In Search of the Past (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #2)

by Rikki Dyson

  Miles was happy to tell Doctor McLeod about this lovely young woman he had shared a cab with today. “Shane you would not believe how beautiful she was. Her hair, those eyes and legs up to here ( he hand gestured to his neck ) When she smiled at me and said, “You don’t look harmless to me.” My heart started throbbing. I can tell you, my heart wasn’t all that was throbbing. For the first time in months, I feel like a whole man again.”

  Miles and Shane chortled together in their shared understanding of their erotic feelings, as only males can do with a knowing smile. When Miles had his shirt on and walked into Shane’s office, he said, “Miranda tells me you’re engaged. I must say that came as quite a surprise.”

  “Yes, I am engaged, I’m happy to say. It’s been about three months now. It’s amazing how you know when the right woman comes along,” Shane said as he handed Miles Stacey’s picture. Miles looked at the photo in slight confusion and asked, “Does she have a sister?”

  Shane chortled and said, “No, sorry, she’s an only child.”

  Miles handed Stacey’s picture back and said, “She’s quite lovely, Shane. You’re a lucky man.”

  Miles knew she was the same young woman from the taxi, but there was no way he could tell Shane that she was. He had already said too much. He didn’t want Shane to know he had coveted his fiancée. And why the devil did she say she was a Mrs.? Miles pulled himself together and said, “I’m sure you’re aware that Miranda is very upset with you. She vows you will come crawling back, when you come to your senses.”

  Shane laughed, shook his head and said, “Yes, I know, she has called a few times. I fail to understand why she’s making such a fuss. We were never exclusive in our relationship. I’m sure she will find someone more suitable in time.”

  “Yes, I’m sure she will, but you know Miranda, she wants to be the one to sever a relationship if and when it needs to be severed. You know mine and Miranda’s history. She and I grew up together and have always been best friends. I don’t always agree with her, but I know her better than most people do. When you chose another woman over her you tweaked her pride. She will feel it necessary to humble you or your fiancée in some way.

  Shane chortled and said, “Well, she doesn’t know Stacey, so I would recommend for Miranda’s sake, not to sail into uncharted waters.”

  Chapter 30

  A Doctor’s Wife

  Stacey had supper ready when Shane came home. They had just finished eating when the phone rang and he was called back to the hospital. Shane couldn’t believe Stacey was taking this so well. He kissed her and thanked her in deed, for being so understanding.

  “I’ve told you before, I know the disadvantages of being married to a doctor. I also know the benefits. As far as I’m concerned, the benefits far out weigh the disadvantages. I’ve watched Mom and Dad struggle with this same dilemma all my life. They made it work and so will we.”

  After Shane left for the hospital, Stacey cleared the dining room and cleaned up the kitchen. She went upstairs, showered and put on her pajamas, then she came downstairs, read for a while and waited. Shane arrived home about twelve-thirty a.m. Stacey was asleep on the couch, laying on her tummy with the book laying on the floor. Shane picked up the book and laid it on the coffee table, then squatted down to look at Stacey. His heart always seemed to skip a beat when he looked at her. He loved everything about her. Her intelligence, beauty and innocence. Her independence, and moxie kick ass attitude of, ‘take me or leave me.’ Her pure honesty and passion. Shane watched her sleep and thought, I don’t have the words to express how much I love her. Gently he pushed her hair back and lightly kissed her cheek.

  Stacey woke up, smiled at him and said, “Hi, what time is it?”

  “About twelve thirty. ” Shane said. “Are you ready to go upstairs?” They walked upstairs together. Stacey turned the covers back and crawled in bed while Shane was undressing.

  “How was it?” she asked.

  “Not too bad,” he said. “It was a small hemorrhage. We had to go back in and cauterize a bleeder. His vitals are steady and the x-rays looked good.”

  “Not the little boy, was it?”

  “No,” Shane said. “he’s an older man.”

  “Good,” Stacey said as she snuggled in Shane’s arms to go to sleep.

  Friday morning the alarm woke them both. “Dang, it seems like we just get to sleep and it’s time to get up,” Stacey said.

  “You should be accustomed to that, isn’t it the same way on the ranch?”

