When I’m With You by Sandi Lynn
Chapter 28
Paisley
I packed a bag and Romeo, and I spent the night over my parents’ house so I could help my mom cook. I rolled over on my full-size bed and opened my eyes. When I looked at red numbers on the clock, it read six fifteen. Sadness and despair washed over me as I remembered this day last year.
“Time to get up, sleepy head,” he said as he softly stroked my cheek with his finger.
“Ten more minutes.”
“You can have your ten minutes, but you won’t be using them to sleep. I need to properly wish you a happy Thanksgiving, my love.”
Tears began to fall down my face as I felt like I was entering into a panic attack. My heart was palpitating. My body was shaking, and it felt like my throat was closing up. I couldn’t catch my breath. I knocked over the lamp on my nightstand and it crashed to the ground. Before I knew it, the door flung open and Keaton ran in, quickly closing it behind him before running over to me and clasping my shoulders.
“Take a deep breath, Paisley. Deep breath. Come on. Breathe with me.”
As I stared into his eyes and focused on his words, I took in a deep breath and slowly began to calm down.
“That’s it,” he whispered as he slowly nodded his head.
Once my breathing returned to normal, Keaton wrapped his arms around me. “I’m glad you stayed the night. I knew something like this was going to happen, being it’s your first Thanksgiving.”
I sniffled as he broke the embrace. “Don’t do this to yourself, sis. You’re moving on and you’re not alone. There is a house full of people who love you and another on his way.” He smiled.
A small laugh escaped my mouth as I grabbed a tissue from the nightstand and wiped my eyes. “Don’t say that.”
“I’m sure he does in a friend way. Okay, I really think in another way, but I’m certainly not going to tell you that.” He winked.
I lightly smacked him on the chest. “Thank you, little brother.”
“Dry your eyes, shower, do whatever because I think I hear Mom in the kitchen already.”
“Is anyone coming over that I should know about?”
“Nope. It’s just me. I wanted to talk to you last night, but when I got in, you were already asleep.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Elena and I called it quits for good. She’s fucking some other guy and she said she has feelings for him. Whatever. I think we’re better off as friends anyway. We met last night for a drink and sorted out our shit.”
“I’m sorry, Keaton. I know you really cared for her.”
“I do still care for her and I always will. It just wasn’t meant to be. No worries, sis. I’m Keaton Stanford, remember?” He grinned. “I’ll be just fine. There are many other women who are waiting to ride my big—”
“Okay, that’s enough. I’m going to jump in the shower. Tell Mom I’ll be down soon.”
“Fuck that. I’m going back to bed.”
He jumped up from the bed and went back to his room. I sighed and stepped into the shower.
* * *
Ben
I took Leah in the garage and showed her the dining room set I built. She smiled as she ran her fingers lightly over one of the chairs and then started to sign.
This is beautiful. Did you sell it?
A woman in San Francisco bought it.
That’s great. What’s next?
You know my sofa table? I’m going to build one for Paisley. She really liked it.
Leah smiled. That’s nice of you. I think you like her.
I do. She’s an amazing woman.
Just as I said that, my phone rang, and it was Paisley. I smiled as I answered and said hello.
“Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Happy Thanksgiving. I was going to text you in a little bit. In fact, I was just talking about you to Leah.”
“Good things, I hope.”
“Of course. There’s not a bad thing I could say about you, even if I wanted to.”
“My mom said to be here around two o’clock because that’s when the appetizers will be served.”
“I’m looking forward to it, Paisley. How are you today?” I asked sincerely.
“I’m okay. We can talk about that later. I’ll see you around two.”
“See you soon.”
It’s good to see you smile again, Ben, Leah signed when I looked up from my phone.
We have to be at Paisley’s by two. Should we bring something?
I can make mini tarts. They don’t take long. We can run to the store and get the ingredients.
What kind of tarts?
We can make chocolate, pumpkin, and cherry. She smiled.
Sounds fun. Can I help?
She laughed. Yes. I would like your help.
I grabbed my keys and we took a quick trip to the local grocery store and bought the ingredients for the tarts. As I was helping Leah make the tarts, my phone rang. It was my dad.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Dad,” I answered.
“Happy Thanksgiving. I heard you have a visitor.”
Damn, Finn.
“Yeah, I do,” I said.
“Were you going to tell me that my daughter was in town?”
His attitude angered me. He never cared before, so why now? I walked into the other room so Leah couldn’t read my lips.
“I was going to call you and Mom tomorrow. But I guess my brother beat me to it.”
“She can come with us to Santa Barbara. I already talked to your mother about it.”
“No. She’s spending Thanksgiving with me and Paisley’s family. If she wanted to spend it with you, then she would have.”
“Fine. Have a happy Thanksgiving, son.”
I pressed the end button and composed myself before walking back into the kitchen. Leah looked at me as she took the tarts out of the oven.
Are you okay?
Yeah. That was just Dad. He said happy Thanksgiving and he wanted to know if you wanted to go to Santa Barbara with them.
She shook her head no.
I know. I told him we already had plans.
I don’t want to see any of them while I’m here.
A look of despair swept over her face as she signed. I walked over to her and grabbed her hands for a minute before signing.
He’s your dad and you should see him at least once. I’ll go with you.
Immediately, she changed the subject and pointed to the tarts.
They look delicious. Paisley’s mom is going to love them.
I looked at the time on the stove. It was one fifteen. You should start getting ready. We have to leave in a half hour.
She gave me a nod as she walked out of the kitchen. I sat at down at the table, fuming inside about that phone call.
