Trouble Don’t Last Always (30 page)

“Oh, no, Adam, please stay!” Nicole cried.

He absently patted the hand she placed on his arm, then held out his hand. In seconds Lilly was around the table to give him her arm. “Lilly is my invited guest and a friend. Good-bye, Nicole.”

Nicole watched them walk away, her hands clenched. Her beeper went off and she jerked it from her waist and read the message. “I have to go.” She stood. “I’ll see you tomorrow at your baccalaureate, Kristen.”

“I’ll see you out.” Kristen came to her feet.

Jonathan leisurely sipped his drink and wondered how long it would take Eleanor to think of an excuse to leave.

The others had barely left the loggia before Eleanor began clearing the table. “Please help yourself, Jonathan. I want to help get the kitchen cleaned up so Alice can start preparations for the dinner tonight. It’s important.”

Because Jonathan understood that in that at least she was being honest, he merely inclined his head and lifted his glass. Tonight he wouldn’t allow her to run away from him.

The dining room was lit by a Venetian glass chandelier over the French oval cherry wood table surrounded by six Louis XVI–style chairs. Baccarat crystal stemware, Bernardaud porcelain dinnerware, and Buccellati sterling silver flatware gleamed. Eleanor had wanted everything to be perfect. This was a celebration for both of her children.

“You’ve outdone yourself, Eleanor.”

She whirled. Jonathan stood a few feet away. He’d changed from the sky blue shirt and lightweight sports jacket to a tailored tan suit that showed his broad shoulders and magnificent build. Why did temptation always look so good?

“You all right?”

“Of course.” She glanced back at the table to give her body a chance to calm down. “I was just checking before they come down.”

He moved beside her, close enough for her to smell his citrus after-shave each time she inhaled. She had the oddest notion to lick her lips.

“Adam and Kristen are aware of how much you care about them each time they’re with you. How could they not be? You’re a warm, loving woman.”

She turned and looked at him. There was simply no way not to. Even better than her parents, better than Randolph, Jonathan had the uncanny perception of reading her doubts and negating them. In his steady gaze she saw the strength, the love, and the friendship that had been growing between them through the years.

Unconsciously her hand lifted. His enclosed hers almost immediately.

His grasp was strong and infinitely tender. She’d missed the warmth, the reassurance, of his presence, which assured her that whatever problems she faced, she always knew she didn’t have to face them alone. “Thank you for always being there.”

“I always will.”

She’d said those words countless times, heard his reply countless times, yet somehow she felt the difference and, this time, the anticipation in the steady hum of her body.

“Mother, the table is beautiful!” exclaimed Kristen.

Eleanor tried to withdraw her hand, but Jonathan held it firmly. Kristen had seen them holding hands before, yet Eleanor felt the difference in the trembling of her body, in his gaze that had narrowed on her mouth seconds before Kristen entered the room.

“Did you expect any different from your mother?” Jonathan said easily, his arm curving around Kristen’s shoulder.

“Not at all, Uncle Jon.” Kristen glanced at her watch and frowned. “Eric should be here by now.”

“You know traffic on the bridge can be unpredictable,” Eleanor said, referring to the Golden Gate Bridge. She’d never seen her daughter so anxious over a man before.

Kristen had changed clothes three times tonight before finally settling on an asymmetrical pine-colored tunic and matching shell of linen and silk faille damask and slim pants in a rayon crepe. Her hair was swept up in a chignon. Emeralds winked in her ears. She looked sophisticated and beautiful and terribly anxious.

Eleanor was glad she was getting a chance to meet Eric again. Their brief encounter the night Adam was injured was a blur. “Dinner will keep if he’s a few minutes late.”

“But I won’t. I’m starved,” Adam said.

Eleanor’s experienced eyes noted her son’s attire and approved. He’d also changed and now wore a black double-breasted blazer. The Spencer knot in his tie was a little crooked, but his smile was perfect. Lilly, wearing the sand-colored outfit from the boutique, stood by his side and looked lovely.

“Do you think we can get Alice to get us something if we beg?” Jonathan asked.

