Family Love

by Jeanne Mccann

  “Yes, everything is right here.”

  “Payton, what’s the problem then?” Reina kissed Payton’s neck.

  “I’m nervous, that’s all,” Payton admitted, as she kissed Reina’s neck in return.

  “There’s no reason to be nervous. I love you and everything is going to be perfect.” Reina followed her words with an earth-shatter- ing kiss. Payton’s nervousness disappeared as Reina kissed all of her fears away.

  “Why don’t we take your things out to the car now?” Reina sug¨gested, squeezing Payton’s hand and smiling.

  The rest of the evening went by quickly with lots of noise and laughter, as the children enjoyed their dinner with their company. They talked excitedly about the weekend’s camping trip. The adults prepared lists for the weekend and divided up the preparations. It was a happy group that climbed into Reina’s car.

  “Payton, are you living with us now?” Molly asked when she was buckled into her seatbelt.

  “For a little while Molly, if that’s okay with you?”

  “Yep.”

  “Good, because I’m really looking forward to staying with you and Max, and your mom.”

  Reina just smiled as she listened to the conversation. She wanted so much for those next few weeks to work with Payton. Maybe then she could ask Payton to come live with her and her family. They quickly made the trip home.

  “Okay, Max and Molly, let’s help Payton put her stuff away,” Reina announced as they stood in the living room.

  “Okay, Mom.” The two of them grabbed the handle of Payton’s smaller suitcase, and with their mother’s help, struggled down the hallway with it.

  “Let’s put her in my room.”

  “Is she sleeping with you, Mom?”

  “Yes Molly, she is.” Reina answered her little daughter. Reina always told her children the truth.

  “Good.” Molly’s response drew smiles from both Reina and Pay-ton.

  “Okay, Max, let’s put this bag on the bed.” Reina helped her tiny son. “Then 1 need to put the two of you in your own bed. If you’re going to keep Payton company tomorrow you need to get a good night’s sleep.”

  Max and Molly helped Reina and Payton put away her things. Reina had cleared a drawer and a section of her closet. She had also cleared an area of the bathroom for Payton. It made Payton not only feel welcome, but also a part of her family.

  “Okay guys, last one in your pajamas is a rotten egg!” Reina called out, and the two little children raced for their bedrooms, while Pay-ton watched them, laughing.

  “They are so cute.”

  “They are great kids. Now you’d better hurry. Those cute kids are going to expect us in our pajamas.”

  “You’re kidding.” Payton grinned.

  “Nope.” Reina rapidly started to shed her clothes, her eyes flashing with humor. “I think you’re going to be the rotten egg.”

  “No way.” Payton’s clothes fairly flew as she got herself into her pajamas in record time.

  Both Reina and Payton had changed by the time Max returned still struggling with his shirt. Molly was only moments behind him. “I am the rotten egg!” She cried grinning.

  “Yes, you are, doll.” Her mother picked her up and hugged her before flopping on the bed with her laughing daughter. Max looked at Payton with a grin before he launched himself into her arms, laughing. The four of them were soon in a pile on the bed, snuggled up to each other.

  “Well, I think it’s time for bed,” Reina announced as she gazed happily at her children and Payton.

  “Can Payton come help tuck us in?” Molly asked as she hugged her mom.

  “Of course she can.”

  The four of them headed first down the hall to Max’s room. He immediately crawled into his bed.

  “Goodnight, my handsome son.” Reina kissed him and tucked his covers around his slender shoulders. Molly gave her brother a quick kiss and headed for her own room.

  “Good night, little man,” Payton whispered as she kissed him. She turned out the overhead light but left his door open just in case he might need his mother at night.

  Reina was speaking quietly to her daughter as Payton entered the room. Molly was tucked in and turned on her side, her mother’s arm around her.

  “I love Payton, very much.” Reina answered her little daughter’s question.

  “Does she love us, Mom?”

  “I love you very much,” Payton volunteered as she stood next to Reina.

  “Are you going to live with us forever, Payton?”

  “Well, that’s kind of up to you and Max, and your mom.” Payton tried to answer Molly honestly.

