19. Make A Good Team

19

MAKE A GOOD TEAM

" M orning," Raine said when she walked out of her room on Christmas morning.

They stayed at her house last night because she decorated for the holiday and he hadn't. Aster didn't want to take her away from it when she seemed so excited.

"Merry Christmas," she said. "Are you cooking breakfast?"

"I am," he said. "You always do it for me and I thought it'd be nice to do it for you."

She moved over and gave him a hug and kiss. "You didn't shower yet. You always do."

"That's right," he said. "But if I got in the shower then you would have come out here to start breakfast. Maybe we can do it together after."

"I'd like that," she said. "It could be a tight squeeze."

"I'm up for it," he said.

He made her coffee and handed it over to her, then took a sip of his as he finished chopping up the peppers and mushrooms. He was only going to make omelets. She grabbed the bread and stuck some slices in the toaster.

"Are you going to call your parents today?" she asked.

He turned to look at her. "Sure. I'll call them when we get back from your parents' house. Daphne said they went out with friends last night."

His parents always did or gathered at a friend's house and drank and smoked weed. They'd get home late and sleep in. Not that his parents did that when he was a kid, not a young kid. As they were older, it didn't stop them from going out. He and Daphne could tag along. There were always other kids around playing games in another room while their parents partied.

When he was a teen he passed on going. He stayed home with Daphne and kept an eye on her and they played board games and hung out. Kept each other company.

"That sounds like fun," she said. "I never had friends so close that they were like family to me. Not like you've got."

"I'm not sure it's like that," he said. "Or maybe it is. Guys are different."

He was close with Zane and Luke, but not like Luke and Zane were close with each other. Zane had been his commander and he gave the older man that respect. He and Luke were only a year or two apart in age and were more similar and served together longer than he had under Zane.

They were both somewhat loners. Luke never had family reaching out or sending him things. Aster at least talked to his parents and did get packages. Most times sent from Daphne, but his mother would too.

"I know," she said. "I think there was a time in my life when I just wanted what I didn't have. But don't most people?"

"That's human nature," he said.

"I bet you weren't like that," she said. "I feel like this bad person being jealous of friends. When I was younger and then now too."

"What are you jealous about?" he asked. "You've got a good career that you love. One you enjoy, and judging by all the gifts you got from the kids, you are well loved. You've got a strong set of family core values and people who love and support you. You've got a great boyfriend."

She laughed when he added the last part. He inserted a little joke even though he said it with a straight face. "I do have all those things," she said. "And he's cooking me breakfast on Christmas morning. Can't get much better than this."

She moved over and sat at her little table while he cooked and when the toast popped she got up to butter it.

"So much for me wanting to cook for you this morning," he said.

"We make a good team," she said.

"We do."

They sat and ate. "My mother is going to have breakfast too, but we are up early and I can't go without eating."

"You should have said that," he said. "I just assumed we were going over to open gifts."

He felt bad and didn't want to take anything away from what Patty was doing.

"We will do that too. My mother loves making Christmas breakfast, but it's six a.m. We won't get there until around ten. No one is waiting that long to eat. It's more of a brunch but nothing fancy. Like not fancy brunch food."

"Do I look like someone that eats fancy brunch foods?" he asked drily.

She giggled and at least got his joke. Guess he wasn't always so obvious with it like he could be with the guys. They got his personality more.

"No. You look like a guy I very much love being around."

"Just love being around?" he asked.

He knew she wanted to say more about their relationship. Or maybe it was wishful thinking on his part.

He started to think that maybe she was afraid of putting pressure on him if she said it and she didn't think he was ready.

He was ready to say it. More than ready to hear it. And since she didn't always get his little jokes he figured she might not understand that his actions showed what he felt for her either.

It was going to be said today regardless of when she opened her gifts so this would ease his nerves some.

"Maybe more than that," she said.

"Why aren't you saying more?" he asked. "Are you afraid I'm not there or don't want to hear it?"

She stopped eating and looked up at him. "Could be."

"I didn't think you were afraid of much," he said.

"I'm not. Or didn't think I was. Do you want me to say it?"

He couldn't believe they were having this conversation. "I do," he said.

She put her fork down and moved over to sit on his lap. He liked it when she did that. As much as he loved when she wore his shirts and she had another one on now. It almost fell to her knees.

