Page 22 of To Build a Home
It’s killing me that I put that doubt in her mind.
“That sounds amazing. I wouldn’t miss it.” Breakfast for dinner is one of my favorites. My mouth instantly waters, not only at the thought of that dish but at watching Payton move around my kitchen.
I watch her as she pays the vendor. Her smile fills her entire face. I know I made the right decision in inviting her here with me. Payton smiled all morning as we visited each vendor table. There’s not a single one we haven’t stopped at. Not that I mind at all. If I could extend this to an all-day affair, I would gladly do so.
“Do you think they did that on purpose?” Payton asks as she stands from placing the bag of brioche in the storage space under Gabby’s stroller, where three filled-to-the-brim canvas bags already lie. I purchased something from each vendor where Payton made the sweetest noises while sampling the items. Even if it wasn’t me able to make those noises, I wanted to hear them on repeat in my mind. After the second incident, I offered to push the stroller to conceal what the noises were doing to me. Nothing says good morning better than boners in the farmer’s market.
“Do what?”Did I zone out and miss something?
Payton tilts her head toward the table we just left. “You never realized that the butcher, the baker, and the candle shop are all next to each other. All that’s missing is the tub.” She giggles, but when she notices I’m not, her jaw hangs open. “Oh, come on, Rhy, you know ‘Rub-a-dub-dub.’”
By the time she’s finished the lyrics to the childhood nursery rhyme, I’ve joined in her laughter. How could I forget that? A memory flashes in my mind of every time I would spend the night at her house, and you could hear Connie’s voice throughout the entire house saying, “Rub-a-dub-dub, it’s time for Payton to get into the tub.”
Conversation continues to flow between us, just as it has all morning.
“Well, looky what the cat dragged in.” A voice comes from my left, and I shake my head.Oh boy, here we fucking go.
I place my hand on the back of Payton’s lower back and guide her toward the James Farm table. “Terri, good to see you.” I hold my hand out to shake his.
While he shakes my hand, Terri focuses on Payton beside me. “You miss one week, and you get yourself a family. It all makes sense now,” he teases.
Payton gasps beside me.Would that really be such a bad thing?I could see it now. We’re already playing house, sort of. The only thing missing is a ring on her finger. I push her reaction to the back of my mind.
I place my hand back on her lower back, just needing some sort of connection to her. “Terri, this is Payton and her daughter, Gabby.”
“Connie and Elliott’s daughter, right?” She nods. “I thought so. I remember you when you were just a little tike. Now you’ve gone and grown up and I see have a little tike of your own.”
I chuckle. “Who says the term ‘tike’ anymore? Way to show your age, old man.”
As Terri opens his mouth to reply, Payton steps in, giving him the same big smile she’s greeted everyone else with this morning. “It’s nice to see you again, sir.”
“Sir—oh boy, can’t wait to tell the wife that one,” he laughs.
“Oh my goodness, this has to be the most beautiful bunch of strawberries I’ve ever seen. They look like artwork.”
“We offer basket picking at the farm. Just come on by anytime, and you can pick straight off the plants.” Payton’s eyes widen in excitement. I make a mental note to plan something soon for us to do that. Terri offers one to Payton to sample.
“Mmm, so good. These would be perfect for the stuffed french toast tonight.”
I nod in agreement. “I’ll be sure to add it to the order.”
Terri shows us more produce he’s brought. I’ve scoped out basil and tomatoes for a tomato mozzarella appetizer with a fresh pesto drizzle. Terri and I are in the middle of discussing zucchinis when Payton places her hand on my upper arm.
“Hey, Gabby and I are going to stroll over there”—she nods to What in Carnation’s flower shop tent diagonally to where we stand—“and grab some fresh flowers for the kitchen table.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you over there once I’m done here. I shouldn’t be too much longer.”
I track her all the way over to the booth. It’s only about twenty feet away, but I can’t help but feel protective of them.
Terri tsks a few times as he steps around the table to come stand beside me.
“You’ve got it bad there, my friend.”
If this were anyone else, I would probably deny it, but I can’t, so instead, I speak the truth to just one person. “Tell me about it.” I let out a loud exhale.
“Why not just tell her?”
“It’s complicated. She’s…” I trail off, not sure how to categorize her. There are so many ways to do so.
