Carved in Stone

by Donna McDonald

  “Sure—but you should know Mom and Luke are here. So is Shane. We’re just sort of hanging out until Carrie wakes up. Dad’s in the courtyard working if you want to go on out. There’s a new piece of art you should see anyway. He’s been working on it non-stop for a couple of weeks now,” Michael said.

  Jessica took a deep breath. “I guess it doesn’t matter who’s here. I owe your mother and Luke an apology, too. What’s one more humbling circumstance?”

  Then she looked out the patio door and saw Will hugging Ellen and laughing. “On the other hand, I may just kill both of them and bury their bodies in my backyard after all.”

  “What do you mean?” Michael asked. Then he saw what Jessica saw.

  “That’s not what it looks like,” Michael assured her. “I don’t know what it is, but it’s not what you think.”

  “Did you get that denial thing from your father, or did he get it from you?” Jessica asked snidely. “I’m getting really tired of hearing how there’s nothing going on, but yet this is what I see.” She pointed to the courtyard.

  Michael laughed because the situation was funny even if the look on Jessica’s face was not. “I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation,” he said, trying to keep a straight face.

  “The hell there is. Get out of my way, Michael. Your mother’s ass is mine,” she said firmly, sliding the patio door open and walking out.

  “Shane! Luke! Get in here. Jessica caught Mom hugging Dad again,” Michael yelled, sliding the patio door open and walking outside after her.

  ***

  “So are you two getting back together or what? Just tell me so I can stay the hell away from you both,” Jessica demanded, striding towards the couple that sprung apart like guilty kids caught necking.

  “No, of course not,” Ellen replied, stepping toward the angry woman. “Look—Jessica, this is not what it seems.”

  “Better stay where you are, Ellen. I wouldn’t suggest being within reaching distance of me while you answer my questions. I have six inches on you and probably out-weigh you by thirty or forty pounds. Even my therapist couldn’t talk me down from kicking your ass right now,” Jessica warned.

  “Jessica—wait,” Michael called.

  She swung around, pointed her finger at him, and stepped back towards him. “Stay out of this, Michael,” she ordered. “I know the woman is your mother, but she’s also a grown woman who needs to be held accountable for her actions. I’m not going to kill her, but I am going to have my say. If you’re going to stand out here, then shut up and let us get on with this.”

  Michael held up his hands and took a few steps back to show Jessica he was complying. Shane and Luke came out of the door together just in time to see Michael with his hands raised in the air.

  “What’s up?” Shane asked. “Besides your hands, that is.”

  “Jessica is planning to kick Mom’s ass,” Michael said, torn between distress and laughter.

  “Cool,” Shane said. “Why?”

  “She was hugging Dad again,” Michael said, looking at Luke.

  He was surprised when Luke snorted and laughed. “Something funny about your wife hugging another man?” Michael asked.

  “Yes,” Luke said, his body still worn out from last night’s most recent marathon with Ellen. He was completely convinced that his wife didn’t want her ex-husband sexually anymore, but if she was dumb enough to get caught hugging him again, then he was just going to enjoy watching her learn her lesson. “I haven’t seen a good cat fight since high school. You didn’t say there would be entertainment tonight, Michael.”

  “My last cat fight was my sophomore year in college. I was dating several girls in the same sorority. Well, as you can imagine that didn’t work out so well,” Shane said, sighing. “But the fight was a lot of fun to watch.”

  “So am I the only one appalled at this?” Michael asked, pointing at the yelling, swearing women down the yard. His father looked like a referee trying to separate two wrestlers.

  Shane and Luke looked at each other, then at Michael and shrugged.

  “Unbelievable,” Michael said, laughing at the men who were contentedly watching the show.

  About that time Carrie slid open the patio door. “Michael? I thought I heard yelling. What’s going on?”

  Shane looked down at the pale brunette with incredibly beautiful turquoise eyes. He smiled in welcome. She didn’t even blink at his appearance.

