“Can I have her back now, Maw? Paw is pulling the steaks off the grill and everyone is already sitting at the tables out back. I came in here to get the two prettiest women I know.”
Emma got up from her chair and patted Kane on the cheek. “Such a kiss ass, but I love you anyway.”
I covered my mouth with my hand to hold in my laugh. I never thought I would hear the word ass come out of that little old lady, but boy was it funny. Emma headed out back where everyone was waiting, leaving Kane and me alone in the kitchen.
“So how did it go in here?” he asked as he jumped up on the counter and popped some kind of Emma’s sugary goodness that was sitting in a basket on the counter into his mouth.
I got up from my chair and went to stand between his legs. I just wanted to be near him, to hug him for a minute because of all the pain he’d gone through in his past. I was so happy that after some time he was able to find peace with it all.
When I was tucked between his legs, I wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my face in his chest. I hadn’t had a home in quite some time, but whenever I was in Kane’s arms, I felt at home. I felt comfort and peace.
“Not that I am complaining about this, but did something happen? Did my Maw say something to you?”
I just shook my head. I didn’t want to tell him she had revealed some of his past to me. When he was ready to tell me about it, he would. “No. I just missed you and I am happy you brought me here today. Your family is great and I can see why you care about them so much, and it’s obvious they adore you.”
He smiled and kissed the tip of my nose. When he pulled back he looked me in the eyes. “But come on, who wouldn’t adore me though?”
I laughed and shoved his chest hard, catching him by surprise and almost knocking him off the counter.
“What? I was being serious.” He winked.
“Come on, let’s go see if we can eat enough to fill our bellies as big as that head of yours.”
Kane hopped from the counter and wrapped his arms around my waist before lifting me into the air. “I don’t know how I ever went without you in my life, Kelsey Rien, and I sure as hell never want to be without you now that I have you.”
I softly kissed his lips as he held me suspended in the air. I knew exactly what he meant and I made myself a promise right there in his grandmother’s kitchen that I would learn to live again. There was too much good happening in my life right now for me to keep dragging everyone down with me. Like the tiny dandelion seeds, I had longed to be set free. Free from the memories, free from the pain … and the shame. Maybe Kane was that tiny puff of wind I had been waiting for to come and set me free.
We took our seats at the table out back with everyone else. I glanced around and finally spotted Jessi sitting a few seats down from me beside Landon. I had almost forgotten about them being here. There was a clatter and Kane’s grandpa stood up with his cup in hand.
“Just want to take a minute to welcome everyone and say how much we love having you people here for this every year.” He warmly smiled at everyone around the table. “We have been grilling out for this game as far back as I can remember. Probably since Paul—may god rest his soul—was a baby, and over the years some of the faces we were used to seeing would dwindle off and new ones would come.” I couldn’t miss his eyes glance in mine and Kane’s direction.
“But Emma and I would just like to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of our hearts for finding the time to spend with an old man and woman, and making these years more enjoyable. Now I’ll stop flapping my jaws and let you people eat. I’m pretty sure Landon down there is having a hard time keeping the drool running down his chin wiped away.”
The entire table erupted in laughter and you could hear Landon throwing a ‘Har har har’ over all the commotion as Ralph sat back down. I kept my eyes on him and I could have sworn he might have winked at me, but Kane began piling my pate full of food and Ralph and I lost eye contact.
After the game—which we won—everyone started to say their goodbyes and go home. When most of the crowd had gone, it was just Kane’s grandparent’s, Jessi, Landon, Kane and myself left. The men were outside putting away all the tables and chairs, and Jessi and I were in the kitchen helping Emma clean up and put away leftovers. We were just finishing up when the guys came through the back laughing and shouting at each other about what their favorite parts of the game had been.
“No, man, you’re wrong. He sacked the kid so hard I swear I could hear bones breaking through the TV.” Landon was shouting over Kane and Ralph.
“Yeah, Landon, we hear ya.” Kane rolled his eyes, then they landed on me and he gave me one of his deep dimple smiles.
“You laugh but I am serious! I would not want to get tackled by that dude. He’s a fuc—” he stopped what he was saying and glanced at Emma who had a wooden spoon pointed in his direction.
“You want to rephrase that last comment?” She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Sorry, Miss Emma, just a little caught up in the moment.” He sweetly smiled and came over to wrap her up in a hug.
“Good. Cause I had a pie all ready and waiting for you to take home. I would hate to have to take it away from you as punishment for using that ugly word.” She patted his cheek.
“Oh, Maw, I don’t know what you’re all worked up about. Didn’t you just call me a kiss ass not more than five hours ago?” Kane raised his eyebrow at her and in return got the wooden spoon pointed in his direction.
“Boy don’t you sass your Maw. I may be old but I will still wear your tail out with this spoon you hear me? The F word is just an ugly word, and the way you kids spill it out of your mouth all the time”—she stopped and began shaking her head back and forth—“Soap! All of you need a good bar of soap in the mouth and you would think twice about using such ugly words.”
“I know, Maw, I know,” Kane cooed as he walked over to her with his arms open wide for a hug; but instead he received a quick thump to the forehead with the spoon she had been threating everyone with.
“Ow! Maw! That hurt!” he said as he rubbed the top of his head.
“That was just for good measure. Let me hear the word fall from your lips and I will give you more than just that one little tap.”
We all couldn’t hold in our laughter at the sight of Kane rubbing his head and his grandma still pointing that spoon at him.