Blueprint for Romance

by Shannon M Harris

  Forty minutes later they were seated at the restaurant.

  “Have you been here before?” Dylan asked, then lifted her wine glass and took a sip. The restaurant hadn’t been at all what Dylan was expecting, but she loved Italian food and was glad Kat picked a moderately priced place for their first date.

  “No. Briley recommended it.” Kat nervously rolled up one edge of her napkin. “Is it all right?”

  “It’s great.”

  Conversation was easy and allowed dinner to progress nicely. After turning down dessert, Kat paid, and they were soon walking along the boardwalk beside the rainbow sculpture.

  “It’s a beautiful night,” Kat said.

  “I agree.” Dylan tightened her hold around Kat’s arm and allowed her to lead them toward an empty bench where they sat.

  “I’ve had a good time tonight.”

  “I have too. You do know how to show a girl a good night.” Dylan’s chest warmed at the blush that raced up Kat’s neck and into her face. She shivered when Kat held open her cardigan sweater and helped Dylan into it. “Thank you.” Dylan smiled when Kat leaned forward and rested her forearms on her knees. “Something on your mind?” She placed her hand on Kat’s back and stroked in circles.

  “Only good things, I assure you.”

  Kat’s smile made her feel lighter than she had in a long time. Her mom was right. She couldn’t think about this being doomed before it even started. She stood from the bench so suddenly Kat looked up, startled, but accepted the hand Dylan reached toward her.

  “My lady,” Kat said, kissing the back of her hand.

  Dylan pulled Kat flush against her, then ran her hands down Kat’s shoulders and laced their fingers together. “Let’s see if we can get someone to take our picture by the end of the rainbow.”

  “I think that’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”

  Dylan didn’t even try to censor her smile as she watched Kat wrangle up a passing young woman to take their picture. She gladly handed over her phone to the woman, then relaxed back against Kat for the picture. As Kat’s arms circled her waist, Dylan had never felt safer, and for the first time in months, she decided to put the doubts aside and enjoy the beginning of her own fairy tale in the making.

  Kat grunted as she held the top cabinet up while Kyle screwed it into place. Her arms screamed in pain, but she held steady while he made sure it was level. She’d already intensified her workouts once, and it looked like she’d have to do it again in order to stay in tip top shape.

  “All good, boss?”

  She ran her hand along the cabinet that Kyle had made from the reclaimed wood they’d brought home from the downed barn. “They’re beautiful, Kyle. You have a way with the wood.”

  “Thanks. I like making something out of nothing.” He snapped his fingers and drew Kat’s attention back to him. “Speaking of. I got started on that dollhouse you wanted me to make for your kid for Christmas. It’s looking good.”

  Kat didn’t correct him about Emma being her kid because he would make the same mistake again. A few weeks ago, she’d asked him if he could build her a superhero inspired dollhouse, so Emma could put her Lego figures in it. “Thanks, man.”

  “No problem. It’s going to be cool. Just you wait. I’ll have it done for her by Christmas.”

  “I really appreciate it.”

  He waved off her words. “If it wasn’t for you, I would still be living in my car.”

  “You would have found a way,” Kat said.

  He shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not, but I’m here now, and you shouldn’t be.”

  “What?”

  “Aren’t you having lunch with Dylan?”

  She glanced at her watch, then at her clothes, realizing she didn’t have time to change if she wanted to make it in time. “Shit.”

  “I don’t think she’s going to complain about the tank top, boss.” Kyle whistled, walking off.

  After wiping off in the bathroom, she was resigned to still looking like she’d been working outside all day. She climbed into her truck and made her way to Dylan’s work. She made a mental note to keep a button down in her truck for when she had lunch with Dylan. It wasn’t usually an issue, but before hanging the cabinets, she and Reeva cleared their extra materials, which made her clothes filthy.

  Kat tried not to think about the cookout Dylan had invited her to on Saturday. She’d been worrying about it all week and it was only Wednesday. In the six months that she’d known Dylan, she had never officially met her cousin Macy. Dylan had reassured her countless times, but it was still nerve-racking. Especially the way Iris talked about Harold. It made Kat wonder about what Iris thought of her.