  “Okay.” Molly smiled her sweet little girl smile and it made Pay-ton’s heart flip.

  “Good night, honey.” Reina hugged and kissed her.

  “Good night Ms. Molly.” Payton also hugged and kissed her.

  “Night Mom, night Payton, love you.”

  “We love you, little bug.”

  Reina and Payton padded down the hall to her bedroom, stopping halfway down the hall to take Payton’s hand. “I’m glad you’re here,” she whispered.

  “So am I.” Payton kissed her softly.

  They entered the bedroom and shut the door. “You know, you should probably get a good night’s sleep since the kids will be up at six-thirty and you won’t get a moment’s rest, except during their nap time,” Reina volunteered as she gathered Payton into her arms.

  “A good night’s sleep, huh?” Payton rolled her eyes before she started to unbutton Reina’s pajama top. “I’m planning on a good night of something other than sleep,” she promised.

  “Is that so?” Reina rapidly removed Payton’s pajama shirt and pants. Any comment Payton meant to make was lost, as Reina backed her up to the bed and, none too gently, pushed her onto her back, immediately covering her with her naked body. It was several hours before either one of them thought of sleeping.

  “Payton,” Reina whispered, snuggling tightly against her back.

  “Yes?”

  “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “So am I, honey.”

  “I like the feeling I get when I think about going to bed with you and waking up with you next to me. I can’t tell you how much you mean to me.”

  Payton turned to face Reina. “I know how much it means to me. I love you, Reina.”

  “I love you.” Reina and Payton shared a slow, gentle kiss.

  “I could make love with you all night.” Reina grinned as she stretched her body against Payton’s.

  “Honey, you have to get up in less than six hours for work.”

  “So I’d better not waste any time then.” Reina grinned as she reached for Payton’s breasts. Payton sighed and covered Reina’s lips with her own. Their lovemaking was slow and intense as they reveled in their ability to provide each other such pleasure. They were both exhausted when they drifted off to sleep several hours later.

  CHAPTER 5

  Payton heard the alarm ring and turned to hug Reina awake. “Reina, wake up honey. It’s time to get up.” Payton nuzzled Reina’s cheek.

  “I don’t want to get up.” Reina complained, responding to Payton. “I want to stay in bed with you.”

  “I wish you could.” Payton hugged her tightly.

  “I’m not the only one who needs to wake up. You’d better hide this gorgeous body in a pair of pajamas. Molly and Max will be in here shortly.” Reina laughed as she got out of bed.

  Payton scrambled for her pajamas while Reina showered and dressed. She also started a pot of coffee while waiting for Reina to finish getting ready for work.

  “Thanks for the coffee, sweetie.” Reina hugged her tightly. “You go crawl back into bed, the kids will come wake you.”

  “Have a wonderful day.”

  “You too, I’ll call you later.” Reina and Payton kissed passionately for several minutes. “What you do to me.” She grinned.

  “I’ll make it up to you tonight.” Payton grinned in return.
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br />   “Goodbye.”

  “Bye sweetie.” Payton waved from the doorway as Reina drove down the road. After she pulled out of sight, Payton grabbed a cup of coffee and returned to the bedroom. She intended on doing a little reading.

  “Payton?”

  “Hey Max, what’s up?” Max climbed onto the bed with her. “You want to crawl in here with me?”

  Max grinned and slid under the covers next to Payton. He snug¨gled up to her and shut his eyes.

  An hour and a half later the telephone rang, waking Payton up. “Hello.”

  “Hi sweetie.” It was Reina. “How is everything going?”

  “Just fine. Your two little guys are asleep in bed with me.”

  “I wish I was there with all of you.”

  “We miss you. How’s your day going?”

  “Good, very busy, but good. I need to cover everything before I’m off next week, but things are falling into place. In fact, I think I can get out of here by noon on Friday, maybe Thursday night.”

  “That’s great, Reina. Is it okay if the kids and I fix dinner for tonight? We want to surprise you.”

  “Of course, but you might need to do some shopping. I’m not sure what I have.”

