Vivian (13 page)

He pressed his forehead to hers. “I can’t tell you how much I’d hoped you’d say that.”

Vivian looked in her mirror at the two girls sleeping in her back seat. For years, they’d been her life. Every moment was about them, but had she really taken the time to focus on that?

Emma would start kindergarten next year. Where had the time gone?

Ava stretched and turned her head in her seat. She looked the most like Adam, but often Vivian refused to acknowledge that. But her blonde hair and her blue eyes matched his. She had his nose and that same dimple in her cheek.

Her heart clenched just a little bit when she thought about him.

It seemed so long ago that they’d loved each other. He’d been everything to her for so long. But the moment Emma was born it seemed as though he’d been replaced in her heart—and then he was gone. First he was stationed elsewhere and then deployed. They’d never had a chance to be a family.

Clayton’s car stopped at a red light in front of her and she eased to a stop behind him. In her headlights, she could see him raise his hand and wave at her. She waved back and smiled.

In just the past week, she and Clayton had formed a family. How could that have happened? She didn’t really know him, but she felt as though she did. The girls were in love with his girls and she was too. Every part of what they had seemed right, even if it was new.

As they eased through the light, she thought about sleeping in his arms tonight. She was sure he wouldn’t mind keeping anything more intimate for the night they’d have alone. It would give her some time to think about what was going on in her mind—in her heart.

She was sure she knew though. She’d had this feeling as a young woman, but now it was much more intense.

The very thought of him made her smile.

His voice made her giddy.

His touch sent tingles through her.

She had gone and fallen in love with this man that just over a week ago she’d nearly yelled at for rescuing her off the side of the road.

Following Clayton down the street toward his house she wondered if it was time to tell him of her revelation. The very thought of it had her bubbling with anticipation.

She watched as he pulled into the driveway, but there was another car parked in front of his.

Her heart began to race as she watched a woman open the car door and step out into the street lamp light.

Clayton opened his door and stepped out of his car as she pulled to the curb. He walked to the woman and pulled her into his arms.

Vivian’s heart lodged in her throat and tears stung her eyes. A moment later he was turning toward her and waving for her to come to him.

She clenched her jaw. Something told her she wasn’t ready to get out of the car yet.

As Clayton walked toward her car, and the woman began to help his girls from his car, she shifted to park and took a breath.

He pulled open her door. “Are you coming?”

“
Who is that?” Vivian looked past him at the woman bent over in his car.

A smile formed wide on his face. “It’s Dorothy. Linda’s mom.”

She didn’t know what to do with that. This wasn’t the time for her to be at this house with the intent to sleep in his arms. Suddenly, she felt as though she was going to be sick.

“
Why is she here?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I think she misses the girls.”

“
You didn’t know she was coming?”

“
No. This was a surprise,” he said still smiling.

“
I should go back to my house.”

Clayton reached for her arm. “Oh, no.” He crouched down so he was face to face with her. “I’m not cheating on her daughter. This woman lost everything that day too and now I’ve taken her girls from her. She misses them. That’s all. She called the other day and missed them more so she came to see them. I want her to meet you.”

“
She’s going to hate me.”

“
Vivian,” he said capturing her attention and then her face in his hands. “It’s time for us all to move on. She needs to meet the woman I love now.”

For a moment, she was sure she’d forgotten to breathe. What had he said? No. No. She was supposed to tell him how she was feeling. But this wasn’t the time.

She looked past him to see a woman who resembled Linda, only about thirty years older, standing behind him with Charlotte and Stephanie holding her hands.

Clayton rose to his feet. “Dorothy, this is Vivian.”

She was in an awkward position now, she thought. Unbuckling her seatbelt, she managed to slide from the car without getting caught up in the strap.

“
Hello,” she said softly.

“
Hello.” Dorothy smiled. “I hope I didn’t ruin any plans, but after I called the other day I began to miss my girls so much I thought my heart might break.”

“
Dorothy,” Clayton’s voice shook as he said her name.

She shook her head. “No, don’t go apologizing. I understand why you left Seattle. I don’t blame you one bit. I’m allowed to miss you all too. We all have to heal and it’s going to take longer than two years to do that, I’m afraid.”

Clayton turned to Vivian. “Let me help you get the girls in the house.”

“
Oh, I should just head home. You two should catch up.”

Dorothy smiled. “Clayton, I’ll take these two inside.”

He nodded, handing her the keys to the door before turning back to Vivian as they walked away.

She could feel the urge to cry and perhaps even yell—though it wasn’t warranted.

He pulled her into his arms as if he knew what she was feeling.

“
There is one thing that happened when I married Linda. I married into this family who believes in forgiveness, second chances, love at first sight, and giving everyone an opportunity to prove how good they can be.”

