Stonehill series collect.., p.32
Stonehill Series Collection, page 32
She nodded and then tightened her hold on him before he could get up from the sofa. “Thank you. For everything.”
“You’re welcome.” He rolled to his feet and then reached for her. When she was in front of him, looking up at him with raw desperation, he cupped her face in his hands. “You’re going to get through today, and then you’ll get through tomorrow and the next day. You’re going to be okay.” He hugged her one more time.
She held him as well and took a few deep breaths before easing away from him. He walked with her, his arm over her shoulder, until she went upstairs, and then he walked toward the back of the house. In the kitchen, he pulled out three plates and utensils. He’d just finished setting the table when Sam walked in with a bucket of chicken and a bag of sides.
“Mom’s favorite comfort food,” he announced, setting their dinner on the table. “How is she?”
“She’s all right. She’ll be down in a minute.”
Sam shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of bills. “Here’s your change.”
Paul lifted his hand in dismissal. “Consider it a delivery fee.”
Sam hesitated, but only for a moment, before shoving the cash back into his pocket. “Thanks. And thanks for coming over. I didn’t know what to do, and she didn’t want to see Kara.”
“I’m glad you called. Really.” Paul pulled glasses out of the cabinet and filled them with water.
“It’s been forever since we’ve had fried chicken. Mom better hurry before I eat it all.”
Paul put the glasses on the table. “I’ll see what’s keeping her.” He left the kitchen and trotted up the stairs. He knocked on the only closed door and slowly pushed it open when he didn’t get a response. He stuck his head into her bedroom. “Di?”
She stepped out of the master bathroom wearing a tattered robe over a T-shirt and a pair of yoga pants. Her hair was pulled back and her face was clean, but her eyes were still red.
“Sam brought chicken.”
“I don’t know if I can eat.”
“You can.” He took her hand. “You have to. Deep breath.”
She did and then let it out slowly. As she did, her tears returned. “Thank you for being here.”
“You’re welcome.” He pulled her gently, but she didn’t budge.
“How can I face him?” She shook her head. “I’m such a failure.”
“Hey,” he said sternly. Putting his hand to her chin, he forced her to look at him. “I know you feel like the world is crashing down on you right now, but you are stronger than you realize. And you are showing Sam what it means to be strong.”
“By falling apart?”
“By not giving up. You’re overcoming a gigantic obstacle right now. And he sees that. You didn’t fail him. You didn’t let him down. You’re proving to him that his mother can get through anything, even if she has a bad day now and then.”
Her lip trembled as he slid his hands down her arms and clutched her hands.
“Come downstairs,” he whispered. “Show him you’re going to be okay. Then we’ll get you tucked into bed, and when you wake tomorrow, you’ll get up and you’ll do it again, knowing that eventually, it’s not going to hurt this much.”
She nodded, and he led her down to the kitchen.
She hugged Sam as he stuffed a chicken breast into his mouth. “Thanks for dinner.”
“It was Paul’s idea,” he said around his mouthful.
She sat in the chair between them as Paul served her. “Did you talk to Jason?”
“He’s okay,” Sam said. “Dad had left him a message.”
“A message? Like a voice mail?”
“Yeah. Jason was pissed about it, but he was okay.”
“God.” She planted her elbows on the table so she could rub her temples. “Who leaves a message like that for his kid?”
Sam tossed his chicken down as he frowned.
Paul set a plate in front of her. “You can’t control what he does,” he said softly.
She nodded and smiled weakly at Sam. “I’ll call Jas later. Thanks for checking on him. I really appreciate it. And thanks for the chicken.” She pulled her plate closer and poked aimlessly at her potatoes.
Paul filled his own plate as he asked Sam about school and college, trying to steer the conversation as far away from Mitch and divorce as he could.
“I guess he asked to use my phone so he could call you,” Dianna said after Sam went upstairs to finish his homework. She sat at the table while Paul put their plates in the dishwasher. He had refused her help so she could call Jason, who insisted he was fine and he’d have to talk to her another time since he was on his way out. Dianna wished she could believe him. She knew better, though. He just didn’t want her to know he was upset.
“I think so.” Paul put the last of the dirty utensils in the rack. He closed the dishwasher and ran his hands under the faucet to wash them. As he leaned against the counter, he dried his hands on a dishtowel.
She laughed softly at the image of him dressed impeccably in slacks, a dress shirt, and tie while he did her dishes. It was so out of place it was amusing.
“Be careful, Di,” he said, tossing the towel down. “You’re smiling.”
“You must be tired,” she said. “You’ve had a long day.”
“Not as long as yours.” He crossed the room and held his hand out. “Come on.”
He bypassed the living room where she expected him to take her and guided her upstairs. “Get ready for bed,” he said as they entered her bedroom.
She considered arguing but didn’t. She brushed her teeth and returned to her room. He’d tugged the blankets back and stretched out on her bed, leaning against the headboard as he looked at his phone.
“That’s my side,” she said, her tone teasing.
