Page 37 of Say Yes

Sara did a double take. “Gavin told me he had a wonderful childhood!”

“Oh, I’m sure he did. Still, there were plenty of times when he thought I was picking on him. All the kids have accused me of having a favorite, or treating them unfairly at one time or another. That’s all part of being a child, I suppose. Kids view the world through a narrow lens, never noticing all the outlying problems that parents might have to deal with. Their feelings get hurt, and they think we don’t care, when actually, we didn’t even realize how they were feeling.”

Sara thought of her parents’ divorce, and how distracted they both became after that. Then she shook her head. “I understand what you’re saying, Mrs. Blake. But my parents really didn’t care.”

“I can’t believe that. No, you’re a very nice girl, and children seldom get to be that way without some love and guidance.”

The grin tugged at her lips, but Sara held it back. “What makes you so certain I’m a nice girl?”

“Gavin’s with you, isn’t he? And even though I have to admit to making mistakes, I know I didn’t raise any dummies.” She softened those words by asking, “Have you ever told your parents how you feel?”

“Well…no. There would be no point to it.”

“Have you called them and invited them over? Do you try to go see them?”

Again, all Sara could do was shake her head.

“You know, honey, they could be thinking back on the past, seeing things now that they couldn’t see then, and wondering if you could possibly still love them.” Nora patted her cheek. “I have no idea what problems you had with your parents, but why don’t you think about it? And remember that nobody’s perfect, parents least of all.”

Sara remembered those words the rest of the day. They kept coming back to her, over and over again. She realized she wanted to believe there might be some chance. She wanted the kind of relationship she’d just witnessed between Gavin and his family. That would be stretching it a bit, but perhaps there would be something, some closeness, to work with if she only initiated it.

She understood now why Gavin was so special, so understanding and accepting and confident. And seeing all that only made her want him more.

* * *

GAVIN HELPED BUCKLE his youngest niece into her car seat, then allowed her to give him a wet smacking kiss on his cheek. Carol stood on the sidewalk, saying her final goodbyes to Sara. Being closest in age, the two of them had really hit it off, and Gavin knew Carol would come calling again. All in all, he was pleased with the way Sara had been accepted.

His family had spent most of the afternoon with them, and each of his sisters had taken a turn grilling Sara for information. But Sara hadn’t seemed uncomfortable with them. In fact, he’d seen her laughing out loud several times.

Lunch had consisted of takeout chicken, and they’d eaten picnic style on the back lawn. Satan had wandered from person to person, glutting himself on tidbits of food, then amusing everyone with his dexterity as he faced a mock battle with a chunk of chicken. He rolled on the ground, throwing the food in the air and then swatting it around. For a while there, it had seemed the chicken might actually win, but in the end, Satan proved the victor.

Tripod was just the opposite. She found a lap and refused to leave it. She was pampered and petted and hand-fed until Gavin feared she might pop.

When Sara had apologized for not having any lawn furniture, Gavin saw his mother’s eyes light up and knew some would be arriving soon. He wondered how Sara would receive the gift, if she’d understand the spirit in which it was given.

The cars began driving away in a loud farewell ceremony of honking horns and cheerful children and waving hands. Carol embraced Sara, who looked somewhat startled by the gesture, but she returned the hug. Then Carol came to the curb with Gavin.

“Don’t blow this one, brother.”

Gavin grinned. “I don’t intend to.”

“Ah. So it is like that. Mom said so, but I wasn’t sure.”

Gavin looked back at Sara. She stood on the sidewalk, watching him and Carol. She was keeping herself apart, he realized. She refused to accept all of him. He hated it.

Smacking Carol’s backside, he said, “Go on and get out of here. I have things to do.”

“Uh-huh. In that big king-size bed you had Roy help you move?”

“Despite being married and a mother, you’re too young to know about such things.”

Carol merely snorted, then climbed into the car. She waved to Sara and Gavin as Roy pulled away from the curb.

When Gavin reached Sara’s side again, she said, “Your sister is nice.”

“Carol? She’s a pain in the ass, but I love her.” He put his arm around Sara’s shoulders and started her toward the house. “So what about the rest of my family? Did they overwhelm you?”

“Of course. But then, you knew they would.”

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