Do Not Disturb (17 page)

While he stroked her damp hair, she felt his
breathing. What was he thinking?”

“I’d played football all my life. Obviously my
size helped, but they said I was good. A jock all the way through school.
Hardly ever studied. Terrible grades.” He stopped. “Didn’t even know where to
turn when the injury ended all chances of me playing again. I always thought
I’d go to the pros. Never even planned on anything else.”

“Your parents approved of you playing football?”

“Funny about that. It was okay to be an athlete,
as long as I was successful and of course as long as I went to UVA. All Tylers
go to UVA you know.”

“But you did go to UVA anyway didn’t you?”

“Yeah.” His fingers settled at the bottom of her
back, rubbing gently.

“If you didn’t study and you lost your
scholarship, how did you get into school?”

His fingers stopped moving.

“I told you. Tylers always go to UVA. My family
wasn’t going to let a little thing like bad grades and a pathetic SAT score
keep me out. A quick call to one of the board members and, bingo, I’m a
freshman.”

Tylers sound handy to have around when a family
member is in a pinch, she thought.

“But you graduated, so must have studied. I’m sure
your family didn’t do that for you.”

He chuckled. “No. I spent the first semester
partying, angry that my world had been turned upside down.” His hand moved down
to her butt.

“Went to every football game drunk, furious at my
bad luck. Then my dad sat me down and set me straight. I had an opportunity,
the brains and I’d better not screw up. Grow up and graduate he told me in his
favorite father tone.”

“Tylers don’t screw up either I guess.”

“You got it.” He patted her arm. “Even though his
methods may have been wrong, he was right that I needed to get over the fact
that my life wasn’t working out the way I’d dreamed. So I buckled down, got a
finance degree and then went on to get my MBA. And, well you know the rest.”

“Hmmm.” She smoothed the hair on his chest.

“What?”

“I guess we both had dreams that didn’t quite work
out the way we planned.”

“Yeah.”

They lay silently, his legs swinging back and
forth against the edge of the bed.

Suddenly she sat up. "What did you mean about
making love with other people around?"

"So you did hear me?"

Twisting around, she placed a hand on the bed to
brace her body as she looked down at Brett.

“It just seems so hard to find time to be alone
that we need to learn to be creative. Never know when there might be a crowd
around and we want to be alone.”

“But, Brett I can’t imagine...“

“Oh I bet you can.”

She plopped back on the bed. Oh my. Sneaking into
the shower to make love while the family was in the other room. She shivered at
the thought of all the places they could make love...and the circumstances.

This could get interesting.

The adrenaline raced through Allison's veins,
causing her whole body to shake. "Oh my god. Oh my god," she
whispered, her knuckles turning white as she grasped the steering wheel.
"Concentrate, Allison, or you're going to have an accident."

Five minutes later she flung open her car door and
stumbled toward the concrete drive in front of Brett's house. Her purse strap
caught on the seat belt jerking her arm back. "Damnation. You stupid piece
of..." The strap slipped free and she slammed the door shut.

She raced up the steps and pressed the doorbell.
Once. Twice. "Brett, where are you?" She peeked in the window next to
the door and saw him strolling up the hall, smiling when he saw her face.

"Allison?" His smile changed to a frown
as she staggered into the entry. "What happened? You're shaking."

"Oh, Brett.” She seized his shirt with both
fists. “It's awful." 

"What's awful? You're scaring me. Did
something happen to Kelly?"

"No. No." She shook her head violently.
"It's her father."

He ushered her into the family room, guiding her
down on the couch. Turning her to face him, he captured her hands. "What
is it?"

"He’s dead." Her stomach churned. She
was going to throw up.

“James is dead?”

"I got a call at work.” Pulling her hands
free, she rubbed her face in anguish. "How am I ever going to tell Kelly?”

“What happened?” He gently drew her hands away from
her face. “Did his parents call?”

She snapped her head around. “No. A lawyer. Their
lawyer called. Can you believe that?”

“A lawyer?” His eyebrows furrowed. “To tell you
about the funeral?”

