Finding Love in Payton (17 page)

"I'd heard that."

"My first was pretty tough. We only lasted ten
months. I was sure before I met Kevin that I was going
to be alone for the rest of my life. Isn't it funny how
love can find you when you're not looking for it?"

Thinking back to her trip to the grocery store, Dinah
nodded. "It is funny."

"I think you and Jeremy are adorable together."

"Thank you."

"How's Bryan's hand doing?"

"Better," Dinah said with relief. "My mom has him
today. I think I'm more traumatized than he was. I
was so scared when he was hurt."

"I'll bet. I heard Jeremy was worried sick over the
both of you."

The revelation that Jeremy cared enough to worry
made her feel good inside. "Really?"

"Really." She spun, looking into the mirror from all
angles as her dress billowed out around her ankles.
"Well, I guess this will do. Sure you don't want to
change your mind about participating in the reenactment?"

"Positive," Dinah replied. "Bryan and I will stand
on the sidelines and ooh and aah at all the action."

"Smart girl."

Dinah chuckled. With the reenactment just days
away, she wasn't sure how smart she was feeling.
Constantly she found herself forgetting things, zoning
out people, gazing outside ... thinking about Jeremy.

She felt in love, that all encompassing feeling she'd
used to feel with Neil. But this time, it felt richer, more
multi-faceted. She felt giddy, excited, nervous, and unsure ... all at the same time whenever he was near!

Yep, falling in love with Jeremy Reece might not
be the easiest thing she had ever done ... but it certainly did make her feel like she had stepped back into
the land of the living.

Hours later, just as she was closing up, Jeremy
stopped by. "Thought I'd take you out for an ice
cream," he said, leaning on her counter.

Her heart lurched, and she felt that now familiar
splurge of emotions as she caught his scent. "That's
nice," she murmured, ready to do anything with him.

Then reality set in. Her mom had had Bryan all day
and was probably going crazy. "Not tonight," she said
with genuine regret. "Bryan-"

"Is with your mom and excited about her two new
boxes of kitchen containers," he finished, humor lighting his eyes. "Come on, even working girls need a
treat sometimes." He took her hand and guided her
around the counter. "I've been looking forward to seeing you all afternoon. You're not going to disappoint
me, are you?"

What could she say to that? She'd missed him, too.
"No," she said, enjoying the feel of her hand in his.
"I'm not about to disappoint you." She smiled at him
then. "Thank you for coming to get me. An ice cream
sounds like heaven."

He took her hand as soon as she locked up and
guided her down the hill to downtown Payton, the little two block intersection that was composed of The
Mill, the Payton Grill, and several cute antique and
gift shops. Catty-corner to it all was an old-fashioned
ice cream parlor.

They held hands as they walked, filling each other
in on their days. Dinah enjoyed the sight of him next
to her ... and found herself dreaming of a future of
ice cream visits, walks through town, special glances
at each other that meant so much.

She chose a double dip of chocolate chip and
grinned when Jeremy chose plain vanilla. "Nothing
more exciting for you?"

"I don't need exciting ice cream, I've got you," he
said gallantly.

She smiled at his joke. "Thank you very much."

Then they held hands and walked up and down the
sidewalks, staring into windows and talking about
nothing. More than a few people stopped and said `hi',
and one gentleman even said that they looked just like
high school sweethearts.

With some surprise, Dinah realized that that was
exactly how she did feel, and she thought it was wonderful. Feeling giddy, she leaned close and kissed him.

He glanced at her in surprise. "What was that for?"

"For being you."

"What? Just because I take you out for ice cream
on a Thursday night?"

"Yes. And because you think of me. And you hold
my hand." She breathed deeply, gathering her courage.
"I like being with you, Jeremy. You make me feel
good inside."

His cheeks colored. Then, out of the blue, he leaned
over and kissed her again, this time a little more pas sionately, his lips lingering on hers. She leaned into
him, enjoyed the feel of their bodies brushing against
each other.

When he stepped back, she felt bereft. "Any reason
you kissed me?" she asked.

"No reason," he said with a sexy, movie star kind
of smile. "Just because I can."

Her insides felt like they were melting, right then
and there. Quickly, she licked the side of her cone;
the chocolate chip ice cream also seemed to be feeling
the heat.

"Are you ready for the reenactment, Jeremy?"

He smiled broadly. "Sure. Quite a few high school
kids are taking part in it. We're all getting together
tomorrow night for yet another meeting that Joanne's
holding. I think this experience is going to help me
start the school year off right."

"I thought I'd bring a picnic basket."

He smiled at her gratefully. "Thanks. Joanne said
we're going to have to have a whole run through before the actual filmed reenactment. I know I'm going
to be starved."

She felt her cheeks heating. He often looked at her
like she was the only person in his world. His attention
made her feel flustered, and treasured. With a start,
she knew without a doubt that she was so glad she
had stopped being afraid to fall in love again.

"You'll have to visit me and Bryan often, then," she
said, attempting to stay on track.

"You won't have to worry about that. With you and
Bryan is where I want to be."

They'd walked a little longer, and now stood near
the walking path, which for once, was deserted. "Jeremy?"

