Finding Love in Payton

by Shelley Galloway

  He glanced at Dinah. She looked confused and more than a little irritated. Now he felt really silly. "Because I want to provide for you, Dinah. I want to take care of you."

  She stepped back. "I think your costume has addled your mind."

  Now he was thoroughly confused. "What's wrong? Are you upset that I told you I wanted to marry you?"

  "No. I'm upset that you thought conditions had to be perfect in order for us to do so." She ran her fingers through her hair, making the flipped ends curl up even more. "Jeremy, I don't need all those things. I don't need to be taken care of. I already have a home, a business ... a life."

  And he, obviously, didn't have any of those things. And, though she was telling him she didn't expect him to have a home and a full time job, he felt their absence even more. "I know that."

  "I don't need you to provide them for me."

  Dinah's voice was clipped, almost hard, and her lack of understanding made him lose his temper. "Maybe you don't need money or a home, but you do need a husband, someone to love you," he pointed out angrily. "You need someone who will accept you no matter what, who will be there for you through thick and thin. And Bryan ... he needs a father. Someone who wants to be with him, to take him to the hospital when he gets hurt. To play with him in the sandbox, to hold him when he's sleepy. He needs me, and so do you," he finished softly.

  Dinah's eyes filled with tears. "Jeremy, that isn't what I meant, you misunderstood me."

  He shook his head. "No, Dinah, you've misunderstood me. Everything I've done all summer was with you and Bryan in mind. I don't need you to want to trip over yourself in a rush to marry me, but I do want you to take me seriously."

  "I do," she said softly.

  "Do you?" He gripped the front porch banister tightly, doing his best to school his emotions so he wouldn't do something else stupid and start explaining himself again.

  "Then why do I have to keep explaining myself? Why do you hold me at a distance? Why are you denying something that could be so beautiful between us?" He sighed, a gurgle from Bryan making him realize that this was not the place to have an argument. Not on the front porch in front of Bryan. "I better get going."

  "Jeremy ..."

  "I'll see you later," he said, over his shoulder, more than ready to get out of her way. His pace quickened, and seeing several guys he knew from high school, he joined them, letting them give him grief over being in the production.

  For the first time, he was actually glad he was about to pretend he was in a battle. At least then he could vent off some of his anger.

  Dinah fought back tears as she watched Jeremy storm away. She'd meant every word she'd said, but she hadn't meant to state it like that. And she really hadn't meant to blurt out everything without time to explain why she said those things.

  But instead of getting him to understand her motivations, she'd run him off. She glanced at Bryan, and with a feeling of surprise, she realized he'd fallen asleep. With a sigh, she sat on the old wooden porch beside him, leaning her back against the cool wood.

  He'd talked about wanting to marry her and Bryan, of her needing someone to love; of Bryan needing a father. But did he need her just as much?

  She had a feeling he did.

  She thought again of all the things he'd said. He wanted to provide for her. To take care of her. All of those goals were noble, indeed.

  She wanted a marriage, a different one than she'd had with Neil. She wanted one in which she felt like an equal partner. One in which she could face problems and crises with a friend, a lover. With someone who was certain to be by her side for years to come.

  She wanted Jeremy. She loved him. With a start, she realized that she'd loved him for quite some time, now. But how could she show him?

  More soldiers walked by, along with more than one lady in full regalia. She waved to a few, told a man she'd hope he'd survive the battle, chuckled at the sight of a pair of moms armed with oversized beach bags, picnic baskets, and a small army of children to watch.

  And then Marianne McKinley walked by and Dinah knew she'd just found her answer. "Mrs. McKinley, could I speak with you for a moment?" she asked, jumping to her feet.

  Mrs. McKinley approached. "Hey, Dinah. What are you doing here?"

  "I've been doing some serious thinking, and I need your help."

  "You going to the reenactment?"

  "I was, but I was kind of hoping that I could take advantage of the empty streets and do something first."

  "I'm game. What's on your mind?"

  "I have quite a bit of money saved up, and I was hoping that perhaps you could help me help buy a house."

  Marianne's eyes practically glowed. "This sounds better than any old reenactment ... ah, don't tell Joanne I said that."

