Here went nothing. “Mom, Dad, I want you to meet Ronnie Morales and her brother, Tiago. These are my parents, Gary and Barb.” The puppy barked. “Oh, and this little thing is Blue.”
Ronnie handed his mother the pan. “Nice to meet you.”
“What do we have here?” She took the foil off the pan to reveal the—
Those black lumpy things were brownies? And apparently his mother had a worse poker face than he did. “Oh. Uh, you shouldn’t have. I’ll just cover these back up until dessert.” She placed the offending pan in the back corner of the counter and wiped her hands.
Perfect. Thanks, Mom.
Before he could smooth things over, Johnny and Michael barged into the room wrestling each other for the Nerf football tucked in Jonathan’s arms. Both boys were tall and slim like their father, but Johnny had inherited the Dalquist blond hair while Michael looked more like their mother’s side of the family with dark brown.
“These guys are my brothers. Michael is studying computer programming in the Cities, and Johnny will be a senior this year at the high school.”
“Hey, is this one of Nick’s puppies?” Johnny released the ball, letting Michael snatch it, and reached for Blue.
“Mind your own business.” Tiago backed away and sheltered the puppy in his arms.
“T! Manners.” A blush spread across Ronnie’s cheeks. “Sorry. He’s really protective of her.”
Johnny backed away, hands up in surrender. “I’m not gonna hurt her. I love dogs.”
“Why don’t I show you where she can play outside, Tiago? She can meet our dog, Shep.” Dad tried to lay a hand on Tiago’s shoulder, but the boy cringed and pulled away.
“She stays with me.”
“Tiago!”
Peter felt Ronnie’s embarrassment from across the room. And Dad was only trying to protect Mom’s beige carpeting and oriental rugs. Tiago glared at everyone.
Yeah, this was off to a great start.
His mother knelt near Tiago but gave him space.
“She’s a lucky dog to have you looking out for her. Why don’t we all go outside? It’s so nice out and Blue can play in the yard.”
Tiago took a breath, then nodded. Finally, progress.
Mom led them out the French dining room doors to the backyard where the long table was set with red, white, and blue paper plates and decorations. Edison lights were strung across the patio. Blue barked, wriggling in Tiago’s arms.
“T, why don’t you set her down? Let her run,” Peter suggested.
“There’s no fence and I forgot her leash. What if she runs away?”
“She’ll be okay. Besides, she might need to do her business, and you don’t want that on you.”
Tiago set her down. Blue started exploring, trotting off the cement pad to the grass. The boy stuck close by her, and Peter stayed with them as they wandered out to the middle of the yard. Ronnie was capable. She could handle herself with his parents for a while. Tiago, on the other hand, was like a cornered animal. He just needed to feel safe enough to relax.
“So, T, what part did you get in the play again?”
He didn’t look at Peter, his gaze on Blue. “I’m just one of the Sharks.”
“Yeah, but aren’t you the second in command? That’s a big deal.”
“I guess so.”
“You’re still going fishing with me on Saturday, right?”
Tiago hesitated, then looked up at him. “You’re really gonna take me? I’ve never gone fishing before.”
Peter met his eyes. So much like Ronnie’s, including the wariness. “Of course I’m going to take you.”
T glanced at Blue. “I suppose you’re bringing Ronnie too.”
“Nope. Just you and me. I’ll teach you how to catch a boatload of sunnies and crappies, fillet them, and then we’ll eat them. And if you prove yourself worthy, I might let you in on my secret ingredient for the best homemade tartar sauce you’ve ever had. I learned from my mom.”
Tiago shoved his hands in his pockets. “That might be cool.”
Abby came into the backyard with Shep. “Hey, everyone!”
Shep, their yellow lab mix, bounded over for introductions. Blue gave a happy bark as the two dogs sniffed each other. Tiago reached down for her, but Peter stopped him.
“This is how dogs meet each other. She’s okay.”
“But he’s so much bigger. He’ll hurt her.”