"Yeah?" he asked, taking a swipe at his cone with
his tongue.

"Kiss me again?"

The cone zipped by her as he tossed the remainder
into the trash can. "With pleasure, honey," he said,
wrapping his arms around her waist.

Somehow, in between his ardent kisses, she managed to toss the rest of her cone out, too.

Finally, the big day had come. Dinah grinned
broadly as she watched Jeremy stride toward her front
porch.

"Might I offer you an escort to the reenactment,
ma'am?" Jeremy called out as he approached.

She had to laugh. He looked very gallant in his navy
blue uniform with rows of gold braid. Good enough
for her to forget just how tricky that gold braid had
been to secure.

"I'd be delighted," she replied. "You look very
handsome."

"Thank you," he said, bowing slightly. "My seamstress has a way with a needle ... and other things."

She blushed, thinking of the kisses they'd recently shared. And the ones she was looking forward to. "I'd
say you were a lucky man, then."

He picked her up and twirled her around, much to
the amusement of Bryan and Bonnie. "Yes, I am."

Her body tingled from their brief contact and she
swallowed hard after he set her back down. "Are you
ready?" she asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

Quickly they let Bonnie inside, then secured Bryan
in his stroller, Jeremy talking to him the whole time
about his day. Finally, Dinah picked up her picnic basket, handed Jeremy a large thermos of cold water, and
they were on their way. "I brought my camera; I'll
take lots of pictures."

"Take them quick, I'm supposed to `die' early."

She chuckled. "How does the jacket feel?"

"It feels great, just warm. Wearing this really makes
me feel for the soldiers. The pants and jacket don't
breathe much."

"So, it's only supposed to be ninety-two degrees
today. Good thing Joanne read somewhere that it was
perfectly acceptable to reenact in the morning."

Jeremy grunted, already pulling at the long sleeves
of his jacket. "Good thing she listened to all the men
who threatened not to show up if she staged it at two
in the afternoon."

"I've brought my video camera," she said. "I'll take
lots of pictures."

"Thanks. I was actually thinking that this experience would come in handy at school. We study the War
Between the States during second quarter."

"That's the War of Northern Aggression, I believe."

"Ah, spoken like a true Southerner."

She chuckled, and for the next half hour they enjoyed the novelty of seeing various "soldiers" appearing out of houses and walking to the park together.
Here and there women appeared, looking resplendent
in hooped skirts the colors of sherbets.

Jeremy smiled at the sight of a ten-year-old boy
racing one of his friends down the sidewalk, all
dressed up in short pants and a drum. "It's times like
this when I really appreciate my sister Joanne. This
will be an event that will have people talking for the
next couple of years."

"I imagine you're right," she said, knowing she
would recall the day for years to come, too ... and not
because of any historical significance. She loved walking next to him, being with him, doing things with
him. She felt proud to be by his side.

Suddenly, it didn't matter what anyone else thought
about their differences in ages or experiences. All Dinah knew was that Jeremy was one of the nicest men
she'd ever met; he was great to be around; he curled
her toes when he kissed her, and ... he just happened
to look great in a Union uniform.

They walked on, waving to more friends, when Dinah realized just where they were. "Hey, look at your
house!" she exclaimed. Someone had planted row after row of begonias in the front yard. Their red and pink
blooms looked vibrant and pretty, setting off the stonework of the historical home. "Whoever hired the landscaper didn't pay him enough. It looks amazing."

"It does look beautiful, but it's not mine yet."

Glancing at him, she noticed the worry in his eyes
and strived to make him feel better. On the spur of the
moment, she steered the stroller up the front path. "I
do think you should go ahead and get it, Jeremy,"
Dinah said, stepping up on the empty front porch. "It's
a peach of a place."

He chuckled at the phrase but had to agree. It was
a peach of a place. And, because he was in no hurry
to go pretend to either shoot someone or play dead,
he decided the time was just as good as any to admit
the truth. "It's great ... though I have to tell you that
the price of the house isn't the only thing I've been
saving up for."

"What else?"

He looked into her eyes, saw sympathy and friendship, and realized she probably had no idea just how
much he loved her. "I love you, Dinah," he said
baldly, steeling himself for her surprise, yet knowing
he couldn't tell her his dreams without explaining his
motivations first. "I haven't wanted to rush you, but
over these last three months, I've really come to care
for you, deeply."

Finally, he steeled himself to meet her gaze. But all he saw was love shining in her eyes. "I love you, too,"
she said simply.

He shook his head in wonder, then did the only
thing that seemed appropriate: he pulled her into his
arms and held her close, kissing her cheeks and neck,
then finally her lips. "I'm so glad. See, I've been hoping to one day ask you to marry me."

He held his breath. There. It was said.

Her eyes widened. "Marry?"

Jeremy nodded. "Yeah. I feel so stupid, telling you
this in a ridiculously hot Union uniform. But, I don't
want to live here without you and Bryan. I don't want
to think about a future without the two of you in it."

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say a word," he replied, sure
her mind must be reeling. "Just think about it. By the
time I save up enough money for us to get married,
maybe you'll have made up your mind," he said with
a smile.