  Before her thoughts could sink any further, she pulled into the parking lot and climbed out of the truck. The looks directed her way as she walked through the lobby had her second guessing the decision to not go home and change clothes. When she entered the breakroom, the three women and one man seated there stared at her.

  Haley motioned her forward, and the longer she stared, the more Kat became uneasy.

  “Sorry about the shirt.”

  “No need to apologize.” She swept her eyes up Kat’s body. “It’s a nice tank top.”

  “Is Dylan around?” Kat stuffed her hands in her pockets. As much as she liked Haley, she wasn’t there to see her.

  Haley snickered. “Come with me.” A few minutes later, Haley pointed to a room and took her leave.

  “Hey.”

  A smile split her face and she slowly turned toward Dylan, who was biting her lip, even as her eyes raked down her body.

  “Hi.” Why did she always become tongue tied around this woman? She relaxed when Dylan ran her hand along her arm and grasped her bicep before pulling her along.

  “We can eat in here.” Dylan pulled her into the room.

  “I tried to apologize for my tank.”

  Dylan shut the door, then pushed Kat up against the wall and ran her hands up her chest. “It’s not the dirt, honey. It’s your muscles. They’re distracting.”

  “Oh.” It was the first time Dylan had called her anything other than Kat and she liked it.

  With a chuckle, Dylan leaned forward and slipped her hands behind Kat’s neck. “Yes, ‘oh.’ You look enticing.”

  “I’m dirty.”

  “You’re ripped.” She briefly touched the tip of her tongue to her top lip, then pulled Kat down into a kiss.

  Kat deepened the kiss and pulled Dylan even closer, their tongues dancing. Lately, their kisses had become heated. Kat pulled back and nipped Dylan’s jaw. “We need to stop.”

  “How can I when you’re so hot?”

  Kat rubbed her nose against Dylan’s. “You’re so sexy you invade all my dreams. Trust me, I know how hard it is to keep my hands from roaming every inch of your body every time I see you. But, I don’t want to be caught with my pants down.”

  Dylan groaned. “Do you always have to be so reasonable?”

  “It’s my curse.”

  “Smartass.” Dylan smirked, then stepped away. “Food?”

  “You bet.”

  “You wait here, and I’ll go out and get it.”

  “Sounds good.” Kat accepted the sheet Dylan handed her, threw it over the couch then sat and relaxed while Dylan retrieved their lunch. Work was as busy as usual, but it wasn’t as hard as she thought to make time for Dylan and Emma. In fact, it was a must. Somehow, she’d kept from neglecting any of her family, but she knew that wouldn’t always be the case. November was looking like a particularly jam-packed month. It would be a balancing act juggling everything she needed to. She hoped everyone understood. Especially Dylan and Emma. She’d already scheduled in the next to last Saturday of the month for their monthly date. First though, they had to get through October and Halloween.

  “What has you so deep in thought?”

  Kat made to get up, but Dylan waved her off then plopped down beside her, handing over a turkey sandwich and fruit cup.

  “I hop
e this is okay.”

  Kat pecked her on the lips. “Looks good.” After swallowing a large bite of sandwich, she took a sip of water. “Yum. Delicious.” She sighed. “November is going to be a packed month for me. I have our date night planned, but if I want the week before Christmas free, I’ll need to work almost every day until then. Including most Thursdays. At least, that’s what it looks like now. I’m hoping we can finish before that, but it’s not looking good.” She took another bite and waited for Dylan to say something.

  “What are you scared to tell me?” Dylan frowned. “We don’t own you, Kat. I don’t expect you to spend all your time with us and I can easily bring you lunch at work. I mean, you have to eat.”

  “See, that’s the thing, I’m not scared, but apprehensive. I want to spend all my time with you and Emma. We officially started dating and I don’t want you to feel like I’m neglecting you two. I know Emma will be disappointed.”

