The Forever Gift

by Donna K. Weaver

  Dylan always found it entertaining to hear the two argue over their take on religious things. They were both card-carrying Christians. The way the media portrayed religious people as judgmental and self-righteous made him resentful in their behalf. The Greers were the farthest from either of those things of anyone Dylan had ever met and had the best hearts.

  “But back to Dylan . . .” Amelia said with a wink when Micah would have gone on.

  “I have to bide my time too,” he said.

  “Well, I know Jason was planning to drive Rae into the City tonight.” Amelia gave Beth another bite of pizza.

  “San Francisco? Not likely,” Dylan said. “The drive there and back alone would be three hours. There’s no way she’d agree to be gone from her kids that long.”

  “That’s what I told him.”

  Dylan smiled a little smugly that he’d been right. “But I don’t get how that helps my case. She’ll know a single guy who’s as successful at his job as Lee is would expect to do things big.” The show-off.

  “My intention is not to make him out to be a bad guy, because I don’t believe he is,” Amelia said. “But it won’t hurt for him to see how child-centered Rae is. A man like Jason is used to being the center of attention with any woman he dates. It’ll be good for him to realize no man will take a place over her children. Including you, Dylan.”

  He glanced at Micah, who nodded. The truth of her words struck Dylan in a way they never had before. Subconsciously, he’d known and accepted it, but he’d never considered how that reality might impact him. Was he willing to take second place in Rae’s heart? Well, third place if he considered her first husband.

  He took another slice of pizza. Coming in second or third place in the affections of people he cared about was nothing new to him. His father had succeeded in training Dylan well in that area. Did he deserve better?

  Did it matter? His girlfriend had demanded he make a choice between her or Jayden, and his nephew had won. How was that any different than Rae putting her children first? Just like his little dude, her children needed someone to make them a priority. They didn’t have anyone else.

  8

  Rae had to keep wiping her hands on her jeans as she drove to Cruz Murphy’s, an Irish Mexican restaurant in Old Sac. She hated driving downtown. Rather than spend money buying out buildings to widen the streets, the powers-that-be had decided to make them one-way with narrower lanes. She couldn’t imagine trying to drive a large SUV down one of them. She’d be a nervous wreck. At least she’d left her children in Dylan’s capable hands. She wouldn’t have to worry about them.

  She was on edge about the date with Jason. How had she let Amelia talk her into doing the stupid dating thing anyway? It hadn’t been bad doubling with Dylan. Rae had never been comfortable putting herself out there. With every boyfriend she’d had in high school, he’d been the one to make the effort. She’d been too self-conscious, too insecure. She was finding that hadn’t changed.

  Was she creating future problems for herself? She remembered her father’s warning when she’d been a teen—you marry someone from the pool of people you date. If she got too attached to a man, she was setting herself up for heartache. She would protect her children from a heartless stepfather by making sure they never had one. Rae reminded herself it’d been her decision to let Amelia talk her into this because of the need for a social life, not a love life.

  The sign for the restaurant came into view. She’d heard of Cruz Murphy’s but had never eaten there. What would be on the menu? Corned beef and cabbage tacos?

  Jason stood at the entrance dressed in jeans and a lightweight leather jacket. He could have easily been one of those hot guys in the Korean dramas Jasmine liked to watch. That was probably why she practically drooled over him whenever he flirted with her. Amelia would approve of his appearance and be fanning herself if she were there.

  It was different to see him outside of his business suit. Rae had often wondered if the care he took with his appearance helped with his sales. She’d always thought it made him seem more credible. Over the years, the sales people who presented the best—and had a good personality to go with it—were the ones who were the most successful. Jason did get dirty sometimes when he did the initial treatments for accounts he sold, but he even managed to look good then.

  Well, she might as well stop with the delaying. She got out of her car. His gaze met hers, and he gave her an appraising glance, his smile growing as he nodded in approval. It warmed her, and she hated that it did. She didn’t need this man’s approval to feel good about herself. Hadn’t she gotten over that? As she approached him, Jason held out his arm in his flamboyant way.

