Pretend Mom (18 page)

Taking a deep breath, Dixie walked
bravely up in front of the congregation, meeting each face with a
smile of recognition. Then, as was her custom, she blanked
everything and everyone from her mind and nodded to the
pianist.

Even Dixie marveled at how clear and
crisp her voice reverberated through the entire church like a
songbird. Her eyes misted with emotion as she sang the song she and
her family loved so dearly.

When she finished there was a silence
throughout the church, a great hush. Dixie smiled and nodded,
knowing that was her real applause, for she knew without a doubt
that she had touched them in the only way she knew how.

Her pastor wiped an eye and added, "I'm
not sure I can do justice to a sermon after that song, Ms. Kincaid.
I do believe you touched our hearts."

After church, Dixie shook hands with
Kevin and his wife again, and stood waiting for her
family.

Bernie and Emily approached the pastor
about the wedding.

"I'd be delighted, and may I say I
couldn't be happier for the two of you. I know it will be a strong
marriage. Perhaps you could stop by on Wednesday before prayer
meeting and discuss the arrangement?" he offered.

Emily nodded. "I'd like that. I would
like the boys to be there if that's not a problem."

"Great, bring the entire family. I'll
have my wife call you to make the arrangements. We'll see you
then."

Mike came up beside Dixie. "I liked
your song."

Dixie felt her heartbeat quicken and
her hand flew to her chest. "Thanks. I didn't see you. Where's
Mandy?"

"Ms. Ferris took her home."

"Oh."

"Your throat healed nicely."

"Yes, and I think it might be a little
better than normal."

"So, I guess we're back to square
one."

Dixie cast him a quizzical look.
"Square one?"

"You saw Kevin. In fact, you've barely
taken your eyes off him and his family. Looks like nothing has
changed."

"Mike! It's the first I've seen of him
or his family. I like his wife. She's lovely, and judging from the
talk around the place, she has a disposition to match."

"That's an astute
observation."

Kevin suddenly appeared between them.
"We'll expect you tomorrow, Dixie. June is eager to get a chance to
know you. She invited the whole family over for dinner. She enjoyed
your singing so much."

"Thank you, Kevin."

Kevin cast both her and Mike a strange
look, then smiled, "Mike, good to see you again. Will you come
tomorrow, too?"

"I have a lot of work to
do."

"Buckie so wants Mandy to visit, please
come."

"Buckie?" Dixie interrupted.

"My son, the two-year old who can't get
enough of running about," Kevin returned. "It's wonderful seeing
you again, Dixie. I'm sorry we haven't been over to greet you
properly, but there are so many demands made on a politician these
days. Are you home for long?"

"No, I'm afraid not. Just until the
wedding is over, actually."

"Well, I'm so glad you could come home
long enough to be with your mom and Bernie and the kids for this.
Everyone knew it was coming. Emily and Bernie are
inseparable."

"Aren't they cute?" Dixie glanced from
the smiling Kevin, to the frowning Mike. "Well, see you tomorrow,
then."

"Great," Kevin smiled as Dixie joined
Emily and the boys.

Mike said nothing as he watched her
leave.

***

At Kevin's house the next day, the
wedding arrangements took precedence. Dixie and her family arrived
early, and Kevin wasn't home yet. He was frequently called away at
the last minute, June explained. June entertained them for a while,
showing Dixie the house and introducing her meddlesome
two-year-old, who was a delight to everyone.

Dixie quickly realized why Kevin chose
June. She was a modern day whiz in the kitchen and a perfect
hostess. She made all the food and drinks herself, another
marvel.

Buckie wasted no time crawling up in
Dixie's lap several times, first introducing himself, then wanting
to show her his new puppy, the one that Uncle Mike had brought him
on his last visit.

No wonder Mike cherished the little
fellow; he was not only a doll, but had such a vibrant personality,
too.

When Kevin arrived he apologized for
his absence with a wave of the hand. "Sorry, hope I didn't miss out
on too much. We're off on the campaign trail tomorrow morning so
there were a few last minutes delays." Kevin glanced at Dixie and
smiled.

"This sounds serious." Dixie
said.

"Just like beginning a good marriage. A
politician should clean up the problems before hand."

"Oh, I agree."

"Good."

As Kevin had a short conversation with
Emily and Bernie, Dixie and the boys wandered outside. Dixie smiled
at the quaintness of Kevin's home, not plush, but rather, warm and
cozy.

June was eager to point out the
playhouse Kevin just finished in the backyard, and Buckie gave a
complete demonstration on how it should be used, managing to fall a
couple of times in the process. Like kids of that age, he bounced
back with resilience.

Dixie was about to ask if June needed
any help in the kitchen when Kevin came outside and asked her to
walk with him. She cast a look back at the kitchen window, but June
waved them on. "About ten minutes, dear," she hollered.

"Right, honey. We won't be long," Kevin
returned and waved.

Dixie felt nervous, walking with Kevin,
but she did want to tell him once and for all how silly she'd been
so many years ago.

"Dixie, I've asked you out here for a
reason."

"Oh?"

"Yes, several in fact. Oh, don't worry
about June. She totally understands. We've talked about you,
several times. She thinks that maybe you feel just as awkward as
she would, had she done the same thing, years ago. Forget it,
Dixie. As far as I'm concerned, it's forgotten."

"Kevin, I want to explain. I was a
silly girl with a crush on you. You were so young, and
good-looking. Naturally, I fell for you. But—"

"But you've grown up now,
right?"

"Y…yes. I'm so glad you understand.
It's strange how things seem so serious when you're removed from
them. Yout timing couldn't be more perfect. I've wanted to talk to
you for a long time, but just couldn't find the right
words."