  "I won't, if you won't tell Joanne that I feel the same way." She stepped down the stairs. "Here's my plan," she began, enlisting Mrs. McKinley's aid in her own battle to win Jeremy's heart.

  Lying on the wet grass, pretending to be dead, and ignoring the sounds of a fierce battle raging around him, all gave Jeremy a lot of time to reflect on many things. First off, he thought it would have probably been a good idea to tell the city not to water the grass just an hour before a hundred men were about to lie down on it.

  Next, Joanne really needed to go on a vacation. She was stressed, irritable, and was sporting a nasty cut from a not-quite-plastic saber. She was also driving everyone crazy. He needed to discuss with Stratton the benefits a Mediterranean Cruise would have for his wife. Perhaps planning a trip to somewhere far away would give her something else to do besides organize historical activities.

  And last, but not least, Jeremy knew he needed to find Dinah and apologize to her. He'd taken every word she'd said, added his own unhealthy mix of insecurities to it, and pretty much ruined whatever chance he'd had with her.

  And he managed to do it while looking like a geek. That was the final straw.

  Two cameramen approached. Jeremy closed his eyes and did his best to remain completely still and lifeless. He had to admit that the fake blood along his thigh did look pretty real and repulsive. It was going to look awesome on tape.

  Thirty more minutes passed, then with a loud pop from a cap gun, the reenactment was over. People clapped, bowed, clasped hands, and groaned from muscles being cramped in one position for too long.

  As usual, his family had planned a party to celebrate the occasion. Before he'd messed everything up with Dinah and Bryan, the three of them had intended to attend.

  Deciding to skip out before any member of his family could either ask him where Dinah and Bryan were, or subject him to a thousand questions, Jeremy quickly picked up his canteen, hat, and wooden rifle, and walked towards the walking path near the river. He would just have to follow the path, cut through the back of the country club, and then he'd practically be at the house where they'd fought.

  Quickly he strode off, keeping his head down so no one would recognize him. He maneuvered around a pair of boys fishing in the river, between two bike riders on the path, then approached the back of the country club, the greens looking curiously empty.

  But then something caught his eye. Two figures doing an activity very different than golfing! As he approached, he saw it was none other than Payton and Priscilla, kissing like there was no tomorrow. "Hey," he called out, just because he was feeling ornery and they'd caused him so much grief.

  Payton looked up from Priscilla's face with a scowl, then grinned as he recognized Jeremy. "Hey. How was the battle?"

  "Died in the first round of fire."

  "Too bad."

  "Yeah. Grass was soaked."

  Priscilla pointed toward his leg. "Great looking injury."

  "Thanks." He gestured to the two of them. "The two of you look pretty great together, if you don't mind me saying so."

  Both Payton and Priscilla burst into wide smiles. "Thanks!" Priscilla called out. "Once we stopped arguing, we figured there was a lot of things keeping us together." />
  "Have I thanked you for your help?" Payton asked.

  "Nope."

  "Thanks!"

  "No problem. By the way, I need the day off today."

  "You got it."

  With a wave, Jeremy strode on, the couple hardly noticing he'd left them.

  At last, he reached the top of a small hill, and started his descent toward Dinah. He hoped she'd be home. They had a lot to discuss, and he had some groveling to do, as well.

  He walked on, feeling mildly uncomfortable in the damp wool. As he unbuttoned the first two buttons, he decided to make a slight detour and walk by his dream house. It was time to once and for all forget about that place. He had other things to concentrate on, other things to worry about besides where he was going to live.

  His footsteps slowed as he approached the stone bungalow on Maple. With a sense of shock, he noticed that the for sale sign had been removed, and another sign hung from the rails on the front porch.

  A deep sense of sadness overwhelmed him as he realized he'd been too late. He'd let his insecurities and annoying sense of what was right cloud his desire to have that house.

  Oh, well. It figured the house would sell the day he finally decided to talk to Dinah about it.

  This was typical of the kind of day he was having. Hopefully his talk with Dinah later in the day would turn his luck around, and she'd forgive him. Really, if he was honest with himself, the house meant nothing without her and Bryan to share it with.

  It was amazing that the new owner had managed to have the electricity turned on, and even had a mat near the front porch. He glanced at the sign. "Welcome Home, Jeremy."