“
What are you talking about?” she murmured against his chest.

“
Dorothy is the kind of woman who isn’t going to judge us. C’mon, she already knows there’s something going on. How could she not?”

“
This doesn’t feel right.”

“
It doesn’t feel wrong either.” He pulled back, but she stopped him.

“
What did you say to me before you introduced us?”

Clayton’s eyes widened. “Is this a test? I don’t…”

“
You said she should meet the woman…”

He smiled. “Right.” He took her hands in his and laced their fingers together. “I said she should meet the woman I loved.”

Vivian let the air whoosh out of her lungs. “I thought that’s what you said.”

“
Does it bother you that I feel that way?”

She shook her head. Her stomach felt as though a million butterflies had just taken flight inside of her. “I was thinking the same thing as I was driving over here.”

“
You knew I was going to say I loved you?”

She laughed easily. “No. I realized that I’d fallen in love with you.”

Clayton moved in and kissed her gently. “Dorothy is going to be okay with hearing that.”

“
What about you?”

He raised her hand to his chest and slipped it under his jacket, pressing it firmly over his shirt. “Can you feel that?”

She could. His heart rammed in his chest as hard as hers was.

“
I know the timing is awkward, but I think there is a lot to explore with these feelings. I hope you’ll tell me you love me again and again.”

Clayton carried Emma into the house and Vivian carried Ava. “We’ll lay them in the girls’ room. My girls won’t be too far behind them to sleep.”

Once they were situated, he took her hand and walked with her to the living room where Dorothy was seated with his girls reading a book.

“
We’re just catching up with some
Max and Ruby,”
Dorothy said.

“
Mommy’s favorite,” Stephanie added and Clayton felt Vivian’s hand squeeze his.

“
It was her favorite.” He moved closer to them, still holding tight to Vivian. “Why don’t the two of you go put on your pajamas, quietly, and then you can come see grandma some more.”

They gave him a nod and ran off to their room.

“
Dorothy, can I make you some tea?” he asked.

“
That would be lovely. Perhaps Vivian would keep me company for a moment.”

Clayton gave her a nod. He knew she was hesitant, but Dorothy would never, ever, say anything to hurt Vivian. In fact, he thought if he left them alone just long enough he’d come back to Vivian’s smile. Dorothy had that kind of effect on people.

Vivian moved to the couch and Clayton walked to the kitchen. He figured it was a good that they hadn’t been in the house for the past few days. The dishes were still clean. Dorothy would never say a word about how their house was kept, but he’d want her to be proud of him. It was important.

As he filled the teapot with water, he heard Dorothy laugh and then Vivian laugh. Yes, that was what he’d expected.

When he finally had three cups of tea made, and balanced in his hands, he walked back to the living room.

Both girls had climbed up on Dorothy and fallen asleep. Vivian jumped up and helped him with the mugs. She set two of them on the table and he set the last one down as well.

“
Let me get them to bed,” he said moving to pick up Charlotte.

“
I’ll get Stephanie,” Vivian moved toward her.

Dorothy kissed them both on the head as they were carried to their room.

They had laid Vivian’s girls on Stephanie’s bed, so they laid his girls on Charlotte’s.

“
This is when I’m glad they both can sleep in normal sized beds.” He laughed quietly.

“
Twin beds are not normal.”

“
We’re going to have to figure out what to do when you move in here.”

She’d bitten her bottom lip, but she didn’t say anything. They still needed to talk. He knew that was coming.

Clayton pulled the door behind him as he walked to the living room, leaving it open just a crack.

“
I’ll bet your girls all get along beautifully,” Dorothy said from the couch as she sipped her tea.

Vivian picked up her mug and sat down in the chair. Clayton picked up his and sat next to Dorothy on the couch.

“
They do,” he said smiling. “They want to be sisters.”

“
Hmm,” Dorothy smiled from behind her mug. “Wouldn’t that be precious?”

“
We haven’t made any plans,” Vivian was quick to add, her eyes darting from Dorothy to him.

“
Oh, don’t be nervous about me,” Dorothy laughed. “I could tell there was something going on the moment you pulled up. I’m happy for Clayton. I really am.”

He gave her a knowing grin before turning his attention back to Dorothy. “How long are you visiting?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. At least a few days,” she said. “I’m missing my girl. I’m missing my granddaughters. I sometimes think I should have come with you.”

“
You would miss your water.”

“
I would.” She grinned. “I love my rain.”

“
I should let you two catch up,” Vivian said setting her mug on the table and standing. “I’ll go pull up some floor in the girls’ room.”

Dorothy shook her head. “Oh, I’m no prude. Don’t you sleep together?”