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“I gathered as much.”
When the kettle starts whistling, I lift it off the burner, and pour the boiling water in the mugs I set out.
“Dana, Baby…could you please look at me?”
When I turn, he immediately closes in, raising his hands to cup my face. His fingers are freezing cold, but there’s fire in his eyes as he scans my face.
“I’ve decided there is no such thing as the right time, except right now. I love you, Dana. And I like the idea of building a life with you, in whatever way works for us. Whether or not children fit that picture is something for you and me to figure out.”
“But your sister said—”
He presses his fingers against my lips.
“I know she told you I would not want more children, which is something I might’ve believed shortly after losing Charlie. But, sweetheart, I didn’t have you in my life then. I didn’t know there was someone out there I’d love and trust enough to even consider having another child with.”
He kisses the tip of my nose and then my lips. A sweet kiss, full of promise, that leaves a lump in my throat.
Dropping my head against his chest, I breathe out all the tension and worry I’ve been holding on to as I slip my arms around his waist.
He rests his chin on top of my head, and mumbles, “You realize it won’t be long before my sister shows up here unannounced, right?”
I smile into his shirt.
“Absolutely.”
Chapter 32
Rick
* * *
“Don’t go crazy.”
The look Dana shoots me from the kitchen tells me I’d be better off keeping my trap shut, even if she is going completely overboard with this Thanksgiving spread she’s determined to put on.
It all started the day after she and I cleared the air and started talking about a future. Her dad mentioned he didn’t plan on doing anything for the holidays this year because he wasn’t feeling it. A sentiment I understand, since I haven’t really done much about any of the holidays myself since my daughter’s loss left a giant hole in my life, and I made the mistake of sharing as much with Dana when she told me about her dad. Then later, when I had Ma on speakerphone, and she announced how disappointed she was her doctor made her postpone the cruise through the Panama Canal, she was supposed to be on over the holiday, Dana took it upon herself to make sure everyone has a Thanksgiving worth celebrating.
So, for the past week, she has been like an Energizer Bunny and a drill sergeant all at once. The two of us worked every free minute to get the kitchen and dining rooms done, even taking off a couple of days for sanding, staining, patching, and painting. She had me haul over some of my furniture from the apartment. My sectional couch offers more seating in Dana’s living room, my full-sized dining table fits more people for dinner, and my bed is now set up in the office across the hall as a spare.
Then came the holiday decorations, which she had her dad bring over from his place, since he wasn’t planning on using them anyway. Last night I spent two frustrating hours hanging her Christmas lights on the porch, and today at the butt crack of morning I was up with her to try and fit the giant turkey she bought into the oven.
But…as crazy and hectic as the past days have been, we apparently work together very well, and I secretly get a kick out of “playing house” with Dana. And that’s all about her. Hand the woman a purpose, and she runs with it, giving it her everything. It’s a beautiful thing to observe and be included in.
Right now, she is shoving her third pie in the little toaster oven I had on the counter in my kitchen—this one a peach pie, we already have apple and pumpkin—while I fold the extra towels I just pulled from the dryer destined for the guest room upstairs.
My mother and Eduardo—the man she was scheduled to go cruising with—should be here any minute. Dana extended her invitation to include him, which I still have my reservations about but have opted to keep to myself. Her father will be here, and she’s also left a few messages for Buck Wilson, worried he’ll be alone at Thanksgiving.
Apparently, Buck’s been keeping a low profile, even avoiding the pub, which is almost unheard of but understandable under the circumstances. I feel for the guy, I’m sure the shock and devastation over what happened to his brother has him reeling, but I hope he’ll respond to Dana’s invitation and decide to make an appearance.
This will be the first major holiday without her mother, but this woman is determined to fill the void with a house full of family, and I’m feeling pretty lucky to be included.
Picking up the stack of towels, I head for the office.
“Could you make sure I left a fresh bar of soap in the downstairs bathroom?” Dana calls after me.
“Yep.”
My phone rings when I step outside to check the level of the stacked firewood on the porch. The temperature is at least a couple of degrees colder up here than down in the valley, and we’ve already had the stove going a couple of nights this week, and it goes through wood fast.
