Finding Love in Payton Read Free Page A

is interested
in Dinah Cate."
    "Really?"
    Jeremy bridled at his brother's bemused expression.
"I'm not interested in her. I met her at the grocery
store."

    "You seem awfully interested in her, asking lots of
questions and such," Joanne pointed out.
    "What kind of questions?" Cameron asked on his
way to the remains of the birthday cake.
    "I wasn't asking a lot of questions," Jeremy said,
picking up a plate as well. "We were just talking."
    "I like Dinah," Cameron stated, looking at Jeremy
directly. "Always have. She's got a level head and a
pretty smile."
    Joanne rolled her eyes. "Cam, like that means anything."
    Cameron laughed. "It does. She's been through a
lot. Got a lot of responsibilities, too," he said before
eyeing his little brother with some concern. "Look, if
you need a date, I think Mary Beth knows a few girls
just out of college who are going to teach at her
school. Do you want me to see if she can set you up
with one of them? She said they're real cute."
    "No." Jeremy couldn't believe he was even having
this conversation with his siblings. He couldn't believe
they were telling him he was too young to be interested in Dinah. Like he couldn't deal with a grown
woman's responsibilities. "Forget I ever said anything."
    "You still going over to the country club tomorrow?"
    "I am," Jeremy answered. "Payton said he'd hire me
for the summer, waiting tables in the restaurant."

    "I heard he just hired a fancy new chef from Houston, Texas."
    "Can't wait to meet her."
    "Jeremy, can you stop by the museum later on this
week?" Joanne asked, finally slicing a monster piece
of cake.
    "Why?"
    "I've got a favor to ask you."
    Immediately he felt a band of suspicion wind
through his stomach. "Such as?"
    She swallowed. "Civil War reenactment."
    Jeremy looked at his brother in alarm, though Cameron was already sporting a deer-in-the-headlights
look. "Pardon me?"
    "We're going to do a march through town, and
some people are coming in who want to take some
pictures for a book or something that they're doing.
I'm going to need all the men I can get."
    Somewhere in there was an insult. He was sure of
it. "Thanks. I guess."
    "Cam's already promised he'd be there."
    Cam's fork stilled mid-air. "I said I'd try, Jo."
    "And Kevin? Dad?"
    She looked away. "I don't know about them.
They're both awfully busy."
    "But I'm not?"
    "School doesn't start for three months. Come on
Jeremy, I'm going to need you."

    "I don't know."
    She winked. "I'll help you with Dinah."
    "Help me? You just practically made it sound like
she was old enough to be my baby-sitter."
    "I won't do that anymore. I'll help you get a date
with her."
    "I can get my own dates."
    "I'll put in a good word for you."
    He raised an eyebrow. Joanne and practiced
speeches didn't necessarily go together real well.
    "I'll ... I'll get Stratton to. Everyone listens to what
he says."
    That had credence. Everyone did listen to Stratton,
and he was a great guy. "I'll stop by this week. After
I get my schedule from Payton. Hey, you want me to
tell him hi for you?" he asked, unable to resist teasing
her about her ex-boyfriend.
    "Please do," she said sweetly.
    "We better get on back," Cameron interrupted.
"Missy's about to open her gifts."
    And with that, Jeremy followed his brother and sister, almost jealous of their happiness and stability.
And, for once, their age.

     

As the June sun poured through the front window,
Dinah finally took a break from her paperwork and
paused to enjoy the early morning sunshine. She loved
early summer in Payton. It wasn't too hot yet, the trees
and bushes still sported dozens of blooms, and the
days were long enough to feel like she had time to
spare after work.
    June was also great because Valerie, her sometime
baby-sitter, was home from college and could help
with Bryan four days a week. Her mom enjoyed him,
she knew, but Valerie's presence made everyone feel
like there was a little more time in the day, and