“He’s already buried.” She closed her eyes. “He
died two weeks ago, some kind of jeep accident at the remote location where he
was working and they couldn’t get him to a decent hospital in time. His parents
had him flown home and buried him without even letting Kelly know.”

She jumped off the couch. "And that’s not all.”
Clutching her stomach, trying to stop the rolling, she faced Brett. “There’s a
trust fund James set up for Kelly before he left. He wanted her taken care
of...just in case something happened. His parents were handling it. And now...”
She wrung her hands. “They’re contesting the will and the trust and they want
proof of his paternity.”

"Come here, darling." He removed her
arms from digging into her mid-section.

“What am I going to do?” She sank to the floor in
front of him. “I don’t want the money, but I won’t let them say James wasn’t
her father. He loved her. She loved him.” Tears rolled down her face. “He was
her father.”

“They can’t just say he’s not her father, Allison.
Just because they want to.”

“But, Brett. You don’t know what they’re like. They’re
very rich and powerful and the attorney said they could do this.” She shook in
disgust. “They’re monsters.””

“You know he was just trying to scare you.” He
dragged her up to the sofa.

"I have to tell Kelly.” She dropped her hands
on his knees and dug her nails into his leg. “I have to find an attorney."
She sat up. “They won’t do this to Kelly, Brett. No matter how much money it
costs me to fight them. They may have been able to control James, but they
won’t win this.”

“That’s my girl.”

Another tear crept down her cheek. “I’m still
afraid.”

"I know.”

He leaned back on the sofa, resting her head in
his lap. Stroking her hair, he spoke in a low, soothing voice. "I’ll go
with you to get Kelly."

"Thanks." The knots in her neck loosened
under his fingers. "I don't know what I would have done if I couldn't have
come over here."

"You know I'm always here for you."

“It feels like my life is out of control and I
can’t do anything to fix it. You know I need order...”

“Calm down.” He hands moved in small circles.

"Can I stay here a while? I'm so tired."
She closed her eyes and lay her arm across his leg. "I hate to take Kelly
out of school early with this awful news."

"Of course you can." He scooted down a
few inches, resting his head against the arm of the sofa. "I'll wake you
up when it’s time to go.”

“How’s she doing?” Brett asked.

“Amazingly well.” Allison cut off the bedroom
light and slipped under the covers, taking the phone with her. “She understood
her father more than I ever did. Why he did this. How much he was helping
others. Even the risks of the mission.”

“They had a special relationship.”

“They did.”  She turned on her side. “I never
realized how much he actually taught her about what he was trying to do.”

“It’ll take a while, but she’ll be fine.”

“I promised to take her to North Carolina to where
he’s buried, but I don’t know when. With all this other mess.”

She took a deep breath. “But I’m more determined
than ever to fight his parents. He really did love Kelly. He may not have been
the most conventional father, but he was a better person than his parents and I
won’t let them ruin her memories.”

“It won’t be easy, but I think you can win.”

“Do you really?” She drew her knees up into her
stomach. “They’re very determined and have access to very good lawyers.”

“You’ll have a good lawyer too.”

“How? I haven’t even begun to search.”

“I’ll help you.”

“I can’t ask you to do anymore than you already
have. I’ll talk to the staff attorney at the bank, I‘m sure she can refer me to
someone.”

“Just rest tonight, darling. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“I think I will.” Her eyes drifted shut. “I’m
very, very tired.”

#

“Come on in.”

Allison backed away from the front door to let
Brett and Caroline in. He grabbed her in a hug. She resisted at first, Caroline
was watching, but sank against his chest in exhaustion.

“Why don’t you go see Kelly, honey, and let me
talk to Allison for a few minutes.”

“Sure Dad.” Caroline wandered down the hall.

He sat in the large chair in the family room and
pulled Allison into his lap.

“I heard from the lawyer again today.” She
snuggled in, realizing how she didn’t feel so alone against the messy, cruel
world when he held her.

“Oh?”

