Excerpts: "The Twain Shall Meet"
Read special holiday excerpts from The Twain Shall Meet.
Shannon Larkin loves the holidays. Recall the rocky beginnings of her romance with Scott Page during Thanksgiving at the family mansion . . . Experience their first kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas . . . And hear Scott's declarations of love on New Year's Eve . . .
The Twain Shall Meet is the third book in the Collective Obsessions Saga. The novel was released in January 2012.
Christmas (Chapter 10)
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS seem to fly by with record speed. Shannon spent long hours at the office, scrambling to get everything ready for the trip to Ireland. She obtained a passport and a working visa for the Republic of Ireland. She was unable to get an international driver's license because the age requirement was twenty-one. She took Dana with her to shop for new clothes, visiting Phoebe's Boutique and other department stores in Larkin City and Bangor.
Snow blanketed the harbor town at the end of November. The roads became icy and treacherous, so Shannon rode to the office with her father and Scott every day.
Scott turned out to be a diligent and extremely intelligent geophysicist in Shannon's eyes. He and Brian closeted themselves in the drafting room most days, working closely on data maps and reports from the Keel project in Dublin. Shannon usually brought them lunch from Bruno's, and then ate at her desk alone, attempting to lessen the work load before she left the following month. She hired a middle-aged local named Evelyn Keyes to take her place in January, and was trying to train her in the short time allowed. A day at the office did not end until six or seven at night.
Shannon's only free day, Sunday, was spent preparing for her trip and trying to get Christmas presents for her family and friends in order. Dana often came over to the mansion to help her and stay for dinner. With the winds of winter beating against the old estate, almost every fireplace on the main floor was kept burning constantly. There was a warm feeling in every room, a welcome relief from the cold outside.
Early in December, Scott asked Brian if he could stay on at the mansion for Christmas. Brian told him he was more than welcome to stay. Shannon wondered what happened to Scott's friends in New York City, but she said nothing. Since he was staying for the holiday, she decided to buy Scott a present. "What if I get him a gold-lined black book?" Shannon asked Dana sarcastically, and then laughed it off.
Shannon had come to the conclusion that Scott was not such a forbidding man after all. Having been nothing but pleasant to her in the last few weeks, she realized he could be friendly when he wanted to be. She still caught him staring at her quite often, but she brushed it off. Obviously he was a healthy male, and he had to have something to look at while he spent time in Larkin. Since he worked around her all day and didn’t go anywhere at night, she assumed she was convenient for him. He was a good conversationalist and very well read. He usually sat next to her during meals at the house. At times, he would discuss different books he read, or they would talk about the project in Ireland.
In the evenings, the family would gather in the living room to watch television. The living room was opposite the drawing room across the foyer. Sean was often absent at night these days, spending most of his free time with Marianne Chamberlain. Shannon smiled at the thought. It appeared her errant twin brother had finally found a girl worth seeing for more than one night.
One evening in mid-December, Scott and Shannon watched a movie titled The Assassination Bureau with Brian and Mary in the living room. Everyone was quiet as the thriller played, kept in suspense as the plot unfolded.
When the telephone rang all of a sudden, it startled everyone. Someone in another part of the house answered the call. Presently, Denise Larkin came to the doorway of the living room.
"The call is for you, Scott," Denise said. "It's long distance from New York City. There is a phone on the foyer table if you want to take it there."
Scott thanked Denise and excused himself to the group in the living room. He then walked into the foyer and picked up the telephone.
It was Anita Howard, and she was furious. "I got your post card the other day," she said angrily. "What is all this shit about you spending Christmas with happy families in Larkin City, of all god damned places? We always spend the holiday together."
Keeping his voice quiet, Scott told her: "I explained in the post card. I'm busy and I just can't get away. Not even for one day. I'll try to see you before I head for Ireland next month."
"Wonderful," Anita said sarcastically. "So I get to see you for a few hours before you take off for Ireland for months on end. Damn you, Scott." Then she calmed slightly. "I'll just take my vacation in Ireland, then. In February."
"We'll have to talk about that," he said evenly. "If you come, I won't be able to spend much time with you. My only day off is Sunday."
She became angry again. "Are you trying to brush me off, Scott? If so, come out and tell me right now."
"Calm down, Anita," he snapped, annoyed by her possessive attitude. "If you can't talk in a civil tone, I’ve better things to do."
"I'll bet you do," she sneered.
"Anita, I'm warning you."
She was instantly contrite, recognizing the finality of his tone. "I'm sorry, Scott, honest," she pleaded. "I'm just disappointed I won't be seeing you. What if I come to Larkin City to be with you?"
