A Time of Seasons

by Kay Edwards

Chad and Terry looked at each other. Terry held Rachel in her arms as she walked over to her daughter and Dalton. The two were sound asleep on the floor in front of the fireplace. She gently tapped her daughter's shoulder. "Hey, Lil' Pea your baby needs some food. Merry Christmas…"

  Misty looked up at her mom confused. Looking down at her waist she saw Dalton's hand. Her eyes flew to her mom's eyes as she whispered. "This isn't what it looks like."

  Terry smiled gently. "I don't think it looks like anything."

  Misty started to get up only to have Dalton pull her back against him. The women heard him murmur about the cold not getting her and that Misty was safe. Misty looked up at her mom.

  Terry looked at her daughter with compassion. "You still don't feel safe from the cold, do you?"

  Misty shook her head no. She whispered softly. "I can almost feel it trying to steal my life. It is like it is trying to consume me."

  Terry nodded as she helped Misty position herself to feed her daughter. Instead of getting up Misty stayed by Dalton and fed her baby. Her mom sat down on the floor beside them and watched her granddaughter's feet move. She almost said out loud what she thought of the picture. These three made a very beautiful family. She looked past her daughter to Dalton. "He is pretty tired. I guess you must have had a restless night."

  Misty nodded her head. "I know I probably shouldn't have, but I asked him to hold me. He just…"

  Terry looked at her daughter. "I know you are hurting and afraid right now, but be very careful with the temptations you may find yourself in."

  Misty understood what her mom was saying. "I'm going to start grief counseling on Friday. I think it will be ok if I talk about my fear too. I would never want you to think less of Dalton because I needed him."

  Terry kissed her daughter's forehead. "You are a very smart woman. I'm sure you will do your best to heal, but the temptation I’m talking about is Dalton, the man, not the friend. Be careful that emotions don’t lead down a road you will both regret. We could never think less of him."

  Misty looked up at her mom surprised. She had never looked at Dalton like that, but she knew that could change. He was her friend but like her mom said. He was also a man and not a bad looking one. “I will remember that. He is special to me, and I wouldn’t want to tarnish that.”

  Terry looked past her daughter to Dalton again. She smiled as she made eye contact with him. "Dalton has endeared himself to all of us."

  Dalton smiled at Terry. "Thank you…and Merry Christmas." He whispered making no move to stop holding Misty.

  Terry winked at him. "You are welcome…and Merry Christmas to you too. Now it is time for me to go and start some breakfast.

  Dalton pulled Misty a little closer. "Are you feeling better now?"

  Misty nodded. A part of her felt so guilty for feeling so comfortable in Dalton's arms. "Thank you for holding me. I'm sorry we fell asleep."

  Dalton closed his eyes. He knew that his heart was more involved than he had first thought. The talk he had in the kitchen with Terry and Chad was fresh in his mind but even before they had said something he knew his heart was becoming engaged no matter how he had tried to deny it. "Holding you is not that hard Misty. You're welcome."

  Misty knew it was time for Rachel to switch sides. She allowed Dalton to help her sit up and get Rachel comfortable. She spoke softly not making eye contact. "When I am done dealing with my grief and fear we aren't going to stay friends are we?"

  "I'm not going anywhere. I promise." Dalton assured her.

  Misty shook her head. "I didn't say you were."

  Dalton spoke softly. "I think no matter what we are going to stay friends but…"

  Misty understood. She let him put his arm around her and pull her closer as she murmured. "I feel guilty because this feels so normal so..."

  Dalton kissed the top of her head. "It feels right."

  Brock and Wyatt looked at each other and then walked into the living room. They had both witnessed the exchange. As much as they loved Brent the couple was right. There was just something about Dalton that fit into their family.

  Misty looked up at her brothers. "Merry Christmas…" she greeted them warmly.

  Wyatt sat down on the sofa. "Merry Christmas…"

  Brock smiled as he asked. "When is the baby done eating? I need my Rachel fix."

  Misty grinned at her brother. "I'm thinking she is done now. Her feet quit moving are you willing to burp her?"

  Brock answered with a wink. "If that is what it takes to get her before Wyatt does."

  Dalton laughed as Brock scooped the little girl into his arms. He had to admit. He was going to miss her when he headed back to Houston. Dalton did know one thing, though. He was going to start looking at some hospitals in Austin for work. He knew he needed to wait on God's timing, but he would start looking.

  Wyatt looked at his sister and Dalton. He was a bit bolder than most of his family. "So, what is the deal with you two?"

  Misty wanted to die. What was he thinking? "Umm... I believe that you need not to ask that until we have figured that out."

  Dalton laughed. "What she said…"

  Brock suddenly got nosey too. "So, you two are still trying to figure out if you like each other?"

  Misty glared at her brothers. "Are you two crazy? We know we like each other we are friends for goodness sake."

  Wyatt started to speak. "So…"

  Misty cut him off. "I swear if you two don't stop I am going to be an only child."

  Dalton winked at her as he stood. "I'm going to go help with breakfast. I think it may be safer."

  Misty glared at her brothers again after Dalton left the room. "Why would you do that?"

  Wyatt grinned. "Because we knew it would annoy you. Isn't that how this sibling thing works?"

  Misty shook her head and became serious. "Please don't do that again. I …"

  Brock felt bad. He walked over and gave Wyatt the baby and then sat beside his sister. He pulled her into his arms as he said. "You still love Brent."

  Misty started to sob. She nodded as she confessed. "I feel so guilty that Dalton has a place in my heart now too."

  Wyatt looked at his brother and sister. He knew his sister was hurting, but he also knew that her guilt was not fair. "Brent would have liked Dalton. He would have approved of your heart's choice."

  Misty looked up at Wyatt. The one other person in the world that knew Brent as well as she did was Wyatt. They had been best friends for as long as she could remember. It had never occurred to her how hard his death had been on her brother. "You miss him too." She said softly.

  Wyatt looked at his sister and said softly but firmly. "I miss him, but I also know he would be furious with you for not dealing with his death. His love for you was so unselfish. Don't turn it into something it wasn't. When you go for counseling you fight for the heart he cherished. Make room for Dalton to flourish there. It is what he would have wanted."

  Brock added. "And stop feeling so guilty about being alive. I didn't know him as well as you two, but he would have wanted you to live."

  Before the three joined the others in the kitchen, Wyatt said one more thing. "You have found a man that will not hesitate to keep Brent's memory alive. He already cherishes the one part of Brent left alive. Don't stop talking to Dalton. He wants to know everything, so you need to let him."