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Those feelings soon passed, and Kylee had excelled as she’d transitioned to each of the buildings. She’d been an academic superstar when she’d been enrolled here. Now she felt like a washed up has-been. Her star had pretty much fizzled after graduation. But it was a new day and she was entering the cluster a new woman… with a troubled kid in tow.
Kylee scrubbed her hands over her face as she took the four steps to the double doors. Then she pressed her hands down her skirt hoping to smooth away any wrinkles on the fabric. She’d never been in trouble a day in her l
ife while she was in school. Sure, she’d been in the principal’s office many times. But each time had been to receive praise for an accomplishment, accolade, or honor.
This would not be one of those times. Ms. Most Likely to Succeed had failed. And now her kid was a troublemaker.
Kylee pushed her way through the double doors of the school. She was shocked to find that the school smelled the same, it looked the same, it felt the same. There was a chill in the halls that had her wishing for one of her old cardigans. But she’d ditched those prim cover-ups when Jason had draped his leather jacket around her shoulders.
Just inside the double doors was a showcase that had been on display since Kylee’s days at Barton. It was each fifth-grade graduating class photo going back for over fifty years. She found her fifth-grade picture among the dozens. She stared for a long moment at the innocence in that little girl’s eyes.
Then, in the reflection, she saw a vision of herself sitting alone. But Kylee had never been alone in school. She wasn’t popular, but she’d had a group of friends throughout her entire school career. She’d even had a best friend. But she hadn’t seen him in years. She’d let that relationship run fallow along with much of her old life in St. Jude.
The vision of herself shifted and Kylee realized she was looking at her daughter in the present. Kylee turned to find Molly sitting alone outside the main office. Her heart broke to see her kid sitting so with her arms crossed over her small chest, but her head held high and proud.
Kylee had stayed in one place as a kid. She’d been secure with parents who loved each other and her. She’d had a community she was safe in.
Molly had had none of that. But things would be different now. Kylee would give all of that to her daughter. Normalcy. No more leather jackets and motorcycles. No more half-baked ideas and no follow through. Heck, no more men period.
“Hey, Molls.”
“Hey, Mommy.”
Kylee grabbed the empty seat next to her daughter. “So, whatcha been up to?”
A flush crept across her little girl’s cheeks. “I made a poor decision. But you don’t have to worry. I didn’t like the consequences, so I won’t do it again.”
Kylee opened her mouth and then closed it. She hadn’t planned what sage advice she’d give her kid. She didn’t even know what had happened to bring Molly to the principal’s attention. But it would appear the moral was taught, and the lesson learned. Saint Judith’s was already working its magic.
“I talked with the principal,” Molly continued. “He’s really nice and really funny. I think you’d like him and-”
“Kylee Bauer.”
The voice that said her name was deep and resounding. But there was something comfortingly familiar about it. Kylee turned to see a tall, broad man with bright eyes full of patience, a warm smile ready to deliver a punchline, and the silver-gray hair of someone wise beyond his years.
The man was handsome, to be sure. But it was the kindness in his eyes that threatened Kylee’s resolve to swear off men for life. He held open his arms and before she knew it, she was swept into a hug.
Kylee forgot to protest. It had been so long since she’d been held. It couldn’t hurt if she allowed one more second of the comfort before she told this stranger off.
“It’s so good to see you again,” he said.
“It is?” Kylee asked.
“I’ve missed you so much.”
“You have?”
The gray-haired man pulled away but didn’t release her from his embrace. He rested his hands on her shoulders and grinned down at her. Did she mention that he was tall? And handsome? With the cutest lopsided grin and…
“Oh my gosh, Ron? Ronald Kidd? Is that you?”
“I believe it is. Unless you let total strangers hug you.”
“I do. I mean, I don’t.” Kylee took a deep breath to ward off all the fluster. It didn’t help. “It’s so good to see you again. It’s been so long. I’ve missed you so much.”
Kylee shut her mouth when she realized she was parroting everything Ron had already said. Instead, she went back into his arms. This time she gave him a proper hug, one that was fit to greet her old best friend.
But, oh wow, had her best friend filled out. Ron had been a lanky teen, all limbs and sinew. Kylee felt muscles when her cheek met his chest. Same on his back where her fingers gave him a squeeze. That warm and spicy scent on him hadn’t been there when he was an adolescent or a teen.
