“Yes.” Molly took hold of Payton’s hand. Max shook his head vig¨orously.
“Come on then.” Payton picked Max up and took Molly’s hand.
“Payton,” Reina said softly.
“Yes.” She finally got the nerve to look at Reina directly.
“Come here.” Reina smiled and crooked her finger at Payton.
“Yes.” Payton nervously stood inches away from Reina. Reina leaned over and whispered in her ear. “You look terrific in your bath¨ing suit.” Reina’s eyes gleamed.
“You look beautiful,” Payton admitted.
“Thank you.” Reina smiled, their faces inches from each other, the physical draw to kiss each other crackling around them.
“Come on, Payton.” Molly tugged on her hand.
“Okay sweetie.” Payton gazed one last moment at Reina before turning away.
“Payton’s pretty shy, Reina.” Tamara chuckled. “She was blown away by the sight of you in a bathing suit.”
“Come on Tamara, qiiit teasing.” Reina blushed.
“Reina, I am not teasing you. She could barely speak when she saw you.”
“She is the sexy one. I love the way she moves. She’s so sure of her¨self.” Reina watched Payton slowly enter the pool with her two chil¨dren. “And Tamara, she certainly isn’t shy.”
“She isn’t?” Tamara grinned at Reina.
“She kissed me last night but I was the one who made the first move. Can you believe that! I never do that!” Reina blushed as she spoke.
“Honey, you two are perfect. Whatever happens is okay. The two of you have your own relationship.”
“I’m afraid if we go too fast it won’t work out, but if we don’t move quickly Payton will leave and it won’t work out either.”
“Listen Reina, I’m not the best person when it comes to this stuff. Do you know what I did to Lindy when I first met her? I was all over her at a bar in Seattle one night. I was just after a quick night of fun, nothing serious. She refused to go along with my plan. In fact, she didn’t want anything to do with me.” Tamara laughed. “She thought I was a jerk and she was right!”
“Then how did the two of you get together?”
“We kept seeing each other out and about whenever I traveled to Seattle, and the harder I tried, the angrier she got. There was some¨thing about her that appealed to me. I just couldn’t let it go. Finally one night at a party I really came on strong and she blew up. She started to leave the party very pissed, and I felt bad. I followed her out to the car to apologize to her but she wouldn’t accept it. She informed me she would not be another notch on my very busy belt. She was very angry.”
“What did you do?”
“I listened to her yell at me. She was right. I was avoiding commit¨ment because I didn’t think I deserved to be happy. She yelled at me for over an hour. She was fantastic.” Tamara smiled at her memories.
“So tell me, when did you guys get together?”
“That night.”
“You’re kidding?”
“No, I fell in love with Lindy that night. It just took us eight months to admit it to each other.”
“So tell me how did the two of you get together that night?” Reina was very curious.
“When she finished yelling at me, I told her she was right, that I was afraid of failing. I also told her I thought she was beautiful, sexy, and smart, and then I kissed her.”
“What did she do?”
“She kissed me back and I was hooked. She took me home with her that night. I knew the minute she touched me, she was the one.” Tamara looked at Lindy lovingly. “She taught me how to love, and it was easy to make a commitment to her. By that point I didn’t want to live without her.”
“Then why did you leave her in Seattle?”
“I was scared. I couldn’t get up the nerve to tell her I was in love with her. I didn’t think she would want to quit her job, move, and join me with three kids. It was Payton who convinced Lindy to come visit and tell me how she felt. I have been in heaven ever since.”
“I couldn’t move to Seattle with my kids right now,” Reina admit¨ted.
“I bet if you and Payton work things out you won’t have to ask her to move. She will volunteer.”
“Mom, watch!” Molly screamed from the pool.
Molly stood on the side of the pool and jumped in, paddling like mad to where Payton waited holding Max on her shoulders. When she reached Payton, she was lifted safely into Payton’s arms, where she received a celebratory hug.
“Good job, Molly,” Payton praised her, grinning widely. “You are a regular mermaid.”
“Molly, that’s terrific!” Reina raved.
“Go swim with your kids and your girlfriend,” Tamara encour¨aged.
“Thanks, Tamara.”
“Your welcome. And quit worrying.”
Reina walked to the pool stairs and entered the pool, her eyes on Payton, and the children. She had the most wonderful feeling in her heart as she watched the three of them.
“Mom, stay there. Watch.” Molly took a big deep breath and began paddling toward her mother. Reina proudly watched as her tiny daughter struggled to swim to her.
“Wow, Molly! You are swimming so well.” Reina picked up her very excited daughter.
“Payton showed me.”
“She did? Well let’s go thank her,” Reina suggested. The two of them joined Payton and Max where they were bobbing in the pool.
“Hey mermaid Mom, what do you think of Molly?” Payton grinned as she and Max dripped with water.
“I’m very proud of her, she’s a good swimmer.” Reina hugged her daughter.
“She is very good.”
“How’s Max doing?”
“Pretty good. He’s not quite ready to swim yet, but we’ve been holding our breath and floating on our back.”
“Max, why don’t you come with me and give Payton a break?”
