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He’d been running from life just as she had accused him of doing. That had led him to Golden Shores in the beginning but now he knew without a doubt that was where he belonged, especially with China. It was time to stop and face his monsters. Try to make his parents understand. Was his relationship with them any less dysfunctional than China’s was with hers?
In its own way, no. He’d deal with whatever problem he had physically then speak to his parents in the hope he could get them to understand. No matter how that conversation went, he would have made the effort to offer the proverbial olive branch. That was all he could do.
Even if cancer had returned, he wanted China in his corner, helping him fight. And she would, if he hadn’t hurt her so completely that she refused to have anything to do with him. That he might never make love to China again worried him more than what his tests might reveal. As the wheels of the plane touched down at O’Hare airport, he had his plan in place and the resolve to see it through.
Later that afternoon Payton pulled out his phone as he waited to have an MRI. He had to let his mom know he was in town. She would expect him to stay with her and his father. Payton would agree to stay with them, more in order not to hurt his mom’s feelings than from need. When he’d spoken to John earlier that morning to let him know he’d be coming in, John had offered him a place to stay at his home.
Payton touched his mom’s number and waited through the rings until her familiar voice came on the line.
“Hi, honey. It’s nice to hear from you.”
“You, too, Mom. I just wanted to let you know I’m in Chicago.”
“You are? Why didn’t you let us know you were coming?” She paused then asked in a rush, “Are you coming home?”
She would think he was moving back but his home was now Golden Shores and China. “No, I’m here for some tests.”
“I thought you weren’t to have them until next month.”
“My white count was high and John wanted me to come up for a look-see. I’m at the hospital now.”
“Why didn’t you call me sooner? I’m on my way.”
Payton leaned forward in the waiting-room chair and propped an elbow on a knee. “No. I’m fine. Please, don’t come to the hospital. I’ll see you later this evening.”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Mom.” He used a firm tone. “Do not come here. I appreciate your concern but I’m just having tests done. I won’t know anything until tomorrow or the next day.”
“I still think—”
“I know you care and I love you for that, but it’s time we do it my way.”
Her huff of resignation came over the phone. “You’ll be staying here, won’t you?” It was less a question and more a statement.
“Yes, if you’ll have me.”
“I’ll be waiting. Your father will be glad to see you, too.”
Payton wasn’t as sure about that. “Nothing has changed. I’ll be returning to Golden Shores.”
“I know, honey. I know.”
Payton hung up. For once he’d managed to get his mom to back down. She’d taken his requests far better than he’d expected.
A step toward real change. Not the hyperstimulating changes he’d sought when he’d moved south but the solid, life-altering ones that brought true happiness. China had improved his world. Guilt washed over him. Instead of supporting her, he’d criticized her family, her life. His parents had certainly had expectations and aspirations for him. Payton could understand where China was coming from. He’d dumped on her about her relationship with her parents when his hadn’t been much healthier. Making it up to her was going to take more than flowers.
That evening the taxi circled the drive of his parents’ home and stopped in front of the door. Before Payton could finish paying the driver, his mom was on her way down the steps.
“Hi, honey,” she said, with a bright smile, but her eyes carried the worry he’d seen so many times during his battle with cancer.
He wrapped her in his arms. She and China were a similar size. What was the saying? “Marry someone like dear old Mom.” Marry! Did he want to marry China? He smiled. Yes, he did, if he could convince her to have him.
“So how are you doing?” his mom asked, studying him closely.
“I feel fine. Never better, actually.”
“I have to admit you do look wonderful. The tan, the smile on your face. Living in Golden Shores looks like it agrees with you.”
“It does.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her toward the house. “Why don’t we go see what Ruth has planned for dinner and I’ll tell you all about it.”
“I think there may be more than sand and sunshine to talk about.”
Payton hugged her to him. “Mom, you know me too well.”
Dinner was a formal affair, nothing like the spirited ones that he and China had shared or even those around the picnic table behind the clinic. Changes had occurred in him that had nothing to do with living in a new house or learning new things. They went soul deep.
It had happened. Something he’d resisted. He was in love. He’d promised himself he wasn’t going there again, then along came China. He’d not been running for her sake but his. Fearing he might get hurt, he’d turned into a coward where facing up to his feelings were concerned. He was no different than his parents not wanting life to change, but it had on so many levels.
His father was present but outside of surface-level conversation he had little to say. His mom carried the conversation by asking about his new house, Golden Shores and the clinic. When she specifically asked about the people he worked with he told her about everyone, including China.
“You like this China, don’t you?” she asked.
He should have known that his mom would pick up on the inflection in his voice when he spoke of China.
“So you’ve found a local.” His father made it sound like Payton was hanging out with criminals.
“Yes, and I intend to marry her, if she’ll have me.” That thought brought a warm feeling in his chest.
“She’s from a good family?” his mom offered.
“Mom, don’t you want me to have a wife I love and who loves me, instead of just someone with the right pedigree?”
His mom didn’t have time to respond before his father said, “Your position at the hospital is still open.”
Payton pushed back from the table. “Dad, I know you were hurt and disappointed by my decision to leave the hospital and move to Golden Shores. I can appreciate that. I made a drastic change, shocked you and Mom. I realize that. I don’t think I would have made such a decision if I hadn’t already been unhappy with the direction my life was headed. I was going through the motions. Janice leaving me when I needed her most shows that I wasn’t making solid choices. I never wanted to be on the board of the hospital. What I wanted and what I still want is to help people and be happy. I’ve found that in Golden Shores.”
“But you had a good position. A chance to make a difference here,” his father said.
“I still have all of that in Golden Shores, plus time to sail, enjoy the beach and cook for friends.”
His father huffed.
“You don’t have to like my choices, and that’s fine. I would just like you to respect that they are mine to make. I would like you to be a part of my life and hopefully my family’s life. Having cancer did change my outlook on how I want to live. That I can’t deny. I just want different things now and I’m sorry that they’re not what you had planned.”
“You weren’t happy here?” his father asked in little less than a growl of disgust.
“Not like I am now. I hope you can come to terms with that. If you can’t, I’m sorry.”
During the rest of his stay things were cool between him and his parents. He’d done w
hat he could to get them to understand, now it was up to them to decide what they wanted from the relationship. He hoped for the best but would accept what they decided.
Crossing the Bay Bridge into Golden Shores brought him back to the present. He had to get China to listen to him. His first instinct was to drive straight to her place but she probably wouldn’t even allow him inside. He needed to think. On the water was where he could do that best.
* * *
“China, there’s a man on the phone who wants to speak to you,” Doris called from the front of the building as China was stepping out of the employee entrance. It had been the longest week of her life and all she wanted to do was to go home and try to get some sleep.
With a sigh she turned around and walked back up the hall. Reaching the desk, she asked Doris, “Who is it?”
“I think he said Pete.”
