Tristan's Loins (25 page)

He grew more attentive each day that passed.
She felt his urgency every time they came together, as if it would
be their last. The days grew closer together now, reminding her he
would leave in a month, or sooner. Each day was a celebration of
the previous, and the next if it was the will of the ring.

Selene grew to hate the huge ruby ring that
mocked their love. They had tried to work it off his finger every
way they could. It would not budge. Worse, a red angry burn formed
around his finger now at the base. What it meant, she feared now
more than ever.

Tristan slept as she got up and took Daisy
out on the beach, setting up for the party. Bags of ice were dumped
in coolers filled with refreshments. She bought beer and wine, but
hadn't drank since she found out she was pregnant. Tristan did not
notice she was not drinking and she was glad his preoccupation kept
him from noticing the changes she saw. Her breasts were getting
larger and she had a defined roundness where her abdomen had once
been flat and concave.

Unlike most women, she did not suffer with
morning sickness, and for that she was relieved. She was healthy
and happy despite what the future held. Tristan joined her on the
deck, dressed and refreshed from a shower.

She swallowed hard at the sight of him
bare-chested, in the bright red Hawaiian shorts and white tank. He
wore leather sandals and if she did not know better, he belonged on
the set of Baywatch too. He would have been an improvement to the
cast.

"Do we go into town now?" he asked as he
removed the earphones of his IPod. His blue eyes were filled with
mischief. "You promised to teach me to drive today, as I
recall."

Teaching Tristan to drive was one of her
promises. He was tired of being driven around by her. It was an
inherently male thing, like driving the boat.

"Alright, but before we set out, you need to
know the rules of the road," she reminded him and disappeared into
the house for the student driver handbook she retrieved from The
Secretary of State's office in town. She handed it to him. "This is
all the rules of driving. Once you read it, we can start teaching
you the basics."

Tristan frowned. "This will take too
long."

"No read, no drive, pal." Her eyes never
wavered from his. He could see she would not relent.

Tristan fumed as he sat on a lounge chair and
sat back to read the book, and she smiled and disappeared within to
finish making the fruit salad. By the time she finished marinating
steaks and making hamburger patties, he called to her.

"Ready to go?" she asked and knew better.
Tristan was also quite the speed-reader. He read quickly and
managed to comprehend all. He jumped up and looked eager.

"Let's go!" he said and stalked off the deck
ahead of her. She grinned and followed, grabbing her purse and
keys. She went out into the driveway and saw him sitting behind the
wheel and cringed, hoping she did not regret this. Thinking of
bumps in her fenders made her stiffen.

"Alright, before we set out, make sure you
adjust all the mirrors so you can see behind you."

Selene saw him adjust the mirrors and nodded.
He took the keys and started her car, looking pleased with himself.
As soon as he engaged reverse without putting his foot on the
brake, she yelped and grabbed the wheel. The car moved but a few
feet before she could react.

Tristan engaged the brake before she came
unglued and chuckled at her look of terror. He had done it on
purpose, the jerk!

"Ok, enough of your pranks, this is no
laughing matter, Tristan!" she said with her no-nonsense
schoolteacher voice. "You better not do that again!"

"Selene, you really need to chill out," he
said as he adapted the teenage boy next-door’s favorite saying. "I
got this."

She rolled her eyes. "I don't have the nerves
for this, but back out slowly and make sure you don't run into
anything."

Tristan did what she asked without a hitch
and engaged drive with such precision she gasped as her car lurched
forward. She tried not to hit the imaginary brake at her feet, but
it was instinctual as he drove down the dirt road away from the
beach house, waving at her neighbor washing his car as they passed.
Bob Alderman waved back and Selene thought it surreal her neighbor
was teaching Tristan to golf. The two men had been fast friends
since the day Tristan wandered over to ask how to assemble the new
gas grill she bought. Alderman was only too pleased to teach
Tristan the basics of tools. The man no doubt thought they did not
have socket wrenches in England. He taught Tristan all she could
not and she appreciated it.

