Blueprint for Romance

by Shannon M Harris

  Dylan held Emma tighter. “Emma, I would never keep you from spending time with them. They love you so much and are looking forward to spending time with you. You can always come to me with your concerns. As long as you want to spend time with them you can.”

  “I’m glad. I love them too.”

  “Just because I’m dating Kat doesn’t mean the people in our lives are going to disappear. It just means we’re expanding the people in our lives. You like Kat, right?”

  “I do. A lot.” Emma nodded.

  Dylan breathed a sigh of relief. “She likes you too. What about Briley and Leah and their kids? You like them too, don’t you?”

  “Yes.” She held tightly to Dylan’s arm. “Change can be hard.”

  “Yes, sweetie, it can be. I know things have changed, but I never want you to feel like I’m neglecting you. If, for some reason, you feel like we’re not getting enough one on one time, let me know. You’ll always be my number one.”

  “I like that you spend time with Kat. She loves us.”

  “I do believe she does.”

  “I love her.”

  “Yeah?” Dylan couldn’t help her pleased smile.

  “Yeah.”

  “Well,” Dylan said. “the next time we see her, you should tell her. I’m sure she would love that.”

  “I will.”

  “Just because your dad isn’t alive anymore doesn’t mean that his family isn’t still a part of yours. They always will be.”

  “And yours.”

  “And mine.” She kissed Emma on the top of her head. “Feel better?”

  “You always make me feel better.”

  Dylan looked to the kitchen when her mom motioned to her.

  “Macy and Harold just pulled up,” Iris said.

  Dylan moved so she could look Emma in the eye and held up her hand. “Ready for this?”

  Emma smiled and slapped Dylan’s hand with hers. “Yup.”

  Fifteen minutes later, after hugs and greetings, everyone was seated around the table, eating homemade pasta and sauce.

  “So,” Macy said, after taking a sip of her wine. “No Kat tonight. I’ll admit to being a little curious of her, considering I haven’t even met her properly yet.”

  “Nope,” Emma said. “She’s having dinner with her mom, but she’s great.” She twirled the noodles on her fork and took a big bite.

  “Really?” Macy arched her brow. “You like her?”

  Emma swallowed then took a sip of her juice. “Nope. I love her.”

  Macy looked from Emma to Dylan. “And does she love you?”

  “Macy.” Iris warned.

  “Mom, it’s all right,” Dylan said. She knew Macy would do this and knew she was just looking out for them. “Yes, she loves us.” She waited for the next question and didn’t have to wait long.

  “She’s told you that?” Macy questioned.

  Dylan set her napkin on the table and let a smile grace her lips. “No, but love isn’t only about words. It’s in the way she acts with us and the way she treats Emma and Mom. The way she treats me. I’ve never felt so cared for before or never felt so safe than when I’m with her. I trust her with Emma.” She looked at her mom, then back to Macy. “And I trust her with my heart.”

  “I’m happy for you, Dylan,” Harold said, after patting her hand.

  He was a good man and Dylan still wasn’t sure why her mom still gave him a hard time. He loved Macy and treated her like a queen and that was all that mattered to Dylan. “You’ll meet her this weekend and please don’t give her the third degree. She’s already nervous enough as it is.”

  “You don’t want me to talk to her?” Macy asked, but Dylan knew from the tone she wasn’t happy about that.

  “I don’t have any problem with you talking to her, but please wait to interrogate her when there aren’t so many people around. I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable.”

  Macy sat back and crossed her arms. “I thought you said she was confident.”

  “She is, but she doesn’t deserve the third degree from you. I don’t need you to approve. Mom does and so does Emma, and right now that’s good enough for me.”

  Macy shot Iris a look. “You approve of her?”

  Iris nodded. “Yes. She’s good for Dylan and if you would take a second to consider your cousin instead of yourself, you will see that she even looks lighter. Kat makes them both happy and I approve of that, like I approve of Harold making you happy. That being said, I still have my reservations about him as I probably always will, and the same goes for Kat. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be there for either of them in a heartbeat, but you two and Emma will always be my main priority.”