“He’s really going for the intimidation factor
now. Going on about how it’s up to me to prove James was the father and it’s
going to be very difficult and this could get tied up in court for months if I
fight it and get very expensive and on and on.”

She stretched her neck as Brett massaged the tense
muscles. “I’m sure he knows I don’t come from money and he’s trying to scare me
away.”

“That’s a typical tactic of some lawyers. But not
all of them are like that.”

“I know. I asked Debra, our staff attorney, for
some names. She’s working on it now.”

“I have an attorney for you.”

She sat up. “You found one?”

“One of the best.”

“Here in Tampa?”

He shook his head. “Virginia.”

“Virginia?” She raised her brows in surprise.
“Who?”

“One of my dad’s partners.”

“Your dad’s a lawyer?”

Brett nodded. “I told you how Tylers are always
lawyers or doctors, remember?”

“But you didn’t specifically say that your father
was an attorney.”

“He is. A very good one actually.” He ran tiny
circles down the side of her back. She slumped against his hand. “But he
doesn’t handle this type of case. One of his partners does.”

“I can’t use a lawyer in Virginia...” Ahhhh that
felt good. “And I certainly wouldn’t want you to ask for any favors for me from
your family.”

“I already have.”

She sat straight again. “What?”

“I called my dad today and told him the situation
and he talked to Michael. He’ll be happy to represent you.”

“Wait a minute, Brett.” Placing both hands on his
chest, she shook her head. “I’m not sure about this.”

“Why? You need a very good attorney and Michael is
one of the best in the country.”

“Well that makes it even crazier. Why would one of
the top attorneys in the country want to handle a dinky case like mine?”

“Because I asked my Dad for a favor.”

“No, Brett. I won’t do it. You told me how much
you don’t want to ask your family for favors and I know how important that is
to you. We can find someone here.”

“You need one of the best. That’s Michael.”

“But...”

“Stop.” He drew her head to his shoulder and his
voice softened. “I want to do this for you.”

“But he’s in Virginia and --”

“You have an appointment next Wednesday afternoon.
We can fly up that morning.”

“I--.”

“Please let me do this for you.” He wrapped both
arms around her. “I’ve never been able to use my family’s connections for
anything that meant something to me. Now I finally can.”

“But it was so important to you to not to do
that.”

“You’re more important.”

She closed her eyes, her heart filling with his
words.

“And I’d like for you to spend Thanksgiving with
my family the next day. If you will.”

His family? “But you said you wouldn’t go home for
Thanksgiving.”

“It’s time for me to set some things straight with
them. And avoiding them won’t solve anything. I want them to realize I’ll live
my life the way I want, but that I still love them. They need to understand.”

“I think that’s wonderful,” her hand rested on his
chest, “but if I decide to use this attorney, I’ll come back and let you be
with your family alone.”

“Then I won’t stay either.”

“Brett.”

“Please, Allison.” He rubbed his chin along her
hair. “I want you with me. I won’t ask you to listen to me talk to them, but it
would help having you there.”

How could she refuse? He always supported her, was
there for her. Especially now.

“Okay.”

“Kelly can come, too. Caroline will be flying up
with us and then going to her mother’s.”

Kelly. She hated being away from Kelly on
Thanksgiving. “It’d be best if Kelly stayed with my parents. This could be
stressful and I don’t want her knowing too much about this. She’s suffered
enough all ready.”

“I’m sorry you’ll miss Thanksgiving with her,” he
slipped a warm hand under her hair and rubbed her neck with his thumb, “but
this was the first appointment he had.”

“I want to solve this,” she said with resolve. “I
can be with Kelly when we get back.”

“We’ll just go up Wednesday and come back Friday
then. That should be enough Tyler family time for all of us.”

“Thanks.” She kissed his neck. “We can eat
leftovers at my parents.

“And have a normal meal,” Brett sighed.

“Allison, this my father.”

“Mr. Tyler. It’s so nice to meet you.” She lost
her hand in Brett’s father firm grip. Amazing how much Brett looked like him.
Mr. Tyler was a few inches shorter, but the same broad face and stern jaw. Even
the same short brown hair, although Mr. Tyler’s was sprinkled with gray instead
of blonde tips like Brett.