The car came to the stop sign at the main
road and Tristan looked both ways before he navigated the car onto
the highway. He smiled as he drove down the two-lane highway, his
speed ten under the posted speed. Her nerves were stretched. He
drove with remarkable care into town, pulling into the small
shopping center. The parking thing was a dilemma but he soon parked
crossways at least a hundred feet from the door, away from all the
other cars. He put it in park, and looked at her with an arrogant
expression, waiting for her praise of his abilities.

"You did really well," she said and he
grinned happily. They got out of the car and walked the distance to
the store. "Next time we park closer. Parking can be intimidating,
but unless you want to walk this far every time, it's important you
learn."

Tristan chuckled. "I like this driving thing.
Can I drive home too?"

Selene could not refuse and rolled her eyes
when he exclaimed words like 'awesome' and 'righteous'. He really
needed to stay away from Alderman's son. The boy was rubbing off on
him.

They bought all the necessities and stopped
at the gas station to get gas for the boat. She went in to pay as
Tristan filled up the two ten gallon cans she brought along. Coming
back, she was struck by how well he fit into her life now.

One could not tell a twelfth-century man
pumped gas. He adapted well. She knew Darcy, Maggie, and Sal
wouldn't be able to tell Tristan was not from their world and was
relieved she would not have to dodge such questions about his
origins.

Her lover did not pester her anymore to stay.
They did not speak of his leaving. She knew it troubled him to
leave her now, knowing her Father may not return from China. Bryce
Campbell's emails came fewer these days. Selene knew her Dad was
frustrated he could not will his heart to stop now that he spread
her Mother's ashes. He was on a tour of the northern climes now,
and it was exhausting to imagine her seventy-three year old Father
on such a grueling trip.

They had perhaps a few hours until her
friend's arrived for the long holiday weekend. Maggie was very
mysterious about who she was bringing. She called twice to clarify
it was alright for her to bring a companion. No way would Maggie
play fifth wheel. She was going to find a date if she had to comb
the college dorms.

Tristan drove home without making one
mistake. She had to admit; he caught on fast. He took the gas
around back and she put the rest of the items in the kitchen. On
impulse she bought a huge pack of fireworks for Darcy's kids. Sal
had a friend that had a friend that dabbled in the illegal stuff.
She could just imagine what he was bringing with him. Darcy seemed
determined she like the guy and she reminded herself she said she
would try. Who was she to judge? She stole her heroine's man in her
book!

The cars arrived near four in the afternoon.
Selene greeted Sal and Darcy and her three kids. Paige was
thirteen, Timmy was nine, and Allison was seven. The kids took off
out back before she could comment on how big they had gotten since
she last saw them.

Before she could ask about Maggie, her friend
walked in with Axel right behind her. Selene knew her surprise
showed on her face. Darcy looked guilty like she should have warned
her. Maggie must have run out of options for a date and avoided her
gaze.

"We’re going to have to put Paige and Allison
in together," Selene said and Darcy nodded as she set grocery bags
down.

"Is this ok with you?" Darcy whispered and
Selene nodded.

"Great place you got here, Selene," Axel
called as he wrestled with his duffel and Maggie's small suitcase.
He smiled and his blue eyes slid over her a bit regretfully as he
followed Sal and Darcy.

Darcy joined them after showing the men to
their rooms. Maggie waited until Axel was out of earshot to
apologies. "He was alone for the holiday, Selene. I did not bring
him to start drama. His daughters bailed on him and I felt sorry
for him."

"It's ok, we got the room," Selene said and
counted to ten to keep from berating Maggie for being so
thoughtless. Tristan was bound to be annoyed the 'weakling' she
dated had come along.

"Were not sleeping together, alright?" Maggie
declared stoutly and looked at both her friends with a narrowed
gaze. "I know how this looks, but I can assure you he is way too
old for me!"

Darcy and Selene started to laugh at her
words and finally Maggie relaxed. The three women chitchatted for
several minutes and finally Sal and Axel joined them in the
kitchen. Sal wore his traditional Harley t-shirt and had already
cracked a beer. Axel was about to say something when Tristan walked
in.

