Love Believes (Sully Point, Book 5)

by Nicole Smith

  "Huh, what kind of information?"

  "Secrets. Things I'm not supposed to talk about."

  "So what's the latest secret?"

  "Sam, didn't I just say..."

  "Oh sure, but I'm not my father-in-law. I'd never blab stuff all over town. Believe me, I know about the Sully Point gossip mill."

  "Hmm. Maybe I should tell you. She is your sister after all."

  "What? Which sister? Is it something about Maggie and the baby?"

  "No, no, they're fine, doing great. No, it's about Beth." Eric stepped closer to Sam after looking up and down the aisle. Softly, he said, "Beth is involved with the director, Christopher."

  "What? Who told you...Maggie? Is she sure?"

  "Yes, says she got it from a very reliable source."

  "Who would...our mother! She went to see Beth yesterday. That must have been when she found out. She can never keep a secret."

  "Well, we're all supposed to keep it quiet. They don't want anyone to know yet, just FYI."

  "Okay, but thanks for letting me know." Sam walked off looking a bit dazed.

  Eric wasn't at all sure he'd just done the right thing, but if Beth was his sister, he'd want to know. Checking out, he wondered just what Joshua was doing with the phones.

  * * * *

  "Anna! Are you here?" Sam called out as he walked into the house.

  "In here," she said from the living room.

  "You won't believe what I just heard," Sam said, entering the living room.

  "Never mind that now. Did you bring the phones?"

  "What? Oh yeah, sure. Here." He held out the shopping bag to her.

  "Let me just give these to him. And we should thank our lucky stars that he isn't interested in eating them or putting them in his mouth at all." She headed quickly down the hall.

  Sam settled onto the couch and stared at the painting on the wall across from it. Anna had done it, the year they'd met. He smiled at her as she came back into the room.

  "All set. He's a happy camper now." She sat down next to Sam and he put his arm around her shoulders.

  "We're sure we're doing the right thing with him?"

  "You know what they said," Anna replied. "Let him follow his interests wherever they take him. Give him structure but let his mind roam free. He's still aggravated by having to spend the day in his room. He keeps telling me that he was helping your phone."

  "I shudder to think what he'd be like if we imposed no discipline at all, Anna."

  "I know, and I agree with this. You'd told him before not to touch the phone. Anyway, what did you hear while you were out?"

  "That Beth and William Christopher are in a relationship."

  Anna turned to face him. "Sam Carter. I can't believe you're listening to stories of town gossip."

  "It was Eric who told me."

  "Eric."

  "Yep. Supposedly, the happy couple want to keep it a secret for now. So don't let on that you know. I just wonder if this is the best thing for Beth. He's older than her, and he's been in the theater business a long time. What if she thinks it means more than it does? Maybe he does have affairs with his leading ladies all the time."

  "I don't know...he doesn't seem like the type for that. Who told Eric?"

  "Maggie."

  "Maggie! How did she find out?"

  "Mom."

  "Sophia? Maybe she just listened to some gossip on the street."

  "Mom got it directly from Beth."

  "Oh."

  They sat silently, with Sam stroking Anna's hair. Finally she said, "I guess we keep the secret then. Maybe it will work out okay."

  "I hope so. She deserves someone good."

  "Come on. Let's go check on phone boy."

  As they walked down the hall, they suddenly heard a bunch of phones, ringing at once, accompanied by riotous giggling. They took off running.

  * * * *

  Julia decided to leave a memo about costs included for costumes on Beth's desk. She printed it out and realized she hadn't heard Beth leave, so she ran up the stairs to her office. Right as she was about to open the door, she heard a giggle.

  "William! Wait till we get to your house," Beth's voice said, floating through the door.

  "Then let's leave now. It's the end of the day and I want you," Mr. Christopher said.

  Julia stood staring at the door for a second, and then quickly tip-toed back to the stairs and ran down them lightly.

