Finding Love in Payton

by Shelley Galloway

  She thought of Bryan, of her parents ... of Jeremy. Each was there for her. She only needed to decide how much she was willing to give to Jeremy. Was she ready to love again? To maybe get hurt?

  With the way her body felt like jelly every time she was near Jeremy, Dinah had a feeling that she already had her answer.

  She already was falling in love again ... and it didn't matter whether she thought she was ready or not.

  GGHey, Stratton, Joanne," Jeremy said as his sister and brother-in-law entered the kitchen. "Now, why am I not surprised y'all are joining us for dinner?"

  Joanne raised an eyebrow. "I don't know, since the whole family is here."

  "Did you really think anyone was going to skip this dinner?" Stratton asked with a half-smirk. "No way was anyone going to pass up the opportunity to watch your parents grill you and Dinah. Joanne canceled her plans to go to the movies to be here."

  "I'm honored," Jeremy said, glancing at his sister with more than a little bit of wariness. "You're not going to do anything weird, are you?"

  "Like what?"

  "I don't know."

  "I like Dinah," she said then bent over and kissed his forehead. "I like my little brother, too. Don't worry."

  "Don't do that."

  "Don't do what? Kiss your head? I've been doing that since you were a baby."

  "Don't call me little brother. I'm taller than you."

  "Jeremy-" she began, then grunted as her husband stepped on her toe.

  "Gosh, I'm sorry, Jo. I sure didn't mean to interrupt." He grabbed her arm. "Let's go look in the kitchen to make sure everything is okay," Stratton said, deftly moving Joanne out of the living room.

  Missy glanced up at Jeremy with a smile. "Everything's going to be just fine, you know."

  Drawn closer by her comforting voice and sweet disposition, Jeremy sat down on the couch next to her. "I just don't want Dinah to get overwhelmed by everyone. You know how they can be."

  "I know how fun and caring your family can be. Let Dinah handle it. She'll do just fine."

  "You mean because she's older?"

  Missy shook her head in exasperation. "No, I mean because she's great with people." Just as his parents and Kevin walked out of the kitchen she whispered, "Worrying about what makes you two different is going to tear you up inside. Just concentrate on how you're alike."

  The doorbell rang before he had a chance to think of a suitable reply.

  "I'll get it," Jim called out. "Can't wait to get my hands on Bryan."

  He opened the door, and with a booming `hello', he picked up a bewildered Bryan and ushered Dinah into the living room. "Look who's here," Jim announced to the room unnecessarily. "Bryan."

  "And Dinah," Jeremy said with a smile as he took the plate of cookies she'd brought with her.

  Everyone crowded around both Dinah and Bryan, oohing and ahhing over Bryan's shiny new tiny tooth. "How are you?" he asked her once they got a break.

  "Just fine."

  "I was worried, after today, you might not come."

  "I've been planning on it all day long."

  "You'll get her later, dear," Daphne told her son as she grasped Dinah's arm. "Right now I'm taking Dinah into the kitchen. We need to catch up."

  He wasn't aware they'd ever said more than the barest greetings in passing. But as he watched her go, he couldn't help but feel proud of how great she looked, and at how naturally she fit in.

  A brief knock rang out before the front door opened again, this time bringing in Mary Beth, Cameron, and Maggie.

  Jeremy shook his head. Could his parents ever have just one or two of their children over at a time? Could any of his siblings ever pass up a chance to be part of the mass confusion? He pretty much doubted it.

  "How're you doing?" Cameron asked after everyone got settled.

  "Okay, I guess. Mom has Dinah cornered in the kitchen."

  "Dinah has Bryan on her side. Trust me, Dinah will be able to do no wrong."

  Jeremy chuckled at that. Slowly, as usual, everyone staffed their favorite stations, and dinner was prepared. Jim, Stratton, and Kevin manned the grill and talked baseball; Mary Beth and Missy set the table and organized the buffet. Dinah paired with Daphne and made the salad and rolls, and Jeremy, Cameron, and Joanne watched the two kids.

