Page 59 of Protecting Peyton

“Vagina, vagina, vagina.”

I rescued the red-faced March. “Did your doctor recommend a night splint?”

March drizzled more syrup on his plate. “What’s a night splint?” he asked.

“It keeps your foot in a desirable position while you sleep to keep the fascia from shrinking overnight,” I explained. “It’s quite helpful for most people.”

“You sure know a lot about it,” March noted. “How’s that?”

Busted.“Uh…my roommate had the condition.”

Duke quickly complimented Karla on the pancakes, and March gave up, shifting the conversation to Karla’s upcoming trip.

As we ate, I regretted giving anything away about my prior life. Maybe nobody had noticed.

March checked his watch. “We should get going,” he said, looking at me.

Karla centered her silverware on her plate. “Peyton, maybe you’d like to help me clean up?”

I nodded, having seen this scene play out in dozens of movies and dreading the inquisition that was coming.

“Leave them,” March suggested. “This is my place. I’ll do the dishes when I get home.”

His mothertsked. “And attract ants? Never. You boys go clean your guns, plan a bear hunt, or do something else manly while Peyton and I have a chat.”

So much for this being like the theater. In the movies, the mother was never so blunt.

“Be nice to her,” March warned as he stood.

Duke shook his head and pulled March away. “We need a plan.”

I had no idea what plan, but that wasn’t my concern.

I followed Karla with two sets of dishes and glasses into the kitchen.

She turned on the faucet full blast. “What is going on between you two?”

Talk about getting right to it—that was blunt. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t get cute with me now, young lady. I’ve seen plenty of furtive glances in my day, and I’ve sent furtive glances myself. He has the hots for you. That part is easy to tell.”

Blushing was something I couldn’t control. I opened the dishwasher. “Really? You think so?” I feigned shock.

“I may be a little biased, but I happen to think he’s quite the catch. So why are you pretending to be dumb?”

Was I that easy to read? “I’m flattered if he likes me, but I don’t have time for a man right now.”

She rinsed two plates and handed them to me. “Peyton, in my job, I’ve learned to read people pretty quickly, and I can tell Ruppert scares you, but he shouldn’t. I like you, so let me tell you this, he’s one of the good guys.”

I loaded the plates and accepted two more. “I know he is. He’s a great guy.”

March poked his head around the corner. “Peyton, it’s time to get going. Hey, Mom, do you mind locking up when you leave?”

“Ruppie, give us a second,” she barked.

He left.

She rinsed glasses and started passing them to me. “Whatever you’re afraid of, it shouldn’t include Ruppert.”