  She had just dashed over to her desk, when the two of them came downstairs. They were talking construction costs, which almost made Julia laugh. But she kept her face calm and waved to them. "Have a good night!"

  The two waved and were out the door. Julia waited a minute and then burst out laughing. So they were having a secret romance? Well, she thought, good for them.

  She closed up the shop and went home. Cody was already there, in the kitchen with Jennifer in her high chair. Jennifer loved to watch Daddy cook. For that matter, so did Julia, seeing as how she couldn't cook a thing. She waved hello to them and headed upstairs to change clothes.

  Over a dinner of pork chops with potatoes, carrots, and biscuits, she couldn't hold it in.

  "Cody. I have to tell you what I heard today."

  "Is it gossip?" he asked. "Remember how we said were going to rise above all the gossip in this town?"

  "It's not gossip. It's what I actually heard, with my own ears, outside Beth's office this afternoon."

  Cody's eyebrows flew up. "You were listening outside her door?"

  "Not exactly. I went up there to give her something and right when I got there I heard them talking. They were...you know...together. They were planning to go to his house. They are having an affair."

  Jennifer chose that moment to toss a chunk of potato at her father, who caught it deftly with one hand while still staring at Julia.

  "I wonder if anyone else knows," Cody said.

  "I don't know. Should we say something to them? Let them know we know?"

  "Hmm. I don't think so. Clearly they want to keep it private, so we'll give them their privacy."

  Julia frowned. "Now just how am I supposed to give them their privacy about it when I know and I have to see them both every day? This ought to be interesting. But I agree it should be a secret. I mean, what if Maelynne found out? It would be all over town, reinforcing those lies she was spewing about them in the beginning."

  "Might be uncomfortable for you, Jules, but I think it's best to let them believe it's their own thing. For a while. Now tell me, did you notice the new seasoning I used this time?"

  Julia blinked several times and then smiled sweetly at him. "Why yes! It really added something."

  "Oh brother. You really can't lie worth a damn, can you? You wouldn't know a bit of parsley from a bay leaf if it bit you on the--"

  "Cody! Jennifer," Julia said, trying not to laugh.

  "Right. Just do the best you can."

  * * * *

  The next morning, Cody walked into his father's hardware store looking for a claw hammer. When Frank saw him, he came over quickly.

  "Listen, Cody. I've been thinking about how I invited Mr. Christopher, or William, to the dinner tomorrow. And how everyone has told me there's nothing between him and Beth. So I was thinking maybe I should invite a date for each of them. You know, like a surprise blind date. What do you think?"

  Cody went from staring at saws to gaping at his father. "A...surprise...blind date. For both of them."

  Frank nodded vigorously. "That's right. Two attractive single people. I was thinking I'd ask the leading man from the play for Beth and--"

  "Dad, no. Just...no."

  "Why not?"

  Cody sighed. "Can you keep your mouth shut if I tell you something?"

  Frank reared back, clearly offended. "Cody, of course I can. I'm the soul of discretion, you know that."

  "Yeah, well, anyway...you can't invite dates for them because they are, in fact, together. Beth and William. It's just that they're keeping it
quiet right now. I don't think anyone is supposed to know."

  Frank's eyes went wide as he digested this piece of information. "Well, what do you know. I was right on track after all. That'll show those girls."

  "No, you can't go telling them. I mean Julia knows, but that's it. Okay? Please?"

  "Sure, son, sure. If anyone knows how to keep his mouth shut, it's me."

  "I mean it, Dad."

  "Right you are. Now then, did you want one of these hammers?"

  Cody stared at his father for a moment, sighed, and picked out a hammer. At least he'd managed to head off the whole blind date surprise.

  * * * *

  Frank was on the phone to his eldest daughter Holly as soon as Cody left the store. "Holly, good to hear your voice."

  "What's going on, Dad? Do you need me to bring anything else?"

  "No, no, I just thought I'd give you a head's up, since you haven't been around in a while."

  "Head's up about what?"

  He heard her voice calling away from the phone, "Jason, can you get Harry out of the tub?"

