Slow Ride (Riding with Honor) (19 page)

“Starbucks on the table…
come on out and get some… when you’re done… getting some.” he said as his voice faded down the hallway.

“He is extremely inappropriate…
does he spend much time with Gretchen?” she laughed as Tommy kissed her again.

“It’s sad that a grown man’s BFF is a 5 year old little girl.  I think he worships the dirt she grinds him in
,” he said. “Can I see you later?”

“Yea, I’d like that
,” she said as he headed for the bathroom.  She found her jeans from the night before and dressed as best she could before going in search of the coffee Chuck had brought.

She heard the shower turn on as she entered the kitchen.  Chuck sat at the table eating a bowl of cereal as though it was his last meal and thumbing through a motorcycle magazine.  He didn’t even look up at her when she entered.

“Sorry about all that…he
never
brings women… here,” he said finally glancing up at her and then back to the magazine when he realized what he’d said.

Finding the coffee
, she sat across from him and stared.  As worked often with her students she watched his whole demeanor change and then finally, “Sorry,” he said sheepishly.

She laughed and he looked up and laughed with her.  He was quite attractive for a younger man even with his tattoos and clothing that made him appear like…
a thug.
  He screamed bad boy a little differently than Tommy but not any less.

“So the hordes of women have to go elsewhere…
he only shares
his
bed with you and I… is that what you are saying, Chuck?”  She asked.

He howled with laughter.  “That’s awesome!  But no…
now that you mentioned it since you showed up I’ve been making booty calls alone… you got my boy on a short leash or something,” he said, shaking his head but smiling at her “You going to beat him over the head and drag him to the alter like Lilly done Bobby?”

“I don’t know about that…” Dana said with a smile. 

“
I still want you to be here with the girls…with me.
”

Being with Tommy had changed everything.  At least it had for her.  She didn’t want to take things too fast for fear it wouldn’t last. 

“Can I see you later?”

Pushing the thought aside
, she sipped her coffee.  Chuck watched her expression as though reading her every thought until she looked away from him.  Standing up, he got a bowl and spoon and set it down in front of her and shoved the cereal, obviously purchased with Gretchen in mind, toward her.

“Well
, you and Tommy may not know it yet but I do… that’s where this is headed.  I’ve seen it before with Bobby,” he said around mouthfuls of cereal.

“S…Seen what?”
she stammered.

“Love or whatever that shit is
,” Chuck replied pouring himself some more cereal.  “I’m good with it though… he’s a good guy… a good dad.  He deserves someone that will be good to him and the girls.  I’ll even put up with all the love songs and shit he’s been working on because you make him happy.”

She poured a small amount of cereal into the bowl and poured milk over it and took a few bites just staring at Chuck.  Somehow this was a more in-depth look at Tommy.

“Love songs?” she prompted when he became engrossed, staring closely at a motorcycle in one of the magazine pictures.

“Tommy taught me how to play guitar a couple of years ago and I do pretty well but drawing and painting is more
my
thing.  Music
is
Tommy.  It’s how he talks about his feelings and shit.  Since you came on the scene he’s all sappy love songs or songs about sex…” he finished clearing his throat and after a quick glance he went back to the magazine.

The song Tommy sang to her in the hospital came to mind.  What had he meant by that?  Thinking back she realized he’d been humming the same tune in the shower last night.

She hadn’t realized the shower had shut off while she and Chuck had sat eating cereal and talking until Tommy strolled into the kitchen with his boots in hand. 

He smiled at her and she wanted to wrap herself in him and never let go.  Chuck finished up his second bowl of cereal and then picked up her bowl and spoon and began rinsing and putting them in the dishwasher.

“Looks like I’m in the wedding too.” Chuck said to Tommy then turning to her he said “Oh yea, you should call Lilly, she’s all freaked out about not having an even amount of groomsmen and bridesmaids.  She tried to call you but obviously you were busy,” he said with an inappropriate gesture.

Pulling her purse
over to her from where she’d set it last night, she dug around until she found her cell phone.  The screen showed three missed calls from Lilly.

“I should get going
,” she said.

“I’ll call you later
,” he said and leaned over to kiss her.

“Lilly?” s
he said into her cell phone as she pulled up in front of her apartment.

“Oh
, Dana, thank you for calling me back… I knew you were busy at your reunion last night but I have to talk to you.  Can you come by Gran’s?” she asked.

“Well I actually need to talk to you too but I need to get cleaned up and visit Melody first…” Dana said
.

“Ok
, well I need a huge favor…” she said. “I realize we haven’t actually known each other that long but I feel like I’ve known you forever.  Bobby’s best man will be Tommy but he wants Chuck to stand up with him too.  Dickie is walking me down the aisle because both my parents are gone…”

“I’m sorry
,” she said.

“Thanks
.  It was years ago but I miss them terrible right about now.  Anyways my sister Sherri is my Maid of Honor but I need another bridesmaid…” she said breathlessly.

“You…you want me to be in your wedding?”
she asked.

“Yea
, I really do.  It’s in three weeks…Please, Dana?” she asked.

“Of course, I’d be honored
,” she replied.

“I have another fitting this afternoon, if you can meet me at the dress shop we could see about your dress at the same time…” Lilly suggested
.

“Sounds great, I’ll meet you there
,” she replied.