  “We can handle it.”

  “But you don’t have a car.”

  “We’ll walk. It’s not that far and I’ll put the groceries in my back¨pack.”

  “Okay, I will give you some money when I get home.”

  “No you won’t,” Payton responded with a tiny bit of irritation. “I’m staying here, so I can help pay.”

  “Okay, honey.” Reina’s voice contained a hint of humor. “I’ll be home around five-thirty. Can I bring anything?”

  “Nope, we’ve got it covered.”

  “Payton, I love you.”

  “I love you, Reina.”

  “I’ll call you later.”

  “Okay, doll.” Payton smiled as she hung up the telephone. Both Molly and Max were in a tangle of bedclothes and pillows, asleep. Payton picked up her book and began reading. She would wait for the kids to wake up before she planned anything.

  “Payton, we set the table.” Molly and Max were busily placing sil¨verware around the kitchen table in preparation for dinner. They were very excited about fixing dinner for their mother.

  “Good job guys. Do you want to help me with the flowers?”

  “I do.”

  “Okay Max, come here and you can arrange them.”

  The kids had been excited all day long about fixing a special din¨ner for their mom.

  “Hello, anyone home?” Reina called as she entered the front door.

  “We’re in here,” Payton answered.

  “Hey guys, doesn’t the table look nice?”

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Hello Max, Molly, did you guys do all of this?”

  “Payton helped us.” Molly hugged her mother hello.

  “She did? Well isn’t she a doll.” Reina grinned as she hugged Max. “I think we’ll keep her.”

  She leaned over and dropped a kiss on Payton’s smiling lips. “Hi.”

  “Welcome home.”

  “What a welcome. Can I help with dinner?”

  “Yes, you can go change into something more comfortable. Max, Molly, and I will fix dinner. Would you like a glass of wine?”

  “I’d love one, thank you honey. The doctor says a glass of wine once in awhile is okay.”

  “Good, here, now go change.”

  “After I get a hug from you.” Reina and Payton hugged tightly. “I love you, Payton.”

  “I love you, Reina.”

  Max and Molly joined the two of them, giggling and hugging.

  “All right guys, let your mom go change and we’ll finish fixing dinner.”

  “Okay, Payton.” The three of them began their activities as Reina walked to her bedroom to change. She smiled as she listened to the laughter and conversation coming from the kitchen. Obviously, the three of them had gotten along famously.

  The dinner was a complete success as the four of them chattered, laughed, and genuinely enjoyed themselves.

  “Okay, Max and Molly, show your mom your pictures while I clean up,” Payton suggested as she began clearing the table.

  “I can help,” Reina volunteered.

  “No, you can’t. Besides, your little guys worked real hard on their pictures.”

  “Mom, come look. We have them in my room.” Molly grabbed her mother’s hand and dragged her out of her chair. Max grabbed her other hand and tried to help. Reina laughed good-naturedly as she allowed them to pull her out of the kitchen. They entered Molly’s room and, lying on the floor, were brightly colored collages. One had Molly’s name in child-like letters and the other one had Max’s name printed on it.

  “See?” Max pointed excitedly at the pictures.

  “I see them Max, they’re beautiful. Did you guys make these today?”

  “Payton helped us.”

  “These are wonderful. Why don’t we pin them up in the kitchen?”

  “Mom, don’t touch them,” Molly squealed. “Payton said we have to let them dry.”

  “Okay honey, I won’t touch them.” Reina smiled at her children. “You both did a good job on these pictures.”

  Reina and her children talked for about twenty minutes before rejoining Payton in the kitchen.

  “The kid’s pictures are beautiful. When did you have the time to work on the them?”

  “This afternoon before we fixed dinner. When we walked to the store we picked up everything we needed. It’s just colored tissue glued on white paper. Molly and Max tore the paper into small pieces and then we dipped them in watered down Elmer’s glue. We did it in the kitchen on the table. They did a great job.”

  “Thanks, Payton.”

  “For what?”

  “For everything.” Reina’s smile made Payton’s heart flutter.