  Then she was back. "Sorry. Harry has the day off from school and he loves taking baths in our big jetted tub."

  "How's the little guy doing?"

  "Growing like a weed. And anxious to meet the whole family. Anyway what was it I need to know?"

  "You know Beth, Sam's sister? Well, it turns out she's having an affair with Mr. Christopher, the director of the Playhouse."

  Silence came from the phone. Then Holly said, "Dad. I can't believe you called to tell me gossip like this! You're terrible. What business is it of any of ours what Beth is doing?"

  "Well, see, I thought you should know the lay of the land."

  "Dad...honestly, I don't even know what to say to this. Don't go telling anyone else!"

  "Well, sure, Holly. I can keep a secret. But after all, she is family."

  A large sigh came through the phone at his ear.

  "Okay. I need to go. We'll see you tomorrow."

  Frank put the phone down and thought about it. He wasn't wrong. She was a part of the family. And family deserved to know what was up with each other. Nodding to himself, he put in a call to his wife.

  "Betsy, I was right. I have to tell you all about it. Oh, you didn't call that actor yet, did you? Turns out the blind date idea is off."

  * * * *

  When Beth arrived at work that day, she ran into Julia coming from the coffee room.

  "Oops," Julia said, as she came close to spilling her coffee.

  "Hey, Julia. How's it going this morning?" Beth asked, making her own coffee.

  "Fine, fine. Everything is good. How about you?"

  "Everything is fantastic. I feel great today," Beth said, giving her a sunny smile. "I'd better get up there. Is William already here?"

  "Uh, no. You got here first today."

  "Cool! See you later." Beth walked up the stairs, wondering what was up with Julia. She seemed a bit...odd.

  William poked his head into her office when he arrived, to give her a wink and a grin, but they spent the rest of the day apart from each other. William gave her the schedule for rehearsals late in the day, and Beth was happy to see they would start after the weekend.

  Tonight they planned on him staying at her apartment for a change. They'd planned out how she would drive out to his house and pick him up, so that his car couldn't be seen behind her apartment. Just in case of nosy people. Then she'd take him back to his car in the morning.

  Julia walked into her office. "I wanted to make sure you don't forget about tomorrow's dinner."

  "Thanks, but I wrote it down so I'm all set. You know, nobody told me to bring anything."

  "I think it's all covered, but you could check with Frank."

  "Check with Frank about what?" William asked, coming into the office.

  Julia flashed him a smile. "The dinner tomorrow."

  "Yes, I called him earlier. I'm bringing some wine. I need to pick that up tonight actually, on the way home."

  Beth gave him a quick little nod. "Maybe I could bring flowers," she said.

  "That's a great idea," Julia said. "Well, I'd better get home. You have a good night, Beth. You too, William."

  Beth watched her leave with a frown.

  "What is it?" William asked.

  "Did she seem...off...to you?"

  "Not really."

  "Must be me. I'm going to go to the florist and see if they can have something for me for tomorrow. I'll head out to your place after that."

  "Sounds great," he said, with feeling.

  "Wait," she said as he was turning away. "What about supper?"

  "Pizza delivery? I'll hide in the bedroom."

  She laughed delightedly. "Perfect. See you in a few."

  As she watched him leave her office, he said over his shoulder, "I can tell you're watching my butt."

  She giggled.

  Once they made it to her apartment, all she could think of was how much she wanted his hands on her. Each day with him felt like they discovered something new about each other.

  William had opened a bottle of wine and left it breathing on the kitchen counter, while she went to the bedroom to change clothes. She was slipping on her silky leopard pajama top when he came up to her and pulled her to him.

  "Why do you even bother with putting on clothes?"

  "Hmm. Habit. But one I'd be happy to break," she said with a smile.

  He began to unbutton her top. It took some time, because he seemed compelled to kiss her lips and then her neck and then on down her body as he undid each button.

  "You..." she gasped. "Are wearing way too many clothes."

