Page 34 of Only You

Kayla wasn’t particularly good at hiding her emotions and must have looked pensive. “Yeah. I was just thinking about my grandparents and wondering … Oh, never mind.”

“No. Finish your thought,” Jack prompted her.

“I wonder how many holidays I have left with them.”

Jack’s face fell.

“It’s a morbid thought. Sorry.”

“It’s my fault. If I hadn’t roped you into this scheme of mine, you’d be with your family right now.”

“You didn’t rope me into it, Jack. I volunteered, sort of.”

“It’s not too late. You can catch a flight out tonight and be with them the rest of the weekend.”

“I thought of that too.”

He studied her closely and waited for her decision.

“That wouldn’t be fair to you, though. I signed up for this, and I’m going to see it through,” Kayla stated.

“Maybe we can go down and visit your grandparents in a week or two.”

His offer made her head spin. “We?”

“Why not?”

“You don’t owe me anything, Jack.”

“What if I want to do it?”

“You don’t even know my grandparents, or my parents.”

“Like you said, I’m good with people. I’m sure they’ll like me.”

Some might consider him cocky, but Kayla admired his confidence. “I’ll think about it, but we should get going. I’m curious to see the rental home you stuck your parents in.” Shortly, they pulled up to a charming red brick bungalow in a neighborhood of neat, older homes. “This is adorable!” Kayla proclaimed.

“Not such a horrible place to stick my parents, huh?” he teased.

As they went up to the front door, Jack placed his hand on the small of her back. “What are you doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t have to touch me when they’re not looking.”

“Oh, but they are.” Jack motioned to the bay window, where Eileen stood smiling.

“Oh.” Kayla smiled back at her. Jack kept his hand on her back when Eileen opened the door.

“Happy Thanksgiving!” Eileen sang.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” Kayla and Jack replied in unison.

John looked up from watching sports highlights on TV. “Hey, kids. Happy Thanksgiving.”

“This house is so cozy. We feel right at home,” Eileen declared.

Jack slipped his arm around Kayla’s waist and hugged her to his side. “See, honey. I told you they’d like it. She was worried you’d feel put out staying here.”