Chapter 18
Sidney
sat in her office going over the daily report as Andrea entered. She
was holding numerous Bride magazines; clothe material and brochures for �
various honeymooning spots. She threw them on the desk as Sidney continued
working. Andrea stood with her arms crossed, waiting for a response.
"If you aren't bringing me the menus for this week, I don't have
time." �
Sidney said checking off the number she just wrote down.
"All work and no play makes a very bitchy Sidney." Andrea said not
missing a
beat.
"If your fiance didn't dump the weekly reports on me at the last minute, I
would be able to play," Sidney said finally looking up.
"He has been busy." Andrea said with a smile.
"Having sex is not a reason to miss so much work. I swear, you two are like
rabbits! Every time I call his house, you answer breathless and I can h ear
Shane laughing in the background." Sidney said returning the smile. She put
the paperwork aside, picked up a magazine and began scanning, waiting f or
Andrea's newest idea for the wedding, the latest exciting honeymoon spot and
the future plans of life for her and Shane.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sidney had dove full force into the club. She got her own office and slowly
in the last three months, took over the duties. Kian was still running �the
restaurant part of the club as Andrea took over the position as head Chef.
But Kian was spending more and more time with Emily. Taylor had visited a few
times in the last three months, as Kian and her instantly became a match.
Taylor actually cried when she said good-bye to Kian; it was the moment that
made Emily realize that Kian was right for her. �She decided to stay in
Sligo
another school term, for the sake of Taylor. Actually, for her own sake and
out of selfishness. Shane slowly began spending less time at the club and the
business end of it. He completely cut himself off from Kian and Mark after
their fight; he couldn't be around people who lied to him. He was hurt �and
angry over not knowing Michael having leukemia. He felt betrayed. � ;Bailey
was
involved with everything and anything at school; Sidney loved motherhood as
she attended all of his activities with the escort of Mark. �Sidney and
Mark
took pride in representing Bailey as they watched him with joy. But the y also
enjoyed spending time with each other just as much. The phone calls fro m
Nicky were fewer and fewer as he got busy with coaching. �Alex was Alex,
fun
and unpredictable. Bryan was still in awe by Alex's beauty but was slowly
getting to know her and finding her heart even more beautiful. Alex too k her
friendship with Bryan slow; she had to concentrate on her task in hand, her
issues.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alex poked her head in the door while the girls continued looking over the
magazines.
"Keep Friday night open, Sid. Hey, Bride Magazines. I love looking at t
hose."
Alex said walking in while Andrea pointed to the latest dress she wanted as
Alex laughed.
"What is so funny? Don't you like it?" Andrea asked with her arms
cross ed.
"No, it's gorgeous but it's white." Alex said with Sidney snickering.
"So, what's wrong with that?" Andrea asked giving Sidney a mean look.
"But a white dress is a sign of virginity. I work with Shane, he talks �and
you are not a virgin." Alex said, as Sidney could no longer contain her
self.
This was the exact reason why Sidney loved Alex. She said it like it was.
"Stop laughing, Sid. You wore white at your wedding and you were no virgin.
You and Michael were always going at it." Andrea could not believe what was
coming out of Alex's mouth and that her best friend was supporting it.
"I know and I am sure that Alex would have pointed it out to me. Andrea ,
you
have no sense of humor. Shane's bad mood for the last months are rubbing off
of you." Sidney said smiling at her new friend.
"And Michael wasn't your first." Andrea continued.
"And that is none of your business." Sidney said as she stood up from
t he
desk. She gathered the papers that she was working on and began filing �them.
"So, anywho. Sid keep Friday night open." Alex said breaking the
tension.
"Why?" Sidney asked closing the cabinet.
"It's girls night out!" Alex yelled as she did a little Irish jig.
"Where are we going?" Sidney said smiling watching Alex dance.
