The rest of the day passed swiftly as Reina and Payton packed things in preparation for the camping trip. After loading the car, the four of them headed to the grocery store for the food they needed. While Payton pushed the cart with Max riding in the seat, Reina held Molly’s hand as they strolled through the aisles.
“Payton, kiss.” Max demanded as his tiny arms tightened around Payton’s neck.
“I’d love a kiss, little man.” Payton kissed Max back and hugged him tightly. For an almost three-year-old little boy, he had lots of charm. He was very difficult to resist. In fact, Payton had given up resisting either child. She had fallen madly in love with the two of them. At four years old, Molly was already showing all the signs of being just as beautiful as her mother. Payton would love to see the two of them grow up.
Reina watched Payton and Max as she and Molly picked out some apples. She loved how Payton responded to her children. Her genu¨ine affection and gentleness was second nature to her. Payton caught Reina’s gaze as she hugged the little boy, and she smiled. Reina and Molly came over to the cart to put their bag of apples away. Reina bent close to Payton and whispered quietly.
“I love you, Payton.”
“I love you, Reina.”
They smiled at each other, wishing they were anywhere but the grocery store. Reina touched her cheek quickly with her finger.
“Later,” She promised as she and Molly continued with their shopping. Payton just nodded her head happily.
“Hey guys, right on time,” Tamara called from the driveway of her house where she loaded sleeping bags into the back of the van. “Bring your stuff over here and we’ll finish packing the van.”
Reina and Payton unbuckled the kids, and with their help carried all of their things to the van.
“Max, Molly, and Payton, why don’t you go inside and help Lindy and the kids?” Tamara said. “Reina can stay and help me finish put¨ting everything in the van.”
The three of them headed for the house, Payton holding onto the children’s hands. Reina watched them until they disappeared into the house.
“I recognize that look.” Tamara chuckled as she hugged Reina quickly. “You’ve fallen in love with Payton.”
“I have, and I couldn’t be happier.” Reina smiled at her best friend. “I asked her to move here with me and the kids.”
“And?”
“She said yes.” Reina began to cry.
“She loves you, Reina.” Tamara smiled. “Why are you crying?”
“Tamara, what if she goes back to Seattle and changes her mind. What if she realizes that she doesn’t want three children in her life? I don’t think I can go through this again. It hurt so badly the last time and I have Max and Molly to think about.”
Tamara hugged Reina tightly. “Trust Payton, she will come back. Reina, you can’t run from a relationship. I know Payton and I know you, neither one of you take falling in love lightly. Reina, Payton loves children.”
“I hope so. I know it’s been less than a week but I can’t imagine my life without Payton in it. Max and Molly love her to death.”
“Reina, it’s going to be very hard for Payton. She’s leaving her job, her home, and her friends. It will take her some time to make all these changes and it will make her very sad. It is a big move to leave Seattle, she has lived there all of her life. I know from watching Lindy when she moved. You need to help her by being understanding and patient.” Tamara sat next to Reina in the back of the van. “Reina, I know you. You’re going to have to talk to Payton about how you feel. You aren’t very good at communicating your feelings.”
“I’m not that bad.” Reina punched Tamara in the arm, good-naturedly. She knew she needed to work on communication. She found it uncomfortable to talk about her emotions.
“Yes, you are, and if you want this relationship to work, you need to be better at it.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll talk.” Reina smiled at her friend. “I want this to be a forever relationship.”
“From everything I’ve seen with Payton, she’ll want nothing less than forever.”
“She is special, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she is. She and Lindy are a lot alike. Payton is generous, lov¨ing, and very loyal.”
“And extremely sexy.”
“She is that.”
Lindy looked out the window of the kitchen while she and Payton finished washing and drying the dishes. She watched as Tamara and Reina visited. She could tell by their expressions that it was a serious conversation.
“Aren’t those two of the most beautiful women you’ve ever seen?” Lindy grinned.
“They are gorgeous,” Payton agreed as she gazed at Reina and Tamara.
“Payton, are you sure about Reina?”
“More sure than anything else in my life. I know I love her, but it still frightens me.”
“Remember when I moved? You took time off from work and helped pack everything up.” Lindy laughed as she remembered. “You and I went on a road trip for three days.”
“It was fun.”
“And you stayed and helped me unpack and get settled.”
“You are my very best friend.”
“Yes I am, and it looks like we’ll go on another road trip.”
“I don’t know, Lindy. She asked me to live with her, but we haven’t discussed any details.”
“You will, honey. Now let’s go round up the kids and get this camping trip started. Who’s idea was this anyway?”
Payton raised her eyebrows in humor as she looked at Lindy. “It was your idea.”
“I know, and it’s going to be great fun.” Lindy hugged Payton, chuckling. “Now let’s go grab the kids. I promised Banta I would take him fishing.”
The two of them headed down the hall to collect the children. They were all in Maria and Amena’s room playing. Even* Banta was behaving.
Twenty minutes later, while Tamara and Payton belted the chil¨dren in their seats, Lindy locked the front door and joined Reina in the front seat of the van.