  “Yes, it is,” Stacey said, “but I’ve been spoiled for some time now.”

  “Then go back to bed and let me spoil you.”

  “No,” Stacey said. “I wanna’ be with you every minute that I can.” As usual, Stacey made coffee and breakfast while Shane showered and dressed. As Shane was leaving Stacey reminded him of the ball tonight.

  “I haven’t forgotten,” he said. “I shan’t be late.”

  After Shane left, Stacey went back to bed to sleep until Mrs. Wyatt arrived. She didn’t hear her enter the flat. Hearing the water running was what woke her. She looked at the clock, it was twelve-twenty. Stacey put on her robe, washed her face, brushed her teeth and hair then went downstairs to say, good morning, to Mrs. Wyatt. Stacey made herself a cup of coffee and asked Mrs. Wyatt, would she fancy a cup of coffee?

  “Lands sakes, no, Mrs. McLeod. I’ll never understand how you Americans drink that stuff. Give me a good cup of English tea any day.”

  “Would you care for a cup of tea, then?”

  “No, thank you, Mrs. McLeod,” she said. “I need to hurry today, my daughter needs me to help her with a few things.”

  “In that case, please go,” Stacey said. “I can take care of upstairs. I wanted to make sure I was here to say, good bye. I’ll be leaving on Sunday.”

  “Bless your heart Mrs. McLeod. I know this is hard on you and the doctor, to be sure. God’s speed to you. We’ll see you in February. Don’t you worry about a thing, I’ll take good care of the doctor.”

  “Yes ma’am, I know you will,” Stacey said.

  Mrs. Wyatt put her hat on, took her hand bag, gave Stacey a smile and left. Stacey poured herself another cup of coffee and sat down with a sigh.

  Shane didn’t get home until five. Stacey had made chicken salad for them to eat. They were having dinner at Lord Farnsworth, but that wouldn’t be until around nine o’clock.

  Chapter 31

  The Ball

  Shane was dressed in his tuxedo watching Stacey pin up her hair. When she had it pinned up to her satisfaction, she removed her robe and stepped into her dress. Shane zipped it up for her. As Stacey was putting on her pink lipstick, Shane reached into his pocket and brought out a diamond choker. He fastened it around her neck and kissed her bare shoulders. Stacey was speechless, it was the most beautiful piece of jewelry she had ever seen. Hesitantly, she reached up and touched it.

  “Do you like it, sweetheart?” Shane asked.

  “Yes, oh my goodness, yes. It’s stunning, but Shane, this must have cost you a fortune. What if I lose it?”

  “You’re not going to lose it,” Shane said chortling, “and don’t worry, I promise what it cost won’t cast us into penury”

  Stacey turned to Shane, put her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. “I’ve never before had anything this lovely. I’ve never even dreamed of having anything like this,” Stacey said as she admired the diamond choker in the mirror. “It’s so perfect with this dress. Thank you.”

  Shane loved the look on Stacey’s face. It was like an aphrodisiac to be the first for anything with her. When he told her how beautiful she looked, she kissed him again.

  As Stacey repaired her lipstick, she told Shane, “It’s so beautiful, I may just sleep in it tonight.”

  At the mansion, people were arriving and as they entered, the butler was announcing who they were. As Shane and Stacey entered the ballroom they were announced as, Doctor and Mrs. McLeod. They looked at each other in wonde
r.

  Annie and Hugh came over to them. Annie said, “We couldn’t resist. I hope you’re not upset with us.”

  “How did you know?” Stacey and Shane asked simultaneously.

  “Remember the roll of film you misplaced?” Annie said.

  “Misplaced nothing,” Stacey said. “I lost it.”

  “Whatever,” Annie said. “I found it a few weeks later at the dig. It had been rained on and heaven only knows what else. I was afraid it was no good. You were like a mad person when you couldn’t find it. I didn’t want to get your hopes up if the pictures didn’t turn out, so I had it developed and of course, I had a look at them. It took me awhile to put it all together. Now don’t worry, there’s no one here that knows you. We thought this would be the perfect time to get our revenge on you two for not telling your best friends.”

  When Shane and Stacey told them why they were keeping it a secret, they understood.

