“He is.”
They walked toward the living room, where they could hear Jackson talking to his mom.
“Why did you offer her a job and then send Miles down to Colorado?” Jackson asked.
Karen looked up at him. “I didn’t send Miles to Colorado.” Karen looked at Kelly as she entered the room. “Hi, honey. It’s so good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you as well,” Kelly said. “I hear I may have mucked things up by showing up unannounced.”
Karen stood and stepped over to Kelly, pulling her into a hug. “Not at all. It’s kind of beautiful, actually, you both going to see each other at the same time.” She pulled back. “Assuming you came up to see Miles and not just for the job.”
Kelly laughed. “I came to see Miles. I wanted to talk to him about the job in person and let you know I am accepting it.”
Karen clapped her hands together. “Wonderful.”
Jackson threw his hands in the air. “What about Miles?”
Karen sighed and looked at Kelly apologetically. “Forgive Jackson. He’s our dramatic one.”
“I’m not dramatic!” He tossed his hands in the air again and began pacing across the room in long strides.
James put his arm around Karen. “Seeing as it’s late and you won’t be able to get to Colorado tonight, nor will Miles be able to fly home, you’re welcome to stay here.”
“Yes, of course. I’ll make up the guest bed for you,” Karen said.
“If it’s no trouble,” Kelly said, suddenly feeling guilty for showing up without warning. In her head, it had been much more romantic. She hadn’t expected not to find Miles. All the scenarios that played out in her head were now gone, and she would have to look forward to seeing him tomorrow instead.
But if there had been any question of whether Miles wanted her to be there, that was now answered. He wouldn’t have flown all the way to Colorado if he didn’t feel the same about her as she did about him.
“No trouble at all,” Karen said. She then excused herself from the room, with James following behind.
Kelly’s phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out. Miles’s name flashed across the screen.
“Hello?” Kelly said.
“Hey, uh, so I’m at your place,” Miles said. “And I found out you’re in Montana.”
She held the phone closer to her ear and giggled. “Yeah. I’m currently at your parents’ place.”
He sighed into the phone. “I came to get you. To bring you back to Wintervale.”
“I heard. And I drove all the way up here to be near you… if you’ll have me.” Saying it now felt silly considering he had flown to Colorado to see her, but she still wanted to make sure.
“Of course, I will. I’m just a little bummed I have to wait another day to see you.”
“I know,” she said softly. “Me too.”
“Can I talk to him?” Jackson asked, walking up to Kelly and plucking the phone out of her hand. She looked up at him incredulously. Jackson put the phone to his ear. “Dude, Mom offered her a job and then sent you to Colorado. Can you believe it?”
Kelly couldn’t hear Miles’s response, but Jackson immediately became defensive. “She did send you!” Then he paused as Miles replied. “Okay, whatever, dude. I’m just trying to sympathize. I’m going back home.”
Jackson handed the phone back to Kelly and went to the door, leaving without another word.
“Um, hello?” Kelly said into the phone.
Miles chuckled. “Jackson is so dramatic sometimes. Don’t mind him.”
“Do I really have to wait another day to see you?”