“Everyone got their seatbelts on?” Lindy called out. With a chorus of yeses, the large group headed down the road. “Okay, who knows a camping song?”
Tamara and the children began singing one of several songs that Lindy had taught them. Payton recognized the song and joined in as Max and Molly listened intently. It wasn’t much longer before every¨one in the van was singing.
The hour and a half trip to the campgrounds went very quickly and, before Lindy had the van fully parked, the children were ready to tumble out. The campground they had chosen was already filling up with campers who were setting up their campsites. It was a popu¨lar, modern facility up in the woods, with a lake, hiking trails, and access to a beautiful waterfall. Lindy looked for several weeks before she had made the reservations.
“Hey guys, listen up,” Tamara called out loudly. “No one goes any¨where by themselves. Everyone stays by our van and tents unless you are going somewhere with Lindy, Payton, Reina, or me. Do you understand?” She looked at every child as she spoke. Safety was number one.
Yeses and nodding heads from the children told Tamara they had heard her. The excited crowd exploded from the van. Since this was the first time any of the children have been camping they were squealing with happiness.
“Tamara, why don’t you and Reina take the kids to the bathroom, while Payton and I put up the tents?” Lindy had purchased two four-person tents just for the trip. They were still in their original bag.
“Okay, honey,” She and Reina counted heads and then headed for the restrooms.
“When is the last time you put up a tent?” Lindy giggled
“Try never.” Payton’s response said it all as she rolled her eyes at her.
“Well then, I guess we’re in a lot of trouble.” Lindy laughed, play¨fully shoving Payton. The two cracked up as they looked at the two tents currently waiting to be assembled. There must have been a hundred parts lying on the ground. And that was just for one tent.
“Okay, then read.” Lindy eyed the stack of poles and stakes care¨fully. She wasn’t as optimistic as Payton was about putting the tent together. “Besides, what’s the worst that can happen? We all could sleep in the van.”
Payton looked at her in disbelief before spreading the directions on the ground in front of her. She wasn’t going to let a little obstacle like assembling a tent get in the way.
“Okay, we need to find the four poles that have a bend at the top.”
“Payton, there must be fifty poles here.” Lindy started sorting them.
“You know Lins, we could have practiced this before the trip.” Payton always prepared for everything. It was a quality that made her successful at project management.
“What would be the fun in that?” Lindy grinned. Payton just shook her head and smiled. Lindy was the creative and spontaneous one. At times, it could drive her nuts.
By the time the crew came back from the bathroom, the first tent was standing, a little crooked, but upright and sturdy. Lindy and Payton had only two arguments, and a minor emergency when Pay-ton pinched Lindy’s finger while hammering a stake in the ground. Thankfully, the children were still away from the campsite because both Lindy and Payton had resorted to a few swear words while wrestling with a very stubborn tent pole. They were just starting on the second one and having similar results.
“Boy, Payton. These tents should come with a warning. Beware of injuries while assembling.” Lindy was having a frustrating time put¨ting the correct poles together.
Payton could only agree with her as she wrestled with the tent, trying to lay it out flat before placing the poles.
“Good job!” Reina responded. The kids headed for the first tent.
“Guys, be careful of the poles, please,” Payton called as she and Lindy struggled with the second one. She would hate to have to put it up again.
“Lindy what do you want us to do?” Tamara asked as she smiled, watching her girlfriend’s frustrated look as she struggled with the tent.
“Find a motel, just kidding. Why don’t you, Reina, and the kids empty the stuff out of the van?” Lindy pushed the hair out of her face and sighed. “Tamara, try and be careful around the tent. Payton and I had to work very hard to get it to stand up.”
“Okay, honey.” Tamara grinned, chuckling at the expression on Lindy’s face.
Tamara put the children to unloading the van and cleaning the campsite while Reina put Lindy and Tamara’s things in the first tent. It wasn’t long before the second one was up and she and Payton were putting their things away. They took the opportunity to steal a quick kiss before joining the others outside.
“I wasn’t sure you and Lindy were going to get the second tent up.” Reina teased.
“I wasn’t so sure either.” Payton admitted, with a grin. “It is harder then it looks.”
Moments later they were all sitting around the picnic table mak¨ing plans for the day.
“All right, what should we do this afternoon?” Lindy asked the expectant children.
“Fishing.” Banta yelled. Lindy and Banta had been planning this fishing trip for over a month and he was through waiting.
“Okay Banta, get your fishing pole,” Lindy suggested and the little boy ran for the van. “Max, we brought a pole for you, so go help Hanta get them.” Max’s face lit up and he ran after Banta.
“The girls are going on a small hike with Tamara and me while you guys fish,” Reina announced. She didn’t find fishing appealing.
“Can I go fishing, Mom?” Molly asked.
“Sure you can.”
Payton, Lindy, and the three children headed off for the lake their poles safely being carried by Lindy. Thankfully, Lindy had brought four poles and lots of bait. “Come on guys, let’s go catch dinner.” Payton lifted Max onto her shoulders. It was a long walk to the lake. It was stocked with trout and she was hoping that the children would be lucky. She was bringing her camera just in case.
“Good luck,” Tamara called as she and Reina laughed. “They’ll be lucky to get their lines in the water before it’s dark.”