“We’ve had Shep for a long time. He’s a good dog. Just let them play. She’ll actually learn from him.”
Peter counted it as a victory when Tiago held back and watched, worry on his face as the animals rolled on the grass, wrestled playfully, and barked.
Abby laughed at the dogs, then came over to Peter. “So who do we have here?”
“Tiago, meet my sister, Abby. She works with a youth group down in the Cities.” Abby, in typical Dahlquist casual style, had left her long blonde hair in a braid and dressed in athletic shorts and a running shirt.
“That is the cutest puppy I’ve ever seen. You must be taking great care of her.”
Like his mother, his sister was received better than his brothers, maybe because she was used to working with kids. Or maybe Tiago was leery of men in general. Either way, Peter breathed easier watching Tiago eventually relax while Abby showed him all of Shep’s tricks.
Now to make sure Ronnie was enjoying herself too. He walked back over to the patio where Ronnie regaled his brothers and parents with stories from her military career by the sounds of it. Her medical military career.
Johnny and Michael listened rapturously while a look of horror froze on Mom’s face. “That’s quite…graphic.”
Apparently, Ronnie didn’t notice the green tinge to his mom’s skin and was about to launch into another tale of gore and dark missions.
Peter jumped in. “Mom, do you need help with anything? Should I bring out drinks for us?”
But his brothers didn’t get the hint.
“Wow. I didn’t know you could do all that as a medic in the Army. Maybe I should look at the military after I graduate next year,” Johnny said.
A shade of red blotched Dad’s face. Before he could get a word out though, Ronnie continued enthusiastically.
“The military is a great option. I went in right after graduation. There was a lot more I could do as a medic than I can as a paramedic here. The benefits are great. I would’ve stayed in longer if I could’ve and retired at thirty-eight with full pay. Still plenty of time for a second career.”
“That sounds awesome,” Johnny said.
“Johnny, you’re practically a shoo-in for the U of M. You don’t want to lose that football scholarship,” his father said.
“Yeah, but if I joined up, I could still take over the restaurant when I’m older and—”
“We’ll talk about this later.” There was no mistaking Dad’s tone.
That shut the boys up.
Ronnie didn’t know, but she could not have picked a more volatile topic. Mom set a veggie tray and platter down on the table in front of them. “Why don’t we enjoy some appetizers? This brie and artichoke dip is Gary’s special recipe, Ronnie.” Her strategy to keep the peace hadn’t changed much in Peter’s lifetime—shut people up by feeding them.
Ronnie picked up a triangle of flatbread and dunked it in Dad’s famous dip. “So what do you think about Peter’s idea for the youth center?”
Oh. No.
She was like a rabbit in a minefield for her ability to find the one topic more volatile than Johnny’s college choice and football career. His mother went pale, mouth gaping open.
Dad looked at Peter. “Son? Is there something you want to tell us?”
Ronnie’s hand covered her mouth, her amber eyes wide. Yup. She may have been late to the game, but she got it now. And it was his fault.
He should have told them before she arrived. But, no. Selfishly he’d put it off to have one more evening without conflict.
But like it or not, his worl
ds were colliding.
Peter swallowed hard. “I decided about the Westerman Hotel. I’m voting for the youth center. I think it’s the best option for Deep Haven.”
“I thought we had an understanding.” The hardness and disappointment in his father’s voice cut straight to Peter’s heart.
This. This was why he hated conflict—because he was always the bad guy. “Dad, I have to vote for what’s best for everyone. Not just our family.”
“Peter, do you know how many people we could help with that restaurant? How many people went out of work when Pierre’s burned down? Not to mention the housing those rental units can provide. I thought it was pretty obvious. It is the best choice for Deep Haven.”
Ronnie tensed but stayed quiet. Johnny and Mike sneaked away to the other side of the yard with Abby and Tiago. Peter wanted to flee with them. Instead. he met his dad’s eyes.