Scott sighed. What did it take for her to get the message? "That's not a very good idea, Anita," he told her firmly. "The Larkin's are rather private people. They are just barely getting used to me. I don't want to impose on them."
"Then I could get a motel room in Larkin City and you . . . ."
"No, Anita," Scott broke in impatiently. "I said no. If you can't accept that, I apologize."
Anita was silent for a moment. Finally her angry voice spat out at him again: "You've met someone else, haven't you?" she accused.
"No," he replied, tired of the conversation. "I'm not seeing anyone else. I haven't been on a date since I've been here, or met anyone interesting in the local bar. Nor, may I add, have I gotten laid since I saw you last."
She laughed. "No wonder you're so grouchy. Okay, okay, Scott, I won't pressure you, but I’d like to wish you a lonely and chaste Merry Christmas. I'll be waiting anxiously for you next month. I'll save my present for you until then."
"Thanks, Anita," he said with relief. "Have a happy holiday yourself. I'll see you next month. Bye for now."
"Take care of yourself," the woman said in parting. "I'll keep in touch." And she hung up.
Scott stood in the foyer after hanging up the telephone. What was the matter with him? He always enjoyed holidays with Anita in the past. She was great fun to be with and a good friend, but this year he felt like staying in Larkin City. He had warmed to the Larkin family. He was looking forward to spending Christmas with them, a real family for a change. With Anita, it would only be a round of parties and dances. He took great pleasure in that, too, but he wanted something different this year. Family.
Smiling, Scott returned to the living room.
* * *
CHRISTMAS DAY DAWNED BRIGHT and clear. Snow covered the grounds of the Larkin estate. The exterior of the house resembled a painting from a different age, with long icicles hanging over windows and doorways, and smoke billowing from the many chimneys. The air was bitter cold, but the sun was shining without a cloud in the sky.
Shannon stretched drowsily in her bed, burrowing deeper under the covers. She wondered idly what kind of fashionable outfit Aunt Phoebe decided to give her this year. Every Christmas, Phoebe gave Shannon a chic outfit from her old boutique or from a trendy store in New York City, trying to convince her that one must dress and act with the times. Convention and fashion were important factors to Phoebe, but Shannon wasn’t inclined to be a devotee of high style.
She finally rose from her bed and hurriedly dressed in dark blue slacks and a gray turtle-neck sweater. Running a brush through her hair and scrubbing her teeth, she donned a pair of snug fitting Japanese slippers and went downstairs.
No one was up and about yet, so Shannon started a pot of coffee and built a fire in the hearth in the drawing room. Rubbing her hands together, she stood before the blaze seeking warmth. She gazed at the Christmas tree that stood twelve feet high in the opposite corner of the room. Presents were crammed underneath. Curiously, she walked over to the tree and began examining the gifts carefully. Each package had a to-and-from tag taped on it. She glanced at several of them and then stopped short. A medium-sized package, gaily wrapped in green and red paper, was addressed to her. It was from Scott. She picked it up and shook it gently, trying to determine the contents. It must be something solid, she thought, feeling the slow movement inside as she shook it.
"You are as curious as a cat," a voice said teasingly from the doorway of the drawing room.
Shannon turned, blushing profusely as she looked at Scott. He was casually dressed in blue jeans and a turquoise flannel shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He was particularly handsome this morning, and clean-shaven. His green eyes were sparkling at her.
"I confess I’m a curious person," she admitted sheepishly, walking back to the fireplace. "When we were little kids, Sean and I used to sneak downstairs in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve. We’d open every gift addressed to us, then re-wrap them before going back to bed."
Scott laughed as he joined her at the fireplace. "Didn't your mother ever find out?" he wanted to know.
"She knew all along," Shannon grinned. "Here Sean and I thought we were so clever, but Mum never let on she knew. I grew out of it about six years ago."
He chuckled. "I keep forgetting you're still a teenager."
"And I keep forgetting you're over the hill," she retorted in return, but with a smile on her face.
Presently, they were joined by the rest of the family. Irish coffee was freely distributed, as well as eggnog laced with rum. The gift opening began.
Predictably, Phoebe's gift to Shannon was a designer gown. It was a maxi-skirt, deep burgundy color with a plunging neckline.
"I bought it from a designer in New York," Phoebe said. "The line is simply called Chic by Anita."
Shannon laughed, thanking her for the present. She glanced at Scott, who was staring at her with a puzzled look on his face. The expression vanished as he retrieved her gift to him from underneath the tree.