"Then I'll say it," she said. "I love you. I think I've been falling in love with you for months."

"We've only dated a few months," he said.

"Maybe I make up my mind fast," she said, smiling and kissing him on the lips.

"Could be I do too. But as we know, I don't talk all that much about my feelings."

"No," she said, "you don't. But you're getting there."

"I love you too." He gave her a playful kiss. "Let's go open gifts," he said. "Now I can't wait to give you everything."

"You didn't go overboard, did you? I thought we had an agreement."

He shrugged and she playfully slapped his arm.

Aster didn't want her to feel bad that she didn't have the money he did. Not that she even knew what he had because he hadn't disclosed that.

Why would he? It didn't change who he was in his mind even if it did his parents.

They moved to her little Christmas tree and she sat on the floor to push over the three gifts that were wrapped with his name on it. He had two under the tree for her.

When they were done opening them, he'd gotten a nice new fleece and some shirts. He needed them. She'd poked fun at the fact he didn't have a lot of clothes. He'd reminded her that up until months ago he lived in uniforms half the time.

"Do you like that color?" he asked of the scarf he picked out for her. It was probably frivolous to get it, but he'd seen someone making it in the plant and it called to him for Raine.

The light yellow with the big daisy on one end reminded him of the brightness she brought into his life.

"It's perfect," she said. "I can't wait to wear it. I love the dress too. I'm surprised you picked this out."

"I ordered it," he said. "If it doesn't fit we can return it. But you were wearing a dress when I saw you the day of that fire. I couldn't get it out of my head."

He'd ordered her a blue cotton dress that would be fitted to her body but give her movement on top of it. It was soft cotton and she could wear flats or boots with it. He actually liked the scarf with it and tried not to feel like a wuss that he'd put the outfit together.

"That is the sweetest thing I've heard," she said. "Thank you so much."

"I've got one more thing," he said. He opened a drawer in her end table and pulled out the little jewelry box he'd snuck in there last night.

"Oh boy," she said. "I'm excited but then ticked because you did enough already."

"Let me have fun," he said.

"Okay," she said. "You twisted my arm." She ripped the paper off, opened the lid on the box and then let out a little gasp.

"Do you like it? I asked Daisy to make it for me."

"I love it," she said. "It's a daisy. Aster is in the daisy family, right?"

"Yes," he said. He took the white gold necklace out of the box and turned the charm over. "Can you read this?"

She held it up close. "Is that a date on it?"

"It's the date I first saw you."

She started to cry. Yeah, he was a big old wuss. Even Daisy had asked what the date meant and got all dewy-eyed when he'd said it.

Maybe the women were getting to him there.

At least it hadn't gotten back to Zane to bust his ass or give him an "I told you so" about the women wearing you down.

"Now I know you love me," she said, hugging him.

"Did you not believe me when I said it?"

"I believed you, but the fact you had this made before this morning tells me that you weren't just saying it because you thought I needed to say it."

"No," he said. "I wouldn't do that."

He kissed her quickly, then she grabbed his hand and pulled him up. "Shower time. Together."

It was the look in her eyes that told him he was going to get thanked in more than one way.

A few hours later, after the visit with her family, they returned to her apartment and she got some clothes and they went to his house.

"You don't mind staying here tonight?"

"Nope," she said. "You've got more room to move on the bed."

"I do," he said.

"When are you going to call Daphne?"

"As soon as we are settled. She's texted me already. She's home."

"Do you want me to leave the room?" she asked.

"Why would you ask that?" he asked. "I know you text my sister."

"Guilty," she said. "She worries about you. I told her you're fine. I'm feeding you well, but you do a good job of that on your own. That you're a neat freak and don't like having germs anywhere just like me. You exercise and I've seen vitamins in the bathroom. You should see the appalled look on your face."

"Are you saying that to her?"

"God no," she said. "Sometimes you're just so easy. I just tell her that you're great. I love being with you and now I can also say how much I love you."

His sister would be thrilled to hear that. Daphne had said she'd love to meet Raine, but he knew his sister couldn't afford the trip. He'd pay for it, but she'd be taking time off of work too.

Maybe this summer when Raine was off he could take time and bring her to meet his family.

"Take a seat, I'll call her now."

The two of them sat on the couch and he texted Daphne to make sure she was ready for the call.

