Vivian (14 page)

Clayton could feel his cheeks heat and he assumed they matched the red in Vivian’s.

“
We haven’t gotten to that stage in our relationship yet,” he said. “I’ve been staying with her because of her mother-in-law. She’s a little unstable.”

Dorothy nodded. “She told me about that.”

He figured they’d hit it off in those five minutes of him in the kitchen. They’d discussed
everything
.

“
Well, I’ll take this couch. It always was comfortable,” she laughed. “Tonight would be a good night for the two of you to figure out who steals the sheets.”

Vivian’s eyes were wide and her mouth hung open. Clayton couldn’t say he’d ever seen her at a loss for words.

“
Let me get her settled then and I’ll bring out bedding for you.”

He stood and reached for Vivian. She gazed up at him. “Can I have just a moment?”

“
Yes.” He kissed her cheek and headed to his bedroom.

“
My mother-in-law seems to have tried to ruin my life. We were never close. She never really cared for me much. I just wanted to say that you are delightful,” he heard her say from the hallway. “I’m so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine what you’re going through. And to be gracious to me when I’m here with Clayton…well…”

He could see Dorothy stand from her seat. “I know a good person when I see one. You’re a good person. I don’t want Clayton alone forever. Linda wouldn’t have wanted it either. I can tell, you make him happy.”

“
I haven’t known him long.”

“
How long do you really need to know someone to love them?”

He thought his heart might explode. Quickly he stepped into his bedroom and waited for Vivian.

She was wiping her eyes as she walked toward him. “She’s lovely,” Vivian said.

“
I know.”

“
This still seems awkward. Me sleeping here with you.”

“
You’re only sleeping. And if you want me to I can…”

“
You can sleep in here with me.” She moved to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I watched Amelia and Sam fall in love and thought they were moving too fast. But it worked. I watched Penelope and Brock fall in love in a few weeks and thought this doesn’t really happen.”

“
And now?”

She rested her head against his chest. “I’ve been so lonely for so long I’m afraid I’m doing the same thing, but now I wonder if it’s real.”

Clayton pushed back from her to look at her. “Honey, it’s real.” He moved his hand to her cheek. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“
I’m not used to things feeling right. This feels right.”

He chuckled softly. “What could possibly be wrong with that?”

Vivian shrugged. “Amelia and Penelope ran off and married Adam on a whim. They just took a chance. And then they each took another. I’ve never taken a chance in my life.”

He pulled her in again. “Maybe you should.”

“
Maybe I should.”

Clayton settled Vivian into his room and closed the door as he walked back to the living room with sheets and a pillow in hand.

“
I hope I didn’t put you out,” Dorothy said as she stood from the couch.

“
I promise, you’ll never put me out. I’ll always open my door to you—anytime.” He set the sheets on the couch. “My tea is cold. Can I offer you another cup?”

“
Oh, I’ll be up using the bathroom all night, but you know, I’d really appreciate another cup. I’ll come in with you.”

She followed him to the kitchen and made herself at home at the kitchen table.

“
She’s lovely, Clayton.”

He smiled to himself as he filled the teapot. “She is, isn’t she?”

“
Very strong willed I think.”

Now he chuckled. “Very.”

“
You’re going to marry her, aren’t you?”

He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do with that question. Her voice was solid, but how did he tell this woman that yes, in fact, he’d thought about it a lot.

He set the teapot on the stove and turned to face her.

“
I don’t know what to do with the thoughts I have on that. Linda has been gone for two years. Her husband has only been gone for four months.”

Dorothy nodded. “She told me her husband had married three women.”

“
You two got a lot of talking in earlier.”

“
I don’t beat around the bush. I never have.”

He smiled. No, Dorothy had always been straight forward.

“
Yes. He married two other women. They both have already become engaged to other men.”

She rubbed her hands together. “So quickly?”

The teapot behind him whistled and he removed it from the heat. Pouring himself a mug full and filling Dorothy’s, he said, “Lots of circumstances.”

“
Tell me.”

He set the pot back on the stove, grabbed tea bags, and sat down with her at the table.

“
Vivian hadn’t really seen him since Ava was born.”

“
She has to be two years old.”

“
She is.” He dipped his tea bag into the water. “And in fairness, because of this stuff going on with her mother-in-law, he’d asked for a divorce to marry Amelia.”

“
She didn’t give him one?”

He shook his head. “She didn’t know he’d asked.” He went on to explain about the box of letters they’d found in the attic of the old house. “He assumed she’d given up on him.”

“
That’s horrible.”

“
Anyway, he married Amelia and two years later she found out about Vivian and she asked for a divorce.”

“
Good for her.”

