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Now Kylee’s cheeks warmed. She was sure they were a bright shade of pink and she ducked her head when she pulled away out of Ron’s embrace. “It’s really good to see you, Old Man.”
“You too, Ace.”
“Ace?” asked Molly.
Kylee had nearly forgotten about her daughter sitting there. That was rare. Molly wasn’t the quiet type of kid, but she was sitting silently, watching the exchange between old friends.
“Your mom, here, has never failed a test. She always got an A. So, I called her Ace when we were kids.”
“I get it,” said Molly. “And she called you Old Man because of the gray hair.”
Canities ran in the Kidd family. One of God’s great ironies to put a premature graying gene in a family of humans who go by a youthful last name.
“Imagine my surprise when I found myself having a heart-to-heart with your mini-me,” Ron said.
Kylee looked from Ron to her daughter. Molly had a mischievous glint in her eye, one that reminded Kylee of her dad. It was a glint that said I’m about to be up to no good.
“I’m so sorry for whatever trouble she’s caused,” said Kylee. “It’s been hard on her with the move and… everything.”
Did Ron know she was divorced? She was sure he did. It was a small town. She was sure all the residents had been kept abreast of every misstep and failing in her marriage. It was one reason why Kylee had never come back home after her decision to leave with Jason.
Ron had been one of the most vocal people to tell her not to go. He’d insisted she’d be sorry. Kylee had been stubborn, certain she could make it work, certain she could reform the bad boy and make him into a family man. It was the one and only time in her life that she’d gotten the answer to a problem wrong.
“Are you kidding?” Ron was saying. “Molly here is one of the smartest kids I’ve ever meant. I think she’s gonna give you a run for your money in the academic department, Ace. Just know, Ms. Molly, that your moms are big shoes to fill.”
Kylee’s breath caught. It had been so long since she’d received praise. Ron had always been there with a supportive word, or the notes when she’d missed class, or ready to work through a difficult problem with her. And he always did it with a smile on his face and a joke on his lips.
Ron was frowning at Kylee now. His gaze focused down on the floor. “Though I’m not sure about those shoes you’ve got on there. Those look pretty big.”
Kylee reached over and gave him a shove in the shoulder. Ron chuckled as she did so. His laughter was so infectious that Kylee caught herself laughing too. It was the first time she’d laughed in…she couldn’t remember how long.
Looking over she saw her daughter laughing as well. Kylee couldn’t remember the last time Molly had laughed either.
The twinkle in Molly’s eyes was even brighter. Maybe it wasn’t mischief her daughter was up to. Maybe she was just happy? At this moment, basking in Ron’s light praise and silly humor, Kylee certainly felt happy herself.
Chapter Four
How could a person grow more beautiful?
Ron had heard Kylee called an understated beauty by adults when they were younger. He’d never understood the need for the qualifier. He’d always seen her as beautiful, from the first day they met in kindergarten.
Back then he’d shared his Cheetos snack pack with her. Every kid knew that a Cheetos snack pack was a prized snack in the school lunch box. Ron only shared with Kylee.
He’d been an awkward kid, unable to relate to anyone his own age. He’d always bee
n great with kids though. It was inevitable that he ended up in his current position.
The only person his age that had understood him had been Kylee. Whereas Ron got kids and loved learning, Kylee got tests and loved learning. He’d always known they’d been made for each other. And now he had the chance to present his assessment to her.
“You look amazing, Kylee,” Ron said.
A deep blush colored Kylee’s cheek. He could always make her blush, but mostly from laughing. He needed to show her he was no longer her silly pal. He was a grown man who was willing and able to be a true partner to her.
“You’ve grown up so much, too,” she said. “Still wearing suits, I see.”
“The suit makes the man.”
Ron had always dressed for the part he wanted to play in life. That part was the principal. And he’d finally achieved that lifelong dream. Now his other dream was standing before him. All he could think of doing was reaching out and grabbing her.