“Please, call me Curtis.”

He seemed pleasant enough. Not at all like the man
Brett described.

“Come with me to the conference room. Michael’s
waiting.” Curtis spoke to his secretary as they passed a large walnut desk.
“Bring in some drinks please, Jessica.”

The woman hopped up at his request.

“I’ll wait out here, Allison.” Brett whispered.

“No.” Her eyes grew wide as she grabbed his arm.
“Please come with me.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “I need you.”

He smiled and followed her into the large,
no...excessively large conference room. Cherry paneled walls and a long
polished table. Money, money, money. 

She should’ve asked how much this would cost.

Or maybe not.

Another expensive suit and exquisitely groomed man
about the same age as Brett’s father rose from a high-backed leather chair.
Michael Williams.

He strode forward, hand out, his confidence
oozing. She could picture witnesses and unprepared opposing attorneys wincing
at this imposing and aggressive man.

Her confidence level increased with his every
move.

Curtis headed for the door after introductions.
“Sorry I have to run, but I have another appointment. See both of you tonight
at home.”

And the interrogation began.

#

“Are you ready to go in?”

Brett’s warm fingers covered Allison’s hand laying
on the seat between them.

She nodded, the small motion increasing the
pounding in her head. How much longer before she could take more aspirin?

They sat in the rental car in the drive of his
parent’s house in Great Falls, Virginia. A three-story sprawling monstrosity of
a brick home set back on a hill. The front yard was larger than Allison’s
parent’s whole lot and the two next to them.

“It’ll work out, darling. I’m sure it will.” His
eyes reflected the concern in his voice. She was blessed to know this man.

“I’m trying to think that. But Michael...well it
was scary what he said.” The meeting had lasted only two hours, but it seemed
like days.

He’d documented every detail of Allison’s
relationship with James, back to when they first met and through the last time
she’d seen him. Recounting her past had drained her emotions, but seemed to
prove to Michael a pattern of caring between James and Kelly.

The lack of connection between James’ parents to
Kelly also became painfully apparent. She had accepted their indifference
toward their only grandchild long ago, but detailing it today made them sound
even more pathetic than she remembered.

“He was just preparing you for the worst,” Brett
said. “It could be a long fight if they persist on this paternity issue.”

“Why would they do this, Brett? I just don’t
understand. The trust isn’t that large, compared to the amount of money they
already have. And they accepted James as the father when Kelly was born.”

“They must be lonely, bitter people, Allison.” He
squeezed her hand. “But you need to have faith in Michael.”

“If they didn’t want to prove James wasn’t Kelly’s
father, I’d give up. Let them have the money. It’s just not important.”

He kissed her forehead. “There was a time in my
life I thought I would never hear a woman say that.”

She would’ve smiled if what he said hadn’t been so
sad.

“All I want is to have this over with, so I can
put some order back in my life.” She looked up at him. “You know how I hate the
unknown.”

“Trust me, I remember. Here’s the goal, here’s the
plan and no wavering from the tasks at hand.”

“Am I really that bad?”

Was she that inflexible?

“You do have a tendency to want to be in charge.”
He smiled. “I thought you would insist Michel draw up a project plan with
exactly what he was going to do before you would leave the office this
afternoon.”

Was she too controlling? She sighed. That’s what
Brett was trying to escape. He couldn’t live within a strict plan and she
couldn’t function without one.

“I think we’ve been spotted.” He nodded to the
woman stepping out the side door leading to the driveway.

“Come on.” He grasped the door handle. “Time to be
smothered by the Tylers.”

Mrs. Tyler was tall and elegantly thin. The wind
whipped her short brown hair in her eyes, but she shoved it away with tapered
fingers.

“Brett, I thought you’d never get here.” Mrs.
Tyler hugged her son tightly. “It’s been too long.”

“I know Mom.” He patted her back. “But you need to
let go so I can introduce Allison.”

