The Ties That Bind

kept pushing until she had gotten past his very private, very personal barriers. Now she was paying the price for her compulsion.
    The fog was rolling in lazily off the ocean as Shannon finally pulled into the safety of her own driveway. She turned off the engine and leaned wearily against the steering wheel, staring at her front door. After a moment she opened the car door and climbed stiffly out. It had been a very long drive.
    The phone was ringing as she carried her suitcase and tote inside the cottage. For an instant she considered not answering it. She knew who would be on the other end of the line. On the fourth ring she reluctantly picked up the receiver.
    "Hello."
    Garth's voice came across the line, harsh and cold. "I just wanted to make sure you got home safely."
    "You don't have to worry about me anymore, Garth. I'm a big-time industrial spy, remember? I can take care of myself."
    "Damn it, Shannon, listen to me...."
    She put down the receiver very softly and unplugged the phone. It was as she sat staring at her tote bag that the tears finally came. It was a relief to give in to them at last.

* * *
    SHANNON GOT UP EARLY the next morning to take the first crib stencil designs to Annie O'Connor. The other woman greeted her cheerfully at the door of the comfortable, weathered old house she shared with Dan Turcott .
    "Come on in. I just took a whole-grain coffee cake out of the oven. Want a slice?" Annie stood aside.
    "Sounds great. Here are the stencil designs. See what you think."
    Annie tore open the packet as she led the way into the rustic kitchen that was redolent with fresh, warm, yeasty smells. "Oh, Shannon, they're wonderful. The baby's going to love them!"
    Shannon managed a small smile at the comment. "How are you feeling, Annie?"
    The other woman stretched and idly massaged her lower back. "Great. I feel as if I'm finally doing what I was meant to do."
    "Have babies?" Shannon grinned faintly.
    "Go ahead and laugh. I'm going to make a terrific mother." Annie began cutting up the hot coffee cake.
    "I believe you. I think Dan's going to make a good father, too." -
    Annie carried the plates over to the table and sat down. "He's asked me to marry him, you know," she said quietly.
    Shannon looked at her in astonishment. "No, I didn't know. I thought you two were determined to do this your own way."
    Annie shrugged. "I was. I thought Dan was, too. But the other day he sat down at breakfast and told me he thought we should get married. You know what I think? I think it was something your friend Garth said at dinner that night. Dan is starting to talk about providing me and the baby with the protection of his name. How's that for old-fashioned gallantry?"
    "I'm stunned."
    "Yeah. So was I, considering the kind of books he writes," Annie admitted with a smile. "But I think I'll take him up on it."
    "You're going to get married?"
    Annie nodded thoughtfully. "With the baby on the way, I'm ready for the commitment. So is Dan. You'll have to be sure and bring Garth to the wedding."
    Shannon took a bite of coffee cake, hardly tasting it. 'That's not very likely."
    "The weekend was a disaster?"
    "To put it mildly. He never wanted me to go to San Jose in the first place. I thought I'd surprise him. As it turns out, I did. Before I went he assumed I was a naive, impulsive, artsy-craftsy type who would make an ideal, uncomplicated, undemanding weekend mistress. Not real bright, but warm and willing, and he wouldn't have to worry about me causing him any real trouble."
    Annie slowly poured coffee and added cream. "And now?"
    "Now he thinks I'm a slick corporate spy who sells her body and her secrets to the highest bidder."
    Annie stared at her friend, her eyes full of astonishment. "Quite a change in perception in one weekend," she remarked dryly. "Want to tell me about it?"
    Over warm coffee cake and creamy coffee, Shannon did. When she was finished she didn't feel much better, but she knew she had reached a degree of acceptance. She went back home and back to work.
    It wasn't until the next day that Shannon remembered the buyer's contract she had been holding to show to Garth. She dug it out of the tote bag where she had put it to take with her to San Jose and quickly scanned the fine print. The contract looked okay to her. Garth had been right. She didn't completely understand all the whereases and wherefores. No one but a lawyer would, and she didn't feel like locating a lawyer. No point waiting any longer to