Crain's Landing (39 page)

He gave me a long look and I noticed his shoulders relax, as well. “Well, we are just thrilled to have you here. You have brought so many positive things to this little community and we hope to keep you around for a long time.”

I smiled at his kind words.

“Well then, Mr. Dorchester, I will expect to see you, and your beautiful bride, here next weekend for a craft and baked goods bizarre.”

Over the next week, Grant and I were together every night. He would either be sitting in the living room waiting or he would just walk right in when he arrived. I began to really enjoy having him to cuddle with every night. He was an amazing cook and took care of the little things for me—laundry, cleaning the bathroom, and charging my cell phone.

It was the night before the bizarre and we were all piled on the couch watching
Ice Age
. Peyton was passed out after the first fifteen minutes, so Grant and I took advantage and began making out like teenagers.

“She loves having you here, you know.”

He was kissing and nibbling my neck as I tried to turn off the television. “I love being here with the two of you, although my house is bigger and has more toys.” His eyebrows wiggled.

I laughed at his antics; this wasn’t the first time he had mentioned his house being better than mine. “Really? You think a game room and a huge big screen television on the wall, plus a pool and all of that land you have in the back yard, is better than my little house?”

He leaned back and looked me in the eyes. “Sweetheart, I have told you before, I want you two to live in that house with me. Peyton would have a play room and you would have an office. Plus, I know you are in love with my kitchen.”

He was right, I loved his house. It was spacious and the appliances were top of the line. However, I still had several months left on my lease and I wouldn’t do that to Carolyn.

“Grant, we have had this discussion. I’m not...”

His finger across my lips silenced me. “I know, you don’t want to hurt my mother, but what if you weren’t her tenant? What if you were to become her daughter-in-law?”

I grabbed his hand and removed it from my lips. “Was that you idea of a proposal?” My tone clipped and harsh.

“Whoa, slow down there, Reid. I was just asking a question, not
the
question.”

I looked at him with stern eyes. “Better not be, I’m holding you to the proposal that will keep the town talking.”

“No, I told you I will ask you when the time is right. I just wanted to give you the invitation to move in with me, that’s all.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Yes, well for the final time, thanks but no thanks. I have more than me to consider and that would send the wrong message to Peyton.”

Grant pulled me into his arms. “You’re right and I do respect your wishes, but make no mistake, I want us to always be together.”

“Well then, Dr. Crain, I guess you had better consider asking me a very important question.”

I had no idea that so many people would show up to the bizarre. I was floored to see all of the amazing crafts and baked goods. There was a guy who came from Charleston to sell his handmade wooden doll houses and rocking chairs. I tried to buy Peyton a dollhouse, but Carolyn and Martin beat me to it. Grant had the man making him six rocking chairs for his back porch.

Another lady made the most beautiful lap blankets, I had to grab a few of them. Carolyn was right behind me and took the remaining blankets for herself. She planned to take them to a homeless shelter and donate them.

The room with the baked goods smelled heavenly. I had to remind myself to stay out of there before I gained a hundred pounds. I watched as every merchant in there wanted Martin and Grant to try a bite of their goods. Poor Grant had to go and lie down in my office and let his stomach settle. All in all it was a huge success and several of the ladies wanted to make it a monthly event.

Once I got Peyton into bed that night, which was quite a job considering the sugar high that Carolyn let her get, I relaxed next to Grant on the couch with a glass of wine. I had my laptop open and he was going over some patient files. I was never much of a news watcher; I would pick and choose what information I wanted to read about. I clicked on Google news and began my daily scanning of the highlights.

“Oh, my God!” I strung the words out slowly. Grant removed his glasses and looked at my computer screen.

“Holy shit!” Grant responded as he saw the same title I did.

Arrest made in New York City has South Carolina Ties

Atlanta officials have been busy making a case against Evan Tucker for human trafficking. However, a recent crime stoppers tip landed not only the guilty party, but also the tipper in jail.

Last Monday, national news channels broadcasted that an arrest had been made in Atlanta. Authorities asked for anyone with information about the case to call crime stoppers. Jackie Forrester, age forty-seven, from Hikers Cove, Oregon, phoned the eight hundred number claiming she knew the exact whereabouts of the person in charge of handling the immigrant girls smuggled in from Asian countries.

Local police and federal agents took the information from Ms. Forrester and did indeed find a warehouse located in New York harbor, that had approximately one hundred newly arriving Asian women, sitting in cages, waiting to be transported around the country. Holden Spencer was arrested by police and is said to be in a partnership with Evan Tucker.

Ms. Forrester was instructed she was entitled to the reward that was advertised. When she arrived at police headquarters, she was read her rights and booked into the local jail.

