When I woke the next morning, Stellan was gone. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief, hoping he didn't pop in on me while I was in the shower. Even though he appeared to be a type of specter, I still didn't want to be naked when he reappeared.
I hurried to shower and dress, choosing an outfit that was a bit more conservative: a cute school skirt, shirt, and a matching tie, tied loosely. The skirt was still short, but not as short as the one Shay was wearing the day before. My baby bump wasn't showing yet, so it was a safe choice. Then I combed out her red, curly hair and opted to let it air dry, and then headed downstairs for breakfast.
"Hurry and eat, dear. Jack will be here at any moment," Shay's mother said as soon as I entered the dining room, fidgeting her fingers nervously. She had played the piano when she was young and now when she got nervous, it was as if her fingers couldn't help but move. "I'll let Gerard know you're up." She darted off, a bird taking flight.
"Morning," I said to Renn as I headed over to the refrigerator, pulled out the pitcher of fresh orange juice that I knew was perpetually there, and poured myself a glass. I held up the pitcher facing him. "Want some?"
He nodded, not lifting his head from the newspaper. Even though he was young and in college, I knew he was a political science major and stayed current with the news. "Yes, please." Then he folded the paper neatly and set it aside to eat the bacon and eggs that set on his plate. He looked around to see if anyone was listening. "So, when are you going to tell Mom and Dad?"
"Tell me what, dear?" Mom asked, walking into the room with a plate for me. She set it on the table in Shay's usual place as the heavenly scent of bacon filled the room.
"Oh, nothing, Mom." I glared at Renn for almost letting it slip before I could tell them myself. "I have a test coming up," I lied. "By the way, what are you and Dad doing tonight?"
She shrugged, looking at me as if I had four heads. "Going to the club as usual. We always go to the club on Tuesday nights. You know that."
I nodded. "Oh, yeah! I forgot."
Mom topped off our glasses, narrowing her eyes. "Are you feeling well?"
"She has brain fog." He smirked.
"Brain, what?" Mom asked, her eyes filled with concern as she filled a glass with orange juice for herself and placed the pitcher back in the refrigerator.
I glared at Renn. "Oh, nothing, Mom."
"Well... alright, dear."
Gerard brought in a plate and she finally sat. "Here you go, Ma'am." He set the plate on the table at her usual place and then darted out.
Mom looked over the plate as she shook out her napkin and laid it across her designer dress, even though it was first thing in the morning. "By the way, dear. I made a doctor's appointment for you."
Renn nearly choked on his juice.
I rolled my eyes and slapped him on the back repeatedly until he stopped. "For when?"
"Tomorrow afternoon," Mom replied, tapping the soft-boiled egg in the egg cup with the back of her knife. Then she looked up, having thought of something. "But if you need to go today—"
"No, Mom. That's fine." I cut her off. "But is there any way you can stay home tonight?"
"Why? Are you feeling that poorly?" Mom's eyes filled with concern.
I sighed. "Sort of."
"Well, I'll make sure to have Hildegard come by to stay with you then." I remembered that Hildegard was Shay and Renn's old babysitter from Hell. They were both glad when they were too old to need a babysitter.
"No, Mom!" I shouted. "I was just... hoping to talk to you and Dad."
A crease formed between her eyes. "Talk to me now."
Just then, Vivienne, the family maid, came in. "Mr. Jack Bell is here for Ms. Shay."
"Thank you, Vivi," Mom replied and then pointed toward my plate and narrowed her eyes. "Hurry up and eat. You mustn't keep Jack waiting."
I nodded, knowing that the subject of talking to her was closed. Actually, I was relieved that I would have more time to figure out how I was going to tell them. Shay's mother would no doubt burst out crying, while her father hit the roof. But they had to know. Not telling them was what got Shay into trouble in the first place.
"Children," Mom announced, calling our attention as if we were small children and not eighteen and twenty, respectively. "I'm going to the club to meet the ladies for lunch today. I shall return this afternoon." She looked across the table and forced a smile. "We'll talk then."
"Will father be here?" I asked.
"I think it may be better to wait until later this evening," Renn interjected. I knew that he wanted to be there when I told them. He was standing by his word and being a good big brother.