  He came to a dead stop and looked up.

  There, peeking out the window, stood a beaming Dinah, Bryan in her arms. "Hey, soldier," she called out. "Care to come in for a spell?"

  He couldn't believe his eyes. Striding up the steps, he glanced at everything in confusion. "Dinah?"

  She came out on the front porch to meet him, a wide smile playing on her lips. "Hey."

  He brushed his fingers along Bryan's soft hair, then gazed into her eyes. "What's going on?"

  She set Bryan on the floor, next to a basket of his favorite bowls and spoons. "After you left, I spoke with Mrs. McKinley."

  "Marianne?"

  She nodded. "All I could think about was my harsh words driving you away," she said, her tone serious. "I couldn't bear it."

  Feeling shameful he countered, "It wasn't you ... I said those things and left without even letting you explain yourself, or telling you something, too."

  She pointed to the front stoop. "Can I tell you now?"

  He nodded, and sat beside her.

  "I was so worried about loving again. About getting hurt again," she said admitted quietly. "I let myself focus on things that didn't matter, like our age differences, or how other people might think of us being together ... instead of what was in my heart."

  His blue-gray eyes glowed. "What is in your heart?"

  "Happiness," she said with a smile. "Love for you." How happy I am with you."

  "I've let myself worry about silly things too," he admitted. "I worried that you wouldn't want me unless I could provide for you like Neil did."

  She clasped his hand. "I only wanted you, not another Neil." She sighed. "After hearing you talk about your love for me, how you were willing to do so much to make me feel loved, I realized that your motives were from your heart. Just because I don't need you to provide for me financially doesn't mean I don't need you. I do need you, in all the ways you said. I do love you, Jeremy."

  He held her close, then laughed as she wrinkled her nose when she came in contact with the wet wool. "Help me get this off, would you?"

  "With pleasure."

  She easily complied, and the freedom Jeremy felt clad only in a T-shirt lifted his spirits. That, and Dinah's wonderful words. "I love you. That's why I want to marry you. I should have told you that first off. I should have told you that weeks ago."

  Her pretty brown eyes softened. "I love you, too ... and ... I want to marry you, too."

  His heart slammed into his chest. Forcing himself to breath deep and not rush things, he gestured to the house. "What happened here?"

  "Well, I started thinking that I love this house, too," she said, her dimple appearing. "I have actually walked by here often, thinking about how cozy and interesting it felt."

  "So you bought it?" He tried to feel excited, but he couldn't shake the fact that she accomplished something so easily which had been almost impossible for him to obtain.

  She shook her head. "No."

  Now he was thoroughly confused. "No? Then how ... why are you here?"

  "I paid half of it. Marianne said that my half, combined with your half of the earnest money, would be more than enough. She called the owner's agent right then and there."

  "And he said okay, that quickly?"

  She nodded. "Yep. He really doesn't want this place. And it's not ours officially yet, it will probably take a few weeks to do everything up right. But Marianne said it would be all right if I sat in here and waited for you to come by."

  "And put up a sign."

  "Yes. And put up a sign," she said softly.

  "How did you know I'd be passing this way?"

  "I called your family and asked them to please help me out." She gestured to her cell phone. "You've practically been tailed the whole way here."

  He laughed. "This ... this is the most amazing thing anyone's ever done for me. Thank you."

  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her over and over, until each felt as if their limbs were made of noodles. Bryan soon got into the action, and crawled up into Jeremy's lap, demanding his own set of kisses.

  Finally, when they pulled apart, Jeremy scooted down two steps, so he was well and truly kneeling in front of her. "Dinah, will you and Bryan marry me? Will you make me the happiest man in Payton?"

  She smiled brightly, gifting him with a bright display of twin dimples. "Jeremy Reece, I'd be honored."

  With a yell of pleasure, he grasped her hands, kissed her knuckles, then opened his arms for Bryan's embrace.

  "This is how it's supposed to be, isn't it?" Dinah asked after they kissed again.

  "What?"

  "Being so happy ... finding love with you. Isn't it something, the two of us ... finding love, right here in Payton?"

  It was something. And pretty wonderful.

  Her words couldn't have been more true.