The Ties That Bind

could think of a suitable response he was turning to Annie. "When is the baby due?"
    Annie beamed, more than happy to discuss the impending event. "At the end of August. We're very excited." She transferred her smile to Dan, who grinned back briefly. "Fortunately Dan has just sold his first book, and the publishers seem quite anxious for another. Between the books and the macrame and some sewing work I'm going to be doing on Shannon's tote bags, I think we're going to be fine. Babies can be expensive, you know."
    "So I've heard." Garth sipped his wine and then asked bluntly, "When are you two going to get married? If you're going to have a kid, Turcott , you owe it and its mother your name."
    Shannon shot to her feet, every social instinct she possessed in full panic. "Dinner's almost ready. Annie, you and Dan go ahead and sit down while I get the salad out of the refrigerator. Annie, you sit on this side-it's more comfortable. Dan, you can have the bench near the fireplace. Why don't you put something on the stereo before you sit down? The Brandenburg Concertos would be nice, I think." With a determined expression she rounded on Garth. "You can give me a hand in the kitchen," she said very pointedly.
    Garth hesitated. Then he obediently set down his goblet and followed Shannon into the kitchen. The joyous strains of one of the Bach concertos spilled out behind him as Shannon marched him into a corner and hissed, "Annie and Dan do not believe in marriage. They are a very devoted couple and are a good deal happier than many people I've known who are married. They are guests in my house, and I would appreciate it if you would kindly refrain from embarrassing them."
    Garth said coolly, "If they don't believe in marriage, why does the subject embarrass them? I can understand why two adults would choose to live together instead of marrying. That's their business. But if your friend Dan is going to father a child, then he owes the kid and the mother the protection of his name."
    "For heaven's sake! Don't you have any social tact at all? You just announced you were a businessman. Surely you've been obliged to learn some manners along the line. The business world has a few minimal requirements for social behavior."
    The faintest trace of amusement came and went in his gaze as Garth asked softly, "Would I be exempt from such requirements as long as you thought I was a writer or a poet?"
    "No. Even for a poet, you went too far in there. I just hope they can't hear us now." Shannon whirled and picked up a basket of sourdough bread. "Here. Make yourself useful. And try not to bring up the subject of marriage again."
    Garth took the basket. "It shouldn't be hard. I'm not too fond of the subject myself." He walked back into the living room, leaving Shannon feeling intensely exasperated.
    She had been so certain he possessed a deep, artistic soul. He had a lot of gall turning out to be a straitlaced businessman. From Silicon Valley, yet. It was incredible. Shaking her head over her own wayward imagination, Shannon went to the stove to finish the pasta preparations.
    The rest of the evening passed in relative peace. Once Shannon was convinced Garth wasn't going to bring up any more socially unacceptable subjects she began to relax again. For their parts, Annie and Dan seemed quite at ease. The pasta with olives and basil vanished with satisfying rapidity.
    It was somewhere toward the end of the meal that Shannon realized the revelations concerning Garth's occupation weren't having much effect on the strange compulsion she experienced around him. The remote aloneness she sensed in him still called to her, still made her deeply curious and still lured her close to the flame. Covertly she glanced at him from time to time, wondering at the watchful attitude he radiated.
    "Any word yet on buyers for the tote bags and T-shirts?" Annie asked Shannon as she helped herself to another sourdough roll.
    "No. I sent those samples off a month ago. I guess no one's interested."
    "Well, it was just a shot in the dark," Dan consoled her. "You might have gotten lucky and interested some Bay area buyers, but the odds were against you. At least you know you've got a steady market around here. The same people who sell your cards will take the totes and shirts."
    Garth frowned, looking at Shannon. "Did you just send your samples to the buyers unannounced? No preliminary contacts or follow-through?"
    "I'm not a salesperson," Shannon retorted, sensing