  Macy deflated before their eyes. “Aunt Iris is right; you do look like a weight has been lifted. I promise I’ll behave at the cookout.”

  “Good. Macy, I want you to like her, but it’s not a requirement for me continuing to see her.”

  “Fair enough. I’m only looking out for your best interests.”

  “And I love you for it.”

  The silence stretched on, then Emma spoke up. “What’s for dessert?”

  Dylan watched in amusement as Harold jumped up, pulled Emma’s chair out then escorted her to the refrigerator and showed her what they’d brought.

  Macy looked at Harold and Emma, then turned back to Dylan and leaned forward on the table, lowering her voice. “I liked Ian, I thought he was good for you, but I never saw you look as carefree as you do right now. I’m really happy for you, Dylan.”

  Dylan bit her lip. “I loved Ian, but I’ve never felt like this and it’s scary. So scary. I don’t want to screw this up.”

  “You will at some point but screwing up doesn’t mean an end. I screw up all the time, as does Harold, but we’re both all in and fight to keep what we’ve got going. If she’s all in like you are, I won’t have a problem with her. Fights happen. Disagreements happen. We’ve both slept on the couch or in the guest room at some point and that’s okay. I wouldn’t want to make this journey without him.”

  “It shows. I really like her, Macy. Like.” She shot her hands up and out, fingers spread wide. “Ka-boom!”

  Macy laughed. “It feels good, huh?”

  “It feels fantastic.”

  Kat had just come downstairs when her front door opened and Briley walked in. They’d talked the night before about their mom being back and although they both wanted to give their relationship with her another chance, it was still unnerving that their mom had made such a turn around.

  “Bri, everything all right?”

  Briley paced in front of the front door. “She’s so nice.” Briley groaned. “And she wants to know about me. It’s weird, Kat.”

  “I know.” Kat joined her on the couch. Since Briley was the one with kids, their mom stayed at her house. If that hadn’t been the case, Kat was sure that their mom would have stayed with her.

  “No, you don’t. I chickened out last night and went to bed early, leaving Leah to deal with her.” Briley nervously tapped her right thumb against the tips of her fingers.

  “You can’t be serious. Leah doesn’t even know her.”

  “I know.” Briley groaned. “Leah’s already informed me I owe her a month of top-notch wooing to make up for it. It’s not like I left them to talk all night. Leah came to bed about an hour after I did. She wouldn’t tell me what they talked about. Only that they were both amicable toward each other.” Briley grimaced. “I feel like such a shit fiancée.”

  Kat laughed. “I wouldn’t go that far. It’s not like they hadn’t talked any yesterday. Maybe it was good for them to get to know each other.”

  “Leah is great.”

  The dreamy look in Briley’s eyes used to make her envious, but she had a feeling she looked the same way when thinking about Dylan. “Is everyone ready for breakfast?”

  “Should be.” Briley looked over her shoulder. “I snuck out to come over here. Evan spent the night at a friend’s, so he won’t be join
ing us.”

  “Well,” Kat said. “Let’s get going.”

  Forty minutes later, Kat, Briley, Leah, Griffin, and Deborah were seated around a table at the Wanderer, a restaurant prized for their made from scratch waffles and in-house made sausage.

  “Aunt Kat.”

  Kat looked up from her menu and tugged Griffin into her lap.

  “You spoil her, Kat,” Leah said, but there was no bite in her words.

  “It is my prerogative, is it not?”

  “That’s what you’ve been telling us.” Briley placed an arm across the back of Leah’s chair.

  “So, girls,” Deborah said. “What do you recommend?”

  Kat opened her mouth, but Briley beat her to it. “Can’t go wrong with the waffle and sausage. Or for something lighter, the Greek yogurt parfait is good. Leah usually always gets their egg white omelet. Evan always gets the pecan pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. Really can’t go wrong with anything.”

  After their orders were taken, Kat plopped Griffin back in her booster seat with a bop on the nose then turned to her mom. “So, Mom, how long do you plan on staying?”