Ms. Forrester is wanted in several states for extortion. She is accused of selling her baby to a number of couples. No baby was ever delivered to the couples after the money exchanged hands. A medical examiner reports that Ms. Forrester is unable to have children due to a hysterectomy.

Federal prosecutors are in the process of transferring Mr. Spencer to a federal prison to await trial. When questioned as to why Ms. Forrester chose to turn in her live in boyfriend, Holden Spencer, she responded he had made her angry by not getting her what she wanted. She felt she could take the money from the Feds and start over.

CAROLYN HAD INVITED US OVER
for Thanksgiving dinner. She was the most excited I have ever seen her. Grant said this was the norm for her. She loved holidays, not only the big ones, but even the made up Hallmark holidays. He told me that growing up she was the team mom, as well as the homeroom mother. Knowing Carolyn as I did, I knew this to be true. She was inspiring in that gentle and loving, motherly way.

I had volunteered to help her get the food ready a few days prior. I had no idea the extent she went to in order to get ready for dinner. The entire house was being scrubbed from top to bottom. She had venders from different crafts in the house, making certain everything was in working order. I had to roll my eyes at her and chuckle because who called the plumber to look at your toilet when it was working fine?

She was in the process of changing her drapes in the large dining room to match her table scape. I couldn't even respond as she was helping the painter giving the chair rail the final touch up. You would think that with the amount of projects she was currently juggling, she would be biting off heads, but you would be wrong. She was practically dancing with excitement. Her joy seemed to be contagious as everyone who was working was laughing and having the time of their lives.

By the time I had finished the ten pies she’d asked me to bake, I had to admit I was completely exhausted. Grant and Martin arrived from the hospital at the same time.

“Hello, beautiful.” Martin and Grant announced at the same time. I hummed as Grant placed a sweet kiss to my lips.

“Carolyn, the house looks even better than last year.” Martin was looking around the living room as he held Carolyn tightly in his arms.

I looked at the two of them, feeling a twinge of jealousy. After all the years they’d been together, they were still so much in love. I could only imagine the trials they’d had to face; it seemed as though it only served to make them stronger. In this day and age of disposable marriage, it was wonderful to see something that had stood the test of time. Something, I had decided, I wanted for myself.

“If you could all excuse me, I am going to change and get ready for pizza.” Martin announced as he kissed Carolyn again and made his way up the stairs.

Carolyn had informed me it was a tradition in the Crain house that the night before any holiday, she allowed the children to order pizza to be delivered to the house. I could completely agree with her as the amount of work that had happened today was enough to inspire a quick meal I didn’t have to prepare.

Grant had changed before he left the office, so he excused himself to get a drink from the kitchen. When he returned, the front door swung open and three excited children came running in, all screaming at the same time.

“Uncle Grant!”

“Daddy!”

The look on Grant’s face was of excitement and joy. He truly loved having children around him. I felt the stirring of longing to give him a child of his own. A special mix of the love we had for each other, with his amazing looks and my love for the written word. That would be something we would need to discuss in the future—a future I was certain I wanted with Grant and Peyton.

Martin returned to his own cheering section as the grandchildren surrounded him. His face was nearly as happy as Grant’s, as he scooped all three up and began to give group hugs and kisses.

The pizza arrived a few minutes later in the hands of Lily. Morgan was like a hound dog after a fresh bone, as he followed her into the house, and then to the kitchen. I laughed as Lily smacked his hand several times when he tried to lift one of the boxes. It was when she smacked him upside the back of his head, that I nearly peed my pants when he shouted, “Jesus Christ, Woman! You're going to give me brain damage hitting me that hard.”

“Too late, Morgan, you were damaged before I ever got you.”

We set the children in their chairs and had their plates ready. Martin sat at the head of the table and took several bites of his pizza before he spoke. “Grant, I got an unsettling email from Dr. Brenner in New England.” Grant’s eyes flashed to his father, while he continued to cut another piece of pizza for Peyton. “It seems your old attending, Dr. Henderson, was killed in a car accident.” Grant stopped cutting the pizza and looked off into the distance. His face told the story of where his mind was. He was visiting a time before I came into his world.

“Oh dear, I should call his wife and express our condolences.” Carolyn’s words not enough to bring Grant back from his memories. Whatever he was currently reliving, it was a significant enough memory to keep his focus.

“When was the last you spoke with him, Grant?’

“Daddy, can I have it now?” Peyton’s pleading voice was the magic sound that shut the door to his thoughts.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, here is your pizza.” He gently kissed the top of her head as he turned his attention back to his father. “I’m sorry, Dad, you were saying?”