The chef glided past them, mounding the shrimp appetizer onto each attractive dish before he pulled out a knife the size of a machete and chopped and grilled zucchini and bean sprouts.
“Dad, why didn’t he flick a shrimp onto my plate?” Ross’s heart constricted, hearing Peyton’s disappointed voice. “We’re not finished eating yet, sweetie, and Lucy is clapping and showing her appreciation. Maybe that’s why he picked her.”
“But it’s my birthday.” She lifted her shoulders up to her ears and let them fall.
His frustration and guilt multiplied. Despite her illness, Peyton had to learn that she still had to deal with people of all kinds. He’d tried to teach her that showing appreciation encouraged people to respond in a positive way. Sometimes he even cringed at her lack of gratitude when he went out of his way to show her his love in a special way. Weighted with helplessness, Ross wondered if Peyton would have been different if Ruthie had lived.
The evening hadn’t started out well. When the hostess seated them, he had tried to manipulate Peyton in the middle beside Lucy, but she withdrew and sat beside him on the end. Kelsey took the seat next to him while Lucy sat on the other end—two girls like bookends. He hoped Peyton would brighten at their next stop, a surprise he thought she’d enjoy.
Having Kelsey beside him reminded him how nice it was to be a couple. They laughed and chatted like old friends, and he had a difficult time realizing they’d only met a short time ago. She fit into his life, and if the girls became friends, she could likely become a good friend. When he gazed at her profile, his pulse tripped. Connecting with a woman in such a natural way turned his life around. Ross spent his days concentrating on and worrying about Peyton, and Kelsey had become a needed distraction. A beautiful and amazing distraction.
She angled his way, her eyes catching his, and his pulse did more than trip. He hoped nothing went wrong with their friendship, but he’d prayed for his wife and for Peyton, too. God seemed to pick and choose which prayers He would answer.
The chef’s eyes caught his, and he leaned closer. “Is this the birthday girl?”
Ross nodded, and the man gave him a subtle wink.
Along with the other vegetables, the chef had placed thick slices of onion on the huge griddle, and while he chopped some of them, he allowed a few to grill. Within moments, he began selecting the onion rings from large to smaller, forming a cone. Lucy craned her neck to watch, and he nudged Peyton. “I think he’s doing this for you.”
She gazed up at him, her hazel eyes brighter than they’d been.
They watched him pour a liquid into the center of the rings and then turn to Peyton. “We don’t have birthday candles, but I’ve made you a birthday volcano.” He struck a match, held it over the center of the cone and a large flame shot from the top. Everyone at the table oohed, and Kelsey broke into the happy-birthday song. He and Lucy joined in, along with the chef and strangers sitting at their table surrounding the grill. Peyton beamed at the special attention, and it did his heart good.
She hadn’t said thank you, but she’d smiled, and the chef smiled back as he went from plate to plate with the vegetables before he prepared the meat.
Lucy leaned across her mother. “That was neat. Better than a birthday cake, right, Peyton?”
Peyton only nodded.
Lucy settled back in her chair, and Ross sent up a prayer that the Lord intervene in a big way as the evening went on, or tonight could be a total bust.
Kelsey watched the girls moving from exhibit to exhibit, delving into every hands-on physics experiment they ran across. Never having visited the Cranbrook Institute of Science, now she wished she’d brought Lucy here before. The place amazed her and delighted Lucy.
As the girls examined the equipment, learning how matter works, she’d found a bench and rested her feet. For some dumb reason, she’d worn pumps. But then dinner meant sitting. She grinned, recalling that Ross had stressed that the evening wouldn’t end with their meal.
As always, Lucy’s curiosity whetted her appetite not to miss a thing. She’d taken in all of the Cape Farewell exhibit, and wherever they went, Lucy had tried to engage Peyton, but the girl who rarely smiled seemed to withdraw into herself the more Lucy tried. Lucy’s disappointment showed, and Kelsey’s heart wrenched for Peyton as well as Ross. He’d tried so hard to engross her in conversation with Lucy numerous times without success.
Though the evening hadn’t been a disaster, Ross had obviously hoped for much more. Kelsey beckoned to him, seeing stress growing on his face.
He sidled next to her and released a lengthy sigh. “Sorry about the evening. As I said, Peyton has her moody times, and today seems to be one of them.”
“You’ve given her a great birthday celebration so don’t beat yourself up.”
“I know, but—”
She touched his arm. “Was it us? Is she distant because we’re here?”
He patted the back of her hand. “I really don’t think so. At home she’s often the same way. She stays in her room.” He pursed his lips, as if trying to bottle his emotions. “I don’t know what to do anymore.”
She lifted her other hand and covered his, wishing she had Solomon’s wisdom. “Have you discussed Peyton’s behavior with her? You said some very meaningful things when you told me about her problems.” She lifted her hand and pressed it against his cheek, seeing his good looks tense with disappointment. “Think of times you’ve been rebuffed or you felt out of it in a crowd. It’s so easy to step back so you won’t experience those feelings again. We protect ourselves that way.” She lowered her hand. “Maybe Peyton doesn’t understand why she feels the way she does.”
“It’s a defense mechanism, one we all use at times.” He rubbed his temple. “But if she never tries, she’ll never realize that she can make friends.”
His eyes captured hers with a desperate look that tore at her heart.
“She needs a woman’s love, and though my mom is so good to Peyton, that’s about all the female contact she has. I have no siblings, so Peyton has no aunts or cousins. It’s tragic in a way.”
Her mind spun. “I see why you’re frustrated.”
“If she’d give you and Lucy a chance, you could make a difference for her.” He closed his eyes and shook his head.
His comment jolted her. Was that what the friendship meant to him? She tried to let the thought slip from her mind but couldn’t. “I’m not sure I like—”
Ross’s eyes bolted open. “What I said was crude. Please don’t think that I’m befriending you only because of Peyton.”
Though she weighed her words, Kelsey let them fly. “I wondered.” Better to end the friendship now, than to be hurt.
He shifted on the bench to face her. “Can I be honest?”
“I’d like that more than anything.”
“I’m not good at this, but I’ll try to explain. I like you. Really like you. You’re a beautiful woman, but you mean more to me than what’s on the outside. I like your common sense. I like your bravery. When we’re not stressed, you make me laugh.”
“You’ve given me a few chuckles, too.” A strong need to lighten the moment struck Kelsey. He’d been through enough today.
“Let me finish. I haven’t had a social life since Ruthie died. First I wasn’t ready, and then Peyton was diagnosed—” “What happened to your wife? Are you divor—” “She died.”
Died. The word sank to Kelsey’s stomach.
“She died from cardiomyopathy.