  “Hi. I’m Michael’s brother, Shane. This is his stepfather, Luke. The tall screaming redhead down the courtyard is my father’s girlfriend. Our father would be the sputtering bald guy caught between the two women. The pretty blond woman trying to hide behind him and use him for a human shield—well, that’s our mother. It’s nice to meet you, Carrie,” Shane said, sticking out a hand and laughing as she took it. “Welcome to the family. What chapter in my book do you want?”

  Carrie could tell Michael’s brother was trying to get her to have a huge reaction, so she denied him the pleasure and looked at Michael instead.

  “Seriously? This is your family?” she asked. “And this is your idea of a quiet dinner?”

  “No. Actually, this is my idea of hell. The quiet dinner to meet the family was a dream I once had,” Michael said. “That dream is gone now. Lately, this is as good as it gets. See why I told you that you wouldn’t add anything to my drama? My parents have lost their damn minds lately.”

  They all turned their attention to the courtyard as Jessica screamed and Ellen yelled pulling backward on Will’s shirt to keep him in front of her.

  “How old are those people? Aren’t they all over 50?” Carrie asked, shaking her head in disbelief. “This is not high school.”

  “Well, they were once all teachers. No—wait, Will was a principal for a long time,” Luke said, laughing at Ellen cowering behind Will and trying to reason with the hot-tempered redhead. This was even more entertaining than he’d imagined, Luke thought. It was even better to learn how passionate his wife truly was under all that reserve. He was more in love with her now than when he met her.

  “Teachers? They’re teachers? You’re kidding, right?” Carrie asked.

  “Well, teachers are just as human as the rest of us. They just have better self-control—usually,” Shane said, laughing. “Love always makes a mess of everyone.”

  Carrie blinked in shock again, realizing they were going to do nothing to stop what was happening. She looked at all three of the men.

  Luke smiled, Shane smiled, and Michael closed his eyes and shook his head from side to side. Unbelievably, Carrie felt sorry for Michael Larson. He seemed to be the least crazy person in his messed up family.

  She sighed and put a hand to her stomach. “Well, I guess I need to go meet everyone else before I do anything more serious to stop this craziness.”

  She started forward toward the group of fighting, yelling people.

  “Carrie, no. You might get hurt,” Michael said, rushing after her.

  Shane burst out laughing. “Welcome to family, Carrie,” he called out.

  Michael turned around and gave his brother the bird.

  Shane looked at Luke, who was still smiling. “Does your older brother treat you that way?”

  “All the time,” Luke asked. “He kept flirting with your mother when we were dating, so I had to pound on him to keep him away from her.”

  “Wow. My fifty-two-year-old mother had two young men fighting over her,” Shane said. “I’m going to be a rich man after I finish my book.”

  “You’re going to want an attorney to read the contracts,” Luke advised. “Good thing you have one in the family.”

  Shane laughed and turned his attention back just as Carrie let out a loud yell and clapped her hands really loudly. Now he and Luke were riveted.

  On her way, Carrie had spied the marble bust sitting a table. It was the most marvelous thing she’d ever seen. It was also obvious who had been the model.

  “Hi. I’m Carrie. Do you want t
o meet me now or after the police are called to break up this domestic disturbance?” she asked, trying to be as imposing as she could be.

  Jessica turned her furious gaze on the pale, weaving woman who looked like a hard wind would knock her down. “Honey, you look like you’re going to faint any second.”

  “That would better than listening to you all fight all night,” Carrie said in reply.

  Jessica laughed and walked to the woman. “Jessica Daniels. I can already see why Michael likes you,” she said, sticking out her hand to shake.

  “You’re the bust woman,” Carrie said, looking up and studying Jessica’s face as she shook hands.

  “I’m the what?” Jessica asked, laughing.

  Carrie pointed off to the side. “That’s you, isn’t it?”

  Jessica looked in the direction she pointed and her jaw dropped. Like a woman in a trance, she walked over to the bust to reach a hand out.