"Merry Christmas," his sister said. "Oh my God the jewelry you sent. And the purse was loaded with lotions and soaps. Even Mom was all but squealing, Aster. You're the best."

"I couldn't decide," he said. "You two tell me what you like so I know for the future. I think between the two of you, you got just about every scent that I thought you'd like."

"The earrings and necklaces were great. I can't wait to wear them at work. Not with the kids but at night."

"Good," he said. "How was your day?"

"Quiet," Daphne said. "Mom and I baked a ham."

"You mean you baked it and Mom ate it?" he asked.

His sister laughed. "I might have picked everything up and started dinner, but she helped out."

"That's something at least. I'm assuming you're in your room since you said that?"

"I am," Daphne said. "Listen, I told Mom and Dad that Raine doesn't know about the money."

"Thanks," he said. He glanced at Raine, but she wasn't paying attention while he talked to his sister just yet. He didn't need his parents bringing that up and having Raine wonder.

"That's your choice."

"It is," he said.

"Mom wants to see Raine. I did show her some pictures of you two together. Can you call me on video?"

"Sure," he said. He hung up and turned to Raine. "My parents want to see you live. Kind of meet you."

"Not a problem," she said.

He called back and his sister answered and he saw her standing behind her parents who were sitting on the couch. At least it was blocking the mess in the room. He was sure his sister did that on purpose too.

"Merry Christmas," his mother said.

"You too," he said. "How are you doing? You all look good."

"Doing well," his father said. "Not as well as you, but we can't all be a hero."

He wanted to grind his teeth over that statement that his father made with a huge smile on his face. He was sure his father was still bragging to everyone about what Aster did and maybe what he got in exchange.

Another reason he had to get the hell out of there.

He didn't do anything for money. He never did.

If he was after money the last thing he would have done was risk his life day in and out in the service. It's not like he was making a ton in his bank account doing that.

"Yeah," he said. "That's me saving the production line again and again."

"Aster," his mother said. "Stop joking and introduce us."

"Raine Scarsdale, my parents, Roseann and Glen Allen."

"It's so nice to meet you," she said.

"You too," his mother said. "Daphne has been telling us a bit about you. You're a teacher and from the area."

"I am," she said. "Born and raised here. I've only been away for college."

"Wow," his mother said. "Aster has traveled so much. I felt he had itchy feet and that is why he went into the service. We'll see how long he stays."

He wanted to grind his teeth over that too. His parents didn't understand him at all.

Even Daphne frowned and nudged his mother and he was positive Raine noticed.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said. "Maybe it's time for a quiet life."

"Well, you can go and do anything you want now," his father said.

"I heard you and Daphne cooked a ham today," he jumped in to say.

They talked for another five minutes and he hung up.

"They seem nice," she said.

"They are."

"Not like you made them out to be," she said.

"I don't think I made them out to be too horrible. Just that they weren't great parents. They did their own thing most times in life. The best word I could use to describe them is selfish."

"Everyone is at different points in their life," she said. "I think it's sweet you sent so much stuff to your mother and sister from Blossoms."

"Daphne was over the moon. She said my mother was too."

"But she didn't thank you," Raine said.

"No," he said.

"Your father seemed to like the tools you sent," she said. "At least he said he did."

"He needs some tools for work. He has to buy them himself for some things. My guess is he hasn't in years."

At least his mother told him that when he asked for ideas for Christmas. No reason to say his mother hinted toward sending his parents on a cruise.

Nope, not doing it. Then his father would run around bragging about that too.

His parents could pay for their own vacations like they did when he was a kid. Those adult-only vacations that he and Daphne were never a part of and had to stay back with his grandparents.

His parents had money to do things but chose to spend it on partying, drinking, and weed. Not his problem.

"That's a nice thing," she said. "My father needs his own tools too. I never know what he needs so sometimes we just chip in and give him a gift card to the place he goes."

"Practical gifts are always nice," he said. "Listen. I'm not going anywhere."

"I didn't think you would be. You said this is your dream job."

She was grinning at him. "There is that and then you being here too. But I don't have itchy feet. I only had the urge to get out of town and away from them. Nothing more. The rest of my traveling was only due to work."

"I know," she said. She ran her hand on his arm. "Don't worry about it. I'm not."

He'd have to take her word for it, but she didn't seem concerned so he wasn't going to be either.