Chapter 6 #3
Kyle understood her. He cut through all the bullshit and told her the truth. She had to stop seeing her kids as extensions of their no-good father and see them for themselves. It was going to be hard, but she had to do it for them and for herself.
They weren’t Nate. They’d never be like Nate. She’d see to it.
“You’re going to dinner with him?” Hadley yelled.
“Yes. And I’m bringing you something back.”
“Why can’t I go too?”
“Because right now I don’t trust you to behave in front of him! Especially after the way you talked to me.”
“If you go, I’ll leave.”
“And I can call your Aunt Sabrina to come and stay with you if you really need a babysitter.”
The girl deflated in front of Gina’s eyes. “Okay. Fine. Go. See if I care.”
“We’re going to the country store restaurant. What do you want?”
“Meatloaf, green beans, and mashed potatoes with brown gravy. And two biscuits.”
“Got it. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
Hadley gave her a wicked grin. “What, you’re not spending the night at his house?”
“No. I’m not. Quit being impertinent.”
“Another word. So, in the time we’ve been home, you’ve trotted out all the big words you know, like impertinent, and rebellious, and subversive, and judgmental, and—”
“One more word. That’s all you’ve got to say and this goes from one week to two.” Hadley glared at Gina. “Meatloaf, green beans, mashed potatoes and brown gravy, and two biscuits. Back in a bit.” God, that girl was determined to push all her buttons! Why was she suddenly doing that stuff?
When she pulled up in the parking lot of the restaurant, Gina was still thinking about the whole thing, and she hoped she could put it out of her mind long enough to have a decent meal with some adult conversation.
Kyle was just inside the door when she stepped in, and he wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a big hug. When hers encircled his neck, she felt all his warmth and positivity being poured into her, and she wished he knew how badly she needed it. “Hey. Things get better?”
“Not really. I’ll tell you while we eat.”
Ten minutes later, their order was taken and they had drinks. “So, how’d it go?”
She filled him in on the things that had been said while she was at home. “I told her one more word would increase her grounding from one week to two.”
“Remember: When you ground a kid, you’re grounding yourself, because you have to police that. Who’s with her right now?”
“Nobody.”
“Gina, you know she’s doing something right now, something she wouldn’t normally do, and she’s doing it to piss you off, even if you never know. Why don’t you call Sabrina and at least have her go over and check on Hadley?”
She nodded. “You know what? You’re right. I’ll do that.”
“There we go again!” When she stared at him, he said, “I love it when you say I’m right.”
“Don’t get used to it, buster. It’ll wear off,” she fired back, trying to sound stern while trying hard not to laugh. She made a short call to Sabrina, who told her Hadley would be checked on in person within the hour. That made her feel a bit better.
“So, I was thinking about something.”
“Uh-oh. A guy’s thinking. Here comes trouble,” Gina play-groused and watched Kyle grin.
“Yeah. More work for you, most likely. Actually, I was thinking about introductions. You know, how we’re going to do that. I think I’ve come up with a good plan.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s have a picnic.”
She didn’t quite understand. “A picnic?”
“Yeah! And invite everybody. Family, I mean.”
“Why would we do that?”
“Think about it for a minute. If anybody even thought about being an ass, well, they’d have a big audience. And most people who are thinking of being an ass don’t want an audience.”
She could feel her brow furrowing as she thought about it. “That’s a good point. What exactly are you thinking?”
“Sunday afternoon. My parents, my sister and her husband, and my brother, his wife, and his kids. You’ve got, what, your parents, your sister, and your kids?”
“And my sister’s husband, Darren.”
“So all together, that’s less than twenty-five people.
A very manageable number. We divide up the food and picnic supplies we’re going to bring and reserve a shelter at the park.
And we’ll be there early, because I’ll have to get there to get the charcoal started.
So when they start showing up, we’ll already be there, and it’ll put everybody in a situation where they’ll have to behave. ”
“I see what you’re saying. Hot dogs and hamburgers?” Kyle nodded. “Potato chips, potato salad, slaw, baked beans … This could work.”
“I think so. We can just buy most everything so we don’t have to spend a lot of time fussing over it. It’ll be relaxed and down home, and give everybody a chance to talk and get to know each other.”
“But let’s do it at my house. I’ve got room. I think this will work! When do you want to do it?”
“Let’s plan for two weeks from tomorrow. That way we can see if we still think we belong together. If not, no harm, no foul. But let’s keep it at the park. It’ll be neutral territory, and I think that would be best.”
“True. I like it. Let’s do it!” Gina felt hopeful for the first time in a long time. When Kyle smiled at her from across the table, little ladybugs danced in her chest. Their families were bound to like each other. It would be perfect.