  “I hadn’t really thought about it, but I would like to stay until the wedding, at least.”

  That was less than a year away. A part of Kat, the doubting part, settled a little at her mom’s declaration. She knew Deborah couldn’t stay with Briley that long and wasn’t a hundred percent sure she wanted her to stay with her, but there wasn’t any reason not to offer. “If you need somewhere to stay, you can stay with me.” The look on Briley’s face almost had Kat laughing aloud. Briley looked like Kat handed her a winning lottery ticket.

  Deborah took a sip of her orange juice before speaking. “That’s generous of you, dear. I’m not sure what long term plans I’m going to make, but if you’re sure, I would love to stay with you.”

  “Mom,” Kat said. “I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mean it. I still have a few things that need to be renovated, but the guest room is good to go.”

  “I would really love that,” Deborah said.

  As soon as their orders arrived, the discussion turned to wedding plans.

  “Have you decided on what you’re going to wear?” Kat asked Briley and Leah while cutting into her pancakes.

  Briley and Leah shared a look. “Leah has decided on a dress, but I’m not sure whether I want a dress or pants. Leah and the kids are visiting Madison next weekend and they’re going dress shopping. I figured you and Mom could go with me. That is, if you don’t have plans with Dylan, or she could come with us.”

  “Next weekend I have my second envelope date with Emma, but after lunch, I can join you for a couple of hours before I have to get ready for dinner with Dylan.” She high-fived Briley over the table top.

  “What colors have you decided on?” Deborah asked.

  Leah answered since Briley’s mouth was full of waffle. “Briley has given me control of the wedding, with only a few must haves from her. The colors are ivory and rose. I wanted classic over anything else. Our main flowers are lilies and roses. We’re keeping it small, under a hundred people. We’ve already booked the Rosewood for the event.”

  Kat’s eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked her surprise. The Rosewood was one of the most sought-after venues for any big event in Garriety. Usually they were booked at least ten months in advance and didn’t come cheap. On one hand, she was glad they were going all out for the ceremony and on the other, she wasn’t sure she could spend so much money on a few hours.

  “I figured since this was the last time I’m getting married, I should make it count.” Leah held up her glass and Briley clinked it with hers.

  “Darn straight. I didn’t think we’d be able to get it booked, but Ashley helped me out. It cost me the promise of Danishes for the next few weekends. A price I’m willing to pay, besides the venue of course.”

  Kat smiled when Briley blushed after Leah kissed her on the cheek. “Well, I for one can’t wait until you’re married. I’ve loved seeing every minute of the beginning of your happy ever after.”

  “And we’ve loved having you tag along,” Briley said.

  “And for the record,” Leah said, with a cheeky grin, “we’re also enjoying your fairy tale story.”

  “Yes, well, I am too.” It was nice spending time with them. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed it until now. She loved spending time with Dylan and Emma, but she needed to make more of an effort to juggle everyone else in her life. Since her mom was moving in with her, it would make it easier for them to spend some time together every day.

  “So,” Kat said, once they were in the restaurant’s parking lot, “I guess I’ll see you losers on Monday.” She swung Griffin into her arms and danced her around. She would miss them when they went on their planned fishing trip, but knew they would have fun. She deposited a squealing Griffin into Leah’s arms, kissed her on the forehead, then drew Leah into a hug. “Be safe.”

  “We will,” Leah said.

  “And you.” Kat engulfed Briley in a bear hug. “Listen to everything everyone else says. Not like last camping trip.”

  Briley returned the hug just as enthusiastically. “Geez, you set one tent on fire.”

  Kat waved when their car drove away with a promise from her mom that she would help her get her stuff moved over after work, then they were having dinner with Dylan tonight. If someone would have told her two years ago that this would be her life now, she would laugh at them. Thank God her previous dreams weren’t aligned with her current reality. She would have missed so much.

  She turned up “Heaven Is A Place on Earth” on the radio and sung along all the way to work.