“Come on, Amena and Maria, let’s go for a hike,” Reina called, and the four of them headed in the opposite direction.
Twenty minutes later, Payton and Lindy baited all four poles and while the three children sat on the side of the lake, their lines in the water, Lindy and Payton visited.
“Do you think they will catch anything?” Payton asked as she watched Banta dip his pole up and down. “Banta, hold your pole still.”
“Okay, Payton.”
“Molly, see your pole? I think you might have a fish on the line.” Lindy chuckled while she reached over to help the little girl.
Payton watched amazed as Lindy assisted Molly in landing the good-sized trout. “Look Molly, you caught a fish!” Payton pulled the camera from her pack and started snapping pictures.
“Way to go, Molly.” Lindy unhooked the fish from the line. “Do you want to keep him or put him back in the lake so someone else can catch him?”
“Put him back in the lake.”
“Good,” Lindy patted the little girl on her shoulder. “Payton did you get a picture of Molly and her fish?”
“I did.”
“Okay. Let’s put this guy back in the lake.” Lindy returned the fish as the three children watched her intently.
Two hours later while Reina, Tamara, and the two girls started dinner, a weary group of fishermen arrived at camp. Max was sound asleep in Payton’s arms and Banta and Molly looked exhausted.
“Mom, we caught four fish!” Molly cried as she ran to Reina.
“Congratulations!” Reina hugged her excited daughter.
“Banta caught two, Max caught one, and I caught one.”
“They were very good anglers,” Payton volunteered proudly. “Max got a little tired on the walk back from the lake.”
“Dinner is ready, let’s wake him up so he can eat. Then I’ll put him to bed.” Reina took her sleeping son from Payton. She kissed Payton on the cheek as she held her son. “He caught a fish?”
“A big one.” Lindy grinned. “We all decided to put them back in the lake so someone else can catch them.”
“I took pictures,” Payton explained. “We got pictures of all four fish.”
“Why don’t you go wash up and come back for dinner?” Tamara suggested as she hugged Banta.
“Okay. Reina, let me take Max and I’ll make sure he’s ready for bed,” Payton suggested.
“Okay, honey.”
Payton took the sleeping boy in her arms. Molly held on to Pay-ton’s leg while they headed off to the bathroom. At that moment she gazed at Reina and realized just how much she loved these two kids and their mother.
“Reina?”
“Yes?” Reina looked at her, puzzled.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” She came up to Payton and the kids.
“For this moment.” Payton’s voice cracked as she spoke, emotion overwhelming her.
Reina smiled and pulled Molly, Payton, and her sleeping son close. “Payton, I’m as thankful as you are. This is the most perfect time I’ve had with my children. You are a part of us now. We are a family.”
Payton’s eyes welled with tears as the four of them stood together for a moment. “Come on, Molly, let’s go get you cleaned up. Then you can tell your mom how you caught your fish.” Payton gazed at Reina as she spoke. “I love you,” she whispered, and she and Molly and Max headed for the bathroom. Reina watched as the three of them headed down the well-worn path.
“I think Molly and Max are lucky,” Tamara said as Reina joined her to help finish preparing dinner. “Payton loves those kids.”
“I think I’m the lucky one.”
“She obviously loves you very much.”
“Tamara, she even likes the
fact that I am pregnant.”
“Why wouldn’t she?” Tamara smiled at Reina. “Payton loves you because you are a mother. Lindy explained it to me.”
“What do you mean?”
“When someone loves you completely, they love every part of you. That’s what Lindy loves in me. She told me that a part of what appealed to her was that I was a good mother.”
“So you think Payton loves me because I’m a mother?”
“That, and because you’re drop dead gorgeous.”
“Tamara.”
“Well, next to Lindy I think you’re one of the prettiest women I know, and Payton is one of the sexiest, so what’s to figure? You guys are meant for each other.”
“Tamara, quit teasing.”
“Reina, I am serious. I think you and Payton are meant for each other. When the two of you stand next to each other you look per¨fect.”
“I believe we are meant for each other,” Reina agreed. “And Tam¨ara, she is very sexy.” She grinned happily.
“I don’t want to hear about it.” Tamara grumbled. I haven’t had a full night alone with Lindy in weeks. Between our schedules, the kids, and Banta’s problems we haven’t slept one full night without a child in bed with us.”
“Why don’t Payton and I take the kids for a night next week? I took the week off. We can get the kids to school and you and Lindy could have a night alone.”
“Are you serious.”
“Of course.” You re on.
“Good, you just need to tell us what night.” Reina replied. “Is Banta still going to a counselor?”
“I’ll talk to Lindy and let you know what night. We are all going to a counselor. He was pretty small when his mother was killed but he still wakes up terrified. The adoption agency found a lot evidence of physical abuse and he was severally malnourished. They think he was alone with his mother’s dead body for at least a day. They found him in a very rural village in Columbia. Drugs were everywhere and they think his mother was killed because of them. We don’t know much else. When I adopted Banta they warned me he would have a difficult time adapting.”
“Is he still hitting and biting Amena and Maria?”
Family Love Page 11