"It's a surprise. Be at my house at 8. We need to get you ready." Alex
�walked
over to the door. "And you can come also, Andrea. Emily is coming. It'll be
fun."
"Thanks, I might." Andrea smiled at the invitation and the possibility
�of
getting out of the house. She moved in with Shane just weeks ago, thinking it
would help his mood but it had gotten worse. Shane poured all of his energy
in Andrea. It was great when it came to sex but the tension every time �she
mentioned going out with everyone was too much, she just didn't say any thing
about the guys. She needed a night out more then anyone knew. It was just
easier to keep her distance from Sidney, to keep a smile on her face an d keep
the conversation under her control. How could she keep such a secret from her
best friend? She almost cursed Shane for telling her but Shane needed someone
to talk to. How could Michael not tell Sidney? How could Mark not keep �his
promise? Andrea knew how Sidney felt about Mark, my God, those two have to
get together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mark carried Bailey in the house with Sidney close behind. The little lad was
worn out from the match and celebrating his winning goal. Mark and Sidney
were so proud and happy for Bailey when he kicked in the winning point �that
neither one realized that they kissed in the embrace, or did they?
"I'll put him to bed." Mark said whispering. He winked at Sidney and
walked
down the hall. Bailey had fallen asleep on the way home from the restaurant.
The ride home was quiet; Mark and Sidney sat in their thoughts. Thought s of
each other and of course, thoughts of the kiss.
"He never woke up." Mark said entering the kitchen. �Sidney
poured the tea
and handed the cup to Mark. "Are you ok?" He asked taking her hand.
"Fine." She said not looking at him.
"Don't lie to me, Sidney." Mark smiled. Sidney finally looked into his
�blue
eyes.
"It's stupid." Sidney said blushing.
"Sidney Rene Kavanaugh, are you blushing?" Mark squeezed her hand.
"Tel l me,
nothing could be stupid if it is comes from you."
"Do you think I am pretty?" Sidney finally said.
"What?" Mark asked stunned.
"See, I told you it was stupid. Just forget it." Sidney dropped his
hand and
turned away.
"No, you just took me by surprise. I mean, of course you are pretty. I �just
never thought you were self-confident about it." Mark took her arm and �turned
her around to face him �"You are very pretty."
"Prettier then Alex or Andrea? Or Emily?" Sidney asked. She knew it
sounded
so childish and immature. Maybe she was feeling self-confident because �she
had no one to tell her how she looked. Nicky spoiled her by always telling
her. Emily had Kian, Andrea had Shane and Alex had Bryan.
"To me, Sidney, you are beautiful." He pulled her closer to him.
"You have
the most beautiful green eyes that say so much. And your lips are perfect."
He began tracing her lips with his finger. "I have always loved how your
hair
just swept across your face when you held Bailey." He brushed her hair �from
her eyes as he continued. "And your body, my God." Mark said laughing
a s
Sidney smiled at him. He pulled her even closer to him, not realizing w hat
was happening. "You have an incredible body."
"Even after having a baby?" She asked looking up at him in the
embrace.
"Even more so!" Mark began stroking her cheek. �"Please
don't ever feel like
you aren't beautiful. You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. "
"But you are biased." Sidney smiled.
"Maybe but I only speak the truth." Mark continued holding her, as
they got
lost in the touch of each other. Mark leaned down to Sidney as their lips
became closer. The distance between their lips were bridging with each �
movement. Their hearts were racing with desire and wants for each other . It
was almost too much to hold back.
"Mommy, I'm thirsty." Bailey said standing in the doorway of the
kitchen.
"Ok, honey. Mommy will get you some water." Sidney pulled herself from
�Mark
and tended to her son. Mark stood alone, still feeling Sidney's touch. �The
moment was coming for him to tell Sidney how he felt; he couldn't hold �it
in
much longer. The words of Michael continued echoing in his head and the sting
of Kian saying he failed was the knife that still lay in his heart. He had to
tell her, he just had to.