The Complete Where Dreams - Volume 2 of 2

Chapter 19-4

Bill considered simply slipping under the table in a small puddle of contentment. In some ways this meal had been less casual than the dressed up dinner. It felt a little foreign to be eating at the dining table. Also, he’d been far more aware of the dynamics as the conversation had ranged over school projects, books, and the upcoming opening at the Opera.

Tammy was so glad to have Perrin sitting at the table that she was even more incoherent than Bill was. Jaspar was now the one he was being forced to see differently. How was it that his children kept growing up around Perrin? One moment he’d be wondering what it must be like to ride an elephant as Kim did in Kipling’s tale. The next, he’d be watching Perrin and his interactions as if they were lab animals to be observed.

Tammy had told Bill more than once that Jaspar was really smart about people. Now he could see it. But he could also see that his son would make a fearsome poker player some day—he was far too good at keeping his thoughts to himself. He felt sad, the boy’s spontaneity was another thing Adira had taken with her to the grave.

“Okay, Tamara,” Perrin sighed happily. “You have to feed that lasagna to Angelo some night, it will make him crazy it’s so good.”

Perrin’s compliment had Tammy positively beaming. She was first to stand from the table and started to gather plates.

“Cut that out,” Bill told her. “You cooked. Cook doesn’t clean.”

“But Jasp can’t—”

“Grownups will clean up. We still know how. C’mere.”

She came straight into his arms.

He held her tightly and whispered in her ear. “You did it perfect, honey. I’m so proud of you.” Then he raised his voice, “Now scoot, I’m sure your homework is waiting for you somewhere.”

She scooted, with a hop and a skip she hadn’t had since Jaspar broke his arm last week. He was shocked at how much he missed it, how easily he took her naturally bright nature for granted. He had to cut that out and remember what a gift she was. That both of them were.

“And you,” he aimed a finger at Jaspar who was just clambering out of his chair. He was already a little gawky, just as Bill had been at that age before he’d started to really hit the growth spurts. “I don’t know what your part was in this, but whatever it was, you did it right.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Oddly, rather than coming to his chair, he went to stand by Perrin. The two of them had some form of silent communication that he couldn’t follow.

“You’re okay,” Jaspar finally informed her so quietly Bill could barely hear it.

“Thank you,” Perrin mouthed just as softly.

Then Jaspar was gone.

“What was all that about?” Bill asked her.

Perrin went coy. Her black-and-blond hair swirling across to hide her features as she stood and looked down to begin gathering plates.

“Perrin?”

“Jaspar and I appear to have negotiated a truce, perhaps even a peaceable settlement.”

“Really, how did you do it?” Bill looked out into the living room as if he’d be able to discern the change inside his son wrought by the amazing Perrin Williams, but Jaspar was long gone.

“I didn’t,” she headed to the kitchen with the first stack of plates. “He did. Jaspar’s the one who invited me tonight, convinced Tamara to cook her best meal for me.”

Bill tried to get out of his chair to help. Really he did. But he couldn’t seem to manage it. His children were just as mysterious and astonishing as the woman making herself at home in his kitchen.