“Okay.” Max twisted in Payton’s arms, placing a wet boisterous kiss on her lips, before he threw himself at his mother.
Payton’s face had a surprised expression on it as Molly reached out for her. “Max has no problem with letting you know how he feels.” Reina smiled. “Either does my daughter.”
“Do they get that from their mother?” Payton teased her.
“I’d like to think so. Do you need to know how I feel, Payton?”
Payton blushed, holding a busy Molly. Reina stepped up very close to Payton as she spoke. “I find you beautiful, loving, sexy, and I can barely keep my hands off of you. I think you would be a wonderful partner and second mother to my children.” Reina touched Payton’s cheek.
“Thank you,” Payton responded.
“My only question is what you really think about my being preg¨nant?”
“I think...”
“Payton, I don’t want you to answer my question now. I want you to think about it very hard. We can talk about it tomorrow night.”
“But, Reina...”
“Payton, please wait until tomorrow night.”
“I don’t need to think about how I feel.”
“Payton, please. It’s just one day,” Reina whispered softly.
“Okay, I will wait until tomorrow night.” Payton couldn’t refuse Reina anything.
“Thank you, honey.” Reina kissed her quickly and smiled. “Now let’s do some swimming.”
The rest of the afternoon was very pleasant. Both the adults and the children played until they were exhausted. Lindy and Reina did the barbequing while Payton and Tamara prepared the salad and a plate of fruit. They all ate dinner outside and enjoyed the nice warm weather. It was after seven o’clock before Reina, Max, and Molly pre¨pared to go home.
“Okay, I have packed everything,” Reina announced. “Max and Molly, go say goodbye to Maria, Banta, and Amena.”
“Okay, Mom.” Molly and Max headed down the hallway.
“Lindy, Tamara, I’m going to borrow Payton for a few moments.” They just grinned, a
s Reina took Payton’s hand and dragged her down the hall to Payton’s bedroom. She pulled her inside and shut the door. Before Payton could speak, Reina had her in her arms, kiss¨ing her wildly. Payton’s response was immediate; she backed Reina up against the door, her kisses unrestrained. Payton’s hands slid down Reina’s back to her hips, pulling her tightly against her body.
“Payton,” Reina gasped, her hands sliding over Payton’s hips. Pay-ton’s mouth and tongue traveled along Reina’s neck and shoulders. She was wearing a tank top, and Payton’s lips tasted the skin along the top of Reina’s breasts. Placing kisses along her cleavage, Payton breathed in Reina’s scent.
“You are so beautiful,” Payton whispered.
“Honey, I have to go, I don’t want to but I have got to get my chil¨dren home,” Reina whispered as she kissed Payton’s jaw and neck. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow night at six for dinner.”
“Reina, about your question earlier?”
“Payton, please wait until tomorrow night to answer me.”
“I already know how I feel.”
Reina kissed Payton thoroughly, preventing her from saying any more. “Tomorrow night,” She whispered.
They shared one final kiss and embrace before leaving the room and gathering Max and Molly. At the car, Payton helped buckle the kids in and hugged them goodbye. She stepped away and waved. She couldn’t prevent the feeling of loneliness that engulfed her as they drove off. She already missed Reina and the kids. It was hard to believe how quickly she had come to care about Reina and her chil¨dren.
“Are they off?” Tamara asked Payton as she came back into the house.
“Yes.”
“You already miss them.”
“Yes,” Payton admitted.
“That’s a good thing.”
“We just met.”
“Time has nothing to do with feelings.”
“Reina asked me a question earlier and she wouldn’t let me answer it until tomorrow night.”
“What was the question?”
“She wanted to know how I feel about her being pregnant.”
“Honey, she is scared to death. She thinks you’ll find her advanced pregnancy unappealing.”
“But I wouldn’t.” Payton was adamant.
“Payton, I know that, but Reina doesn’t. She thinks she’s giving you an out.”
“An out, why would I want an out? I’m not that kind of person.”
“Then prove it to her.”
“How?”
“You’ll figure something out.” Tamara patted her arm.
“Payton, we need to leave by seven tomorrow morning to get the kids to school and get me to work on time.” Lindy entered the kitchen.
“I’ll be up and ready, Lindy.”
“I’ll leave written instructions on how to get to my office for lunch. I have also arranged for you to meet with several of the man¨agers of the company.”
“I can’t wait to see what you do and where you work.” Payton smiled.
“Good, now I don’t know about you guys, but I’m tired. I’m going to go get the kids ready for bed and then I’m heading there myself.”
“I’ll help,” Tamara volunteered.
“I’ll finish folding the clean clothes.”
“It’s been a hell of a vacation so far.” Lindy grinned. “And you’ve only been here for a couple of days.”
“I wouldn’t change a thing,” Payton responded with a grin of her own.
It was nine o’clock before Payton climbed into bed intent on read¨ing a good book. A knock on the door interrupted her not moments later. “You awake, honey?” Tamara called from the doorway.
“Yes.”
“You have a telephone call.” Tamara entered the room and handed her the telephone.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, doll.”