  Dylan cupped Kat’s cheeks. “Listen carefully.” Kat nodded. “We want to spend all our time with you too, but right now that’s not realistic. I know you’re not a workaholic, but I also know you recently started this business. I want it to be successful, and frankly I’m surprised you were able to spend as much time with us as you have the last few months. It brought us to this point, but I’m not mad. You’re a hard worker. Don’t ever be scared to talk to me.” She kissed her lightly on the lips.

  “Now who’s saying all the right things? My girlfriends in the past haven’t always been so receptive to my working habits.”

  “I’m not them.”

  “Thank God for that.”

  They finished the rest of their lunch in silence and once their trash was thrown away, they cuddled on the couch. “How long do you have left?” Kat asked.

  “Ten minutes.” Dylan relaxed into Kat’s side. “So—” The ringing of Kat’s phone interrupted her.

  “It’s just Briley. It can wait.” But when it stopped ringing it started up again.

  “Kat, answer your phone.”

  Kat swiped at the screen then raised the phone to her ear. “This better be important, Briley.”

  “It is.”

  “So?”

  “Are you sitting down?”

  The tone of Briley’s voice threw her off. “Is Griffin okay? Leah? Evan?” Dylan gripped Kat’s arm.

  Briley hurried on. “They’re fine.”

  “Then why do you sound like someone died?”

  A beat later. “Mom’s here.”

  Kat pulled the phone away from her ear then brought it back. “I’m sorry, what?”

  “You heard me.”

  “It sounded like you said Mom’s here.”

  “She is.”

  Kat’s eyes widened. “When you say here, you mean—?”

  “She’s sitting on the couch, Kat. Get your ass over here now.”

  “Where are you? And I have to go back to work.”

  “I’m in my kitchen. Get here now.”

  Briley ended the call. Kat slumped back on the couch, pressing her hands over her eyes. “Fuck.”

  “So, your mom’s here.” Dylan ran her fingers along Kat’s stomach.

  Kat slowly turned and groaned at the twinkle in Dylan’s eyes. Kat had already explained her mom to Dylan early in their relationship. She loved her mom, but they didn’t always get along. They hadn’t seen her in two years. “Briley’s house.” She wiped a hand across her brow. “Oh, man. Briley was hiding in the kitchen.”

  “Babe, it will be okay.” Dylan kissed her, then pulled her up, handed her a brownie, pushed her out of the room, escorted her to the lobby doors and outside.

  “I’ll talk to you later.”

  Dylan grinned. “It’s a date.”

  Forty minutes later, Kat pulled into her driveway and cut the engine. In the rearview mirror, her eyes locked onto Briley and their mom sitting on the swing on Briley’s front porch. Calling forth confidence from the pit of her soul, she made her way across the street and bounded up the steps to the house.

  “Mom.”

  “Katherine.”

  Their mom was the only person that called her that, but Kat didn’t mind. It always seemed like something special between them. Her mom’s hair was a little longer and curled around her shoulders. There were a few more wrinkles on her face, and a bit more grey in her hair, but she was still beautiful, and she looked happy. The last time she saw her mom she’d looked so stressed. It was nice to see her look more carefree.

  Kat stepped forward and engulfed her mom in a hug that was readily accepted. Chanel number five would always be her favorite fragrance because it was what her mom always wore. She kissed her on the cheek then stepped back and leaned against the railing. She didn’t realize until this moment how much she had missed her, and she wasn’t sure what to do with her swirling feelings.

  “I like the haircut,” Deborah Anderson said.

  “Thanks, Mom.” Kat looked to Briley, who looked to have calmed down since her phone call.

  “So, what brings you here?” Kat asked while Briley fidgeted with the hem of her t-shirt.

  “That’s what I wanted to talk to you both about.” She patted Briley on the knee. “I’ve been going to therapy for the last six months and I’ve come to realize a few things.” She held up her hands, palms out. “Please don’t interrupt me.” They both nodded. “After your father’s death, I didn’t treat either of you fairly. I became depressed and took it out on the both of you and for that I’m sorry.”

