The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love - By Beth Pattillo Page 0,71
her baby was alive, but he would also never be the same. What if he couldn’t play soccer or basketball or even run—
“Merry.” Camille grabbed her shoulders. “Stop. You have to stop.”
Her knees buckled, and she slumped into the chair. “I’m sorry. I’m just so tired.”
“It’s okay.” Camille knelt beside her. “You’ve been through the wringer. Look, why don’t I stay for a while? You nap in the chair, and I’ll keep an eye on Hunter.”
Merry smiled through her tears. “Oh, Camille. Thank you, but I wouldn’t want you to miss out on your dinner with Dante.”
Camille returned her smile. “It’s okay. He can grab something in the food court downstairs, and I’m sure he can find a TV in a lounge somewhere and watch a football game.”
“But—”
“Consider it a done deal. Just let me run down and tell Dante about the change in plans.”
Merry nodded. “Tell him I’m sorry for ruining his evening.”
Camille chuckled. “Are you kidding? He’d rather watch football than take me out to dinner any day of the week.”
“That’s a complete story and you know it.” Merry paused. “But thanks for trying.”
Camille grinned, waved good-bye, and disappeared through the door. Merry turned back to the crib and her sleeping baby.
The guilt had receded somewhat, but it still lingered at the edges of her mind, and she knew it would be back. For now, though, the care and concern of a friend would help her keep it at bay.
Camille found Dante already in the food court, eyeing the flavors offered at the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream counter.
“Hey,” he said when he saw her approach. “That was fast. I thought you might visit for a while.”
Camille hesitated. Over the last few weeks, shed let her guard down and let Dante into her life, but shed kept their relationship carefully casual. Nothing serious had happened since that day in the movie theater parking lot. Until now.
“Um, look. There’s been a change of plans.” She wished she knew how he would react. So far he’d been pretty easygoing about their relationship, but he had an intense side as well. She’d seen it enough on the football field in high school, and more recently on the sidelines as a coach, to know he could be very focused on what he wanted.
“What’s up?”
“I’m sorry, Dante, but Merry needs some company for a while.”
He didn’t hide his disappointment, but he didn’t look angry either. “So dinner’s off?”
Camille nodded. “I’m afraid so. I’m sorry. I know it’s a long drive for nothing for you.” He would be a good sport about it, but no doubt this would be the first nail in the coffin of his interest in her. In her experience, men had little patience for women who asked them to put their own desires on hold.
To her surprise, Dante reached out and pulled her toward him. She glanced around, but the food court was practically empty on a Saturday night. The girl behind the ice cream counter shot her a knowing look, but she was smiling too.
“Being with you is never for nothing, Camille.” He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “Besides, I get you to myself for the whole ride home.” He stepped back. “How late do you want to stay with Merry?”
Camille looked into his eyes, and her stomach flipped. At that moment she knew. Like a complete idiot, she’d fallen in love with Dante Brown.
Panic set in, washing over her in a flood of anxiety. “A couple of hours, if that’s okay. I told her I’d watch Hunter so she could sleep for a while.”
“Do you want me to come up with you?”
“You’d do that?”
Dante gave her a puzzled look. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Her father had used every excuse he could muster to avoid being at the hospital when her mother was first diagnosed, and she’d gotten the message loud and clear. Illness was for women. Men didn’t have time for it.
“Oh. No reason.” She tried to sound nonchalant. “The room’s not that big though. Would you mind finding a lounge to hang out in? I’m sure there’s a football game on.” She said the last part with a teasing smile.
“Sure. But you’ll call me if you need me?” He tapped the BlackBerry he wore clipped to his belt.
Camille didn’t want her insides to turn warm and mushy but they did. “Okay.” She kissed him, a quick brush of her lips against his that set every nerve ending she possessed to tingling. “Thank you.”