“Don’t either of you dare.” Eleanor shook her head. “She dotes on both of you, but the kitchen is off-limits. There are canapés and drinks in the living room.”

“Come on, Jonathan; let’s go hit the food.” Adam released Lilly’s arm and held out his hand toward his sister. “Kristen, you come, too, and tell me more about Eric so I can decide if I should hire a hit man.”

Kristen laughed as expected and extended her arm to Adam as she had seen Lilly do. “He’s fabulous, Adam.”

Lilly watched Adam, listened to him teasing his sister. “He’s come a long way.”

“Yes.” Eleanor glanced back at the table. “He used to love dinner parties.”

“He still does.” Lilly came to stand beside Eleanor. “The table is beautiful and so elegant, but what makes it memorable is the people and the love.”

“You must have been talking to Jonathan.”

Lilly shifted uneasily. Although Jonathan had guessed how she felt about Adam, Lilly wasn’t about to talk about it with Eleanor. “A bit. Is there anything I can do?”

“No, thank you. Why don’t we join the others?” Deep in thought, Eleanor followed Lilly into the living room. Lilly had definitely been nervous when Eleanor mentioned Jonathan’s name. Why? The reason that came circling back to her brain wasn’t reassuring.

“Excuse me,” Carl said. “Miss Kristen, you have a phone call.”

She quickly crossed the room and picked up the extension on the end table in the living room. “Hello.…Oh, Eric, we—” The smile on her beautiful face faded. “Of course. I understand. I’ll see you tomorrow at commencement.” She replaced the receiver. “He’s stuck at a surprise party his parents are giving him at the home of a friend of theirs.”

Eleanor trampled down her spurt of anger. If there was a surprise party he should have notified Kristen earlier. And why hadn’t he at least made the perfunctory offer to invite her?

“Then I get to have you all to myself,” Jonathan said, going to her and taking her arm.

“Get in line.” Adam unerringly went to Kristen’s side.

Her lips shook, then curved into a natural smile. “Let’s go in to dinner and see what Alice has prepared.”

As they were being seated at the table, the butler quietly removed the extra place setting. Kristen blinked rapidly, then turned her head away. Eleanor and Jonathan shared a look. Tomorrow, they wanted some answers from Eric Fawnsworth.

Adam stepped out of the limousine, then held out his hand for Lilly. Her firm, warm hand, as always, was reassuring. He’d thought he was ready for this, but he felt ice in the pit of his stomach just as he had the first time he held a scalpel in his hand.

Stanford Stadium was the site of the commencement ceremony with over 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The ceremony was elective, but Kristen had wanted to attend. Despite the anticipated crush of people, Adam had wanted to be there to support her.

“Although it’s an hour before the ceremony, people are already gathering,” Lilly said, her voice as anxious as he felt.

“It’s going to get worse before it gets better. Let’s go.” He started out before fear had a chance to grab him, knowing full well Lilly would take over. His mother had gone ahead with Kristen to help her with her cap and gown. Jonathan had followed an hour later to save them seats.

“Adam! Adam! Wait up!” yelled a male voice.

Adam stopped; his heart, which had been beating double time, picked up the beat. His hand flexed on Lilly’s arm.

“Adam. I thought that was you. When did you get into town?”

Behind his glasses Adam closed his eyes and tried to recall the voice. He couldn’t. He felt adrift again.

“We arrived yesterday. I’m Lilly Crawford, Dr. Wakefield’s assistant.” Lilly held out her hand to the gangly young man. He switched his attention from Adam to her.

“Sorry. I’m Dr. Harold Sparks.” His grip was strong and steady. “I got so excited to see—” His voice stopped abruptly. “Damn.”

As suddenly as Adam’s insecurity had come, it was gone. His friends were just as unsure of themselves as he was. The ones who weren’t his friends didn’t matter. Harold, a vascular surgeon, and a Yankee with the occasional disposition of a warthog was a friend.

“Wish I had a tape recorder. The nurses in ICU would never believe you apologized.” Adam held out his free hand. “Good to see you, too.”

“I left several messages for you,” Dr. Sparks said. “Your housekeeper said you were out of town for an indefinite period.”

