Dream A Little Dream

You're staying right here! Going to Florida is a harebrained idea. What kind of security would you have working for peanuts and relying on other people for the roof over your head?'

'That's what I do now,' she pointed out.

For a moment he seemed taken aback, then he made a harsh gesture with his hand. 'It's not the same thing at all. You have friends here.'

'I also have enemies.'

'That'll change once people get to know you and realize you're going to be part of the community.'

'How can I be part of the community? There aren't any opportunities for me here.'

'And you think there'll be opportunities for you working for an hourly wage in some cheap Florida gift shop?'

She turned away from him. 'I'm sure it's not cheap, and I don't want to argue with you about this. I have to go.'

'No.'

'Please. Don't make it any harder.' She walked over to the lawn chair and clutched it for support. The nylon webbing scratched her palm. 'Kayla can run the snack shop. I'll work through next weekend, so she has time to get her bearings and you can find someone to help her.'

'I don't give a damn about the snack shop!'

She wanted to point out how very true that was, but she held her tongue. In the aviary, Tweety Bird kept up his high-pitched cheeping. Who but Gabe would have gone to so much trouble to rescue a sparrow?

He jammed his hands into his pockets as if they'd become his enemies. 'You're not going to Florida.'

'I don't have any choice.'

'Yes, you do.' He paused and glared at her. The line of his jaw grew more stubborn. 'We're going to get married.'

Her heart skipped a beat, then began to hammer. She stared at him. 'Married? What are you talking about?'

'Just what I said.' He pulled his hands out of his pockets and stalked toward her, his expression belligerent. 'We get along. There's no reason why we shouldn't get married.'

'Gabe, you don't love me.'

'I care a hell of a lot more about you than G. Dwayne ever did!'

He was breaking her heart. 'I know you do. But I can't marry you.'

'Give me one good reason.'

'I already did. The best reason of all.'

Something helpless flickered in his eyes. 'What do you want from me?'

She wanted what he'd given Cherry and Jamie, but it would be cruel to say that. And what was the point? He already understood: 'Nothing more than you've already given me.'

But he wouldn't be put off. 'I can take care of you. Once we're married, you won't have to worry about where your next meal's coming from or what'll happen if you get sick.' He paused. 'You'll have security for Edward.'

That wasn't fair. He knew she'd sell her soul for her son, and she fought back tears. At the same time she realized this was something they finally had to talk about. 'You have to know that's the biggest reason I can't do this. There are different kinds of security. Spending his childhood with a man who dislikes him is worse for Edward than poverty.' There. It was finally out in the open.

'I don't dislike him.' But he wouldn't meet her eyes, and his voice lacked conviction.

'I'm being honest with you. Do the same for me.'

With his back to her, he moved toward the aviary. 'It's just going to take a little time, that's all. You want everything to happen instantly.'

'You dislike him as much now as the day you first saw him.' Her resentment bubbled over. 'And it's so unfair. He can't help the fact that he's not Jamie.'

He whirled around. 'Don't you think I haven't told myself that a thousand times?' He drew a ragged breath, struggling for control. 'Look, just give it some time and it'll work out. I know I've taken you by surprise, but once you think it over, you'll realize our getting married is the best thing.'

She wanted to curl up in some dark corner and howl. Instead, she forced herself to stay where she was and finish this. 'I'm not going to change my mind. I won't marry you. Kristy already called her parents, and they're going to send me two bus tickets. I'll work next weekend, and then Edward and I are leaving for Florida.'

'No!'

Both of them jumped as Edward came running around the corner of the house, tears streaming down his face.

The bottom dropped out of her stomach. What had she done? She'd planned to break the news gently, not like this.

20

'I don't want to go to Flor'da!' Tears streamed down Edward's flushed cheeks. He flailed his arms and stomped his feet. 'We're going to stay here! We're not going! We're staying here!'

'Oh, sweetheart.' She rushed to him and tried to put her arms around him, but he batted them away. For the first time since he'd been a toddler, he was caught in the throes of a full-fledged temper tantrum.

'We live here!' he screamed. 'We live right here, and I'm not going!' He whirled toward Gabe. 'This is all your fault! I hate you!'

Once again, she tried to embrace him. 'Sweetheart, let me explain. Settle down so we can talk about this.'

He sprang away and hurled himself at Gabe, hitting him in the knees. 'This is your fault! You're making us go!'

Gabe regained his balance and caught Edward by the shoulders. 'No! I don't want you to go! I'm not making you go.'

Edward punched the side of his leg. 'Yes, you are!'

Gabe caught his fists. 'Calm down, Chip, and let your mother talk.'

But Edward wouldn't be appeased. Once again he began to stomp his feet. 'You hate me, and I know why!'

'I don't hate you.'

'Yes, you do! You hate me because I'm not strong.'

'Chip…' Gabe regarded Rachel helplessly, but she didn't know what to do any more than he did.

Edward jerked away and flew to Rachel's side. No longer yelling, he gulped for air between sobs. 'Don't you… marry him, Mommy. You marry… Pastor Ethan!'

She squatted next to him, appalled that he'd overheard that part of their conversation. 'Oh, Edward, I'm not going to marry anyone.'

'Yes! Marry… Pastor Ethan. Then we… we can stay here.'

'Pastor Ethan doesn't want to marry me, baby.'

Once again she tried to embrace him, but he pushed away. 'I'll tell him to!'

'You can't tell grown-ups something like that.'

A wrenching sob. 'Then marry… Rosie's daddy. I like him. He calls… me Chip and… he gave me a… head rub.'

'Rosie's daddy is married to Rosie's mom. Edward, I'm not going to marry anybody.'

Once again, Edward turned back to Gabe, but this time he didn't attack. His chest spasmed in hiccups of emotion. 'If my mom… marries you, do we gets to… stay here?'

Gabe hesitated. 'It's not that easy, Chip.'

'You live here, don't you?'