As long as nothing screwed it up.
God, he wanted to see her Sunday! But there was no way they could work it out, plus Briley would be coming back from the tournament. They talked on the phone that morning, then again around lunchtime, and once more mid-afternoon.
It was a little after four when Kyle heard the sound of tires in the gravel and went to the door. He’d barely opened it when Myla launched herself at him. “Daddy!”
“Hey, baby girl! You have fun with Aunt Connie?”
“Yep. She got me these!” Myla held up a pair of what looked like sunglasses, but they had clear lenses.
“Glasses?”
“Yeah. I need them to see.”
“Really? Didn’t know that. Go put your things away and your dirty clothes in the hamper, okay? I’ll make us some dinner in a little bit.”
“Okay, Daddy. Did you miss me?” she asked and gave him a snaggle-toothed grin.
“Of course. My world isn’t complete without you in it. Now get it done so you can play!”
“Yes, sir! I will!”
As soon as she disappeared down the hallway, Kyle grabbed Constance’s arm and dragged her out the front door, and she looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “What the hell? What’s going on?”
“I met somebody.”
He was pretty sure her eyes were going to pop out of her head. “No! Get out!”
“Shhhhhh! Keep your voice down!”
“Yay!” she whispered. “Who is she?”
“Her sister put a profile on the dating site, and she didn’t know about it. So I went to meet her and she was pissed—at her sister. But as I was excusing myself so they could fight, she chased me down and asked if she could buy me a cup of coffee. We went out Friday night for the first time.”
“And? How was it?” Constance asked, a gleam in her eye.
“It was good. Really, really good. We’re very compatible, and I really like her. We had dinner Friday night and breakfast yesterday morning.”
“That’s so … Wait. You had dinner on Friday night and then breakfast yesterday morning.” Kyle nodded, struggling to keep his face expressionless. “Oh my god! You horndog! Did you go there or did she stay here?”
“She stayed here. We went to dinner up in town so she just stayed the night.”
“How was it?”
“Constance!”
“No, seriously. Was it good? Please tell me it was. I hope you haven’t forgotten how to—”
“I most certainly have not! She seemed pretty damn happy about it.”
“So, tell me about her.”
“She works for her parents. They own the farm co-op in Hopkinsville.”
“The Pritchards?”
“Yeah. She’s got two kids, a fourteen-year-old girl and a sixteen-year-old boy. They’re—”
“Wait. How old is she?”
“Forty-two.”
“Kyle! Mom and Dad will—”
“Have to live with it. That’s what. But Constance, I have to tell somebody this, and it might as well be you.” He gathered up every ounce of courage he could muster, sure of the verbal lashing he was about to take. “I think I’m falling in love with her.”
And there it was, that frown he knew he’d see. “Kyle, it’s only been once, and you’re—”
“I understand that! We’re not rushing into anything! But I haven’t felt as, as, as … whole as I do right now since Becky died. I feel like there’s a life out there for me!”
“The age thing doesn’t bother you? Because you wouldn’t be able to have another child or—”
“I don’t need another child. Besides, she’s got two and then had a hysterectomy. Three’s plenty.” She didn’t say anything, so he finally just asked. “So, what do you think?”
Without warning, Constance grabbed him and hugged him, and he laughed as he hugged her back. “Oh, Kyle, I’m so happy for you! I’ve wanted so much for you to find somebody, and you finally have! When do I get to meet her?”
“Say nothing. We’re going to have a big picnic and invite everybody at once.”
“Well, that’s a plan. Cuts down on ambush attacks, that’s for sure.”
“Yeah. That was my thinking. Two weeks from today, probably.”
“I’ll make sure we have nothing on our calendar.” She reached out and took his hand. “I love you, Kyle. It’s been so hard to watch you so broken and hurting. I hope she heals all that for you.”
“She sure has the potential to. Her name is Gina. Well, actually, Regina, but they call her Gina.”
“Got it. Gina.” She stood there for a few seconds more, grinning. “Well, um, guess I should be going.”
“Yeah. Thanks for letting Myla stay with you.”
She was beaming when she turned from the car door to look back at him. “She’s a joy to have around, Kyle. Such a smart, beautiful child. You’re blessed with her.”
“Don’t I know it. Be careful driving home.”
“Will do. Talk to you soon, baby brother!”
Kyle watched her drive away and stood there on the porch, arms folded across his chest. Constance knew. And Hadley did too. He hoped the two of them could keep their mouths shut. But knowing Constance, that was a lost hope.