  Finally everything was ready. And, in time honored tradition, Jim put their guest at the front of the line. "Dinah, lead us on through," he boomed, like they were marching into battle.

  Jeremy bit back a smile as Dinah gave him a little salute before picking up a paper plate. He'd watched her often during the first half hour she'd been there, and it looked as if she was doing just fine. More than once she and his mom had been in deep conversation, or she'd been laughing with his dad.

  He went through the line himself, grabbed a cheeseburger and some coleslaw for himself, then took a seat next to Dinah. Bryan was happily gnawing on a cold carrot, having eaten some baby food while the burgers were still cooking.

  "What do you think?" he asked as soon as they were both settled.

  "I'm having a great time."

  Great sounded a little excessive. "Really? No one's driving you crazy?"

  Her dimple popped. "Just you."

  His plate almost slipped off his lap. "Why do you say that?"

  "I've hardly seen you."

  Once again he felt a twinge of satisfaction. "I'll stay by your side from now on."

  Her brown eyes danced.

  "Tell us about Beagle's Books, Dinah," his mom said from across the table.

  "All right." Within minutes, everyone was in discussion again, this time about running a business, books in general, and finding good help. This led to a brief analysis of types of pets, and finally to raising children.

  "I don't know how you've done it," Mary Beth said frankly. "Cam and I have each other and both our families, and we still get overwhelmed."

  Dinah shrugged. "I got lucky. Bryan's a pretty easy guy. He sleeps well, and is a great fan of Tupperware."

  Mary Beth grinned. "That helps, but I think you have more to do with his happy, easy going demeanor than you're letting on. Are you really organized?"

  Dinah shrugged. "I suppose." Her face became more serious. "I'm not going to lie to you. There's been more than one day when I've felt like throwing up my hands in frustration. Or just wishing I could go take a one hour nap. It's not easy."

  Bryan crawled over to Jeremy and held his hands up. Jeremy reached down and pulled him into his lap, feeling almost every eye on him.

  "Well, now you've got Jeremy," Daphne announced, with a proud maternal smile.

  Jeremy felt like sliding right down into the down of the couch. But Dinah only looked amused. "Now, I do, thank goodness," she said.

  Like magic, the band of tension around his lungs evaporated. With a few words, Dinah had just cemented their relationship. Now he had to figure out what to do next.

  "Would you like to go for a walk?" he asked her. "I'm sure everyone could watch Bryan for a bit, if he doesn't mind."

  Dinah glanced at her son. He'd just crawled to Daphne and was currently fascinated with Daphne's necklace, with its wide array of brightly painted enamel charms hanging from it. "I think Bryan will be just fine ... if you think you can handle him, Mrs. Reese."

  "It's Daphne, and I know I can," she said. "You two go, now. We'll just get ready for dessert while you're gone."

  That seemed to be all he needed to hear. Like a shot, Jeremy was standing, reaching for her hand, and with a small wave, led her out of the crowded room.

  As soon as they stood outside on the front stoop, he let out a relieved sigh. "You okay?"

  She wondered what he was referring to.... the huge meal, the experience of being on a date with a half-dozen chaperones, or her feelings after the questioning. But no matter what the reference, her answer was the same. "I am."

  He took her hand, led her down the street. "I can honestly tell you that I didn't think this gathering would be quite so big, tho
ugh I'm not sure why I thought that."

  "I don't mind. I'm close to my brothers, too. I just don't get to see them very often. And your parents remind me a lot of mine." She gazed at him, willing him to understand how she was feeling. "It really is nice to be around other families that get along so well."

  "I suppose."

  As they walked a little farther, he pointed out some of the history of different houses, then they fell silent, merely enjoying each other's company. "How are those costumes coming along?"

  "Fine. They're almost done. I'm having a good time sewing them."

  "I don't know how you even have time to sew them."

  "It's been almost two months since Joanne first approached me. I've scheduled them in."

  He rolled his eyes. "Every time I see you, you've got a schedule for the day."

  "Some would say you're not that different."

  He laughed. "I guess not."