He grinned before sliding to the left side of the bed. “My apologies.”
She crawled into the bed beside him, and he moved down to lie behind her. He curled around her, his body pressed against hers. They stayed like that, him spooning her, holding her close without saying a word, for a long time.
“Thank you,” she finally whispered.
“You’re welcome,” he said just as quietly.
She closed her eyes when he kissed the back of her head and entwined her fingers with his. “I don’t think I could get through this without you.”
“Yes, you could,” he said softly. “You’re stronger than you think.”
She laughed flatly. “You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
She rolled over so she could face him. The light coming in from the streetlamp was dim, but she could see his face. “I don’t know what to do, Paul. I just don’t know what to do.”
He hushed her as he pulled her to him, hugging her against his chest. “You don’t have to know what to do right now, Dianna. All you have to do is keep moving forward. The rest will come.”
She exhaled slowly and wrapped her arms around him. “Will you stay until I fall asleep?”
“Of course.”
Closing her eyes, she listened to his heartbeat as she drifted off.
Chapter 9
The Monday Dianna had painters scheduled, Paul had handed over a prepaid credit card and made her promise not to do anything contemporary to his home while he stayed with Matt for the week.
By Thursday, the entire interior of his home had new, lower-key colors. The living and dining rooms were now a soothing blue shade, which contrasted against the new bright white wainscoting and trim. The kitchen and bathrooms were almond with the same bright white on the cabinets. The almond color carried into the guest room as well. His room, however, was a deep saffron yellow that he’d picked out.
By Friday, Dianna was putting the finishing touches on his home. The only photo he’d had out was of him with his sons, but it was several years old. She’d asked Annie to e-mail a few newer pictures. Those were now printed and framed and hanging on the living room wall where Michelle had previously hung box shelves filled with statuettes.
The room looked completely different. It looked homey and comfortable. It looked like a room where Paul belonged.
One final walk around the house, and she was confident in the work she’d done. The last touch was the Christmas tree she’d set up in the corner of the living room. He hadn’t had a single sign of the holiday in his house, and she was determined that he not let the season pass by ignored as he’d tried to do with Thanksgiving.
The doorbell rang, and she checked her watch. She wasn’t expecting Paul until after five, and it was just after three. She smiled when she spotted Annie standing on the porch. Dianna pulled open the door. “Hey.”
“I’m being nosy.” She stepped in and looked around the living room. “Holy shit, Di. This is amazing.”
“Do you think Paul will like it?”
“He’s going to love it. This color is fantastic.” Annie wandered through the house, commenting on various touches Dianna had added. In Paul’s bedroom, she stood at the foot of the bed and nodded. “So. When can you start?”
Dianna creased her brow in confusion. “Start what?”
“My freelance decorator keeps screwing me over. Once you start, I won’t need her anymore. Of course, you realize you won’t be staging houses full-time. I need you to help in the office mainly. Answering the phone and scheduling appointments. Nothing you can’t handle. You’ll basically be an assistant to the agents.”
“Oh, Annie, it’s very sweet of you—”
“I don’t do sweet. I do practical. You need a job that pays better. I need an office administrator who can decorate. I can’t be everywhere at once. You’re one of the few people I’m not related to that I actually like. I have a low tolerance for bullshit. I trust that you’re not going to give me any bullshit.”
“Look, for whatever reason, Paul has taken me under his wing, which, believe me, has saved me more than once in the last few months, but this isn’t a familial obligation. He has some kind of unfounded guilt over Mitch leaving me high and dry, but my post-divorce hardships are not his problem. And they certainly aren’t yours.”
Annie looked at Dianna for a few moments before starting out of the bedroom. “Has Paul ever talked about our parents?”
“Just that your mother passed away when you were all fairly young.”
“Did he tell you that I turned into a mother hen and just about drove them crazy?”
“Yes. But he said it with love.”
Annie snorted. “I bet.” She stopped in front of the bare Christmas tree and looked at the boxes of ornaments and ribbons. “Dad was a drunk. Not a mean drunk, just a drunk. He couldn’t hold down a job to save his life. Or to feed his family. Paul was just twelve at the time. He took on two paper routes to try to make enough to feed Matty and me. I took over cooking, cleaning, and worrying, and Matty did whatever he could. We had this kind of silent pact to take care of each other because, even if we never said it, we all knew Dad couldn’t raise us. Paul grew up working and negotiating to keep a roof over our heads and the utilities on. He was always taking care of us. He put himself through law school because he didn’t want any of us to have to go without again.”
“That must have been hard on all of you.”
“It was. But we survived. And we all learned how important it is to take care of each other. You’re taking care of my brother, so I’m going to take care of you. Paul says you have been looking for a full-time job. I’m looking for a full-time office admin. If you don’t like the job, quit. But I promise you, you will be able to make ends meet for you and your boys.”
Dianna nodded slightly. “Okay. Thank you.”
“So, when can you start?”
“Um. Next Monday?”
“Next Monday it is.”
“Annie?” she called when the woman started to leave.