“
So really, Amelia had moved on a long time ago.”

“
And the other?”

“
Penelope. She married Adam in April and then he was deployed. She’s due to have a baby in December.”

Dorothy reached her hand to Clayton’s. “That’s very sad.”

“
It is, but Adam had only met her. They dated two weeks before they ran off and married.”

“
He was a stranger to her.”

“
He was. Then when he was dying he asked the soldier who was holding him to find her. Well, he did and they’ve fallen in love.”

Dorothy placed her hand on her chest. “That is very sweet.”

“
He had a lot of respect for Adam and he wants the baby to know all about him. They’ve already decided the baby will carry on his name in some way.”

“
I’m moved.”

He could see she was. Her eyes were misting.

Clayton sipped his tea to test the strength before pulling the bag out and setting it on a napkin.

“
When you consider that Adam and Vivian haven’t seen each other since Ava was born, and only then when they conceived her…” He lifted his mug to his lips and swallowed his tea hard enough he coughed. “Well, he’s been gone from her for a long time.”

Dorothy reached her hand out to him and placed it on his arm. “Are you afraid you’re being unfaithful to Linda or to Adam?”

Clayton clenched his jaw. “Yes. How could I not feel that way, especially with you here?”

She nodded as if she understood he’d feel that way. “I miss her more than anything. There are days I can’t breathe.”

He knew that feeling well enough.

“
Clayton, you have a second chance. Do you know how happy I am for you? If it could be Linda all over again, I’d wish for Linda. But we both have to keep living and keep her memory alive for those girls. And those girls will be better off if you’re happy and can keep her memory a happy one.”

Clayton wasn’t such a man he wouldn’t cry. He could feel the tears sting and catch in his throat. “I love her Dorothy. I love Vivian.”

“
I know you do. And what the hell does it matter if you’ve only known her a short while? You could know her forever and still never be sure.” She smiled and it calmed him.

“
I want to take her away from here for a few nights. She’s never left this town in years. I want to feel it out—see what happens.”

Dorothy stood from her seat and rested her hands on both sides of his head as she lowered a kiss to his forehead. “I’ll stay as long as you’d like me to. I’ll be here for the girls. I have a feeling all four of them are going to be equally as important to me.”

Clayton was going to pay for yet another late night. It was nearly midnight when he and Dorothy had stopped talking. Third graders might be the death of him in the morning.

He pushed open his bedroom door and the moonlight from the window fell over his bed. Vivian lay on his pillow breathing softly.

His heart beat hard in his chest. She was a lovely sight.

Her dark hair fanned out over the pillow. Her bare shoulder shimmered in the moonlight. How was it he’d fallen into this job and into her life?

Things couldn’t be more crazy and messed up for them than they already were. But he never wanted to walk into that room again without knowing she’d be there.

Clayton toed off his shoes and tossed his socks into the laundry basket. He unbuttoned his shirt as he watched her sleep. He tossed his shirt into the laundry as well and then slid down his pants. He looked around and wondered if he had another pair of pajama pants. He’d packed them for her house, but usually he slept in his boxers. Well, this was going to have to be one of those
normal
nights.

He walked to the bed, slid back the sheets, and climbed in next to her. She moaned and opened her eyes.

“
I didn’t know what side you slept on,” she said with a sleepy haze in her voice.

“
Whatever side you’re not on.”

“
Hmmm,” she moaned and rolled so that her back was to him.

He wanted to touch her. There was so much about an intimate relationship that he missed.

“
Clayton, hold me,” she whispered in the dark.

He moved in behind her and draped his arm over her as he pressed a kiss to her ear.

“
I love you,” she said softly as she drifted back to sleep.

Clayton lay there for a long time thinking about the conversations he’d had with Dorothy. How had he been so lucky to fall into that family? He’d wished Vivian had similar luck. Then again, if either of them had any luck at all, they wouldn’t be where they were.

Vivian woke to the smell of coffee and she stirred. When her senses came to her fully, she sat upright in the bed and looked around. For a moment, she’d forgotten where she was. The room was sans of décor. A chair in the corner held Clayton’s pile of clean clothes and a basket near the door held his dirty ones. There was a TV on a small stand against the wall, but that was nearly the extent of it.

She smiled when she thought of the girls’ room with the pink walls and Barbie decorations on the walls. He’d done everything to make them comfortable in their home.

Panic rushed through her when she thought of the time. It must be nearly seven o’clock. She hadn’t even checked in with Amelia or Penelope. There were obligations to the families that had hired them. Even if they moved their daycare, they had obligations.

And what about her girls? They needed to get up. And what would they think when she rolled out of Clayton’s bed?