  The evening was pleasantly normal, while Molly and Max giggled and played, Payton and Reina shared their day’s activities. Payton loved the family atmosphere.

  “Mom, can Max and I take a bubble bath?” Molly asked.

  “You sure can.” Reina tickled her two children. “You two stay here and keep Payton company, while I get the bathtub filled.” Reina and Payton, along with help from the children, had just finished cleaning the kitchen up. Reina went to prepare their bath while Payton and the kids entertained themselves.

  “Simon!” Max yelled.

  “You want to play Simon Say’s?”

  Max nodded his head vigorously.

  “Okay, little man. Come on Molly, let’s play.”

  Amid much giggling and quiet discussion, the three were oblivi¨ous of Reina watching them. They were so cute.

  “Okay, Simon Says touch your nose,” Payton instructed.

  “Max, touch your nose,” Molly whispered.

  “Okay guys, Simon Says go take your bath,” Reina called. The two children took off for the bathroom like they had been shot out of a cannon.

  “I take it they like bubble baths.” Payton laughed.

  “They love them.” Reina grinned as she took Payton into her arms. “Almost as much as they love their Payton,” Reina observed as she kissed her thoroughly.

  “They were very good kids today. They actually didn’t take naps though.”

  “That’s okay. They’ll just go to bed earlier.” Reina and Payton shared another kiss. “I had better check on my two water babies.”

  “I think I’ll take a quick shower and put my pajamas on.”

  “Okay, honey.”

  Payton headed for the bedroom and Reina entered the main bath¨room. Payton smiled as she heard the giggling coming from the room. This family was a very happy one. She appreciated the fact that Reina went out of her way to make her young children’s lives fun.

  Forty-five minutes later, while Payton sat in the living room read¨ing, Max and Molly joined her. They were dressed in their pajamas, their faces shiny from their bath.
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br />   “I smell two very clean kids,” Payton announced as she gathered the two children in her arms. They giggled and squirmed while Pay-ton nuzzled their necks, tickling them.

  “Max and Molly, time for bed,” Reina called. “Kiss Payton good¨night.”

  “No.” Max adamantly stood his ground, his little body stiff with purpose.

  “Then I guess you can stay up all by yourself because Molly, Pay-ton, and I are going to bed.”

  This didn’t sit well with Max and he did as his mother asked. He and Molly kissed Payton goodnight and headed for bed.

  “Honey. I’m going to take a shower. Why don’t you bring your book into the bedroom? I turned the fireplace on so it should be warm and cozy on the couch.” Reina spoke from the hall.

  “Shall I turn the lights out?”

  “Please. I already locked up.”

  Payton headed for the bedroom and made herself comfortable. She felt at home with Reina and her children. It was amazing, con¨sidering she had met them less then a week ago.

  “Hello.” Reina sat down next to Payton. She was dressed in a nightgown and bathrobe. She slid her arm around Payton’s shoul¨ders.

  “Hi, don’t you smell wonderful?” Payton buried her face against Reina’s shoulder.

  “Thank you. Payton, do you mind if we talk for awhile?”

  “Of course not. Is something wrong?” Payton sat up and looked at Reina carefully.

  “No, everything is perfect,” Reina reassured her. “I just want to get to know you.”

  Payton snuggled back up against Reina. “You mean you don’t just like me for my body?’ She teased.

  “I love your body, I also love the person that I’m getting to know.” Reina linked fingers with her. “I want to know what your job is like, where you live, what you do for fun. I don’t even know your birth¨day.”

  “My birthday is July fourteenth and I’m going to be forty-seven. When is yours?”

  “April third, and I just turned thirty-seven.”

  “That’s ten years difference in our age. Is that going to be a prob¨lem?”

  “Honey, you don’t look forty-seven and no, it is not a problem. Payton, I love who you are, and that’s a gorgeous forty-seven year old woman with a very loving heart.”

  “I just want to make sure that you don’t have any reservations about our relationship. I am ten years older, you don’t know me very well, and you have two children. I want you know how much I respect your commitment to your children. I’m not someone who takes relationships for granted.”