A First Class Act
Page 10
At two o’clock, Vanessa Tyler came to the doorway of the deck, rang a small crystal bell, and announced, “Dinner is ready to be served.”
Ross Tyler extended his right arm to his wife and Drew followed with Dina. Upstairs, John had heard the bell and met them in the dining room.
Ohs and ahs were heard as each took a seat. On the table in front of Mr. Tyler’s place was a steaming roast on a large silver platter. It was surrounded by the oven-roasted potatoes. The other vegetables were in covered silver serving dishes.
After grace was said, Drew’s father rose to slice the meat.
“Please, pass your plates forward. Ms. Raines, as our guest, you first.”
“Dina, please, Mr. Tyler.”
“Okay, then, Dina, you first. Rare or well done?”
“Well done, please.”
In a few minutes each had been served.
Mrs. Tyler spoke up. “I have salad bowls here.” She pointed to small glass bowls by her right hand. “May I?” she asked her invited guest.
“Yes, please. Thanks.”
“Here’s the dressing.” Drew passed the chilled dressing bowl to her.
As they ate, Dina told them about the wedding.
“It was a lovely affair, very romantic, down on the beach. I was anxious to meet some of Drew’s teammates. I know that as his family, you would be pleased to know…well,” she smiled at his folks, “that he is one of the most popular players.”
“Nice to hear that,” Mr. Tyler said quietly.
“It really is,” his wife agreed.
“And,” Dina continued, “he was the most handsome groomsman in the wedding party.”
“Hear, hear!” Drew’s brother said.
When the main meal was over, Mrs. Tyler suggested that they have their dessert on the deck. Everyone helped with clearing the table and Mrs. Tyler handed Dina an apron.
“Dina,” she said, “if you would look into that cabinet,” she pointed out the one she wanted, “you’ll find plastic containers for the leftovers. I’ll start loading the dishwasher.”
Both women worked at their tasks, which were completed quickly.
As soon as the dishwasher was loaded and turned on, they began to load the food containers into the fridge, with Dina passing them to her hostess, who placed them on the shelves.
“Thanks for your help, Dina. Here, let me take your apron and let’s sit here in the kitchen to catch our breaths.”
Sitting across from each other at the kitchen table, Dina sensed from Vanessa’s body language, arms crossed over her chest, unwavering eyes fixed on Dina, there was something important to her on her mind.
One of the nursing skills Dina had learned was the art of observation, to assess a situation before taking action.
Drew’s mother had something on her mind.
Dina, in an attempt to delay the confrontation that she expected, remarked, “You are a wonderful cook, Mrs. Tyler. The dinner was delicious.”
“Thanks, Dina. I hope you will come more often to share a meal with us.”
“I’ll be glad to, but I don’t want to impose….”
“No imposition at all. But tell me, Dina, what do you think of my son?”
Dina wasn’t surprised by the question, but before she could answer, Vanessa Tyler spoke again.
“You will find as you get to know me, that I believe in…” Her intent was clear to Dina, who interrupted Drew’s mother.
“You don’t have to explain, Mrs. Tyler. I understand. You are Drew’s mother and you have the right to ask questions. As to what I think of Drew…he is a wonderful young man and I am happy to tell you that…”
“He loves you, you know,” Drew’s mother blurted out. “I know he does, but I want you to know that I will not allow anyone to hurt him. Not anyone!”
“It’s not my intention to hurt him. Perhaps I should tell you a bit about the life I have lived. It might help you understand me.”
Dina knew that she was at a crossroads, and that the rest of her life might be shaped by involvement with this woman. She was shaken, too, because she had to admit to having romantic feelings toward Drew, as evidenced by her reaction to his advances. When he had kissed her, her reaction to him had stunned her, and she’d forcibly pushed him away.
But…this woman was his mother, the woman who had brought him into the world.
So she began to talk, her eyes focused on the woman she faced.
“Mrs. Tyler, I was two months old when my mother died.”
Vanessa’s eyes darkened with sorrow.
“How awful,” she hissed.
Dina heard the reaction, but she continued.
“My father gave me to my mother’s sister and her husband. They adopted me and I was a happy child, loved and cared for. My real father left town and never returned.”
“Wasn’t that odd?”
“Well, yes. My grandmother said she thought it was, especially since my parents were so happy, so much in love. But evidently he was devastated by my mother’s death…didn’t think he could care for me.”
“I’m sorry, Dina. Sorry you had to go through that.”
“That’s not all, Mrs. Tyler.”
She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly. Her next words came with some effort.
Vanessa Tyler sensed possibly some other serious event had occurred in this girl’s life.
“My parents were killed by a drunk driver. I was only sixteen when it happened.”
Vanessa clasped both hands to her mouth in horror.
“No! No! My dear child!” Her eyes were wide at the horrendous information.
“I don’t remember much,” Dina continued. “My grandmother took me to live with her in Connecticut. I graduated from high school, as valedictorian.” She smiled wryly. “It was on that day that my grandmother told me that my parents,” she made quotation marks with her fingers, “were not my real parents. I did not know I had been adopted.”
