Christmas Day dragged endlessly for Talli. She accepted a dinner invitation from Anthony, to keep both their minds occupied and off of the strained holiday. Earlier in the week, she had a sent a box full of gifts over to Cameron Manor, afraid that if she were to go herself she would be unable to leave. The thought of seeing Tyler and Derek again would only bring back unpleasant words about her leaving the way she had and cause an unwelcome scene.

New Year's Eve brought changes to Cameron Manor, some good, some not so good.

"Whew, that boy of yours sure can stink up a room." Maimie waved her hand in front of her face, trying to clear her senses.

"Hey there, big fella. Are you making messes again?" Derek leaned over the changing table, his hand gently chucking Tyler under his chin.

Tyler wiggled his arms and legs in response, eager to be picked up.

"This here boy is growing stronger every day, I do declare," Maimie stated. "He's drinking more and more with every bottle. There, now you're all pretty again. No more stinky-poo." She placed a soft kiss on his head and pa.s.sed Tyler into Derek's waiting arms.

"Thanks, Maimie. I appreciate your watching Tyler for me these past few days. The agency hasn't been able to find a nanny that meets all our needs, I'm afraid."

"More like it, the nanny doesn't meet your needs. Seems to me the same thing happened when you tried to find yourself a surrogate mother too. Strange coincidence, isn't it Derek? When you going to admit it, things just aren't the same around here with Talli gone. You used to laugh and smile all the time. Now, you're an old sourpuss. Grumpy and crabby. The only time I see you light up is when this little baby is in your arms."

Derek raised his gaze to meet Maimie's. "We're doing just fine," he replied curtly.

"Really? How about Tyler? Is he doing fine without a mother?" Maimie asked quietly.

Derek's head snapped up again, anger flashing in his eyes.

Maimie held up a hand. "Wait a minute boy, let me finish. In all my years on this earth one thing holds true. A baby needs both its parents, not just one. When Talli held that sweet little baby there, she came face to face with the feelings she's been keeping inside of her for nine long months. How do you think she felt when it came time to hand Tyler over to you and walk away? You think she enjoyed it? You think maybe she had fun celebrating the holidays all alone without her son? Answer me that if you can?"

Her ire up, Maimie paced restlessly back and forth across the nursery. "I may not know much about birthing babies, but from what I read in those fancy-schmansy baby books of yours downstairs when a mother and a baby are together they bond as one. Men have a different feel for their child when it's born. They feel the need to make contact with their parents, especially their fathers. I know you can't do that now, but according to your book, a man finds that childbirth will somehow restore their relationship. Unhappy childhood experiences may encourage a man to improve on what he received as a child. Stop me anytime I go off track here," Maimie paused to allow her words to sink in.

Derek chose his words carefully before answering.

"My childhood wasn't the greatest, Maimie. My father was a bear of a man, fast with a bottle and even faster with a raised fist. My mother and I lived in constant fear of his next outburst, never knowing from one day to the next when he'd explode. But that's not why I wanted to have a child, not to recover what I supposedly lost."

"Derek, I think it's high time you sat down and thought long and hard about why you did want a baby. And while you're at it, think about Talli as well." Maimie's voice was harsh as she opened the nursery door and strode away.

Derek listened to her footsteps recede down the hall. His own steps faltering, he pressed a soft kiss on Tyler's cheek and lowered the sleepy baby down into the crib. Derek looked at his son and felt the sudden rush of hot tears behind his eyelids. He closed his eyes and held his breath, waiting for the sensation to pa.s.s. His hands tightened unconsciously at his sides.

He stood in the hallway outside Talli's empty bedroom, his gaze searching for any sign of life, any iota of activity within the silent, empty room. So much of her remained behind, left in her haste to escape him. A pair of white tennis shoes sat stoically by the closet door, patiently awaiting their owner's arrival and desire to be worn, a copy of Blodgett's Book of Conception sat on the night stand, one of his own business cards marking the page.