Selene smiled to see the four mouths drop and
conversation cease. She could tell what both women were thinking
when they first laid eyes upon Tristan. Sal was the first to
introduce himself, shaking Tristan's hand. Axel looked a bit
annoyed, his gaze seeking Selene's briefly before he shook
Tristan's hand too. Selene could see the speculative look in Axel's
eyes. He obviously thought the worst.

"Why don't we take this out to the deck?"
Selene suggested as she steered Tristan back the way he came.

"Selene, why is the weakling here?" Tristan
asked under his breath. "Is he here to challenge me?"

"No, of course not!" she shot back and her
eyes flared warningly. "Be nice! Maggie brought him. We are all
friends here."

Tristan said nothing as he and Selene walked
ahead of the two couples.

The kids were all on the beach. Daisy was
barking and chasing after the boy, Timmy. Darcy and Sal went to
check out the dock, leaving Maggie and Axel behind.

"It's beautiful here, Selene," Axel said and
smiled sincerely. "I brought a card all your student's signed for
you. It's in my bag. Everyone misses you at school."

Selene smiled as she looked out over the
lake. "Hard to believe were back there in a month and a half. Time
flies."

"I was so sorry to hear about your Mom,
Selene." Maggie looked solemn for once. "How's your Dad doing?"

"He's in China spreading her ashes along the
Great Wall," Selene informed them with a smile. "It was a trip they
planned to take before my Mom got so sick. She insisted he go."

Maggie eyed Tristan with more than a little
interest and it was starting to annoy her. She knew Tristan was
gorgeous, but Maggie was really being obvious. Her friend made no
bones about her reaction, and Selene longed to pinch her for the
provocative looks in his direction.

"So this is the Tristan I have been hearing
so much about?" Maggie eyed him with keen interest in her dark
eyes. "You don't take offense were celebrating our country kicking'
your country's ass, do you?"

Tristan smiled showing his dimples. "If you
beat my country in battle; you have earned your celebration. I take
no offense to it at all."

Maggie went upstairs then to change. Selene
could imagine what slinky beachwear accompanied Maggie. Tristan
seemed to have passed the Maggie test. She was relieved.

"What part of England are you from?" Axel
asked pointedly, an unfriendly gleam in his eyes.

"I was born not far from Hampstead," Tristan
said and his eyes met Axel's without expression.

"What brings you to America, Tristan?" Axel
settled back in the patio chair. His words seemed pleasant enough,
but Selene sensed Tristan was being drilled. "And Michigan of all
places. Do you have family here?"

"I have no family left." Tristan refused to
answer the rest of his questions. He claimed to have an errand in
the house and left them.

"Enough with the third degree, Axel," Selene
snapped tightly.

"What do you even know about him, Selene?
Maggie said he's here illegally and you’re helping him. Is that
true?"

"Yeah, it's true," Selene confirmed and her
golden eyes filled with anger. "I know enough about him, Axel. Your
implying he's up to no good."

Axel looked annoyed at her words. "Selene,
I'm just lookin' out for you. Maggie just mentioned he had problems
getting papers. Maybe I read too many spy novels."

"Tristan isn't a spy, Axel," Selene responded
with a laugh. "Knock it off and have fun, ok? He's a good guy. You
will like him."

"He stole you from me. I think I hate him,"
Axel countered.

"What am I? Chopped liver?" Maggie asked
jokingly as she returned, sporting a low-cut halter and Daisy duke
shorts.

"Your too young for me," Axel said teasingly
and his blue eyes went back to Selene. "I can't help but be
suspicious of a foreign guy who shows up with no ID. Come on, he
could be a criminal or something."

"Tristan is not a criminal either." Selene
frowned at Axel. "He got his papers stolen on his way here. His
parents were missionaries in South America. He was not even born in
a hospital. So you see, it's not easy to send away for
replacements. My guess is, he would get deported before he got them
in the mail."

Axel said nothing, going over Selene's story
without expression.

Maggie was more generous. "She's right Axel,
cut the guy a break."

"Selene, I'm sorry for being so suspicious,"
Axel said in apology. "You here about scams like that all the time.
Modern opportunists are very good at what they do."