  Kat shared a look with Briley but they both kept their mouths shut. It wasn’t like their mom to offer up an apology freely.

  “The time I’ve missed of your lives is something I can never have back, but I’m here now and I hope that we can try again.” Deborah audibly swallowed. “I love you both so much and I treated you so poorly. When Briley told me she was getting married, it hit me how much time I had let slip past us. I’m not sure you need a mother now, but I was at least hoping we can be friends.” She stood and touched both their arms. “I’m going to get a cup of coffee; please talk things through and let me know what you decide.”

  As she walked off, Kat blurted out, “Mom, stop.” From the set of her mother’s shoulders, Kat already knew what she thought their answer would be, but she wasn’t the only one that had changed. “Mom, I do blame you, especially how we were treated in our younger years, but I could have made more of an effort when I grew up and moved away and I didn’t. I let my anger for how you treated us keep me away. I’m sorry.” She saw the way Dylan and Iris interacted and even though she may never have that type of relationship with her mom, she was at a place that she wanted to try. Seeing the tears in her mom’s eyes was almost her undoing.

  “Kat’s right,” Briley said. “I resented you for a long time and could never understand why you always chose to stay away from us. I would have loved to have you here for this past Christmas but I’m willing to try if you are, but it must be a two-way street and I have a family now. Griffin gets attached easily and I don’t want her falling in love with you, then you abruptly leaving. It wouldn’t be fair to anyone.”

  Kat slipped her arm around Briley’s shoulders and pulled her flush against her side. “Bri’s right. My girlfriend has a seven-year-old daughter who also gets attached easily. I won’t introduce you to them unless you promise not to disappear.”

  “I promise. You two have become amazing women.” When she was close to them, Kat drew her into a group hug.

  “We love you, Mom.”

  “I love you too.”

  Dylan hummed and stirred the sauce that was bubbling on the stove. A quick glance at the clock hanging above the fridge let her know that Macy and Harold would be there in less than thirty minutes. She’d been a little disappointed when Kat had called and cancelled their dinner plans so she and Briley could have dinner with their mom. She had reassured Kat she wasn’t mad, and she hoped they had a good time and settled things between them.

  That had freed up her nig
ht. Iris had quickly called Macy and she’d agreed to come for dinner.

  She knew Kat was nervous about the upcoming cookout and planned to take some time to talk with Macy about it tonight. There was a difference with Kat being uncomfortable about meeting them and Macy and Harold deliberately making Kat uncomfortable with their questioning.

  “Mom, it smells so good.” Emma stepped up next to her.

  “Want a taste?”

  “Yes, please.” Dylan scooped up a small amount and had Emma blow on it a few times before allowing her to eat it.

  “What do you think?”

  “More garlic.”

  “Your wish is my command.” Dylan added more garlic and after getting Emma’s seal of approval, turned the burner down to simmer and put the lid on the pot. She leaned back against the counter and regarded Emma, who was standing by the table. Her little girl was growing up so fast. “Something on your mind, sweetie?” She brushed the hair out of Emma’s eyes. It looked like a haircut was in order.

  “Are we still going to visit Gramma and Grandpa before Christmas?”

  “Come here.” Dylan lead Emma to the couch and once she was seated, pulled Emma down and flush against her side. Ever since she was little, Emma didn’t like to have emotional talks face to face, and if Emma was willing to talk, Dylan didn’t mind. “Of course. What brought this on?”

  “You’re dating Kat now, and she has a family and I wasn’t sure if that would mean I wouldn’t see them anymore.” Emma rested her head back against Dylan’s chest.

  “Sweetie, just because your dad isn’t here anymore and just because I’m dating Kat, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t let you spend time with your grandparents. They will always be your grandparents just like Ian will always be your dad. Nothing will ever change that.” She’d talked to Brett and Diane, Ian’s parents, when she and Kat decided to start dating and, although supportive, they were hesitant to give their blessing. They were of course concerned for Emma, but Dylan had reassured them Emma’s feelings would always be her priority. Their relationship was strained at times, but they loved Emma, and Dylan respected that.