Annie turned and lifted her brows curiously.
“Is the thing with your father the reason Paul doesn’t like Christmas?”
“Dad never celebrated after Mom died. We tried to keep traditions alive, me more than Paul and Matt, I guess. But it was never the same. I think it just reminds him of that.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t…” She gestured toward the tree.
“Leave it. Give him something good to think about this holiday. I’ll be in touch about the job.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Annie closed the door behind her, and Dianna exhaled heavily and looked at the tree again. She debated only for another moment before pushing the doubts from her mind and focusing on the good that had come from Annie’s visit. She had a full-time job. Starting next Monday, she would once again have the means to take care of her kids.
Paul couldn’t help but smile as Dianna stepped out to greet him when he started up the stairs to his house. “That’s some grin,” he said, meeting her at his front door.
She chuckled. “I have news.”
He lifted his brows, but she shook her head.
“Let’s have a look around first,” she said. “I hope you like it.”
He looked past her at the now blue and white walls of his entryway. The vibe was immensely better already. “Wow. This is amazing.” He stepped inside, set his briefcase down, and wriggled out of his coat, which Dianna hung on a hook by the door while he kicked off his shoes and unbuttoned his suit coat.
They walked into the living room, and he stopped when he noticed the tree. He hadn’t planned on decorating for the holiday, but somehow it seemed right. She seemed nervous, so he gave her a smile and a reassuring nod.
She led him through the house, showing him the bathroom and his new bedroom. The colors were much more soothing, much more him. She’d made his house feel like a home again. “You did a great job, Di,” he said, looking at his new bedroom furniture. “I love it.”
“Well, come on. We still have to see the kitchen.”
“The kitchen.” He grinned. “You mean the source of that amazing smell?”
“Lasagna.”
“Oh, man. If you tell me that’s homemade, I’m going to have to declare this the best day of my life.” They walked into the kitchen, and he gasped dramatically. “No more lime-green walls.”
She grabbed a pot holder and opened the oven. “New dishes, too.”
“Nice. This is just amazing. Thank you.” He filled two wineglasses while she went to work on serving dinner. “Tell me your big news.”
She glanced back and bit her lip. “Annie stopped by—”
He stopped pouring and looked at her. “Oh, no.”
“No, it’s good. She liked what I did to the house and offered me a position.”
“Di—”
“It’s good, Paul.”
He sighed and bit back his warning. He didn’t want to rain on her parade, but Annie was far from easy to work for. Instead he nodded. “Congratulations.”
Her smile returned. “Thank you. Matt didn’t drive you crazy this week, did he?”
Paul had artfully sidestepped any conversation Matt had attempted to have about Dianna over the last week. He’d called and heard her voice and managed to keep it limited to “checking in” on how the redecorating was going. He hadn’t wanted Matt to know how much time he and Dianna were spending together. Actually, Paul hadn’t even realized it himself until he forcibly stayed away from her. He’d missed her over the last week—missed her laugh and her cooking and just being around her—and that was something he hadn’t wanted to admit to himself or his nosy brother.
He shrugged and shook his head as he dug into his lasagna. “No, he didn’t drive me too crazy.”
Chapter 10
“You didn’t have to do this,” Dianna said as she and Paul were led to a table at her favorite Italian restaurant.
Paul held out a chair for her. “I wanted to do this.”
She eased down. “Well, thank you. I appreciate it.”
He sat across from her. “So tell me more about your first day working with Annie.”
She shrugged. “There really isn’t more to tell. It was confusing at first, but I think by the end of the day I started to get the swing of things. I only dropped two calls, which Annie forgave me for, and I even got the appointment reminders out. I think I’m going to like it.”
When a waiter approached, Paul ordered an entire bottle of wine. Dianna almost protested, but something about his demeanor made her stop.
“I’ve been rambling on about my day. I haven’t even asked about yours yet.”
He shrugged and diverted his gaze. “I have a court date coming up, so I’ve been doing a lot of research and note-taking. Trust me, your day was much more interesting.”
She wanted to press but changed the subject instead. “So, Christmas is just around the corner. I thought maybe you’d like to come over for dinner. Unless you’re doing something with Toby and Sean.”
“No, I’ll see them Christmas Eve. Would, uh, would your boys mind?”
“I don’t think so. They have to go to Mitch’s after dinner, so it’s not like you’d be interfering with some great family tradition. Ham and all the fixings. Sound good?”
He nodded as he shifted his silverware on the table. “Sounds great. What time?”
“We usually eat about one.”
When their waiter returned, he filled their glasses with wine, set the bottle down, and asked for their order. Dianna chuckled as she realized they hadn’t even looked at their menus. She ordered eggplant parmesan, and Paul ordered lasagna.
His amusement faded quickly, though, and he swirled the liquid in his glass.
She reached out and took his hand. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, fine.”
She started to press, but he shook his head.
“I’m fine.”
Obviously he wasn’t but didn’t want to talk about it. “So, this friend of yours who bought my piano. Any idea when he wants it?”