“Hello,” Payton said into the phone.
“Hi.” It was Reina.
“Hi.” Payton smiled.
“I miss you. I wish you were here.”
“I miss you too, and I would love to be with you right this minute.” Payton lay back down on her bed.
“What are you doing?”
“Lying in bed trying to read a book. Unsuccessfully, I might add. I keep thinking about you and your kids.”
“They miss you, too. Molly asked why you couldn’t come home with us,” Reina admitted. “I didn’t have a good reason for why you hadn’t.”
“Kiss them goodnight for me.”
“I will, but what about my goodnight kiss?”
’Til have to make it up to you tomorrow night.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
“I won’t forget.”
“Payton, I know this is pretty new and happening very fast, but I want you in my life.”
“I feel the same way, Reina. I just want you to be sure you want me there with you and your kids.”
“Payton, I have no doubts. I know you would be perfect. I want you to help me raise Molly and Max. I also know in my heart you could be the one for me.”
“Reina, what is still bothering you?”
“Payton, I’m pregnant. I have two children, and a full time career in the Navy.” Reina explained. “You would be signing up for a very different life.”
“Do you think I couldn’t handle it?”
“Payton, I know you could handle it, but I can’t move, honey.”
“So, is that the only solution you’ve come up with?”
Reina remained silent. Payton waited for her to respond. When she didn’t, Payton answered her own question. “I guess you have it all figured out. You have a family, a job, and a home. Moving is not an option, so that’s it then, there are no other choices.” Payton’s heart felt like it was breaking. They hadn’t even started their relationship and it was over.
“Payton, that’s not what I meant. How can I ask you to give up everything to be with me? Your job, your home, your friends, and for what?” Reina’s voice was strained.
“For a family, for two children who I could love beyond words, a woman who will laugh and love with me for the rest of our lives, and a new life that could enter this world with a wonderful mother and her partner.”
“You would do that?” Reina spoke softly.
“If I was asked to share my life with someone I loved there is noth¨ing I would not do, absolutely nothing.”
“Payton, I wish I was right there this minute. I want so badly to kiss you right now.”
“Reina, I would give anything to be kissing you.”
“I don’t want to hang up this telephone but I have to get up early.”
“Go to sleep, honey. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“Payton, I...”
“Reina sweetheart, we will figure things out, I promise. Now, go to bed.”
“I’ll miss you, Payton.”
“I’ll miss you, too. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Payton hung up the telephone and turned off her light. Sleep would not come quickly.
ïi
CHAPTER 4
“Randall, this is Payton Bender. Payton, this is Randall Fields, our chief operating officer.” They were standing in Lindy’s office.
“Payton, it is nice to meet you. I have heard nothing but good things about you.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you.” Payton shook hands with the gentleman.
“Has Lindy given you a tour?”
“Yes. This place is impressive.”
“We like it, don’t we Lindy? We’re growing like crazy, so things are a little hectic.”
“It is pretty crazy around here, but it’s fun.” Lindy loved her job.
“So, Lindy mentioned you might be thinking of moving here.”
“She did?” Payton glanced at Lindy, whose face was showing signs of guilt.
“If you’re looking for a position, do me a favor. Come see me. Lindy’s told me quite a few things about you and I would sure lik
e to talk to you about opportunities with us.”
“Well, thank you. I haven’t made a decision yet but if I decide to relocate here I will talk to you.”
“Good. We need talented people.”
“Thank you.”
“Randall, we are off to lunch. Thanks for your time.”
“No problem, Lindy. And I’m serious Payton, contact me.”
“I will, Mr. Fields.” Payton shook his hand.
“Randall. Call me Randall.”
“Randall then.”
“Good, enjoy your lunch, ladies.”
“Thank you.”
Payton didn’t say a word to Lindy until they were in her van head¨ing for lunch. “So, do you want to tell me what you told Randall?” Payton watched her carefully.
“I might have mentioned that you were thinking about moving here.”
“And...”
“I might have shared a little bit of your work history?”
“How much of my work history?”
“A lot of it.”
“When did you do all this?”
“A month or so ago.”
“Why?”
“I thought if I could convince you to visit for awhile you might consider moving here.”
“Lindy, thank you.” Payton grinned at her. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“So when are you going to move here?” Lindy grinned.
“I’m not sure what’s going to happen between Reina and I.” Pay-ton sighed. “She’s not sure I’m committed enough to be with a preg¨nant woman with two children and one on the way.”
“Payton, she’s just scared.”
“I know she is.”
“So how are you going to convince her?”
“I’m going to love heV into submission.” Payton grinned. “She won’t be able to resist me.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me.” Lindy grinned.
“Now, I need you to give me directions to a couple of places.”
“Okay, what’s up?”
“I’ll tell you at lunch.”
Payton was dressed and ready for her date with Reina at five-thirty. She had helped fix dinner with Tamara before dressing in order to keep from focusing on her nerves. It hadn’t helped. She was shaking, she was so nervous.
“Doll, you look terrific.”
“Thanks Tamara. I can’t believe how nervous I am.”
Family Love Page 6