  He laughed with his mouth near her ear and kissed her ear lobe. "I'll let you return the favor in a minute. But first..."

  * * * *

  William watched her take a big bite of pizza with everything. It was one of the things he loved about her, how she fully experienced every moment. And when it came to sex, he continued to be astonished and gratified by her intense enjoyment and abandon. He felt like he could spend his life discovering new ways to make her happy.

  And just like that, it hit him. She wasn't just someone he loved. She was someone he wanted to keep loving, forever.

  He set down his piece of pizza, as she reached over and wiped sauce off his bare chest. He wore pajama bottoms and she wore her leopard top. Her hair was tousled around her face and shoulders and she looked utterly delicious.

  "Marry me," he said.

  Her hand froze in the air. She'd been lifting her wine glass to her mouth. She didn't move, just opened those green eyes wider.

  "Beth, can you hear me? You okay?"

  "Uh...yeah...I...did you say..."

  "Yes. Please, marry me. I love you and I want us to be together forever."

  She carefully set her glass down on the table. She got up slowly and walked over to stand next to his chair. He turned to face her as she put her hands on either side of his face.

  "Yes. Absolutely, positively, yes!" And then she kissed him.

  His heart felt as if it would explode. She'd said yes! But...he pulled back. "Are you really sure? Even with the age thing, and my being work-obsessed, and what about your parents and..."

  She kissed him again, and then began kissing his face all over, murmuring, "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes."

  He pulled her onto his lap. "You've just made me the happiest man alive," he told her.

  She rested her head on his shoulder for a moment. "Any second now I'm going to jump off your lap and start dancing around the room. I'm telling you this so you'll be prepared and not freak out."

  "Okay," he said with a laugh.

  And in a flash she was up off his lap and dancing wildly around the room, yelling, "I'm getting married to the most amazing man in the world," interspersed with lots of whooping. He pretty much fell out of his chair laughing at her antics. At first she dodged the furniture, but then she jumped up on it and danced there.

  "Come on
, big fella," she crooned. "This is what a real happy dance looks like. You gotta do it, too."

  She jumped off the sofa and leaped her way over to him, pulling him to his feet, even as he held his sides due to laughing so hard.

  They spent the rest of the night dancing around the room, making love in each room of the apartment, and finally collapsing on the bed with the dawn, whispering "I love you" to each other as they fell asleep.

  His last coherent thought was that he'd fallen even more in love with her.

  * * * *

  Beth woke up to a knocking on her front door. For just an instant she froze, then made herself get up, pulling on a robe to answer it. It was Charles Zimmerman, her leading man.

  "Hey, what's up?"

  "Uh...not me...it's too early," she said, wrapping her robe tighter around her body as she stood in the doorway."

  "Too early? Man, it's like eleven."

  "What?" she screeched.

  "Yeah, it's eleven."

  "Oh no. Sorry Charles, I need to be somewhere like an hour ago. Call me at the office on Monday, okay? I've got family stuff this weekend."

  His face fell, but then he smiled at her. "Okay, see ya Monday."

  She shut the door as he started down the stairs. And then she ran to the bedroom. "William! Wake up, wake up, wake up. We're gonna be late."

  He grumbled something and pulled the pillow over his head.

  "Damn. Where was the chirping annoying bird this morning?"

  William uncovered his head and stared blearily at her. "Beth, my love, what the hell is going on?"

  "The family gathering. The dinner. We should already be headed over there."

  "Oh...well, damn. Okay, we shower together here, you get dressed in what you're wearing for the day, and then drive me to my house. Then you take off for Frank's, after you pick up your flowers, while I get changed and head out with the wine. Hopefully we won't arrive at the same time."

  She stared at him. "You're not going to direct things on a day to day basis in real life, are you?"

  He grimaced and put his head back under the pillow. "Sorry," came the muffled response.

  She laughed. "As long as you know that I'll call you on it every time. And in this case, your plan works for me. I'm turning on the shower in exactly one minute."