“Dad, I know Pierre’s could help. But think about kids like Johnny. Or Tiago. A youth center, a safe place where kids can hang out and have fun, meet positive role models, learn some skills—that can be a huge influence on their lives. It can provide jobs too.”
“You did just fine without a youth center. Abby, Michael, and Johnny have been fine without it. You know what helped you? Working. A job. And where is the revenue going to come from to staff this center? Not that I agree with much of anything Charlie Zimmerman has to say, but on this I might. Who is going to pay for a youth center?”
Mom cut in before Peter could answer. “Let’s leave this business talk for another time. We should get that fish going, Gary.”
Ronnie stood. “I’m sorry, but I disagree. You’re right, Mr. Dahlquist, that Peter did great without the help of a youth center. But Peter also has you two, as invested and healthy parents. Not everyone does. I didn’t have that. My brother doesn’t have that. Do you know what that center could do for kids like him? You should be proud of your son. Nobody has a bigger heart for people, for this town, than Peter. And nobody could love his family more. If you don’t see that, you’re a blind fool.”
Mom gasped. Dad stood, lips in a tight line.
Oh no. Apparently, the fireworks had started early.
But he wasn’t about to let Ronnie hang out to dry. He took her hand. “Mom, Dad, you know I love you guys, but I made my decision. There’s nothing else we need to discuss.”
He said the words out loud, but he knew this wasn’t going to be the end of it.
Ronnie squeezed his hand.
And he knew…if he had to choose between them, he chose her.
With Tiago at play practice, Ronnie could finally catch up on laundry and cleaning the apartment. She switched the clean wet clothes into the dryer and folded the warm load while her mind relived the romance under the fireworks she’d shared with Peter last night.
Every kiss, every touch, every look into those gorgeous hazel-green and gold eyes had knit him into her heart a little more.
Made the thought of leaving a little more devastating.
And Tiago was asking every day to do just that.
She sorted out the darks for the next load and sighed. Any day now Peter would realize what being with her would cost him and decide she wasn’t worth it.
She wasn’t stupid. Meeting his family was a disaster. His mom hated her. His father blamed her. His brothers and sister were cool, but they wouldn’t take a stand with Peter.
It was obvious from the first day that Peter valued relationships above all, and here she was standing between him and the people he cared most about. The only thing she brought to the mix was her own family drama.
Tiago relied solely on her. If this move had taught her anything, it was how deep Tiago’s wounds ran, thanks to being at the mercy of their mother. Ronnie had to do whatever it took to help him—and that meant keeping her promises.
No matter what the cost.
And boy, the cost was growing exponentially with every kiss she shared with Peter and every day they spent in this quaint little bay town she wanted to call home.
She folded the last of the whites. Of course, Tiago was missing one sock.
She dropped the laundry basket, ran up to Tiago’s closet, and dug through the shoes at the bottom. There. She picked up the sock balled into his tennis shoe and started to close the door. Blue barked and plunged into the closet for a shoe to chew on.
“Oh no you don’t, pup.” Ronnie pulled Tiago’s flip-flop out of the dog’s mouth and threw it into the closet.
What was that?
A small brown paper bag was stuffed into the corner of the shelf. She opened it. Fireworks and a lighter tumbled into her hand.
Her heart sank. Why couldn’t he just stay out of trouble?
The front door opened and slammed shut.
Stay calm. Listen. Ronnie jammed the fireworks and lighter back into the paper sack. Then she met her brother in the living area holding out the bag. Blue followed, barking. “What’s this, Tiago?”
Momentary shock lit his face, quickly replaced by indignant anger. “What were you doing in my room?”
“Answer my question.”
“You have no right to go through my stuff!”
“I have every right, but that isn’t the issue. Do you know what happens if you get caught with this? If you get in trouble with the law again? They’ll take you away from me!” Her voice was anything but calm as the thought of them yanking Tiago back into foster care took root.
His jaw hardened. “I told you I didn’t set that fire!”
“Then what is this?”
Tiago picked up the puppy and dropped his gaze. His breath washboarded out, as if he might be trying not to cry.