“I’m so sorry. Where are my manners?” Mrs. Tyler
brushed her son aside and reached for Allison’s hand. “It is so nice to meet
you. And we’re thrilled you will be joining us for Thanksgiving.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Tyler. I appreciate the
invitation.”

“Call me Margaret, dear.” She stood between them
and hustled them into the house. “Let’s go inside before you freeze. I know
you’re not used to this cold weather.”

They followed Margaret through the immaculate
kitchen. Dark wooden cabinets reflected the light from the floor to ceiling
windows off the breakfast nook. Green and yellow cotton rugs scattered around
the floor softened the gleaming off-white Italian tiles and coordinated with
the flowered wallpaper.

Decorator, but still homey.

“Brett, you take Allison up and show her to her
room.”

They passed through swinging doors at the end of
the kitchen into a hallway leading to the front entryway. A family portrait,
when the boys were teenagers, hung on one wall and a crystal vase of fall
flowers sat on a rectangular marble-topped table by the double front doors.

“I had Grandmother Tyler’s room made up.” Margaret
glanced at Allison as she led them across the hardwood floor. “I know you want
to freshen up. And then both of you come back down and visit with me. I can’t
wait to catch up on everything.” She stopped at the foot of the stairs and
patted Brett’s arm. “Hurry up, dear.”

“Yes, mother.” He nudged her with his elbow. “Why
don’t you go see if you have a beer I might like and...” he looked toward
Allison, “you want a beer or some wine?”

“I’ll—“ Allison began.

“Don’t you make her decide, Brett. We have both.”
Margaret fluttered off, still talking. “I’ll be waiting.”

Allison looked back at Brett.

He laughed. “She’ll exhaust you just talking to
her, won’t she?”

It was obvious Brett loved his mother. No matter
how much he complained, he cared very deeply.

“She does have a lot of energy.” Allison headed up
the stairs. “But I like her. She reminds me of my mother a little bit.”

“She’s nothing like your mother.” Brett followed
her up the wide carpeted stairs to a landing with more furniture than Allison’s
living room. “Your mother’s so easy to get along with.”

She whirled around. “Your mother seems very nice.”

“Uhhhoh. Looks like she already has you under her
spell.” He motioned to some doors at the end of a long hall. “This way.”

“I don’t know what could possibly be wrong with me
getting along with your mother.”

“You’ll see.”

What was his problem? Margaret was...Allison
stopped in the doorway of the room Brett had entered.

“Oh my. This is beautiful,” she said in a hushed
tone.

Pale blue carpet flowed under mahogany antique
furniture. A four-poster rice bed dominated the center of the room. Allison ran
her fingers along the white damask cotton coverlet as she wandered to the
windows at the rear of the room.

“What a gorgeous view.” The back yard sloped to a
creek running in front of woods. She looked back to Brett. “A wonderful view
from a wonderful room.”

“It was my grandmother’s for a few years.” Brett
wrapped his hand around the carved bedpost and sat on the edge of the mattress.
A peaceful look crossed his face. “She lived with us the last two years of her
life and this was her furniture from her house.” He ran his hand down the old
wood. “I spent a lot of hours up here, listening to stories about her and my
grandfather.” He dropped his hand. “I was only five when he died, so I only
knew him from stories.” He smiled. “According to my grandmother, he was quite a
character.”

“You must have loved her very much.”

Brett nodded. “Yes. I think she understood me more
than the rest of the family. She encouraged me to do whatever made me happy,
not just what was expected of me.”

He slid off the bed and cleared his throat. “Well,
let’s drop off my bag and then get down there. If we don’t, Mom will be up here
looking for us.” He held out a hand. “Come with me.”

He led her to the room next to hers and she stood
at the door while tossed his garment bag on the bed.

“Was this your room?”

“Yeah.“ He stood in the center of the room with
his hands on his hips, looking around. “Same furniture, but all my stuff was
packed away.” He shook his head. “Can’t blame them, it was a real mess. Sport’s
stuff everywhere. My mother hated it.”