  “You look beautiful tonight, love.”

  “Right, because jeans and a button-down shirt are so fancy,” Rae said as she took his arm.

  “But you usually wear a dress at the office. There, you’re all business. You have a more casual look tonight, more relaxed. It becomes you.”

  Rae certainly didn’t feel relaxed. “Charming brooder.”

  “That’s not fair. I didn’t brood as you’re fond of calling it,” he said with a chuckle, “and I was being honest with you.”

  She didn’t have a chance to respond then because the hostess waved them forward. Jason gave her his name, and they followed the woman to a table.

  Rae scanned the menu. No corned beef tacos, simply offerings from both cultures. She laughed to herself.

  “Is something funny?”

  As Jason looked over his menu, she explained her thought about the tacos.

  He chuckled. “No, for which I’m grateful. Some foods would be best not mixed together.”

  “You mean like sugar cookies and onion dip?”

  Jason gave a disgusted grunt. “Who would ever think that was a good combination?”

  “Your predecessor brought them to a Christmas party a couple of years ago.”

  “Was it a joke?” He gave a little shudder.

  “We couldn’t figure out if he was serious or playing a prank. Both were tasty independently, but when he used a cookie to take a scoop of the dip and ate it . . .” Rae made a gagging motion with her finger. “That guy was an odd one and never really fit in. He didn’t stay with us much past the holidays. Said he wanted to work for a national chain.” She glanced at the items on the menu again. “Have you eaten here before?”

  “I have. Many times, and the food is delicious.”

  “Would you recommend anything in particular?”

  They spent the next few minutes discussing the different dishes, and Rae finally settled on beef stew.

  “Now, love,” Jason said, his elbows on the table as he leaned forward, “tell me why my brooding charm bothers you so much.”

  Rae groaned mentally and clenched her hands against a twitchy feeling in them. Why did he have to act like this? They’d been having a normal conversation before they’d ordered. With his shift to the flirt again, something in both his tone and his gaze made her uncomfortable. She’d wondered why it bothered her so much when it was obvious by the behavior of female customers and the women in the office they liked his flirting. Then Jason tilted his head and an image of a guy she’d known in high school came to mind, and she knew how to explain it.

  “I don’t like when men try to make me feel like I’m prey.”

  “Prey?” Jason straightened, his brows arched in surprise. “Why would simple compliments make you feel that way?”

  “Because when someone hands them out all the time, they start to feel like they’re nothing special. Insincere. It makes me believe the guy wants something from me, and the only way he thinks he can get it is to tell me how special I am. I don’t trust them, either the man or his words of flattery.”

  Rae had been looking at the menu and glanced up. Jason wore a wounded expression.

  “I’m sorry if that offends you,” Rae said. “I know a lot of women eat it up, but I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way. I’ve watched you do it
to everyone in the office, and I can’t help but wonder if it fills a need in you to do it.”

  “I find myself . . . speechless.” Jason looked bemused. “I would never wish for my compliments to be commonplace, but I can see how you might take them that way. It’s something I’ll have to think about.”

  The server came for their order.

  “Tell me a little about yourself,” he said when they were alone again.

  “Like what?” she asked, running her finger over the top of her water glass.

  “What are your interests?”

  “I have a lot, though I’m so busy now I don’t have much time for them. I play the piano, something I’ve taken up again this year.”

  “You stopped playing for a while?”

  “With two young children and a full-time job, I didn’t have the energy to practice. Once I decided to make it a priority, I’ve enjoyed it and found it’s a nice release for me. I play for Dylan. He’s making me sing with him, too, which is totally intimidating.”

  “Ah, yes, the singing pest control man.” Jason’s disparaging tone and the thinning of his lips made the hair on the back of Rae’s neck stand up.