  “That’s what I kept trying to tell you,” Ellen said to Jessica, exasperation and more in her tone. “You’re every bit as stubborn as Will. God help you both because you’re going to need it.”

  Ellen walked to the pale brunette who was the same height she was. “Hi. I’m Michael’s mother. I hardly ever fight, but it’s been a really interesting month for me. It’s so nice to meet you. I’m going in to finish getting dinner ready now.” She turned back to Jessica. “I was just hugging Will to wish him luck on getting you back, you hellish-fire-breathing-dragon-witch.”

  “Name calling? Oh, that’s very mature, Ellen,” Jessica said, but then she started laughing as she finally heard the type of angry exchange the others must have been hearing all along.

  “Yes. Well, you seem to inspire everyone in this family one way or another. I was going to thank you for saving my marriage, but go to hell first,” Ellen said, laughing herself. “I’ll thank you later.”

  “Fine. I’m glad it worked out for you,” Jessica said, tears of embarrassment finally starting to flow. “I hate being an idiot.”

  “Well, don’t cry about it,” Ellen said briskly. Then she looked at Will and pointed her finger. “Well, don’t just stand there with your mouth open like a gaping fish. Make up with her William, and then make her stay for dinner. How else are we going to work on being friends?”

  Michael stepped up and hooked an arm around Carrie. “Easy there, General Addison. You’re as white as a sheet. Let’s go find you a chair.” He scooped her up into his arms. “Good job though. You actually did break up the fight. We might get that quiet dinner after all.”

  “The medicine makes me sleepy, but I think I’m hungry,” Carrie said, smiling weakly into Michael’s face. “You have a crazy family. I thought mine was bad.”

  “Sorry. You can add limited exposure to them in the agreement if you want. They will all be leaving later. I promise,” he said, walking away with her. Then he stopped and turned around. “Dad. You going to be okay?”

  Will was watching Jessica cry and touch her own face in marble. “Yes. I—give us a few minutes and we’ll be inside.”

  “Take your time,” Michael said. “Carrie has to eat though. We don’t want the medicine to wear off before she does.”

  “You don’t have to worry so much about me, Michael,” Carrie scolded. “I’m fine.”

  “Absolutely,” he said, carrying her through the door Shane was holding open as wide as possible. “You’re absolutely the finest woman I know.”

  ***

  When the courtyard had emptied except for the two of them, Will walked over to stand next to Jessica.

  “I can’t believe I was ready to fight the woman over her hugging you,” she said, sniffling. “You must be embarrassed to death.”

  Will ran a hand over his head, smiled, and decided complete honesty was the only choice.

  “I liked the screaming and yelling a lot better than your logical reaction to her waiting for me in the bedroom a few weeks ago. Being a man, and still stupid with it even at my age, I have to admit it was kind of hot to know my girlfriend would fight my ex-wife over me,” he said, rubbing his face. “Even if there was absolutely no reason. Ever. Not even if we don’t work out, which we will, because you are all I can think about.”

  Jessica sniffed. “So you say.”

  Will reached out and touched the face of the bust he’d made of her. “My one predominant thought is how to get you to look like this for me again. I can’t bear the idea that being with me has changed you to the point you can’t be yourself or be happy. When you stop kissing ninety-year-old men, something’s not right in Jessica Daniels’ world.

  “Does Melanie tell you everything?” Jessica asked, laughing.

  “Well, I tip her with money instead of condoms. That helps. But I think I also remind her of her Dad. She feels sorry for me a lot,” Will said. “Can I hug you now, or you still in the mood to kick someone’s ass?”

  Jessica turned and lifted her arms so Will could walk into them. He scooped her up so hard that she almost couldn’t breathe.

  “I missed you so much,” he told her.

  “I missed you too,” Jessica told him. “But I had to get over being mad and say goodbye to the other guy.”

  “What other guy?” Will asked carefully, drawing back and looking at her. “Are you dating again?”

