The post mistress prepared Kelly’s package.  “So Kelly, how have you been?  We haven’t seen you around here much lately.  Oh, that’s right you moved out of town.  Are you enjoying your time in the wilderness?”

“Yes, Alice, it’s very nice outside of town; very peaceful and conducive to writing.”

“Now you’re out on Old Henry Road, right? The Long property?”  Alice inquired.

Kelly hesitated.  She had the feeling that Alice already knew the answer to her inquiry but was just being nosey.  Kelly politely answered “Yes, it’s about thirty miles outside of Hanlon.”

“Oh, I mean Stephen Long’s property; obviously not Marv’s!”  She giggled slyly.

“Do you know Marv?”

“Of course, I know everyone in these parts if they’ve ever sent or received mail.” Alice winked at Kelly with her reply.  “Marv Long is also a good friend.  We often meet for lunch or coffee when he’s in town.” 

Kelly said nothing.

“Oh, but you probably haven’t met Marv yet, have you?  Seeing as how they don’t get along you know, Stephen and Marv that is.”  Alice continued.  “It had something to do with family business back in Oregon involving Stephen’s father but I don’t pry into other people’s business so I don’t really know all of the details.”  Despite the fact that Alice was known to be Hanlon’s main busybody, she delivered her comments as if they were part of her role as a government official.

Kelly should have changed the subject, or kept her mouth shut, but something in Alice’s tone tickled a need in her to defend Stephen.  She couldn’t help herself when she responded “Well, Stephen believes that Marv was responsible for his father’s death.  That’s enough to cause a rift in any family.”

“Marv?  Oh nonsense.  He’s such a gentle soul; he couldn’t hurt a fly.  No, it was Stephen who was wanted for questioning, for both his father’s death and that Amanda girl.  That Stephen has a lot of skeletons in his closet the way I hear it.  You best be watching out for yourself.”

When Kelly didn’t immediately reply Alice quickly added “but of course it’s none of my business so I stay out of it.”

With her contract packaged and paid for, Kelly thanked Alice for her assistance.   It would be best for her to leave now before anymore gossip was exchanged.  “Alice, I’d appreciate it greatly if this package could go out this afternoon or first thing tomorrow.  Thank you and have a good day.”

Now that her business in town was completed she had a moment to stop in at Hawley’s Hardware to say hello to a good friend.  The same unknown young man was busy at the counter cashing out a customer.  Kelly headed directly back to Bill’s office finding him there as usual with his head buried in his accounting books.  She tapped softly on his door and had entered the room before he’d had a chance to look up.  His smile was wide when he saw her as he stood to welcome her in.

“Kelly girl, what a wonderful surprise, how are you?”

“I’m well Bill, just in town to get caught up on some banking and mail.  With the move and all I’ve fallen a bit behind with my latest book so I needed to get some revised dates back to my agent in Seattle.  How have you been?”

“No complaints here.” Bill winked at her “I can presume things are going well with you and your new ‘friend’ then?”

Kelly blushed a bit “Bill, you can stop with the teasing, I’m well aware that my secret is no more a secret.”

He chuckled and said “So how is Stephen?”

“Fine, we’re both doing well.”  She turned, looked into the hall and closed the door to his office before continuing “Bill, you’re the closest thing to family I have here in Hanlon and I certainly don’t want to put you in an awkward position, but may I asked  you opinion on something personal?”

“Of course you can, my couch is always available for you.”

“Haha, thanks!  But seriously, just how much do you know about Stephen?  I just came from the Post Office and Alice didn’t hesitate a second to share her gossip about him with me.  She seems to know a lot more about him that I do, or at least thinks she does anyway.  To tell you the truth, Stephen’s not much of a conversationalist so at times I feel as if I don’t know him at all.”

“Alice?  That old bitty is nothing but a busybody.  She’s got no life of her own so she sticks her nose in everyone else’s.  I wouldn’t pay a bit of attention to anything she has to say.  What’s got you so worried girl?

“Well, he’s a wonderful man, kind, caring, loving, and thoughtful.  But there is more going on with him than meets the eye.  His feud with his uncle for instance, there’s some deep seeded anger there and I just can’t figure it out.  Something to do with Stephen’s father’s death and he blames Marv.  Alice told me that Marv blames Stephen.