"I do understand. Now that it's behind
us, we can go on with a friendship that will last a lifetime, I
hope."

"I'd like that. And I really like June,
too."

"Everyone does, even though she isn't
from around here. I fell in love with her almost from the first. I
don't know what I'd do without her. She's my lifeline."

"I can see that. You're like newlyweds
still."

"And what about you, Dixie. Have you
found anyone, yet? Are you happy in that big city, all
alone?"

"I…I don't know." Dixie shook her head.
"And I don't know if I'm happy in New York or not."

"Dixie, do you know what love is?"
Kevin asked as he stopped in the middle of the dirt road and looked
at her.

Dixie was taken aback by the question.
"I think so …"

"It's this feeling you get about
someone when you know you can't live without them. When you know
you'd be incomplete without them. It's hurting when they aren't
around. And there's a big void when they aren't with you—like part
of you is missing. You can't function. I know politicians aren't
the best examples."

Dixie laughed. "You make love sound
like a disease."

Kevin laughed. "No, it's not terrible,
it's beautiful. When you're together it's like God is shining His
light on you. When you are apart, it's like God took it away.
You'll know it, when it comes. But hang in there for the real
thing, accept no substitute."

"Is that how you feel about June and
Buckie?"

"Yes, and this community, and life
itself."

"I'm very glad I came home, Kevin. I've
learned a lot."

"Then carry it with you always. And
Dixie, always know that I love you, and care about you as a
friend."

"Thank you, Kevin." She smiled, and he
touched her cheek.

"Excuse me, but June said dinner is
ready." Mike interrupted them from a short distance away, an odd
combination of expressions crossing his face.. Dixie was shocked to
see him here.

"Mike," Kevin said as he turned to his
brother with a big smile. He went to put his arm around his
shoulder. "You decided to come, after all. I'm glad."

Mike's frown didn't disappear. "I
didn't come for dinner. I came to borrow some rope."

"Rope? Sure, I've got some in the
garage. What's up?"

"Can't find Old Buttercup, and she's
due anytime. I may have to tie her down and do a C-section. So, I
brought Amanda with me. She wanted to play with Buckie."

"Great, glad to have her. So...can I
help?" Kevin looked concerned.

"No, I can handle it. Wouldn't want to
spoil your dinner. Looks as though you have your hands full
anyway."

Kevin glanced at Dixie who walked
directly behind them, then reached to pull her up between
them.

"I wish you would stay," Kevin
said.

"I really can't."

Kevin nodded. "Okay then, Dixie, would
you tell June I'll be just a second, please? Come one Mike, I think
I've got some rope in the garage."

Dixie left, not daring to look at Mike
again. What did he think he saw out there on the road? Apparently
he'd drawn his own conclusions. And she had to make him understand
that they were wrong.

CHAPTER NINE

All during dinner, Dixie's mind was on
Mike. She barely paid attention to Kevin until he asked, "And you,
Dixie, what do you think of your mom and Bernie getting
married?"

"I think it's marvelous that Mom and
Bernie could find love again. They have an excellent head start on
most people, because they've both been through a good marriage
before and know what it takes to make it work. I wish them only
happiness and love for the rest of their lives."

Bernie stopped eating and looked at
them. "Thank you, kids. What lovely things you've said. All of you.
I only hope I can live up to this kind of trust."

"You will," Kevin reassured
him.

Emily nodded.

"Well now boys, tell me how's summer
school?" June asked, filling Buckie's plate and handing it to
him.

If there was anything Tom and Will
didn't want to talk about, it was school. However, Tom did
elaborate more than usual about a few goings on.

"We're passin,'" Will
acknowledged.

After Dixie helped with the dishes, she
was left on her own, while the boys played Frisbee in the front
yard with Buckie. She wandered out back, her gaze scanning the
horizon. Just over the meadow was Mike's place, adjoining Kevin's.
She wondered if he was far away. The way he stepped on the gas as
he drove the truck out of the driveway, she would imagine him in
Oklahoma by now.

What was wrong with him, anyway? He had
wanted her to see Kevin. So, she saw him. It was over. Mike should
have been happy about it.

Left to explore the creek banks on her
own, she walked away from the house, into the woods. She pulled at
an occasional low-slung branch as she skirted the banks of an old
dried up creek-bed, looking for interesting rocks and artifacts
that she remembered hunting as a child.

She kicked idly at a rock near her
foot, and winced from the pain it brought her. Flopping on the
ground, she leaned back on her elbows and stared up at the cluster
of clouds rolling by. As a little girl she had often watched the
clouds and fantasized about their shapes and forms, making them
into all sorts of creatures.

"Enjoying yourself?" Mike asked, a
slight smile curling his lips.

"Mike? I thought you'd left. I thought
you were out looking for Old Buttercup."

"I am. Come on, you can help." He
reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet.

"But, aren't we still on Kevin's
property?" she asked as she put her hand in his and felt an
immediate jolt.

"Hardly. Kevin doesn't have any
property. He has a yard."

"Oh, I see. Well, just who is this Old
Buttercup, anyway?"

Mike led the way, out to the clearing,
staring out over the empty pastures. His tone was indulging but
preoccupied. "Our oldest milk cow. She's about to give birth, but
I've got to find her first and get her back to the barn. Old, lazy
girl likes to lay down wherever she is and give birth."

"Isn't that the natural way … I mean
for a cow?"

"Normally, yes, but she's older, so I
want to keep an eye on her, make sure she has an easy time of it.
I'm pretty fond of the old girl," he explained, a tired expression
replacing the slight smile.