Her Daughter’s Dream

Mom fixed turkey with all the trimmings, but Dawn didn’t feel like eating. As soon as everyone finished, Mom started clearing platters. Mitch, Papa, and Christopher went into the family room to watch football. Granny stayed to help clear the table. “You’ve been quiet all evening.”

“I just have a lot on my mind.” Dawn stacked Villeroy & Boch dinner dishes and headed for the kitchen. She didn’t feel like talking about Jason or his mother. She wondered if he was having a good time with Kim. His mother probably would have no problem with Jason going out with Pastor Daniel’s daughter. Mom positioned herself at the sink so Granny couldn’t step in and wash anything. The dishwasher door yawned, wide-open, from the wall on the other side.

Granny asked what she could do to help. Mom suggested she go relax with Papa and Mitch and Christopher; everything would be done in a few minutes.

“What about the pies? I could cut the pies,” Granny insisted.

Dawn wanted to scream at both of them. Why couldn’t Mom give in and Granny shut up?

The doorbell rang. Relieved, Dawn said she’d go, then fled the kitchen.

“Don’t just open the door,” Granny called after her. “Check the peephole first.”

Jason stood on the front door stoop. He looked like a GQ model in his navy blue sports jacket and gray slacks. He’d loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt collar. Her insides knotted. He was clearly upset. “Jason.” Her voice came out breathy. “I thought you were going to the Archers’.”

“I did. I left.” He stepped closer. “Dawn, I-”

“Ask him in.” Mitch spoke from behind her. “Jason.” He extended his hand in welcome. “Come on into the family room. Dawn’s grandparents are visiting.”

Jason winced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your Thanksgiving. I should’ve called first.”

“I’m glad you came,” Dawn said quickly.

“We’ve already finished eating or we would’ve invited you to join us.” Mitch put his hand on Jason’s shoulder and half pushed him toward the family room. “Dawn? Are you coming? You can make the introductions.”

Jason’s arrival distracted Granny from trying to help Mom. Papa shook hands with him. Mitch told Jason to sit and relax. Dawn sat beside him, every nerve stretched tight while Papa asked questions like a police detective. Granny told him to stop interrogating the boy. Mitch seemed to be enjoying the scene. Mom came out of the kitchen and sat. She listened and watched, but didn’t say anything.

Dawn gave Mitch a pleading look. How long did they have to sit and make small talk before they could escape and Jason could tell her why he had come?

Christopher provided the way when he insisted Jason had to see his latest LEGO creation. Thankful, Dawn followed and sat on Christopher’s bed while Jason hunkered down and admired Christopher’s castle and knights. Her little brother chattered on and on about King Arthur and Sir Lancelot, Galahad, Gawain, and Perceval. When Jason glanced at her, Dawn rolled her eyes. “Mom’s reading him a book on the knights of the Round Table.”

“You want to see it?” Christopher jumped up.

Jason straightened. “Maybe another time, Chris. I came to talk to your sister.”

Dawn preceded him down the hall. “We can use the library.” The double pocket doors were open. As Jason moved into the center of the room, she closed them quietly. He stood on the yellow and blue Aubusson rug. He glanced around at the mahogany bookcases with colorful amphoras and expensive American Indian pottery tucked in here and there. When he turned, his expression was pained. “I keep forgetting…”

She came toward him, drinking in the sight of him. He had left the Archers and his mother and driven all the way to Alexander Valley on Thanksgiving to see her. That had to mean something, didn’t it? “Forgetting what?”

He shook his head. “It shouldn’t matter, but it does.” His gaze swept the room again, pointedly, and she understood.

“It doesn’t matter.” Dawn stood right in front of him. “I’m sorry I hung up on you.” She lowered her voice. “I was upset.”

“I know.”

“Do you want to sit down?”

“No.” He reached out, his hand sliding down her arm and taking hold of her hand. He toyed with her fingers. When she looked at him, he let go and stepped away. Sitting on the couch, he rested his forearms on his knees.

Dawn sat beside him. “What happened?” She put her hand on his arm.

“We weren’t there five minutes before Pastor Daniel invited me into his office. When he closed the door, I knew something was up. He picked up right where Mom left off on our drive over, and I saw red. I asked if Mom had asked him to talk to me. He said she had concerns. He started talking about how he met his wife. I know all that. He didn’t even date until he was a senior in college. He met her in class and didn’t ask her out until he’d asked around about her and knew she loved the Lord as much as he did. They didn’t kiss until they were engaged. I didn’t want to hear the whole story again.” He raked his hands into his hair and held his head. “I lost it.”

“What did you say?”

He looked at her bleakly. “I asked him whatever happened to trusting in the Lord, and then I left.”

“What about your mother?”

“She’s still there.” He grimaced. “I can imagine what she’s going to say.” He came to his feet as though he couldn’t bear to sit still any longer. “I’ve never done anything like that before. I don’t know what’s the matter with me. I’m going to have to go back and apologize.” He stood at the window, looking out. “And if they find out I came here to see you, it’s going to make things a hundred times worse.”

His words hit like a punch to her stomach. “Oh.” She closed her eyes tightly, fighting tears. “I guess they don’t like me very much.”

Jason turned around to face her again. “They’re just trying to protect us.”

“Not us, Jason.” She blinked away tears. “You. They don’t think I’m good enough.”

Someone tapped on the door and slid one side open. Mitch held out the phone. “Your mother wants to speak with you, Jason.”

Jason’s face darkened as he took the telephone and walked over to the window again, facing out. Mitch pushed the pocket doors into the walls and motioned Dawn over. “Leave the doors open.”

Dawn glared at him. “We’re not doing anything!”

His gaze narrowed. “Maybe not, but emotions are running a little too high in here.”

Jason came back and handed the telephone to Mitch. “Thanks, Mr. Hastings.”

“Everything okay?”

“Just some things that need sorting out.” Tense, angry, Jason said he had to leave. He apologized to Mitch for the interruption and went into the family room to say good-bye to Mom and tell Granny and Papa it was a pleasure meeting them. Frustrated and worried about whatever his mom had said, Dawn walked with him to the front door. “Will I see you at all this weekend?”

He took her hand. Out of sight of the others, he didn’t pretend he wasn’t upset. “I doubt it. I’ll probably be grounded.”

“And it’s my fault.”

“No, it isn’t. This has been brewing for a long time. It’s got nothing to do with you, Dawn.” He leaned down and whispered, “Can I kiss you?” She said please. His mouth was firm and warm, moving tentatively over hers. When he straightened, she drew in a shaky breath. They stared at one another, and then he stepped closer and kissed her again. His arms slid around her, and she felt his heart pounding against hers. At the sound of footsteps, they broke apart, panting softly, shocked that their feelings could skyrocket so fast. He stared at her, eyes dark, face flushed. “I’ll call you.” He went quickly out the door, closing it behind him.

Dawn turned and found her mother standing in the archway. “Is everything all right?”

Heart pounding, body swimming with sensation, Dawn shrugged. “No. Not really.” Not yet, anyway, but things were going to change. She felt ecstatic and triumphant. When Jason kissed her the second time, she knew his mother and Pastor Daniel wouldn’t be able to keep them apart.