Her visit with Melody was wonderful.  It was hard to believe
this was the same baby.  A few days shy of being a month old, the infant no longer appeared to be at death’s door banging upon it soundly. 

Instead she was beginning to fill out though she was still very tiny at only a little over three pounds.  Looking at her
, she could only imagine that this was what Gretchen must have looked like when she was first born.

Melody’s
solid and steady weight gain was going so well that Dana noticed someone had put her in a preemie outfit.  The nurses had pictures of her taped to one side of her incubator.  Melody was definitely Tommy’s daughter with her obvious love of music, and the trademark dimple that was more apparent with her weight gain. 

As she
pulled out of the hospital parking garage it dawned on her how Melody’s room should be decorated and vowed to do some shopping after she met up with Lilly.

When
she parked in front of the dress shop she noticed Lilly in the window holding Gretchen’s hand.  She had missed the child and upon seeing her enter the store Gretchen released Lilly’s hand and ran over to her.

“Miss Atkinson!  Guess what?  I’m going to be in the talent show at school!”
she exclaimed, hugging Dana around the waist.

“How wonderful
, Gretchen!” she said, hugging her back.

“I’m also the flower girl in the wedding.  Want to see my dress?”
she asked.

The rest of the afternoon seemed to fly by as they talked about the upcoming wedding and found a dress that would both match the Maid of Honor and could be adjusted to work for
her.

“Your Daddy asked me for help decorating Melody’s room.  I wondered if you might want to go with me to look and see what we can find
,” she asked Gretchen.

“Ok, but my
Chuckie painted my room,” Gretchen supplied.

“I have his number if you want to call him
,” Lilly offered. “He’s quite good.”

“He and Tommy went this morning to get dress clothes for Chuck’s court appearance next week
,” she said. “I will call Tommy and have him talk to Chuck about it.  I was thinking of maybe musical notes on the walls and music related decorations.  What do you think?”

“That’s perfect!” Lilly laughed.  “I could go with you if you want.  The guys are probably at the shop working on the custom bikes.”

They left the dress shop and headed to a novelty store where she found a lamp shade with musical notes and a rug as well.  Then they went to a fabric store and found some fabric that Lilly assured her Edna could use to make some curtains and a comforter for the crib.  It was exciting to think that in a month or less the baby would possibly be coming home. 
Home?

As they left the store Lilly said
, “Come back to Gran’s.  The guys are all there…even Tommy.  We can get something to eat and then Gretchen can stay with us until after you all visit Melody,” she finished with a wink.

“Sounds like fun
,” she said.

Gretchen had insisted that she get to ride with Dana and as they pulled up to the small house and got out of the car she could hear the guys in the back yard laughing loudly.  Gretchen raced around to the back of the house and
Dana caught Lilly’s arm.

“Tommy showed up at my high school reunion last night.  I don’t suppose you had anything to do with that?”
she smiled at Lilly.

“I only helped in picking out his clothes
,” Lilly smiled back.

“I spent the night with him…”
she blurted.

“Oh my God!” Lilly smiled and then reining it in she said
, “Are you regretting it?”

“No! Not at all.  I…I…think I’m in love with him
,” Dana said, looking away from her.  “I know I haven’t known him that long but…I
do
…love him.”

“Do you think he loves you?” Lilly asked
.

“I think so…
there is this connection with him.  I can’t explain it.  The problem is that right before…” she said, giving Lilly a pointed look, “I think he asked me to move in with him.  I’m not sure if it was a heat of the moment thing or if he really meant it.”

“I think you need to talk to him
, ask him what he wants from you.  He owes you that much at least,” Lilly said. “How did he say it?”

“Well he took me on a tour of his house and then basically said that he wanted me there and that if I didn’t want a relationship…with him
, that I could have his room and he would add a room in the basement for himself,” she replied.

Lilly looked at her
clearly shocked. “Ok back up…he took you to
his
house?  Then he tells you that he wants you to be there and you can have his room if you don’t want to be with him as long as you stay?”

“Yes and if things between us hadn’t been so…”
she blushed with a smile. “I would have worried that he only wanted me there to help with the girls.”

“I can assure you that it is more than just needing a babysitter for the girls.  Talk to him.  If there is one thing I learned with Bobby it is rather than assuming something it’s best just to ask.  They are fun, sweet and wild but also a little over the top sometimes
,” Lilly said.

“That is
so
true,” she smiled.

As they made their way into the house they found Gran finishing up some potato salad and baked beans.  They showed her the material for the curtains and rather than saying anything she simply took the fabric from Lilly’s hand and then put
a hand to Dana’s cheek.

She and Lilly finished up the food preparations and took it outside t
o a picnic table the guys had set up underneath a lawn tent. 

She was surprised to see Tommy’s attorney there talking with Dickie, while Chuck rode Gretchen around on his shoulders.  Bobby and Tommy were talking and grilling the food.

Looking over he caught her eye and smiled.  She caught her breath just as she heard Lilly do the same when Bobby turned and scowled at her.  Tommy’s lopsided grin made her weak in the knees and made her remember all that had happened last night between them.

After laying out the food on the table Lilly walked over to Bobby and he grabbed her by the back of her neck and kissed her.  Dana looked away from them only to find Tommy with the same smile on his face as he continu
ed to stare at her, his gaze raking over her like a white hot flame.

Edna stuck her head out the door and yelled for Bobby to come and get the paper plates and buns she held in her hand.