The Reunion: Shelby's Chance Meeting (Starting Over Series) (5 page)

“
Get your hands off of me. I
’
ve protected you by not telling your family or our kids or even our friends that you had sex with another woman. I
’
ve taken the fall for all of it. They all look at me like I have two heads, thinking I just up and left you. They consider you to be the victim. But if you think there is a snowball
’
s chance in hell we are ever getting back together, you are dead wrong,
”
she said as she whipped around to look at him and slap his hands away.
“
This is about Austin, so don
’
t even try to talk me into getting back together.
”

Before Kenny could respond, Brian and Margaret were back in the waiting room. The doctor came in to speak with them almost as soon as they were all together again.

“
Mr. Barnes?
”
he called to Kenny.
“
Oh, is this Mrs. Barnes as well?
”

“
We
’
re divorced, actually. Shelby Ashwood,
”
she said holding out her hand.

“
Oh, I
’
m sorry. I
’
m Dr. Baker,
”
he said with a smile.
“
I would like to update you on your son
’
s status. Austin suffered a pretty severe concussion, but there is no bleeding on his brain,
”
he said.

Shelby
’
s eyes filled with tears as Brian hugged her around the shoulders for support.

“
However, he did break his left arm, so we
’
ve set it and he will have to wear the cast for a few weeks. He looks pretty bruised and banged up, so don
’
t let that shock you, Ms. Ashwood.
”

“
Thanks for the warning. I live in Atlanta. Will he be able to come home with me?
”
she asked hopefully.

“
Actually, I would highly recommend that he stay here until he recovers. Maybe six to eight weeks. I would like him to follow up with a doctor here that treats a lot of concussions
…
just in case there are any effects from the accident.
”
Shelby felt the wind rush out of her sails. She knew she couldn
’
t leave her son for that long.

“
Thank you, doctor. We really appreciate the update. Can we see him now?
”
Kenny asked.

“
Certainly. They are getting him settled in a room, so you will be able to see him in about a half hour.
”

Shelby turned to Brian with a look of despair on her face. He motioned for her to follow him outside.

“
What
’
s wrong? That was great news, Shelby.
”

“
I know it was, but that means I will have to stay here until he recovers. I can
’
t leave my baby for all those weeks. I don
’
t know what I am going to do about my condo, my car
…”
she said.

“
Calm down. I can help you out, Shelby. I will take care of your condo. Whatever you need me to do. And, I have a little confession to make.
”

“
Confession?
”

“
I sold your car,
”
he said crinkling his nose up and backing up in case she slugged him.

“
What?
”
she yelled.
“
Why would you do that? And how did you even do that?
”

“
Well, let me put it this way. I just need you to sign over the title so I can finish the sale.
”

“
Okay, you
’
ve lost me here. Why would I want to sell my car and why would anyone want it anyway?
”

“
Shelby, the SUV we drove down here in is yours. I bought it for you.
”
Her heart sped up. Who was this guy? Why would he do that for her?

“
You bought me a car? Why?
”
she asked with her mouth hanging open and her eyes bugging out.

“
Because my guy damaged yours, and I could not imagine you continuing to drive your kids around in that car
…”

“
Brian, this is way too fast for me
…”

“
I
’
m not asking for or expecting anything, Shelby. I just wanted you and your kids to have a safe car. I swear. That
’
s all.
”
She didn
’
t know why, but she believed him.

“
I am paying you back. I will make monthly payments,
”
she said pointing her finger at him.

“
Fine. Pay me ten dollars a month,
”
he said.

“
Funny guy,
”
she said.
“
Really, thank you. For driving me here. For the car. For everything,
”
she said as she stepped forward and hugged him. He paused and then put his arms around her waist as he took in the jasmine scent of her hair.

“
You are more than welcome, Shelby. Really. It was my pleasure,
”
he whispered into her hair.

Austin was released from the hospital two days later. Shelby stayed at the farm with him, Elena and Kenny for about four weeks until it became apparent that Austin was okay enough for his Dad to take care of him.

Deciding she needed to go back home and let the kids have their time with Kenny, she packed up her overnight bag and got into her new SUV. Shelby was so thankful her son had made an amazing recovery. His cousin had broken his leg in the accident, but he was also doing well.

“
Shelby!
”
she heard Kenny yelling behind her as he ran to her car.

“
Kenny,
”
she said.

“
I just wanted to tell you goodbye,
”
he said.

“
Goodbye, Kenny,
”
she said with a slight smile.

“
I want to say something else. Look, I don
’
t know what is going on with you and that Brian guy, but I hope you know I only want the best for you. I want you to be happy again, like we were when we were young,
”
he said.

“
That
’
s what I want for you too. Kenny, I think we were just so young when we met. We grew up together, but we also grew apart together
…”
she said, stealing Brian
’
s quote.

“
I
’
ve never thought of it that way,
”
he said cocking his head to the side.
“
Good point.
”

“
Well, I
’
d better go. Please have Austin and Elena call me tonight so I can say goodnight, okay?
”
she said.

“
Will do. Oh, and I also wanted to tell you that I set my mother straight. I told her what I did,
”
he said looking down at his shoes.

“
You did? Why?
”
Shelby asked surprised.

“
Because I owed that much to you. I didn
’
t want my mother to keep thinking this was your fault.
”

“
It was both of our faults, Kenny. You just did the stupid thing that brought it to light,
”
she said with a sarcastic chuckle.

“
Yes, it was stupid for sure. Anyway, I just wanted you to know,
”
he said. She stepped back out of the SUV and gave him a hug.

“
Thanks,
”
she whispered. He kissed her on the forehead as she backed up, climbed into the vehicle and drove away.

As Shelby drove the long two hours back to her Atlanta condo, she wondered about Brian. They had not spoken since he left her at the farm to spend time with her kids. She didn
’
t know if they even had a future at all. His last words to her were that she needed this time with her family to make sure she had made the right decision about splitting up with Kenny. She had always known that it was the right decision.

Brian had taken her keys so he could give them to her neighbor, Adele, to check in on her place while she was away. She felt bad he had to take a rental car all the way back to Atlanta, but he
’
d insisted the SUV was hers to keep.

Instead of going home, Shelby drove straight to the Piedmont Towers building. She just needed to see him even though she kne they weren
’
t dating or anything. She had missed him even after knowing him only a couple of days. What was that about?

As she rode the elevator up, she concocted a good reason for being there - she needed to sign the title over for her old car. The elevator doors opened and she stepped into the plush lobby.

“
Hi. I
’
m looking for Brian Chadwick,
”
Shelby said with a self assurance she had to conjure up from within.

“
He
’
s not here,
”
the girl said.

“
Oh. Do you know when he will be back?
”

“
He had a lunch date, so he
’
ll be back anytime now.
”

“
Okay. Well, I will catch up with him later,
”
Shelby said as the word
“
date
”
echoed in her head. Did that mean he was on a real date?

She pressed the button for the elevator and waited for it to open. When it did, Brian was standing there in his dapper suit and his mouth dropped open. Before she could speak, he grabbed her hand and pulled her inside, closing the door behind them. The elevator started moving up and he quickly hit the stop button.

“
Brian
…”
she said trying to get her footing.

“
Shelby!
”
he said as he brought her into a warm hug.
“
I am surprised to see you. Sorry if I jerked your arm out of the socket.
”
His laugh lit up the elevator car.

“
I just got back. I stopped by to see if I could sign the title over for my old car,
”
she said nonchalantly. Of course, she could not tell him she was really there because she missed him and wanted to hold his hand again.

“
There is plenty of time for that. How is Austin?
”