  Then Annie noticed Stacey’s choker. “Oh my goodness, that’s gorgeous,” she said as she touched it. “Is that why you went by Mrs. McGraw’s to see the dress, Shane?”

  “Yes,” Shane said. “that was one of the reasons.”

  “Yes, Mrs. McGraw told me you paid for the dress also.”

  “When were you gonna’ tell me?” Stacey asked surprised.

  “Oh, someday when we’re old and gray,” Shane said as he hugged her.

  “Did you bring the pictures?”

  “Of course,” Annie said smiling. “I value my life. Would I have told you about them and not have brought them.”

  “Well, let’s look at them,” Stacey said excitedly. “Oh, Annie, I’m so happy you found

  the film. I was just sick about losing it. The photos could never have been replaced.”

  Dinner was announced. When they went in Stacey and Shane found they were seated at

  different tables. Stacey was placed between two gentlemen, one was Spanish and the other

  Chinese. Neither of them spoke much English: Stacey waved to Shane who was three tables over. She had been talking with both of her gentlemen. As the waiter served the food, Stacey took the opportunity to look around. At the same table, a few tables over sat Sir Richard Heath and Sir Richard Attenborough. Stacey knew Sir Richard Attenborough from a dig in Turkey three summers ago. He had been filming a documentary for National Geographic. He also had met her grandparents and her aunt Lora. They had been touring Europe and took the opportunity to visit Stacey and Eric at the site. She had just met Sir Richard Heath in Shane’s office a few days ago, where she was introduced as his fiancée. Oh well, maybe they didn’t hear.

  After dinner most of the guests migrated to the ballroom. Stacey took Annie aside and said, “Thanks a lot, best friend. Nobody I know is gonna’ be here?”

  “Who is?” Annie asked.

  “How about Sir Richard Attenborough, plus Sir Richard Heath. I met him a few days

  ago in Shane’s office.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Annie said laughing. “I forgot about Sir Richard and I have no idea who the other gentleman is.” Shane and Hugh joined them as Richard Heath’s name was mentioned. “What do you know about him?” Annie asked Shane.

  “Nothing personal,” he said. “Stacey knows him from her, dream time, ask her.”

  Richard Attenborough saw them and came over. Annie introduced Hugh and Shane. They shook hands and Sir Richard said, “Let me congratulate you two on your marriage.”

  “Thank you,” Stacey said, “but it’s suppose to be a secret.” She explained why.

  Sir Richard talked for awhile, then he asked. “How are your grandparents and your lovely aunt Lora? I must say I thoroughly enjoyed making their acquaintance.”

  “They’re all quite well, thank you for asking,” Stacey said.

  “Now my dear, when is this other wedding to take place?” Sir Richard asked.

  “Next June, in Texas,” Stacey said.

  “I hope I’ll be receiving an invitation,” he said.

  “Of course,” Stacey said. “If you really wanna’ come?”

  “I do, I’m sure it’ll be very interesting.” He shook hands with Shane and Hugh and said his goodbyes.

  Soon after, Sir Richard Heath came over and asked, “Did I misunderstand the other day?”

  “No,” Shane said. “this is my wife, Stacey.”

  “A good choice,” Sir Richard Heath said. “Mrs. McLeod, the other day when I said, I felt I knew you from someplace. You said, “Yes, another time, another place. Could you elaborate on that?”

  Stacey was going to explain, but Annie came and said her uncle needed Stacey to translate for the Chinese gentleman.

  “Please excuse me,” Stacey said.

  Richard Heath turned to Shane and said, “Translate Chinese? Doctor McLeod.”

  “Yes, sir, my wife has many talents.” After a thoughtful moment Shane asked, “Sir Richard, can you tell me from where you think you know my wife?”

  “No, I can’t doctor. When I saw her in your office, she seemed terribly familiar, somehow. Of course, I may have seen her in a restaurant or the theater. In a large city such as London, one never knows.”

  “Yes, that’s true,” Shane said. “she felt that she knew you also.”

  “Do you know what she means about, ‘another time, another place?” Sir Richard asked. He watched Doctor McLeod waiting for his answer. There was something about the doctor’s young wife that intrigued him.