Derek stepped into the room and reached for the book. The page fell open to a section on cravings. He smiled as he recalled their on-going battle about the vast variety of food Talli found herself craving during her pregnancy. He thought back to a night months before when at midnight, Talli stood by his bedside and informed him she needed a c.o.ke float with chocolate ice cream or she would just die. He obligingly got up and went out, stopping at four ice cream parlors that were already closed for the night before he convinced one owner to make the float for him. It had cost twenty-five dollars, but was well worth the money spent for the look of utter adoration Talli had bestowed upon him at his arrival home.

Her pale blue maternity sweatshirt lay neatly folded on the window seat. Derek stared intently at it as he remembered the last time she had worn it. It was the night of the Children's Castle benefit. She hadn't wanted to go, feeling big and bulky in her last few months of pregnancy. Her look of surprise and happiness at the gift he brought her flooded back to him. Derek found himself anxious to make her smile, to please her and he had. She looked stunning in the gown, motherhood definitely became her.

Would she look as lovely the next time, he wondered? The next time, Derek fought down the urge to throw something, make that anything across the bedroom, to listen to it shatter into a million pieces. Something to relieve the pain and anger he felt inside at the thought of her carrying another man's child.

He walked slowly across the snow covered gra.s.s and watched the dogs frolic in the moonlight. Their noses pressed to the ground, they trailed a long-gone rabbit scent back and forth on the lawn. Tails held high, they ran as one. Suddenly coming to an abrupt halt, the Ba.s.set Hounds stopped, their low slung bodies quivering. Noses thrust skyward, the pair bayed out their frustration at the full moon above.

"What is it, guys? Smell something better than a rabbit?" Derek asked, as he stooped to pet their soft heads. They turned mournful sad looks upon him as his gaze met and held their own.

"I know, I miss her too," he whispered. I wish she hadn't left, but like always, I'm the last to clue in to things, aren't I?"

Gracie pushed her body closer against his legs and Derek found himself toppled over into the snow. The dogs pressed their advantage to their eye-level master, as they yearned to regain the closeness they had once shared with Talli. Derek laughed aloud in the semi-darkness. A sound he hadn't heard from his own lips in a long time. If he were to find Talli, would she be willing to come back? To forget the past and continue on as they once had? To forge a new beginning?

(BM) CHAPTER 10.

Maimie bustled about in the darkened study, her hands tugging on the braided curtain pull to drench the room in the soft light of the afternoon. "Lordy, looks like a morgue in here."

"Go away," Derek grumbled, his frame slumped down in the big black leather chair.

"Tsk, tsk, such a crab. How's a body supposed to live with you?" she muttered under her breath. Without a second glance at the sullen figure in the chair, she continued, "What's the matter, Mr. High and Mighty? Finally got what you deserved, huh?"

"Excuse me?"

Maimie pressed on, oblivious to Derek's dark scowl. "You heard me just fine, boy. Mr. Tough Guy got his heart broken after all these years of not letting anyone in and it doesn't feel so good, does it now?"

"For your information, my heart is not broken. I was just wondering where she is right now. There is a difference, you know." Derek stated as he pulled himself upright in the chair.

"No, of course. That's very different. Why have you been moping around here all week, snapping everybody's head off and being such a sourpuss? Answer me that if you can. And this has nothing to do with that precious little baby of yours asleep upstairs." Maimie squarely faced Derek, her hands defiantly placed on her hips, as she awaited his answer. Her look defied him to respond.

Derek paused for a long moment, then his shoulders sagged dejectedly. "Maimie, I hear a song and I think of Talli. I pick up a magazine and the face I see on the cover is hers. I can't get her out of my mind. I think about her all the time."

"You love her," Maimie stated. "You look at her and you just fold up like a beach chair."

