Page 114 of January

“We? You and me?”

“Yes,” Kyle said. “Of course, I’d rather Jolie just come here because there’s nothing there for me anymore, but I suspect that I’ll have to go visit her once or twice. She’ll getmarried one day, and I’ll have little nieces and nephews to visit, too.”

Melinda finally allowed herself to smile and said, “You really want this? You won’t change your mind in a week or two?”

Kyle shook her head.

“So, you’re moving in here?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I think I should still rent it out. The money I inherited is a lot, but it’s not enough to retire on. My income is stable, but there’s not a lot left over when I have to pay for my own health insurance and put money away for a retirement fund with no employer matching it. I want to be smart, you know?”

“I know. But you seem to like this place, Ky.”

“I do. Maybe I’ll just rent it for a while and sign a lease somewhere. I can see how it goes from there.”

Melinda pulled off her own shirt and said, “From there, we could be livingtogether.”

“That sounds nice,” Kyle replied. And when Melinda unclasped her bra, Kyle pulled it off her and added, “And looks nice, too.”

“Babe, you’re really staying?” Melinda asked, still not quite believing it.

“I’ll have to go back to pack and figure out what to do with my car and stuff, but yes, I’m staying.” Kyle lowered herself back on top of Melinda.

“I think I’m going to like celebratingallthe anniversaries with you.”

“How about the anniversary of the first time we made love in a tent in this garden?” Kyle undid Melinda’s button and zipper.

“I bet that’s going to be a good one to remember later.” Melinda smiled, wrapping her arms around Kyle’s neck. “I need you pressed up against me, Kyle.”

“I need that, too,” Kyle replied, kissing her.

CHAPTER 31

“Um… Kyle? Are you in there?”

“Ky!” Melinda shifted quickly.

“What?”

“Kyle, someone’s out there,” Melinda told her.

“Out where? Go back to sleep.” Kyle pulled on Melinda’s hand to get her to come back into the soft cocoon of their blankets and body heat. “What time is it?”

“It’s ten in the morning, and you’re in a tent.”

Kyle’s eyes opened. That wasnotMelinda’s voice. Melinda went from scared to relieved, though, if her facial expression was any indication.

“It’s your sister,” Melinda said.

“Yes, it is. Are you two decent in there?”

“Not exactly,” Melinda replied as her eyes roamed over Kyle’s bare chest.

“Well, I’ve seen Kyle’s, so cover up, Melinda, because I’m coming in.”

“Jolie!” Kyle yelled as the zipper quickly unzipped, and Melinda rushed to lie back down and bring the blanket not just over her breasts but also over her face while Jolie zipped the tent back up.

“Hi,” Jolie said. “I have a ton of questions about this.” She looked around the tent. “For one, there’s a perfectly good house a few streets away from here that has a bed. Granted, it’s one our grandparents probably made our mom in decades ago, but still. I’m pretty sure Melinda also lives in an apartment somewhere that has a bed, too, and it’s probably a lot newer and not at all touched by our grandma.”

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