She grabbed the package addressed to her from Scott. Grinning, she said to him: "Now my curiosity will be appeased." Un-wrapping the gift, she was careful to preserve the paper. (This was a trick taught to her by Phoebe - "If you save the paper you can use it again next year," she once said, "no use in wasting perfectly good wrapping paper").
Shannon gasped in surprise when she viewed the gift from Scott. It was a small figurine of a Japanese woman in a kimono, fanning herself. It was exquisite. The kimono was black with a red dragon embroidered on the sleeve. "It's lovely, Scott," she exclaimed. "Thank you very much."
"My pleasure," he smiled at her. "Now it's my turn."
From her chair by the Christmas tree, Phoebe winced as Scott ripped wrapping paper carelessly. "Oh, well," she sighed. "That paper has seen three seasons, so I guess it doesn't matter."
Shannon flashed a smile at her great-aunt, and then returned her attention to Scott. He was gazing in wonder at the gift she had given him. It was a black turtle-neck sweater with a red dragon silk embroidered above the right breast.
He looked at her, his eyes warm. "Thank you," he said softly. "It seems we both had the same thing in mind - red dragons."
She flushed with pleasure. "It will look great with your coloring." She then continued watching the rest of the family open their presents. The morning progressed swiftly. Soon, the coffee and eggnog ran out. Shannon offered to make more in the kitchen. Mae Jensen was always given Christmas off so she could spend time with her daughter and grandchildren in Larkin City, leaving kitchen duty to members of the Larkin family.
Scott insisted on helping Shannon, so he followed her to the kitchen. He put on another pot of coffee while Shannon started to mix an eggnog recipe in the blender. She had already consumed three Irish coffees, which made her feel warm and content inside.
"Who put these all over the house?" he asked, pointing to the mistletoe above the back door.
She laughed. "Denise, who is a romantic at heart. She sneaks around the house on Christmas Eve and puts mistletoe above doorways. Isn't that crazy?"
Scott chuckled. "No, it's quite sane. Come over here."
She walked to the door. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Is the mistletoe falling down?"
She stood in front of Scott, hands on her hips. She smiled brightly.
Suddenly, his eyes darkened. "No, the mistletoe is not falling down. I just want to try it out."
Before she could speak, Scott took hold of her arms. Gazing directly into her eyes, he pulled her close. She felt the hard leanness of him and gasped involuntarily. Lowering his head, his mouth covered her lips. He began to kiss her, his tongue entering her mouth, caressing her with its touch.
Shannon felt weak. Was it Irish coffee making her feel weak at the knees? Strangely, she had no reservations about Scott's kiss. He pulled her tightly to him, placing his hand behind her head as he continued kissing her. Her body seemed to take on a will of its own. She wrapped her arms around his neck and welcomed his probing tongue and hard body. For that moment, she felt secure and warm in his embrace, and suddenly very aroused.
When he finally released her, Shannon was breathless. He was smiling at her in a strange way. She was struck by the look that passed between them. It was lust, certainly, but she sensed he was feeling something else. They were staring at one another as if there were an energy charge between them. She felt it to her very soul, as did Scott. He could not take his eyes from her face.
"What in the hell is taking so bloody long?" Sean demanded as he strode into the kitchen. He set his coffee cup on the kitchen table with a thud. "Isn't the coffee ready yet?"
Sean noticed Scott and Shannon blushing as they quickly moved away from one another. She smiled sweetly at her twin. "What am I? The maid of Larkin House?"
"No," Sean quipped, reaching over to tickle her on the ribs. "You're the Madwoman of Challiot - La Folle de Chaillot - or rather, the madwoman of Larkin House."
"Thanks a lot," she retorted teasingly. She glanced at Scott and asked: "Do you think me the madwoman of Larkin House?"
"No, no," he said gently, his eyes still warm. "You just have the amazing ability to drive certain people around you mad."
Sean threw back his head and roared with laughter. "My thoughts exactly," he declared. "Now, come on, where is the brew? The whole family is grumbling for it."
Shannon placed the eggnog and coffee on a large tray. "It's done, you punky kid," she ribbed. "Just don't drink it all on the way."
Scott walked over to Shannon and took the tray away from her. "I'll carry it," he said. "It's a bit heavy." His eyes sought hers, and she met them. She was still flushed, a smile playing around her lips. She simply could not bring herself to look away from him.
Sean watched them, his eyebrows raised in question. What was going on? Both his sister and Scott were so subdued, so thoughtful. Something was definitely happening here, he decided. Shrugging, Sean picked up his coffee cup from the kitchen table, and led the way back to the drawing room.
Next: "The Twain Shall Meet" @ New Year's Eve >