  “You know how they suggest people steer away from unsafe topics like religion or politics?” When he nodded, she said, “I think maybe for you and me that would include Dylan. He’s my dearest friend, and I will not sit here and let you badmouth him in front of me.”

  Jason stiffened. If he were offended, that was fine. Then Rae wouldn’t have to worry about him coming on to her anymore.

  “All right,” he finally said. “What other things do you like to do? Swim? Boat? Play tennis?”

  “I go to the park and push my children in the swings. I also bake fun birthday cakes.”

  “A cake decorator, huh?”

  “Yes. It’s a dangerous talent though because practicing means we can have a lot of frosted cakes around that my figure can’t handle. That’s why I like to give them away.” Rae was tired of talking about herself. “What about you? What are your talents besides flirting and selling pest control accounts? Who are you underneath the façade?”

  He leaned back in his chair and considered her. “You are a very unsettling woman Rae Cavanaugh. You go deep, much deeper than I'm used to on a first date.”

  First date? This was supposed to be their only date, endured simply to get him to move on. She shrugged. The waitress arrived with their food, and Jason shifted to more mundane topics while they ate.

  “Would you like some dessert?” Jason asked when they were finished.

  “No. As I mentioned, I need to be careful what I eat.” She checked her phone for both the time and to see if Dylan had texted her. He hadn’t. “Well, it’s getting late, and I should get back home.”

  “I’ve enjoyed getting to know you better. Why are you in such a hurry?”

  Jason looked like he sincerely wanted to know. Rae wondered if she were an anomaly, and he hadn’t met a woman before who wasn’t charmed by him. But she found that hard to believe.

  “I’m going to be completely honest with you,” she began.

  “Aren’t you always? Even brutally honest?” he asked, his tone wry. If he were trying to guilt her out, it was working.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “You’re just so persistent. It makes me uneasy.”

  “As you’ve said.” Jason rubbed his chin, his expression contemplative. “It seems I’ve been grossly insensitive, and for that I’m sorry.”

  Rae’s shoulder muscles relaxed for the first time. Maybe she could be friends with this man.

  “Then let me explain my position,” she said. “This dating thing is hard for me. I’m not doing it because I’m looking for a relationship or because I’m lonely. It’s actually Amelia’s idea.”

  Jason burst out laughing. “I’m so sorry, but that sounds like her. Did you agree to it to get her off your back? Like you agreed to go on this date with me?” He winked at her.

  It was Rae’s turn to chuckle. “You got me there. Amelia said I needed a social life outside of work and my children. I told her I’d try it out, but I’ve been thinking what I need is a hobby that will let me meet new people. Maybe I should take a ceramics class or something.”

  “Perhaps you need more friends.” He reached across the table and gave her hand a single pat before pulling it back. “I know you and Rademaker are close, but do you have anyone else?”

  “When you get married, it’s harder to have close friends. I had some girlfriends who Mike didn’t care for, and he had buddies I didn’t enjoy doing things with. There was one other couple we used to go out with, but they moved not long before I lost him.” Rae folded her napkin and leaned on the table. “I’m already gone for half of my children’s waking lives. And when I come home, I’m tired. I’ve already given my best hours to my job. I agree I need to do some things for me, or as Amelia calls it: fill my vessel. But I don’t want to dilute what time I have with my children.”

  “I wish I’d had a mother like you,” Jason said, his words soft. “You’re quite good at it.”

  “I don’t know about that, but they are the most important things in my life.”

  “How did your late husband feel about your children coming first?”

  “They didn’t then. Oh, don’t get me wrong. They’ve always been a priority, but he was too.”

  “And when you marry again?”

  Rae shook her head. That was getting a little too close to her heartache. “It’s getting late, and I still need to put them to bed.”

  “All right.” Jason signaled for the check. “I’ve enjoyed tonight in a way I hadn’t anticipated. I won’t push if you’re not interested in going out again, but I’d like to see you. You challenge me, and I find I enjoy it. It’s novel not to have my date fawning all over me.”