“Kind of like your house?” Allison teased.

“I know. I need to be neater.” He walked toward
her. “Or get a maid.”

Hugging her, he whispered in her ear. “Our rooms
are on the opposite side of the house from my parents. A little bit of
privacy.”

She tilted her head back to look into his eyes.
“Don’t get any ideas, Brett. We are going to behave in your parent’s house.”

He kissed her, starting slowly and increasing the
intensity until her breathing began to pick up speed.

“We’ll see. It’s been a long time since our shower
scene.”

Her face felt hot. “Let go, Brett. Your mother’s
waiting.”

“Someone’s always waiting for us, Allison. Or in
the next room.” He nibbled the edge of her neck. “We’ll just have to be
creative...and quiet.”

She backed out of the room. “Behave or I’m going
to a hotel.”

Brett threw back his head and laughed. “Don’t threaten
me, Allison, or I’ll take you up on that idea and we’ll both be in a hotel with
a nice king sized bed and room service.”

She walked briskly down the hall.

“And a mini-bar and a large shower.” He caught up
with her at the top of the landing and raced her down the stairs. He spun
around at the bottom, grinning up as she stopped on the last step. “Sounds
pretty good to me.”

She shoved his chest and slipped around him,
thrusting her chin in the air. “Keep dreaming big guy.”

“Brett, Allison,” Margaret called from the room
next to the stairs. “In here.”

Allison followed the voice into another decorator
room. Overstuffed burgundy sofas faced each other in front of a large stone
fireplace. Heat from the flickering gas logs tempted Allison’s cold hands.

“Why don’t we go into the den, Mom? Why all the
formality?”

“I know we’ll end up there all day tomorrow and
probably tonight, Brett.” Margaret shot her son a warning glance. “I thought we
could sit in here like a civilized family for just a few minutes. At least
until your father gets home.”

Brett dropped onto the sofa and patted the seat
next to him for Allison.” All right.” He snatched the beer mug off the small
table between the sofas. “Now you have to decide. Beer or wine?” He glanced at
Allison.

“Wine.”

He handed her a glass from the silver tray and
leaned back, laying his arm along the back of the sofa.

Margaret sat across from them, her legs crossed at
the ankles, one hand resting on the arm of the sofa, her wine glass in her
other hand, its crystal base resting on her wool slacks. “Finally, we can sit
and talk.”

“I knew I’d find you in here.”

They all turned to the voice of Mr. Tyler entering
behind them.

He moved to Margaret and leaned down to kiss her
lips briefly, then sat down next to her, resting his elbows on his knees. A
position Allison had seen Brett use countless times.

“So she insisted on the civilized part of the
house, huh?”

Margaret glanced her husband’s way and spoke
chastising words in a soft loving voice. “I can’t do anything in this house
without one of the men questioning it.” She turned to Allison. “It is so
difficult to live with a houseful of men who would be just as happy if we never
had a formal living room or dining room. I swear, I think they’d sit in front
of the television with paper plates on Thanksgiving if I didn’t insist on
something fancier.”

Allison smiled. She’d heard this complaint all her
life. “I think you and my mother would get along very well. She feels the exact
same way about my dad and four brothers.”

“Well, I sympathize with her. At least I only had
two sons.” She leaned back, speaking wistfully. “I think I may be jealous too
though. She did have you. I wish I’d had a daughter to help balance things out
around here.”

Curtis turned to his wife. “I told you we should
try again after Hal.”

She slapped her hand to her heart. “Heaven’s no.
After Brett and Hal I was gray. I wasn’t taking a chance on another boy.”

Curtis and Brett laughed at Margaret’s dramatics.

“Mom, you’ve had an easy life and you know it.”

She smiled. “A good life I’ll agree with, now
easy...I’m not so sure of.” She placed a hand on her husband’s leg. “But it
certainly was the life I wanted.”

Curtis covered her hand and looked down. After a
few minutes of silence, he looked back up to Allison.

“Michael said everything went well this afternoon.
What did you think, Allison?”