  “No, I don’t,” Shane said. “I’m sorry, she’ll have to tell you that herself.” By the time Stacey came back, Richard Heath was nowhere to be seen.

  Stacey and Shane danced, talked and laughed. They had a genuinely good time. It was their first social event as man and wife. Stacey was dancing with some older gentleman and when the dance was finished, she made a bee-line to where Shane was standing with Annie and Hugh.

  “Let’s go home Shane.”

  “Why so early?” Hugh asked.

  “Because I feel like Cinderella tonight, and if I don’t get out of here before midnight, I might turn into a pumpkin.”

  “I thought you lost your glass slipper,” Hugh said.

  “That too,” Stacey said.

  Annie and Stacey started to the cloak room, Hugh jokingly asked Shane, “Did you have her certified before you married her?”

  “Bugger no,” Shane said. “that would’ve taken all the fun out of it.”

  Chapter-32

  Diamonds are Forever

  When Stacey and Shane arrived home, they went straight upstairs. Stacey was removing pins from her hair when Shane came over and unzipped her dress for her. As Stacey lean over to remove her shoes, Shane went down on his knee and said, “Let me do that for you, sweetheart.”

  Stacey pulled her skirt out of the way and said, “Okay.” Then she stood up and turned away.

  “Where are you going?” Shane asked.

  “To the bathroom, I’ll be right back.”

  Shane undressed and was in bed when Stacey appeared in the bathroom doorway with nothing on but her diamond choker. The light from the bathroom held her in silhouette. Shane was so ready for her, he felt s if his erection had an erection. She flipped out the light and came to bed. After much kissing, touching and caressing. Shane asked, “Are you ready to fly with me?”

  “Oh yes,” Stacey said. “Take me with you, fly us to the moon.”

  “I’m not sure I can take us that far, but we’ll give it a go.”

  They lay satiated in each others arms, “That was incredible,” Stacey said. “You take me as near to heaven as I ever hope to get.”

  Shane kissed her and said, he felt the same way. “Speaking of heaven,” he said. “If god made anything better, he surely must have kept it for himself.” That started Stacey laughing.

  They slept late on Saturday morning. Stacey showered, dressed and went to the kitchen to make coffee. Shane came down while the bacon was frying. “Do you not plan on taking off your diamonds?”

  “No, I se
e no reason why I should.”

  “Whatever turns you on, sweetheart,” Shane said as he held her close.

  Stacey leaned back in his arms and whispered. “You’re what turns me on, you should know that by now.” She kissed him and handed him a cup of coffee to drink while she scrambled eggs and made toast to go with the bacon.

  While Stacey was cleaning up the kitchen, Shane went in his home office to check his e-mail and fax machine. Stacey came in and put her arms around his neck and kissed his ear. He turned his chair around and sat her on his lap and kissed her. “It’s very difficult to concentrate with you around, my love. My mind wants to flitter around to more amorous thoughts.”

  They had just settled down to watch his much loved Rugby game when the phone rang. It was the hospital. Shane promised her, it wouldn’t take long. Stacey sat down at the piano and played a couple of tunes. Then she pulled back the drapes and looked at the gray sky and watched the rain spatter against the balcony stones. It had been raining steady since early morning.

  While Stacey was waiting for Shane, she decided to go ahead and make the Chicken crescent roll pie. While the chicken breast were cooking, she put together a salad and put it in the refrigerator. When the chicken pie was ready, she put it in the oven for forty five minutes on automatic shut off. As Stacey was turning, her sleeve caught the handle of the pan with the chicken broth. It spilled down the front of her clothes and on the floor. She cleaned it up with paper towels and a mop, then went to the utility room, to take off her soggy clothes and put them in the washer.

  With the chicken pie in the oven and the floor clean, Stacey made her way upstairs to shower and rid herself of the chicken broth. She was standing in her bra and panties drying her hair. She looked in the mirror and saw Shane standing in the bathroom doorway watching.

  “Something in the kitchen smells awfully good,” he said. “However, someone up here looks even better.”

  Stacey laid the dryer down and walked over to Shane and put her arms around him.

  “How much time for what’s in the oven?” he asked