Derek stared at the lucite picture frame held tightly in his grasp. The picture had been taken at Talli's reunion. The two of them caught in a moment of merriment. He looked down at their smiling faces, Talli laughing gaily, as they both smiled broadly for the cameras, his arm draped comfortably over her shoulders.

"Surf's up." A goofy grin crossed Derek's face. "I do," he declared. "I love her, I really do." He leapt from his chair and grabbed an astonished Maimie around her ample waist and whirled her about the room, the picture frame still held tightly in his hand.

Maimie's time worn face broke into a soft smile. "Settle down, honeychild. You'll give this tired old body of mine a heart attack if you keep that up," she gasped.

Derek slowed his steps and flashed a million dollar smile at her. "Now to find Talli, beg her to marry me and come back home"

With a quick peck on Maimie's cheek, he headed for the door.

"Halt," her voice barked out.

Derek turned. "What's wrong?"

"The charity auction's tonight. You agreed to partic.i.p.ate."

Derek slapped his hand against his thigh in frustration. "d.a.m.n. I forgot all about it."

"Well, you hustle yourself upstairs and get ready. The sooner you go, the sooner you can leave and find Talli."

Derek opened his mouth to protest.

"No buts, young man. You can go find Talli after the auction's over. There's no big rush."

"But there is," Derek stated emphatically.

"Well then, you better get a move on. The night's not going to last forever."

Derek pivoted toward the doorway, then swung back. "Maimie, thank you. You're the best. Remind me to give you a raise."

"I know I'm the best, now git." She patted a few loose strands of hair back into her bun and smiled.

Less than an hour later, Maimie turned from the front door and walked back into the kitchen. Reaching for the phone, she dialed a number, and put the receiver to her ear.

"He's on his way. Good, I'll see you then." Hanging up the phone, she began to hum a soft lullaby.

Derek stood resplendent in a black tuxedo with a black c.u.mmerbund and tie, devilishly handsome and yet all he felt was gloom. Surrounded by beautiful women eager to bid on him and all he wanted was to get out of there and find Talli.

The auctioneer looked around the room filled with women ogling the men as if seeing fresh pieces of meat for the first time in their lives and smiled. The evening ahead would bring a lot of money to the various charities involved.

"Alrighty then ladies. Good evening. My name is Terry Gibson and I want to thank you all for your patronage. As you know, tonight is a very special evening for us here in Detroit. We are gathered together to graciously donate to the charities these here fine looking gentlemen on the stage beside me are involved in. Each one of them has chosen a charity in which to donate all proceeds that he garners from this evening. Now without further ado, let the games begin." He picked up a stack of index cards and called out the first name on the list.

"Ah ladies, a real treat for you tonight. I have our very own Mayor of Detroit on hand to start the proceedings. What am I bid for him? Come on ladies, he is our Mayor. I would like to start the opening bid at one hundred dollars. Do I hear one hundred?"

"I'll bid one hundred."

"Okay ladies, I have our first bid of the evening. Shall we make it one-fifty?"

Minutes later, the Mayor of Detroit left the stage, his own charity My Cops six hundred and fifty dollars richer. The next three gentlemen each earned five hundred dollars apiece from their bidders.

Derek found himself to be the next bachelor in line. He walked across the stage and looked out over the crowd. All of the city's finest society ladies were here this evening. Come to oh and ah over the gentlemen, each offering an evening of their time to support a worthy cause. A smile crossed his face without reaching his eyes. At one point in time, he would have been flattered to have been asked to partic.i.p.ate and walk out of here with any of the beautiful women eager to purchase his time, but tonight his mind was on one woman and one woman only. Talli. He wondered what she was doing right about now? Derek focused his thoughts on the crowd as the auctioneer began his bidding.

"Ladies, what am I bid for Derek Cameron? Do I have an opening bid of one hundred dollars to get the ball rolling?"

"One hundred."

"One fifty." The voices of the creme de la creme filled the room, each striving to outbid the other.

"Two hundred."

"Two fifty."

