9
Kelly and Ava rode over to Miles’s place with Mia and Jackson. Miles had to work a little longer at the restaurant, so it was already late, and Kelly was starving. She and Ava made their way to the store to grab some drinks for the night. They didn’t want to show up empty-handed, but Miles insisted they didn’t need to bring anything.
Miles only lived a few blocks over from Jackson, so it was a short drive. His house was a modest gray rancher. Jackson walked straight in, and the women followed. Kelly looked around the living room on the left, which was cozy. It was obvious a kid lived there, but not because of the toys. There were toys in bins in the corner of the room, but there were also bright pink pillows and blankets on the couch. A small children’s chair sat in front of the coffee table, where a tea set was arranged nicely. Several stuffed animals and dolls sat around the cups.
A commotion caused Kelly to turn to find Emma bounding down the hallway. “Kelly! Ava!”
Emma tossed herself at Kelly and wrapped her arms around her waist.
Jackson stood off to the side. “I see how it is. Nobody likes Uncle Jackson now. It’s the new shiny friend they all want.”
If Emma heard him, she didn’t acknowledge it. Mia patted Jackson on the back, and they went into the kitchen.
Over Emma’s head, Kelly spotted Miles standing in the kitchen prepping food. Jackson and Mia chatted with him, and he looked over his shoulder, their eyes meeting briefly. Kelly lifted her hand in a small wave, and he smiled back.
“Do you, Kelly?” Emma asked.
Kelly tore her eyes away from Miles and looked down at the little girl standing in front of her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you. Do I what?”
“Do you want to come see my room?” Emma asked.
“I’d love to,” Kelly said.
Emma took Kelly and Ava’s hands before walking down the hallway. Over Emma’s head, Ava raised a brow, giving Kelly a knowing look.
“What?” Kelly mouthed.
Ava tipped her head back toward the kitchen and raised her brow again.
Kelly didn’t respond. She turned toward Emma once they entered her bedroom. “Wow! What a beautiful room you have!”
She wasn’t exaggerating either. Emma’s bed had a princess canopy over the top of it to make it look like a castle. Her name was spelled out in sparkly pink letters on the white wall. Various photos were tacked to a bulletin board, and Kelly could easily make out the ones of Miles and Emma smiling together.
“Daddy told me we can paint it whatever color I want this winter,” Emma said.
“Oh, wow! Have you picked a color?” Ava asked.
“Pink.”
“I think that’s perfect,” Kelly said.
“Maybe you can come see it when it’s done,” Emma said.
Ava and Kelly exchanged a look. The chance of that happening was far too slim. Kelly rarely went on vacation, and when she got the chance, she doubted it would be back to Wintervale… even if she really enjoyed the people she had met there.
“Maybe,” Kelly said softly.
The three of them made their way back through the house and outside to the backyard, where Miles, Jackson, and Mia were hanging out. A lump had lodged in Kelly’s throat over the thought of never seeing Miles and Emma again once she went home.
“You okay?” Ava asked quietly so no one else could hear.
Kelly took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m okay.”
But the look on Ava’s face said she didn’t believe her. Kelly tipped her head toward the house. “I’m going to go open a bottle of wine.”
Then she asked anyone if they were interested in a glass before slipping inside. Kelly set her hands on the counter and took a steadying breath. Why was this affecting her so much? She knew she would be leaving. She wanted to stay in Colorado with her family.
But did she? Or did she think that was her only option?