I nodded, giving him a smile. "Mom, when will Dad be home?"
"Dad?" She scrunched up her nose as if she had just eaten something disgusting. "Since when do you call him 'Dad'? You know he prefers to be called 'Father'."
"Yes, excuse me," I replied as Renn rolled his eyes. Obviously, formality was always expected. "When will Father be home?"
She shrugged, turning her attention back to her egg, spooning out the contents. "The usual time, I suppose."
"Okay. Thanks." I hurried to finish my breakfast, knowing that Jack would be waiting for me in the Study, and I still had to go upstairs to get my books.
Mom stopped eating, looking at me with concern. "Is everything alright, dear?"
I nodded, giving her a small smile. "Yes. Everything's fine." I hurried to scrape my plate and set it in the sink. "I'll talk to you about it later tonight."
Renn looked over his shoulder at me, his eyes filled with concern as he watched me walk out.
"Stellan!" I stage-whispered down the hallway, headed toward Shay's bedroom. "Where are you?" When I walked into the room, the bed was already made and my books stacked neatly on my desk, even though I hadn't left it that way. "Stellan!"
Nothing.
I sighed, thinking that he was probably off doing his other specter duties and would check in with me later. Grabbing my books, I headed down the hallway and into the Study where Jack was waiting.
He immediately rose to his feet. "Hello, Shay."
I was immediately struck by how good looking he was. He was a few years older than Shay, but not enough to make a huge difference. He was much better looking than Axel and looked at her with interest. Shay had thought Jack was cute, but a bit too clean cut her for liking. But I thought his wavy light-brown hair with blonde streaks and muscles more than made up for it.
He sat back down and looked up at me, his eyes filled with confidence. "Shall we begin?"
I nodded, taking a seat. "How are you today, Jack?"
His head snapped up. "Fine. Why do you ask?"
"It's just a question." I shrugged. "Haven't I asked you before?"
"Never." The crease between his eyes deepened as he studied me, his pencil hovering over his paper. "Is everything alright?" I knew instantly that he was a graduate teaching student, and this was his first teaching job, and he needed the reference. He had also never asked Shay if she was okay before. Until now, they had strictly a working relationship.
I shook my head. "No, not really. But it will be."
He nodded, giving me a smile. "Well, if there's anything I can do, let me know."
I nodded. "Thank you. I truly appreciate that."
A sexy smile spread across his lips, causing my heart to flutter. Instantly, I knew that Shay liked him, even though she told herself that she didn't. "Well, shall we get to work then?"
I nodded. "Yes. Let's."
As we worked, I spent the morning formulating a plan to try and get Shay and Jack together. He was responsible and seemed to care for Shay, and she seemed to care for him, too. But I wondered what he would think or how he would react when I told him Shay was pregnant by another man. He would probably head for the hills, but only time would tell.
"Well, I think that wraps everything up for today," Jack said, sliding his books into his soft leather briefcase. "You did very well." He looked up and smiled. "You have a natural aptitude for Math." Since Shay ended up becoming a broker, that would come in handy.
"Thanks." I watched as he packed up his things and I stacked mine. As I walked him out, I thought I'd go out on a limb and see what happened. I opened the front door, and he was about to leave when I stopped him. "Jack, do you think you'd like to come over for dinner with the family this Saturday?" When he just stared at me, I quickly added, "As my guest, of course."
Jack smiled as he tilted his head to the side. "Shay, I'm your teacher. I don't think it'd be appropriate to date."
"My tutor," I corrected. "But you won't be my tutor for much longer. I graduate this summer."
He nodded. "Let's just see how it goes."
I sighed. "Do you have a girlfriend?" I didn't recall Shay having ever asked.
He smirked, his lips curling into a sexy smile without even trying. "No, I don't. But I think this is a conversation we should save for another day. I have to go."
"See you tomorrow." I stepped aside to let him pass, watching him walk to his car. Then Jack smiled and waved, and then climbed into his car. I wondered if he had been the one meant for Shay and she had missed her chance. As I closed the door, I vowed to help Shay find the one meant for her, whether it was Jack or not.