  Dylan shook her hands out and bounced on the balls of her feet. Her nerves had been getting the better of her all day. Tonight, she was having dinner with Kat and her mom. Emma was going to be spending the evening with Iris, putting together her new Lego set.

  This felt different than meeting Ian’s parents. Kat had already explained about the relationship with her mom, or lack of one, but insisted her mom was trying. That didn’t calm Dylan’s nerves any, but for Kat’s sake, she would reserve judgment until she met Kat’s mom.

  She smoothed the green sweater she had pulled on after her shower and looked in the mirror. Kat had said casual, but she hadn’t said what kind of casual. Casual at home was sweatpants, but there was no way she was meeting Kat’s mom in sweatpants. She’d settled on the sweater and a pair of black slacks. She’d had them tailored last year, and had breathed a sigh of relief when they fit properly. There was no way she could afford another pair right now. There was simply no budget for it.

  Her hair was down, per Kat’s request, and she was happy to oblige her in this one thing since Kat never asked for much. She slipped her feet into a pair of black high heels and turned the bedroom light out before making her way into the kitchen where Iris and Emma were making dinner.

  “Mom, you look really pretty.”

  “Thanks, sweetie.”

  “Emma’s right. You look nice,” Iris said.

  “You’ll be fine, Mom. Kat’s there and she won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

  “No, she won’t.” With lots of kisses all around, Dylan left and drove to Kat’s house. At lunch, Kat had also informed her that her mom was temporally moving in with her.

  All the downstairs lights were on and one upstairs when Dylan pulled into Kat’s drive. She killed the engine and stared at the door until it opened, and an impossibly sexy Kat was leaning against the door frame. By looking at Kat, she guessed their casual wear was the same, considering Kat was dressed in a pair of blue slacks and a gray sweater.

  When Dylan was a foot away, Kat pulled her into her arms, and kissed the top of her head. Being in Kat’s arms was one of the most wonderful feelings she’d ever had and it didn’t hurt that Kat always smelled amazing. She kept her arms wrapped around Kat but moved her head enough to place a kiss on Kat’s neck. The tightening of K
at’s arms around her would have spurred her on if they were alone.

  Dylan pulled back and placed a tender kiss on Kat’s lips. “You look dashing.” Kat’s answering grin set Dylan’s heart racing. What this woman did to her.

  “Let’s just say you bring out the dashing in me, Ms. Lake.” Kat stepped back and twirled Dylan before bringing them flush. “You always take my breath away.”

  If she wasn’t already falling in love with Kat, she would be now. She smiled and smoothed the side of Kat’s hair where it had recently been shaved, feeling a jolt of pleasure when Kat shivered. Her grin faded when Kat kissed her. Before the kiss could progress into the danger zone, Dylan pulled back and rested her hands on both sides of Kat’s face.

  “Didn’t you tell me earlier I was having dinner with you and your mom this evening?”

  “I did. Yes.” Kat moved to allow Dylan to go ahead of her. When they both stepped into the living room, they stopped short when they spotted Deborah sitting on the couch sipping from a tea cup with Stripes lounging beside her. “Mom.”

  Jesus, they’d been caught making out like teenagers.

  Deborah stood and placed her cup on the coffee table and stepped up to them. Stripes bounded off the back of the couch and raced upstairs. He was smart enough to know when to get out of Dodge. Kat placed her hand at the small of Dylan’s back and nudged her forward.

  “Mom, this is my girlfriend, Dylan. Dylan, this is my mom, Deborah.”

  Kat seemed so unsure, Dylan slipped her arm around Kat’s waist and held out her other hand to Deborah. “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.” While Kat and Briley had similar features, it was apparent that Kat took after her mom. The same smile and nose. Deborah was a beautiful woman and Dylan was getting a taste of what Kat would look like in later years.

  Deborah sandwiched Dylan’s hand between both of hers. “It’s so nice to meet you. Even though I’ve been out of my daughters’ lives, I’ve kept up with them. And may I say, I’ve been waiting for you a long time. I’ve never seen Katherine so happy.”