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I scratched my chin. “Can’t say I did.”
She rubbed the back of her neck, looking at her phone. “Mom’s been after me to explore opportunities in my trade locally. But it’s not like there’s a whole lot of movie production going on in Pennsylvania, but then Lena showed me an online article featuring this indie movie studio that’s picking up steam not far from here. Apparently, two rather successful movies have shot there in the past eighteen months, and there’s a lot of activity going on. So, on a whim, I started to do some research, and I contacted a couple of production companies that are scheduled to begin shooting at Sunlight Studios over the summer.”
I felt as if she were building up to something; her excitement was contagious. “And? Don’t leave me hanging, baby.” I grinned at her as she nervously chewed her lip.
“It sounds like there are some potential opportunities there for me. I have a phone call with the Head of the Makeup Department next week.” She shrugged as if it were no big deal. “So we’ll see.”
What I heard in all this was Whitney was making plans to stay. That she was trying to make this work for us in the long term. My heart surged, and I lifted her to her feet, swinging her around. “I’m so proud of you, Whit. You’ll knock them off their feet, and they’ll be lucky to have you.” I kissed her soundly before putting her back on her feet. “I had no idea you still wanted to do that work. You’ve never mentioned it.”
She shrugged again, taking my hand and pulling me into the hallway so we could go and get Katie, who was now singing at the top of her lungs. “I don’t exactly want to work in Adam’s office for the rest of my life, as grateful as I am for the opportunity. I’m good at makeup. I built a real career around it. I miss it.” She looked up at me through her lashes as if to gauge my reaction.
I squeezed her hand. “As long as it keeps you here, I’m all for it.” I paused, taking a deep breath. We were just outside Katie’s room. I could see her dancing around, tossing her stuffed animals into the air. I took both of Whitney’s hands and looked down at her. “Because we need you, both of us do. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.” Deep breath. “Because I love you, Whitney. I’ve never stopped.”
Whitney’s eyes widened. In shock? In joy? I couldn’t tell. Shit. Maybe it was shock. Or horror? Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Kyle—” she started to say, but then Katie was between us, trying to climb up my leg. Our eye contact broke, and I bent down to lift Katie into my arms. The little monkey looped her arm around Whitney’s neck, pulling her closer. She hugged both of us, babbling in her incomprehensible way. We were perfect. The three of us. This was family.
So why didn’t Whitney say I love you back?
**
“Hey, Mom. I’m here to pick up the little terror,” I said, stepping into my parents’ house after work.
Mom kissed my cheek. “Hi there, come on in. She’s playing with your dad in the garden. They’ve been planting flowers all afternoon. I’m sorry, but she’s completely filthy.” Mom looked behind me. “No Whitney today?”
“Uh, no, she’s gone out with Meg, Skylar, and Lena tonight. A girls’ night,” I told her, closing the door behind me.
“Then you need to take some strawberry jam with you. I made some extra for Whitney because I know how much she likes it,” Mom said.
“Whitney was raving about your jam the other day. She wants me to wheedle the recipe out of you, and I said I was more likely to hack into the CIA mainframe than get you to part with that recipe.”
I called out to my dad, who was elbow deep in dirt. Katie was beside him, digging with a tiny shovel. She was so engrossed she hadn’t noticed I arrived.
Mom laughed. “Maybe I could share it with her. She is my daughter-in-law, after all.”
I widened my eyes dramatically. “Whoa, that’s serious stuff. You must finally approve,” I teased.
My mother poured me a glass of iced tea and handed it to me. “I’ve always liked Whitney, but let’s just say I’m only happy that my fears don’t seem to be founded about this arrangement.”
I took a sip. “Really? What changed?”
I had noticed Mom and Dad’s attitudes about the marriage changing in the last six weeks. They seemed more relaxed. I was relieved because I didn’t want them to always be watching us, waiting for the whole thing to blow up in our faces.
“That woman loves your daughter,” Mom began.
“Yeah, she does.”
“And I know she will put Katie first. That’s all your dad and I want.” She waved me to the kitchen table. “Now, come sit. Katie isn’t going to want to leave yet, so visit awhile.”
