Page 21 of Fight
I left him recounting his story of the time he spent in the Army, and why he'd come home, while I went back to putting food on the table.I knew I'd get a chance to talk to my sister at the table and after dinner.
I grabbed another place setting and made room for Payson at the table, Mom and I soon had everything ready, and we called the rest of the family to eat.
We were all seated around the table, an empty seat waiting for Cameron, who hadn't shown up yet.
"So, how long have you been back, Devon?"Payson asked, serving herself from the bowl of mashed potatoes, before passing it around the table.
Devon was quiet for a moment, mentally doing the math."Almost three months.I came back at the beginning of June."
"And how long have the two of you been seeing each other?"
"Well, we started out as just friends, not long after I got back.But we've been seeing each other more seriously for a couple of weeks."He looked at me for confirmation.I nodded, agreeing with his time line.
"Whoa, only been seeing him a couple of weeks, and you're already bringing him to Sunday dinner?It must be serious."Her tone said she was teasing.
I laughed."I brought him to Sunday dinner before we started seeing each other.He's an old friend and I thought he might like to see everyone."I said."But yeah, it's serious."I leaned into Devon slightly, not enough to be really obvious but enough to rub my shoulder against his.He turned and smiled at me again.
"Plus," Devon added."I've come to really appreciate your mom's cooking."Dad laughed, and Mom smiled at Devon.Payson looked confused.
I rolled my eyes and took mercy on her."Dev took the job of Dad's summer hand.If he comes in early enough, Mom feeds him in the mornings."
Understanding, Payson nodded and smiled, then frowned and looked at Devon."Couldn't you find a better job?"
"I probably could have found something that paid better, but I doubt I would have found one that was as reasonable about letting me work my leg as I needed.As long as the work gets done, your dad doesn't care how long it takes me, or how many breaks I need to take."
Payson nodded.
"Plus, this year he didn't lose his help when school started, and he gets some time off himself."
"It's been nice."Dad admitted."I'm considering taking your mother out of town for a while, now that I know this place will be taken care of while I'm gone."
"If you wanted to go somewhere, we would have taken care of the animals for you, Dad."Raine said.Brittney, and her husband Tracy, nodded, silently agreeing.
The front door opened, and a moment later Cam stepped into the kitchen, his girlfriend Janelle close behind him."Sorry, I thought we'd be back from Tucson earlier."
I stood before Mom could and gathered another place setting, we all shifted our chairs, making room for Janelle at the table.Conversation shifted to the only Daniel’s family member, not at the table.
"Has anyone heard from 'Low lately?"Payson asked.
The noise level rose sharply, as everyone spoke at once, to share what they knew of our absent sister.I leaned back in my chair, and watched my nearly complete family, content.I missed having everyone together, and it didn't happen often enough to suit me.Devon and I ended up staying later than normal, enjoying my sister's visit, and having the family mostly in one place for a change.It was worth being tired the next day to get to spend time with everyone.
Chapter 7
Afew days later, Devon and I walked out of the small restaurant where we'd gone for dinner, to discover that someone had slashed two of the tires on Devon's pick-up.He calmly pulled out his PCD, dialed the police department, and reported the crime.After he disconnected the call, he turned back to me.
"They're sending an officer to take the report, it shouldn't be long."He stood behind me and pulled me into his arms.He wrapped his arms around me, crossing them low on my belly and hugged me against him.
"Why would someone do this?"I wondered aloud.
"Not sure, at least I can't be certain.This isn't the first thing to happen, but it's starting to escalate.Up until now I've been ignoring it as random vandalism, but it's gone too far, for too long.I have to admit, it looks like I'm being targeted by someone."
I turned around in his arms so I could look up into his face."How long has this been going on?"
"Since shortly after I got back to town."
"So you've been being harassed for the last three months?"I clarified.
"I wouldn't put it that way."
