SAM: I mean… I wouldn’t mind if you didn’t, but the rest of the inn’s visitors might ??
KAYLA: Ha. Ha. Ha. It’s too early for flirting, Sam. Besides. You might not be so excited once you find out that both of my sisters will likely be here too.
SAM: Bring it on.
KAYLA: Okay then, just remember you said that when you’re facing the interrogators. See you soon.
SAM: Can’t wait.
I put my phone down and step in the shower, still smiling. Toby wanders into my bedroom and starts jumping on my bed.
“Dad, awe you gonna kiss Kayla today?” His voice is clear despite the water pounding down on my head and I freeze. Not exactly an ideal moment to have a conversation with your kid about dating, but I guess I don’t have a choice.
“How would you feel about it if I did?” I call out as I quickly rinse the shampoo out of my hair and reach for the soap.
Toby takes a minute to answer and when he does, his messed up ‘r’ sounds are hilarious as usual. “Giwuls are bo-wing. But Kayla’s fun.” Then he jumps off my bed and runs into the living room. I hear the television turn on and I guess that’s the end of the conversation.
Fifteen minutes later, we’re out the door and headed to the Westmount Inn. According to the directions I found online, it should only be a ten-minute walk. But that clearly doesn’t account for a hungry five-year-old. Just as my frustration starts to hit the point of no return, we’re saved by an angel.
“Hey you two, I wondered if you got lost so I thought I’d walk to meet you. I brought snacks.”
Kayla is all smiles as she winks at me, then bends down to Toby’s level. She waves a banana and a donut in her two hands.
“What do you think, Toby. Should we give your dad the banana or the donut?”
He’s looking at her like she’s Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny all wrapped in one and I cringe. Guess I really should’ve given him a snack before we left.
“Can I have the donut?”
“Toby, manners,” I remind him gently.
“Please Kayla, can I have the donut?”
She glances up at me to make sure it’s okay and when I nod, she hands it over to my son, who demolishes it in two seconds flat. Then Toby takes her hand and looks up at her with a very serious expression on his face.
“That was good, but I’m still hungwy. Awe you gonna have pancakes with us?”
“You bet I am; I’m hungry, too. Want to race to the inn? It’s just up that lane.” She points to the driveway that we had almost reached and I let out an internal sigh of relief. My usually good-spirited kid was getting a serious case of hangry that would not have left a good impression on her sisters.
“Yeah!”
Toby takes off and Kayla goes to jog after him. Before she gets too far, she turns back to me with a smirk. “You coming?”
“Nah, I prefer the view at the back of the pack,” I reply casually, then toss her a wink of my own. She lets out a laugh that sounds free and relaxed before she turns and runs after my son.
8
Kayla
I’m glad to get away from Sam for a minute. I can’t believe how unprepared I was for seeing him again. It’s like each time I see his face, he’s more handsome than the last. Running after Toby gives me a moment to get my pounding heart under control and gives me a better excuse for the flush on my cheeks that I know my sisters will notice.
Toby and I are sitting on the steps of the inn waiting for Sam, who’s strolling up the drive, when Ella and Marcus come around the corner from their cottage. Ella’s eyes light up when she sees me with Toby and I know she’s guessed who he is.
“Kayla! You brought a friend to breakfast,” she says cheerily as they come to a stop in front of us. Toby looks up at her in awe, then turns to look at me, then back to Ella. His head bounces back and forth between us, as if he can’t believe he’s seeing double. I nudge him with my shoulder, then whisper loudly.
“Remember I told you I have a twin sister? This is her.”
Just then, Sam reaches our group, so I stand up and make introductions. He and Marcus shake hands with some familiarity and I realize they must have met already since Sam is buying in Marcus’s development.
