| Shelby walked up and down the rows of tables. The caterer and designer had outdone themselves. It was an hour before the doors would open and except for a few waiters putting the last minute touches here and there the room was empty. The only sound was the swish of Shelby�s dress as she moved through the room. Each table was decorated with the colors of the various silks the jockeys would be wearing the next day. Along with a small arrangement of roses, the room took on a festive, yet dignified look. As Shelby passed each table she checked the place cards making sure the seating arrangements had been adhered to. When she came upon the heart club table, her own heart skipped a beat. Brian was scheduled to attend and finding his place card she ran her fingers slowly over it. Her initial reaction to seeing his name on the guest list was to absent herself from the event. But she knew it wasn�t feasible. This had been her idea and she needed to be present. She didn�t plan on spending the entire night anyway. Once the food and drink were flowing and the music lured the people onto the dance floor she would slip out a side door. She had a long list of last minute details for tomorrow�s lunch to clear up and it would keep her busy well into the night. An hour later the hall outside the ballroom was a buzz as people began to gather. Shelby mingled among the guests greeting everyone. She kept her eyes on the door though. She was not ready to deal with seeing Brian. So with champagne glass in hand she weaved her way through the crowd. Soft music filtered through the air mingled with conversation and within an hour Shelby could see it would be a wonderful evening. She put her empty glass and plate on the tray and was about to leave when a voice stopped her. �Brian Littrell, it is you. Your mother said you would be here tonight. My, my, what a handsome young man you�ve turned out to be.� Shelby slowly turned and using the group of people in front of her to shield her from view, she watched as Brian endured the appraisal of one of Kentucky�s oldest families. �You�ve moved back home, I hear.� Brian nodded and Shelby could see the strained look on his face as he tried to excuse himself. But he wasn�t going to get out that easily. The woman continued to prod and Brian, politely and vaguely, answered her questions. Shelby hung back listening intently as his voice washed over her. She knew this was a mistake, but when it came to Brian, she was like a moth to a flame. He saved her the trouble of dragging herself away, when he finally was able to move on and return to his table on the far side of the room. Shelby lost him as he worked his way through the crowd and she took that as her sign to go back to the hotel. She sat the desk in her hotel room, but it was a useless battle. She couldn�t concentrate. All she could see were blue eyes and hear his voice echoing in her head. After an hour she left the papers on the table and went to bed but there was no relief in her sleep either. There was no trying to fool herself she was still in love with him. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Shelby checked herself in the mirror one last time. This was Kentucky�s biggest event of year, save the Wildcats winning the NCAA, so she wanted to look her best. Happy with what she saw, she turned off the lights and picked up her bag and left the hotel room. Most of the guests had stayed at the Hyatt Regency, but Shelby had booked a room at the Downtown Courtyard Marriott. Not as exclusive, but it gave her privacy and no chance of running into the Littrell�s at breakfast. She hadn�t slept and hoped that her careful application of makeup hid the dark lines under her eyes. Once lunch was served today, she would leave and head on back to Lexington, her part of this celebration weekend being over. Shelby had watched the Kentucky Derby on TV more times than she could remember. She had even seen footage of the great Secretariat as he stretched easily across the finish line to win the 99th running of this world famous race in 1973. But to actually be in Churchill Downs and walk along the rail and watch the horses and riders work out, was a sight to see. It was a perfect day. The weather was warm, but not hot and there wasn�t a cloud in the sky. Shelby heard them say the track was fast and that would give certain horses an advantage for the races that day. She walked up to the Skye Terrace. All the preparations for today�s guests were in order. The tables were already set and Shelby noted that they were given the choicest location overlooking the track. After making sure all details were in order, she found a concession stand open and got coffee and a sweet roll and took a seat in the stands to watch the horses go through their morning workout. They had to be the most beautiful animals in the world, so sleek and regal. She sat spellbound as they went through their exercises and soon Shelby was lost in her own thoughts as the thoroughbreds canted and preened around the track. Seeing Brian last night had awakened all those feelings she had worked so hard to bury and forget. He had looked so handsome and strangely enough it seemed he was alone. Shelby wondered what had happened between him and Laurie. She had never heard anything about a wedding and hoped that he had eventually come to see how Laurie had deceived him. She had been tempted a few times to call AJ, but thought better of it. He had a way of throwing her off and Shelby just knew once they got talking he would weasel out of her where she was living and working which was the last thing she wanted any of them to know. It was all a joke though, because here she was opening herself up to chance meetings with Brian. Shelby was determined to keep a sharp eye on all the guests today so she could keep a safe distance. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Like the evening before, lunch was carried out without any problems. Shelby kept an eye on things from a secure location and once the dessert and coffee were served she thanked the catering staff and slipped out the back to the track level. Another race was about to start and Shelby had decided to catch this one at the rail. The infield was jammed packed as usual and the noise was deafening. The horses broke and the crowd came to its feet. Shelby, along with everyone else, got caught up in the drama and her adrenaline started pumping. She didn�t have any money on the race, but it didn�t matter, it was just a thrill to watch these beautiful animals fly across the track. �Yes, she did quite a job. Not that I didn�t expect it,� the man said to Brian�s parents. She came well recommended though. Miss O�Connor has truly been an asset to the foundation.� He nodded as Brian rejoined the group. �Well, Jim, she is doing a fine job, even though we have very little contact. She has been very helpful.� Jackie took a sip of ice tea. �Shelby has the right personality for the job.� Brian furrowed his brows. �Did you say Shelby?� He looked squarely at his mother. �Yes, Shelby O�Connor. Why?� Brian felt like he had been hit in the gut. This wasn�t possible. Could it be? It had been months with no word. �She should be familiar,� Jim chimed in, �she worked for your group for what six years or so.� �Is she still here?� Brian scanned the crowd, looking up and down the terrace. �I think she said something about watching the race at the rail and then she was heading back to Lexington.� Brian stood and continued his search. �Brian?� His mother called as he walked towards the stairs. �I�ll,� he turned back and gave a shrug of his shoulders. �I�ve got,� he never finished as he began his descent to the track level. The horses were rounding the turn at the head of the stretch. The fans, all of them on their feet now, were calling out urging their favorite to victory. As Brian slowly moved down the steps, a young woman at the rail caught his eye. She turned slightly and there she stood. Suddenly the strangest feeling came over him. She had left without so much as a goodbye and now over a year later she was working in Lexington, at the foundation no less, and had been there all along. He had to see her, talk to her. Find out what prompted her to leave so abruptly. The horses thundered down the stretch and for a moment Brian got caught up in the frenzy of the race as well. With the riders sitting low, whispering and whipping or giving rein and letting them run, the field hurled their bodies across the finish line and the crowd screamed as the winner won by a nose. The people began to empty onto the aisle to go collect their winnings and in all the commotion Brian lost sight of Shelby. He tried desperately to get down the stairs and at one point caught a glimpse of her as she walked towards the exit. He wanted to call to her but knew that she would never hear him through the din. When he reached ground level though it was a sea of people. And as the crowd began to thin out, his hopes vanished. She was gone. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Shelby sped down the highway with the top down and the wind blowing through her hair. She had shed her hat and jacket in the parking lot and even traded in her heels for some flat shoes. She would be home in time to see the Derby on television in the comfort of her own home. It was a good two days and she was proud of her work. Some would say she didn�t stay for the best part, but it wasn�t her way. Set it up, be sure all arrangements are in order and then leave quietly. Now she just had to make sure that from here on out, she steered clear of the Littrells. |