"Ladies, I have two hundred and fifty dollars, do I hear three hundred?" The auctioneer wiggled his fingers to the crowd of women. "Come on ladies, look closer at him. What do you say? Three hundred?"

"Three hundred." Excited voices filled the air, each woman trying to snag Detroit's most prominent bachelor for an evening.

"Three hundred. The bid stands at three hundred dollars. Do I hear four?" Terry Gibson worked the crowd, his eyes searching for a raised hand.

"I bid one hundred thousand dollars." The dulcet tones filled the air, penetrating Derek's senses. He squinted his eyes against the glare of the floodlights and strained to see to the back of the room. A round of hushed whispers filtered through the ballroom, as a young woman slowly walked forward.

"Excuse me ma'am, did I hear you correctly? You bid one hundred thousand dollars?"

"That's right." Talli moved into the room gracefully, her black evening gown caressing her skin as she walked forward. Rich auburn tresses cascaded down her shoulders to swing softly against her bare back. Derek's eyes widened at the sight of Talli, looking every inch the woman she was. His expressionless face broke into a tender smile.

Her gaze fixed on his, she walked through the throng of parted bodies, not stopping till she reached the edge of the stage. "My bid stands at one hundred thousand dollars."

A gasp sounded from the crowd as they watched the slender woman face Derek Cameron. He held out his hand to help her ascend the stairs until she stood directly in front of him.

"That's a lot of money to bid on a jerk like me," Derek replied.

Talli smiled. "True, but I happen to love the jerk."

Derek smiled a goofy grin and tried to speak past the lump in his throat. "Well, I'm afraid there would have to be a condition on my part before I could accept your bid."

Talli's surprised gaze flew to his face. "A condition?" she asked, trying to bring her hammering heart under control.

"Yup, you'd have to agree to marry me."

"Marry you?" Talli stammered, repeating his words.

"That's right. You see, I happen to strongly believe in sweaty palms, shaky knees, bells and whistles. I also believe in kissing good morning, good night and goodbye. If I have to take your money, then I want the whole shooting match along with it. Besides, the house isn't the same without you, even the dogs won't mind me. Maimie's going to starve me to death if I don't bring you back with me. She hasn't fed me a decent meal in days."

A sly smile escaped Talli's lips. "I'd hate to be the cause of you starving to death." She trailed a finger down Derek's chest and followed its descent with her eyes.

The room remained deadly silent. Every woman leaned forward with baited breath to hear Talli's reply. The most eligible man in the city about to be taken off the market. No one moved an inch in the ensuing silence that followed Derek's words.

Talli paused and tapped her finger slowly against her cheek.

"Hmm, are there any other benefits to this union you propose?"

"Numerous," he replied.

"I want children, lots of them," she countered.

"We can start work on that request tonight if you'd like." Derek never blinked, his gaze pinned on her. He could feel his own heart beating fast and furious. If she kept looking at him that way, they would end up working on her request right there on the stage floor.

His slow appraisal of her was beginning to make her nervous. Talli posed another question to him. "And how soon would this wedding occur?"

"Within an hour. I don't think I can bear to be without you much longer." He reached a hand inside his tuxedo pocket and withdrew a small velvet box.

Talli's face flooded with surprise. She hadn't expected that answer.

Crooking a finger, Derek motioned to her. "Come here," he commanded.

Taking two steps forward, Talli found herself mere inches from him. Her heart beat wildly in her chest, at the thought that he might turn her down. Her palms sweaty, she turned her bravest smile on him. He looked so handsome tonight, the snug tuxedo setting off warning bells in the pit of her stomach. She could smell his after shave. The scent brought back delicious memories of another time and place. A time when she had run her hands over his body and he covered her skin with his own. Talli swallowed past a lump in her throat and looked up.

"Well, Ms. Paxton, my condition stands. I'll accept your bid of one hundred thousand dollars in return for your hand in marriage."