  He thought of a thousand things they could talk about: the club, a meeting he'd had at the high school about schedules and Special Ed students. The new book he was reading. The house on Maple that he couldn't stop driving by. But none of that seemed very interesting at all. Not compared to what was at the forefront of his mind. "I want to kiss you again," he blurted, then cursed himself for stating it so clumsily.

  Her dimple appeared. "I was hoping you would."

  He leaned forward, smelled her fresh, clean scent. Liked the way her breath hitched, like this time alone meant just as much to her as to him. "Really?"

  "Positively."

  Finally their lips met. "I'm glad you came over, Dinah," he said, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close.

  She smiled brightly. "I am, too. Jeremy?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Just kiss me, would you?"

  He touched his lips to hers, not even needing to hear her ask again. Ali, she was so sweet.

  Time was running out. Three weeks had gone by, school was going to be starting soon, and Jeremy knew he had to make a decision about the house soon. Marianne McKinley called yesterday with news that there'd been quite a few other showings during the last week, and one couple seemed pretty serious. Jeremy couldn't explain exactly why, but he wanted to live in that house on Maple, and he wanted to live there sooner than later.

  It struck him as strange and foreign, this sudden need to have things immediately. He'd always been the kind of person to bide his time, to wait for the right moment. He'd rarely been impulsive, rarely done things when he wasn't absolutely certain the time was right. His impatient needs were driving him crazy.

  Once more, he studied the paperwork in front of him, the neatly organized bank statements, financial records; the copy of his new school contract. How was he going to make everything work out? He wanted that house, but, if he was honest with himself, he also really wanted a home for himself and Dinah. Not her house; Neil and she had bought that together. It was part of her history, not theirs. And he was enough of a man to realize that he would have a hard time moving his things into another man's closet. Even under the circumstances, such as they were.

  He leaned back against his chair. Who was he fooling, anyway? Dinah would probably laugh if he asked her to marry him. And be appalled if he said that his dream was to move her and Bryan out of their snug little house into a sprawling old place in need of months, not weeks of work.

  As he processed what he'd just thought, his thoughts caught him off guard. When had that happened? When had he decided that he wanted to marry her? All along, his conscious told him. From the moment he'd spied Dinah hand Bryan a camel cookie, he'd fallen hard for her.

  It had just taken almost three months for the rest of him to catch up to his heart.

  Luckily the phone rang and got him out of his mood. "Hello?"

  "Jeremy? Oh, thank goodness," Dinah exclaimed. "I need your help."

  "What's wrong?" Her voice was panicked, sounding as if she was on the verge of tears. "Honey, what's happened?"

  "It's Bryan," she said, her tone rising two octaves. "His finger ... his finger got slammed in a door. He's crying; it's bleeding. I think it's broken."

  A sudden, fierce panic rose in him. "I'll be right there," he said, the angry howls of Bryan in the background making his stomach clench.

  "Really? Are you sure? My mom's not around, and I can't take him to the hospital by myself."

  "I'm on my way, honey. Two minutes."

  He hung up before hearing her reply, and was pulling open the back door within minutes.

  "What's wrong?" his mom called out to him.

  "Bryan's hurt. Dinah and I need to take him to the hospital," he called out.

  "Oh, no! Do you want me to come, too?"

  "No. We've got it," he said as he lowered himself into his sports car. "I've got my cell. I'll let you know what's going on later."

  As soon as he arrived at Dinah's, she greeted him at the door, Bryan cradled in her arms. Straight away, he gazed at Bryan. He was crying loud enough to beat the band, and Dinah had tears of her own streaming down her cheeks. "I don't know what happened," she said tearfully. "I think a gust of wind blew a door shut."

  "It was an accident, Dinah. They happen." Care fully, he brushed his lips against her brow. "Let's go." As best he could, he guided her to her car, where they buckled a screaming Bryan into a car seat. "I'll drive. You sit back there." He paused, trying to stay calm. "Have you called the doctor?"

  "No, it's Sunday ..." She shook her head. "I just panicked."

  Jeremy quickly dialed Stratton's mobile phone number, glad it was on the directory of his cell phone. As he pulled out of her driveway, he handed her the phone. "Talk to Stratton," he said. "He'll know what to do."

