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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, your highness. 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.
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. The old Lord Kidd had been the jolliest of Santas ever since he was in his twenties.
“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. And she was still a royal, regardless of how far removed she was. Her divorce had been mentioned in a gossip rag. It had only been a couple of sentences, but it had still been there in black and white.
Kylee 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 run off with the town bad boy with no name, connection, or coins to rub together. She’d been every cliche of a good girl falls for the rebel. Except her life had continued after the last page, after the credits rolled. No one had said anything about bills, and arguments, and infidelities in those Hallmark dramas.
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 mom’s 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.