  As he paid, Rae considered his offer. He looked at her and asked, “Are you ready?”

  “Yes. And I think if you act like this, I’d enjoy going out with you again.”

  “Excellent.” Jason looked like he’d accomplished some great thing. “Now, let’s get you back so you can be with your children.”

  9

  Dylan stared at the house, trying to get up the courage to approach the door. Even though he’d been messaging with Debbie, or Debs, he hated this kind of cold introduction. Except for the double date with Rae, this would be his first step into the dating scene after nearly two years.

  If she hadn’t made a second date with Jason for tonight, Dylan doubted he’d have accepted Debs’ invitation. It still bugged him to no end that Rae had gone out with Jason—and had enjoyed herself enough to go out with him a second time. How could she not see through his gimmick? Dylan shook his head. He had to stop thinking about it.

  He considered the home. From its newer style but mature landscape, he thought it must be about ten years old. Having sprayed yards in some of the city’s affluent neighborhoods for so many years now, many even more expensive than his father’s house, Dylan realized his date had money. Not so much she lived in a gated community, but still money.

  And really bad taste in yard art. The addition of gnomes that looked like the kind of stuff his grandmother would have bought gave the house the oddest look he’d ever seen. If the decorations were a reflection of Debs’ personality—something that hadn’t come out in their messaged conversations—he was in for an interesting evening. Dylan heaved out a breath. If he hadn’t agreed to do this, he could be home with the kids, doing something fun with them.

  As he was about to take a step toward the house, the front door opened. A tall, ultra-thin woman of about fifty wearing leopard-print leggings paused. She arched what looked like a tattooed eyebrow, giving emphasis to the heavy amount of makeup she wore. After scanning him from head to foot, she grinned like she appreciated what she saw. Her glittery, tight-fitting and low-cut top revealed a lot of her obviously enhanced bosom. She suffered from what Rae would have called the “grapefruit syndrome.”

 
Please let the woman be Debs’ mother. Dylan swallowed.

  “I’m here for Debs?” He couldn’t keep the uncertainty from his voice. It made him feel like a little kid.

  “Oh, sugar, that’s me. You’ll do just fine.” She reached inside and grabbed a purse before locking the door. She turned around and clicked a key fob. The sound of unlocking doors came from the Lincoln sitting in the driveway. She sashayed toward him.

  “I, uh . . .” Dylan struggled for some polite way out of the date. “I’m looking to date somebody closer to my age.” He took a step back.

  By then, Debs had reached him. She took hold of his sleeve and started towing him to her car. “Don’t you worry about a thing, sugar. I’m young at heart. Get in the car like a good boy.”

  During their required online chats, she’d been a lot of fun. Upon reflection, a couple of the comments she’d made that he’d taken as old-fashioned would fit a woman her age. He didn’t want to be rude, but he couldn’t think of any way out that wasn’t. He got in the car.

  “I’m going to show you a good time tonight.” Debs pulled out of the driveway. “I must tell you I’m excited to get to spend the evening with a cute thing like you.” She continued to prattle all the way to the restaurant.

  When she pulled into the parking lot of La Cuisine, Dylan gaped. It was one of the best rated—and most expensive—places to eat in Sacramento. Debs leaned over, giving an excellent view of her cleavage, and squeezed his knee.

  “I can’t wait.” She winked and puckered her bright red lips like she meant to kiss him. When he leaned away from her, she laughed and patted his knee. She got out of the car. The valet parking guy approached, and she gave him her keys.

  Dylan suddenly understood the way Rae said some guys made her feel. Politeness aside, there was no way he was staying. What had he been thinking not to take his own car?

  He pulled out his phone. For a second he considered his options. He couldn’t bring himself to call any of the guys at work. Instead, he sent Rae a text message. Maybe she could get Jason not to say anything.