Vanessa’s face paled. “How awful! My God, how did you survive? And to do what you have accomplished!”
“For a while, Mrs. Tyler, I didn’t know what to do. For a long time I felt like a puppet dangling from a string, my life determined by others. But Gram was wonderful to me, and when I told her I wanted to study nursing, she made it possible with insurance policies, some from my parents and some from her. Even though she was not my biological grandparent, she was Gram, my only relative.”
“Is she still living?”
“Died of a stroke, right after I received my master’s in nursing.”
“I can see why you wanted to have a remarkable education. But, Dina, why did you become a surrogate mother?”
Without missing a moment, Dina said, “I did it because I could. Could do something for a couple that they could not do for themselves. And I knew after I met them how badly they wanted a baby of their own. And I, Dina Raines, could do it for them. After talking with them, seeing how much they loved one another, I knew they would never give this child away.”
“So it wasn’t just the money?”
“I won’t lie to you, ma’am, the money was important, of course. Nursing is my profession. I’ve always loved it. But it’s always seemed to me that nurses do not always receive the credit for what they really do for the patient.”
“You mean what?”
“I mean they are the ones who spend hours at the bedside. Other disciplines make diagnoses, prescribe treatments, but it is the nurse as the patient advocate who monitors and makes judgments on the treatment procedure. I want nurses to have the status and pay that reflects that, so I decided to work toward an advanced degree that would enable me to teach nurses.”
Vanessa nodded. “You are an extraordinary young woman.”
“Thanks. I’m searching now for a teaching position. I don’t know yet what kind of relationship there might be between me and your son, but I promise you I have no intention of hurting him.”
Vanessa got up, reached for Dina, hugged her, and said, “Gu
ess we’d better serve the men their dessert.”
“I think you’re right.”
“Then let’s get to it. And, Dina, thanks…”
“No problem.”
* * *
When they went to the deck, the three men jumped to their feet, anxious to relieve the women of their trays. Drew took Dina’s tray of coffee cups, a silver coffee pot, sugar, creamer, spoons, and napkins and set it down.
Then he went over to a set of wooden trays to distribute to each of them. “This will make it easier to manage,” he said.
He always seems to know what do, Dina observed.
“Mom,” John said, “this sure does taste good.”
His father concurred.
“Van, you knocked this out of the park! Best cobbler I’ve ever had!”
“It’s delicious, Mrs. Tyler,” Dina said.
“Now you know that my mother is one fantastic cook, Dina,” Drew added.
“I do, I do.”
* * *
Later that afternoon, as Drew drove Dina back to her condo, he remarked, “Seems to me that you and my mother got along pretty well.”
“I believe so. She’s a wonderful woman, Drew. You’re lucky to have a mother like her.”
“I know how fortunate my brother and I are to have parents like ours.”
“Right.”
Drew quickly glanced at her.
“What do you mean, ‘right’?”
“Your mother warned me that I’d better not hurt you.”
“She didn’t!”
“She did. Like a mother bear protecting her cubs.”
“No way!”
“Told me straight out that you were in love with me…and what did I intend to do about it.”
“Sorry, Dina, but that’s my mom.”
But he wondered what this confrontation would do to their fledging relationship.
For her part, Dina was aware of her increasingly warm feelings toward Drew. What about her singular goal of getting a university position?
The silence between them grew thick. Instead of driving directly to Dina’s place, Drew drove instead into the parking lot that offered space for those who wished to sit and look over the calm waters of Clearwater Pond.
He parked the car, turned off the motor, turned to Dina.
“We have to talk.”
“About?”
“About us.”
Although there were no other cars in the parking lot, Dina did not feel comfortable just sitting in the car.
“Would you mind, Drew, if we took a walk? Seems like a nice evening.”
“Fine with me.”
They got out of the car. Dina reached for her pink shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders.
Drew locked the car, took Dina’s hand, and they proceeded to walk hand-in-hand along the shoreline.
The late afternoon sun was beginning to lower in the western sky.
They continued to walk, and Drew kicked stones and pebbles, obviously concerned about what had occurred between Dina and his mother.
Around the cove, out of sight of the parking space, they found a wooden bench.
“Let’s sit for a minute. Are you chilly?”
“No, Drew, my shawl is perfect.”
“Good. It’s so peaceful and quiet here.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Look at that sunset!”
She answered, “It’s beautiful, and there’s nothing like New England’s splendid scenery. Makes one feel small, insignificant, when we view Mother Nature’s wonders.”
As if on cue, geese flew over the water in a perfect V formation.
“See that?”
Dina squeezed Drew’s hand and he responded in kind. They sat in silence for a bit.
“Dina.”
“Yes, Drew?”
“I’m sorry my mother came after you like that.”
“Don’t be sorry at all. I admire her zeal in protecting her children.” Then she added, “You said you wanted to talk. What’s on your mind?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“You. You’ve been on my mind since the first day I saw you.”
“Yeah, right,” she answered.