“I was. Sorry I didn’t get your messages. I came back for Kristen’s graduation,” Adam explained. He felt the brush of people going by him, Lilly’s subtle tug. “I think we might be holding up traffic.”

“Ah, right,” Dr. Sparks said, and fell into step beside Adam as they continued toward the stadium’s entrance. “My cousin’s daughter is graduating today.”

Lilly paused. “The bleachers. Step.”

Adam stepped up, waited for Lilly to come along beside him. He didn’t need vision to know Sparks’ sharp eyes were glued to them.

“I don’t see Jonathan yet,” Lilly told him. “He said he’d be on the fifty-yard line on the side facing the podium on the field.”

Adam didn’t particularly look forward to wandering the stadium. “Sparks, you remember Dr. Jonathan Delacroix, don’t you?”

“Sure. You brought him to the hospital a number of times.”

“We’re meeting him here,” Adam told him. “Do you think you could help us find him? He should be on the fifty-yard line.”

“I’m on it.” Dr. Sparks glanced around the crowded stadium that was steadily filling with people. “You wait here and I’ll be back.”

“Thank you,” Adam said.

Lilly moved out of the steady flow of traffic onto one of the aisles. “We can sit here. As tall as your friend is, he shouldn’t have any trouble finding Dr. Delacroix in this crowd.” She waited until Adam sat; then she sat beside him.

“Jonathan probably has his eyes peeled for us. He worries almost as much as Mother does.” Adam tucked his feet back as far as they would go to keep the aisle clear.

“I’d say that was a good thing,” Lilly said, then twisted sideways to let a couple with two small children pass.

“I’d say you were right.”

No sooner were the words out of his mouth than Sparks reappeared. “He’s down in front. I’ll take you to him.”

“I can find it,” Lilly said. “We don’t want to keep you.”

He stared at Adam. “There’s enough room for one more. If you don’t mind, I’d like to sit with you.”

Adam didn’t hesitate. “I don’t mind.”

As they waited for Eleanor to join them and the commencement ceremonies to begin, several other acquaintances recognized Adam and came by to say hello. When awkwardness occurred, Adam, Lilly, or Jonathan helped smooth over the moment.

Eleanor joined the group and imperceptibly hesitated when Jonathan scooted over for her to sit between him and Adam; then she edged by him and took her seat. This was no time to go hormonal. Adam was laughing with his friends, and her daughter was about to take top honors at her college graduation.

When she saw Nicole coming toward them and sighed, she felt more than saw Jonathan’s gaze on her. “What?” he asked.

“You’ll see,” she whispered.

“Hello, everyone,” Nicole said. “I was afraid I wouldn’t find you in this madhouse. It’s a good thing Kristen told me where you’d be sitting.” The wattage of her smile increased. “I hope someone saved me a seat.”

The two men in the bleachers below and one behind them quickly scooted over, as did Dr. Sparks next to Lilly. Eleanor could see why.

Nicole had pulled out all the stops. She was absolutely striking in a papaya silk jacket over a short apricot skirt that revealed a wealth of long legs. As she passed by them, Eleanor caught a whiff of the seductive and expensive perfume she wore. For Adam, who experienced through his senses, it was an all-out assault.

Nicole stopped in front of Lilly. “Do you mind?”

Lilly moved.

Sitting, Nicole crossed her legs. Nylon whispered. “I promised Kristen I’d be here.”

“I’m sure she appreciates it,” Adam said, his voice tight.

A robust man with a black cap and gold tassels with three gold stripes on each sleeve of his robe stepped up to the microphone on the raised covered platform on the stadium floor. A hush fell over the 30,000 people in attendance.

Lilly had never felt so lonely in her life.

Eleanor didn’t like what she saw. She was a lioness where her children were concerned, and she could tell that Eric Fawnsworth wasn’t right for her daughter as Kristen practically dragged him to where they waited outside the stadium. The baccalaureate ceremonies were over, and now each department would have their own commencement, where the diplomas would be handed out.

“Mother, you remember Eric, don’t you?” Kristen’s eyes glowed with happiness.