  “No. I had to say goodbye to Nathan,” Jessica said softly. “I told him I loved you and wanted to marry you. He seemed to understand.”

  “Well, I’m glad Nathan took it so well,” Will said, not sure his legs were going to hold him up. She loved him. He squeezed her tightly. She was going to marry him. “How about Mr. Beaumont?”

  “William,” Jessica said, using her best teacher voice, “there are just some men that a woman can’t give up. You’re going to have to learn to share me more or our marriage is never going to work out.”

  Will pretended to give that some consideration as he ran a hand up her spine until it tangled in her hair. He touched his forehead to hers.

  “I guess I can be content with being the favorite,” Will told her, “but if the math teacher comes back around again, I’m seriously going to kick his ass. You lifted the bar on that this afternoon when you chased Ellen around me. Did I tell you that was totally hot?”

  Jessica lifted a hand and smacked Will lightly in the back of his head, making him laugh even when he called out in pain.

  “Don’t even get me started on math teachers. You married one yourself—yet another thing you never told me even though I heard about Adam a hundred times,” Jessica complained.

  “I wanted you to like me for my art, for being an artist. I wanted to be with someone who loved me more than a math teacher ever could. I never meant to not tell you. I just never thought about the past when I was with you,” Will explained. He kissed the corner of her eye, the edge of her mouth, and down her neck until her heart beat strongly under her lips. “You’re not like anyone I’ve ever known. I’ve not been sure of anything since I met you.”

  “You can be sure of what I feel about you. I’ve belonged to you since the first time you put your hands on me,” Jessica said hoarsely. “Marry me, Will. Drive me crazy for the rest of my life. You’re the last man I’m ever going to make that offer to.”

  Will thought being happy felt a lot like being drunk. “Well, since you asked so nicely—yes, I’ll marry you,” he told Jessica, meaning every word. “I’m ready for a new name anyway. William Daniels. I like the sound of it.”

  “It will never work. You’ll just be a crazy Larson underneath, so we might as well use your name,” Jessica told him, laughing. “I was tired of being a Daniels anyway. Thirty years is long enough.”

  “Well, if you’re sure,” Will said seriously, thrilled to know she was truly ready to let Nathan Daniels go. “Jessica Larson. Sounds like a good name for a vagina artist.”

  “No, no more vaginas. Your lovemaking has inspired me to try something new. I’m making breast art now. I’m planning to sell it to women’s hospitals and
birthing centers,” Jessica said, laughing again at the pride and understanding she saw in Will’s gaze.

  “I can’t wait to check out the source of your inspiration. Have the girls missed me as much as I have them?” Will asked, laughing.

  “Yes,” Jessica said emphatically. “We’ve all missed you. They think we should buy a house together so we never have to be apart again. It needs to have a place for you to carve and another where I can work in clay.”

  Will lifted and spun her as they kissed to seal their agreement. When they stopped spinning, it was to see the crowd assembled at the patio door laughing and clapping.

  ### ### ###

  Note From the Author: If you enjoyed this ebook, please consider leaving a positive review or rating on the site where you purchased it. Reader reviews help my books continue to be valued by distributors/resellers and help new readers make decisions about reading them. I value each and every reader who takes the time to do this and invite you all to join me on my Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.com for more discussions and fun.

  You are the reason I write these stories and I sincerely appreciate you!

  Many thanks for your support,

  ~ Donna McDonald

  KEEP READING in this ebook to read an excerpt

  from “Created In Fire”, Book Two of

  the Art of Love series.

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  EXCERPT from Chapter 1 of Created In Fire

  It wasn’t the first time Michael Larson had awakened in a strange bed early on a Saturday morning, but it was the first time the strange bed was one in his own house.

  He listened for a moment to a silence that was broken periodically by the sound of the master bath toilet being flushed. It took only a few seconds of total consciousness to know the sounds meant that Carrie Addison, the mother of his future child, was sick again.