10. Este #3
Reed rolls her eyes. “Mom, Daisy likes boys. At least, she hasn’t confided anything about liking girls. So, you don’t have to worry that I’m having an R-rated sleepover, okay?” The look on her face should make me feel better, but her frown hurts my heart.
“Do you want her to like girls?” I ask in a low tone of voice as she pushes past me.
“Yeah, but whatever. I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t worry, I don’t have homework.” She shoulders her overnight bag and grabs her backpack, which she’d left by the front door, and then, with a quick “bye,” she disappears.
“Thank you for having her back, Dom.” I finally turn and fix my eyes on his. He’s wearing a sympathetic look that tells me he understands how blindsided I feel—how shitty that I was able to be blindsided.
“You think you should have seen it sooner,” Dom tells me as he reaches out for my hand. “But kids are good at keeping things inside. The thing to remember is that Reed had the guts to tell you, which means she trusts you. She knew you would accept her.”
“Reed’s the best thing I've ever done. And I hope that those shitheads at her school don’t make her life miserable because of who she likes. I don’t believe she’s choosing to be gay any more than I believe I woke up one day and decided to be straight.”
Dom wipes the one tear that has traveled down my face. “You’re an excellent mother. A real mama bear, just like my sister, Gwen. I think you two will get along.”
I manage a smile, and then I melt into him, initiating a deep kiss. Just as I cautioned Reed to be careful with her heart, I should be cautious with mine, but the heart famously wants what it wants.
And mine wants Dom.
And it’s not the only thing I want.
He pulls away after a thorough kiss, and I stare up at him and tell him what’s on my mind.
“I want to sell you some of my land.” My voice is almost a whisper, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, really considering parting with it.
“No,” Dom tells me firmly as he pushes a stray hair from my face and tucks it behind my ear. “You love that property.”
“I love what you want to do with it, though. Maybe we can make some kind of compromise.”
I drag him to the couch, toss my legs over his lap, and lean back against the throw pillows.
“I was thinking. What if I were to sell you the property on the east side? The house is toward the west. I would keep my favorite portion of the creek with the swing and the ladder. Maybe you could build a tall fence to separate the two sides of the properties?”
“You’d be open to that? I can’t promise you won’t find strange men in your creek.”
“Well, I’ll do a better job of putting on a swimsuit.” I smack his shoulder playfully, but he grabs my hand and kisses my knuckles.
“Don’t you dare. That was such an incredible surprise, looking up and seeing you flying through the air in your underwear.” Dom cracks a face-splitting grin and then throws his head back laughing.
“I almost let out a little yell like Tarzan,” I admit with a giggle.
“Alright, so you can wear a swimsuit when we’re not in there together. Deal? I’ll try to put up markings to ensure nobody enters your portion of the creek. Don’t need anyone else seeing these luscious curves.”
He reaches out and traces a line from my throat to the top of my breasts, spilling out of my bra.
“You’d do this for me?” Dom dips his fingertips in and pinches my nipple.
I squeak and nod. “Yes. For the cause. Not just for you, but for the homeless vets that nobody wants to find a solution for.”
“Wow.” That’s all he says as he runs his thumb over my nipple again, this time slowly. I let out a moan. “Well, thank you doesn’t even seem to cut it. I’ll find a way to repay you for your kindness, I promise.”
“Tell me more about these tiny homes,” I nearly whimper, unsure if I want to shed my bra or hear more.
He releases my nipple and turns to face me.
“Well, I’m going to take over the mental healthcare of the vets who live there as part of their rent.
The nearest VA is far and inconvenient. I will set up an office in a tiny house on the property and see them as I’m able, every three months or so to keep them current on medication.
I’ll recommend local therapists I trust who are willing to work on a sliding scale, as well. ”
“They’ll need you both,” I agree with a nod.
“I’ll tap into all the community resources. Food banks, job assistance, cash assistance, reduced gas bill programs, and daycare vouchers. I’ve already got a social worker on board who can get the veterans started on all the proper paperwork to find resources.”
“Amazing.” I grin.
“I even talked to the bus depot in town, and they plan to extend the schedule where they can, add a few stops out at the property. Get vets to and from their jobs in town. The local grocery store is willing to add three miles to their delivery services, so the vets can receive fresh food without needing transport to pick it up.”
“Wow, you’ve given this a lot of thought. It all sounds fabulous. That’s why I’m going to entrust you with twelve of my acres. Maybe thirteen, depending on exactly where the property line intersects with the neighbors' out east. That is, if you can take care of building one huge, long, tall fence.”
Dom snaps his fingers. “Done, baby. I’ll get a crew. I need to see exactly where we should put it.”
“Maybe we should take a quick drive out?” I suggest with a wink before I lean in to give him a hot kiss.