Her voice softened just a little as she got a hold of the panic that set in. “Tiago, where did you get these?”
“If I tell you, will you drop it? I don’t want…I don’t want someone to get in trouble.” He looked up at her, held her gaze. “But it’s not mine. I swear.”
She didn’t know why, but she believed him. Or maybe she just wanted to, so very much.
“I can’t promise anything. But if this isn’t yours, then you need to tell me whose it is and why you have it.”
Please tell me it’s all some mistake.
He held Blue closer. His gaze shifted to the window, the view of Cole and Megan’s place.
Josh. What—?
“Are these Josh’s?”
Tiago froze and then slowly nodded.
“Come with me. We need to settle this right now.” She walked over to the door.
“Ronnie, please. Can’t you just get rid of it and pretend like it didn’t happen? I don’t want Josh to get into trouble.”
“If Josh is causing trouble, Megan needs to know. And you won’t be hanging out with him anymore.”
Because she would not lose her brother again.
She marched next door but heard voices in the backyard so went around the house.
Cole and Josh were tossing a baseball. Megan waved from where she read a magazine in her Adirondack chair. “Hey, guys. What’s going on?”
Ronnie stopped in front of her. Took a breath. Megan was her friend, and probably she’d be just as upset as Ronnie was. “I found this in Tiago’s closet. It’s Josh’s.” She held out the bag.
Megan stared at her with a frown, then opened the bag. Silence as she pulled out the fireworks and lighter.
Cole and Josh had stopped their game. She looked up at them. “Josh, is this yours?”
Josh came over, shook his head. “No. That’s not mine.”
Megan stood up and handed the bag back to Ronnie. “You heard him. Sorry. It’s not his.”
And Ronnie had nothing. Megan simply believed him? “How can you be sure?”
Megan put her arm around Josh. “If my son says it’s not his, it isn’t.”
Ronnie shook her head, trying to keep her voice even. “Are you saying this was Tiago’s?”
Cole put a hand on Josh’s other shoulder. “Ronnie, you need to calm down
. Megan’s right. Josh isn’t the kind of kid to lie or hide things from us.”
“And yet both these boys were at that pit party. You can’t tell me he never gets into trouble.” And yes, she’d raised her voice, her heart banging.
“Ronnie, I think you need to calm down here—”
“I’m not going to calm down! Your son got in trouble just like Tiago and we need to get to the bottom of this.”
“Trouble that didn’t start until Josh met Tiago,” Megan said quietly but with a hard edge to her voice, the same one she’d used that night at the pit fire. “If anyone is influencing for the worse here, I think we know who it is.”
Right. Ronnie’s mouth tightened. So that’s how it was going to be. “I don’t think the boys should hang out anymore.”
“Maybe that’s for the best,” Megan said, meeting her gaze.
In a split second, memories of laughter and conversations she’d shared with Megan slammed at Ronnie’s heart. All those times of gushing over Peter, the camaraderie they’d shared with raising boys…over.
Ronnie spun and stormed back to the apartment. Tiago rushed into his room with Blue and slammed the door.
In the silence, Ronnie slumped onto the couch and dropped her head into her hands. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. She’d thought Josh was a good kid, a good person to befriend Tiago. Of course, Cole took Megan’s side. And if she lost Megan’s friendship, she probably would lose Ella’s and the rest of the town’s too.
She should start packing now.
Everything inside her hurt.
Someone knocked on the door. She almost didn’t answer it, but a part of her hoped it might be Megan on her doorstep to apologize.
Nope. Peter stood there, wearing jeans and a flannel shirt, a frown on his face. How did he always seem to know when she needed him?
And shoot, she did need him.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“Oh, Peter—”
He pulled her against him. And yes, she should be stronger. Push him away and deal with this on her own like she always did. She’d most likely be leaving him soon anyway.
But heaven help her, she sank into his arms like a drowning person clinging to a buoy in the storm. She breathed him in. His woodsy scent and warmth wrapped around her.
Crazy for You Page 19