“You are always on my mind, day and night. All the time. That’s what falling in love does to a person.”
“Don’t know…never had the affliction.”
“Really? A smart, beautiful girl like you?”
“Um, had my share of dates, but none that made me feel special.”
“So do I make you feel special?”
“No, not yet.”
He persisted, “Am I getting close?”
“Drew, you are a very nice guy and…I do like you a lot.”
“Just like me?”
“Right now, Drew, I’m really busy trying to get a job. Next week, for example, I have an interview in Maine….”
“Maine?” he interrupted, his eyes widening with this information.
“I have several appointments lined up for the next month.”
“Oh, my God!” He slapped his forehead with his hand, knowing his plans to intensify their relationship were in jeopardy.
“I have several appointments that I intend to keep at universities here in New England and in New York. So, really, Drew, I will be away most of this month.”
“I see. I’m very disappointed. I really hoped, had thought that we…” He stopped. Whatever he had to say, he thought better of continuing.
Silence hung between them.
After a while, Drew spoke.
“Have to tell you, Dina, that my contract with the team is coming up and I’ve decided not to renew.”
“Not renew? Drew, what will you do? You’re such an important part of the team.”
“Do what you did…”
“What I did?”
As if to mitigate the dismay he felt after her stunning revelation, he put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him. Then he told her, “I’m going back to school. I have my bachelor’s degree, but I’d like to be a coach at the high school or college level. Get my master’s in education. Can’t play football forever.”
“You would make a very fine coach. I know you would. You love the game so much. You’d have a great deal to share with your students.”
She leaned into his body, looking up into his face, and, without hesitation, he kissed the top of her head.
“I love you, Dina, and I always will.”
She leaned back against the bench, as if needing to maintain a distance from him.
He realized he had to wait to hear her reaction to his announcement. Finally, he ventured to speak.
“What is it, Dina?”
“I’m going to ask you to be patient with me. I…I just have to try to reach the goal I’ve longed for…worked so hard for, to be somebody, not a ‘thrown away’ orphan!”
“But, Dina, you are somebody! A wonderful, brilliant young woman…”
“Maybe that’s what you see, but it’s important to me to know, to believe that I am somebody! I have to do this!”
“Okay, okay, I understand. Look, why don’t I drive you to Maine and some of the other interviews? Any that are farther away, we can fly to. It’s nearly July and I’m free the whole month. Training camp starts in August, and I’ll have to be there.”
“I would like to have your company, Drew, and maybe you can check on graduate studies as we visit the universities.”
“Great! I love it when a plan comes together.”
He thought, I hope this will turn out to be a chance to prove to Dina how much I care about her.
He asked, “What other places do you plan to visit?”
“Local ones, like Boston University, UMass Boston, Brown University in Rhode Island.”
“Very good schools,” he said.
She nodded, adding, “I’ve also sent résumés to the University of Vermont, as well as universities in New York and Pennsylvania.”
For a few minutes they sat i
n silence, enjoying the peace and quiet of the bucolic setting.
After the difficult scene she’d had with Drew’s mother, the relaxed feeling she was sharing with Drew confused her. What was it about this man that promoted such feelings?
She exhaled a deep, audible sigh.
Startled, Drew looked over at her. “What’s wrong? Why the sigh?”
“I don’t know. I guess it’s because, unlike you, I’ve never had a family.”
Gently, he turned her face so that she was looking up at him.
“Marry me, Dina, and I promise you will have the family you want.”
That’s when he saw the tears glistening in her eyes.
“Promise?” her voice quavering.
“Promise.”
His voice was firm, as were his lips on hers.
As his mouth was on hers, she moved close to him, his firm masculine body. The enticing scent of his aftershave stirring her feelings.
As his mouth and tongue tasted, explored the inner recesses of her mouth, she felt a sudden flush envelop her whole body.
I want this! Yes, yes, I want this! The thought stunned her.
She placed her hand on the back of his neck to draw him closer.
CHAPTER TWENTY
They drove to Maine a few days later. Drew picked Dina up at eight that morning for the four-hour drive. Her appointment at the human resources office was at one in the afternoon.
When she met him at the doorway, she noticed the new car. It was a Lexus.
“Drew! Where? Who? Is that yours?”
“Better believe it. New car, new adventure. Nothing but the best for you.”
The car was a soft tan color, with dark brown leather seats, and when Drew helped her get seated, she drew a deep breath. “Drew, I love it!”
“I hoped you would like it.”
“I do. Makes my old beat-up Toyota look like a piece of junk.”
“Hey, hey, girl,” he scolded her gently, “ ‘don’t fault the bridge that carries you over,’ as my Dad would say.”
“I know I shouldn’t. My gram used to say the same thing to me.”
“So,” he raised his eyebrows, looking over at her, “marry me and I’ll buy you one just like this.”
She laughed, wagging her forefinger at him. “Money can’t buy you love. Neither can a car!”
“Honey, I’m warning you, I’m going to try every trick in the book, so forewarned is forearmed!”