"Pro: I take the first step to getting my girlfriend back. Fuck the pride; I'm going to play kickball with my girl and clients."
She quickly changed into a pair of tennis shoes, which she kept in her closet for fun activities. She shut her door and yelled down the hall, "Wilson! I'm going to play kickball."
A muffled laugh sounded, followed by, "Good choice, Kerrie. I'll hold it down here."
She took the back steps two at a time and jogged down the hill. She slowed as Bette met her in the middle of the little covered bridge. Her heart was racing; whether it was from moving quickly or from coming face to face with Bette, she didn't know.
Bette stared up at her, uncertainty in her eyes. "Are you back?"
Kerrie licked her lips and nodded. "If you'll have me."
Face softening, Bette smiled warmly. "Of course. You're all I want."
Someone called out, breaking the moment. "You going to join us, Ms. K?"
She gazed into Bette's eyes for a moment longer before breaking out into a grin and holding out both arms wide. "If you're not afraid that I'm going to kick your butts!"
Chapter 34
If Bette thought she was nervous when she first saw Kerrie after their breakup, she was even more so now, pulling up to the house at the end of the day. She had been surprised when Kerrie ran down the hill from the Church to join them. The joy that had filled her was almost overwhelming. The uncertainty of what would happen next had eaten at her all day. She tried to get a quick minute with Kerrie, but Tyler had called and asked Kerrie if she could do an intake for Main because they were shorthanded.
So, she was currently unsure of what she should do next. Wait for Kerrie to text her? Invite Kerrie and Kenny for dinner? She was going over the options when Kerrie pulled into her parking spot.
Kerrie smiled with an unsure grimace. It looked exactly how Bette was feeling.
They both slipped out of their vehicles and met between them. Bette clutched the strap of her purse with both hands while Kerrie gripped the hell out of her lunch bag and thermos. Awkward tension settled so thickly it may as well have been a solid surface between them, feeling impossibly heavy. Bette had been so excited earlier in the day. Now she was confused and worried Kerrie may change her mind or she would do something else to anger the tall woman.
In the end, the standoff was broken by Kenny. He opened the back door and called out to her. "Bette!"
Her heart swelled when she looked around Kerrie and spotted his sweet, excited face. She glanced at Kerrie, not bothering to hide the plea in her voice. "Can I go see him?"
Kerrie's face fell, like she just heard something that hit home. She nodded several times. "Yes, go see him."
Joy filled Bette as she jogged over to Kenny, who was waiting impatiently on the porch, shifting from unsteady foot to unsteady foot. She didn't even care that she tossed her purse down on the porch, because she was focused on wrapping her arms around his middle. Her arms didn't go all the way around him, and she smiled deeply into his chest as he returned the hug, patting her back while laughing nervously. She could tell by the stuttered breathing that started that he was crying. She pulled back and smiled up at him, tears forming in her own eyes. "I've missed you, Kenny."
"I missed you too," he croaked out, the sound breaking her heart.
The door opened behind him, and Mabel stepped out. "Well, it looks like someone has finally come to their senses, I hope?" She looked pointedly at Kerrie.
Kerrie blushed, ducking her head as she rubbed the back of it. She shifted from foot to foot before finally looking at the trio. "Yeah, we are, ugh, back together?"
She looked uncertainly at Bette. Bette nodded back. "Yeah, but we probably need to talk."
"Yeah." Kerrie finished lamely, a mask of uncertainty settling back on her face.
In that moment, Bette realized Kerrie had no idea what to do, because she was in unfamiliar territory. Kerrie, the big sister, the caregiver, the controller, was at a loss. Her heart broke a little, but her chest was also filled with pride. It was an odd feeling. Kerrie was willing to work with her even though it was clearly making her uncomfortable. Bette resolved to take the lead. "How about I come over later? I have ice cream and cones at my place. We could have those as a treat before bed."
Kenny's face lit up, then he frowned. "You'll come back tonight?"
She rubbed his arm, smiling reassuringly up at him. "Yes, I promise. Does that work with you, Kerrie?"
Kerrie chewed on her lip a moment and then nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I think that sounds great."
Bette smiled at Kenny's chocolate ice cream-covered face and dishtowel tucked into the front of his T-shirt. Drips of chocolate streaked the towel. She chuckled softly. "Do you like the ice cream, Kenny?"
"Yeah," he answered with a slurp.
Bette looked over at Kerrie, who had been mostly quiet since she arrived upstairs for their ice cream time. Other than asking her and Kenny if they wanted strawberry or chocolate in their cones, she sat back eating her own cone while Bette and Kenny caughtup. Or at least that was what Bette hoped it was and not her regretting their tentative reunion. She was so hard to read in that moment.