  In a daze, she did as she was told, and by the time he made the way to the first stop sign, Dinah was speaking quietly to Stratton, answering a series of questions.

  "Should we still go to the hospital?" he called out.

  "Yes," she said, looking up from a still weepy Bryan. "Stratton thinks he'll need x-rays."

  "Okay." As best he could, he raced to the hospital, then guided Dinah and Bryan into the emergency doors. As he helped Dinah get checked in, he saw Stratton enter the double doors.

  "What are you doing here?" he asked his brotherin-law. It wasn't usual for Stratton to give up his Sunday afternoons for non-emergencies.

  Stratton shrugged. "I had a few minutes."

  With Stratton's help, they were rushed through the preliminary paper work, and within minutes both Stratton and an emergency room doctor were unwrapping Bryan's hand from a blood-soaked towel and bag of ice.

  Jeremy winced as he caught hold of the little boy's chubby hand. His nail bed was already black and blue, and swollen at least two times its normal size.

  Dinah's lip was red and puffy as well, and with a tug in his heart, he realized that she'd been biting her lip to stay in control. The sight made him want to pull her into his arms and hold her tight. How many times had she done such a thing, all by herself? How many times had she chewed her lip raw in order to stay in control, to do what was right for Bryan?

  When did Dinah fall apart, ask for help? And more importantly, had anyone ever been there to catch her when she did?

  "We'll need to go down to x-rays," Stratton directed. "Once those are completed, we'll know more."

  She nodded silently, her brown eyes settling on Stratton with absolute trust. Together, the four of them went to the x-ray room, and Jeremy watched Dinah cry silent tears as she held Bryan down so they could get their x-rays.

  Later, after ascertaining that his finger was only bruised, not broken, they bandaged Bryan's whole fist up, so it looked as if he wore a little club.

  And because Dinah looked exhausted, Jeremy stepped forward and listened to the majority of the directions for care and follow up appointments.

  Less than two hours after they had arrived at Memorial Hospital, they were leaving again. "I can't thank you enough for meeting us here," Dinah said to Stratton as they walked
to the car, Bryan now sound asleep in her arms.

  Stratton brushed a stray curl from Bryan's forehead. "I'm just glad you called."

  She glanced at Jeremy. "It was Jeremy's idea. I was so frightened."

  Stratton smiled at her and squeezed her arm. "You are a good mom. I would have been worried if you hadn't been worried."

  She chuckled at that. "I must be a great mom, then."

  "See you two later. Call me at home if you need anything, Dinah. I mean it."

  "I will," she said, turning to Jeremy as he unlocked her car doors. "I hardly even remember getting here," she said in surprise.

  Jeremy glanced at her and once again wanted to hold her close. "It's been quite an afternoon. Come on, we'll get you two home."

  He drove them to her house, then helped her settle the still-sleeping Bryan in his bed. Then he finally did what he'd been dying to do from the moment he'd heard her frightened voice.

  "Come here," he said, leading her to the couch.

  When she followed him easily, he sat down, and pulled her onto his lap. She settled in.

  "I've been wanting to hold you since the moment I saw your poor chewed-up lip. Let me do this."

  Her fingers covered her mouth. "My lips?" Her eyes widened as she finally noticed her raw mouth. "Oh my gosh. What a mess I am."

  "Not at all," he murmured. "You're just fine. Sit here for a moment, then I'll make you some iced tea."

  Finally, she relaxed against him, and right then and there he knew he was a goner. He loved them both. He wanted Dinah in his life forever, and Bryan, too. All he had to do was figure out a way to make her believe that he was worth it.

  "Poor Bryan," Dinah's mother cooed a few hours later as she knelt on the floor next to him.

  He glanced up at her and smiled, then went back to his trusty pile of measuring cups and plastic plates. Miraculously, Bryan seemed to be recovering from his little experience much easier than Dinah could have ever imagined.

  As soon as he'd woken up, he'd squirmed from her arms and insisted on playing with his toys right next to Bonnie, his bandaged hand hardly slowing him down. Dinah wished she felt as perky.