Page 50 of Love in Riverbend
“Yeah, like that.”
“And sometimes people call you Kandi, but your name is Kandace.” She looks out the window and back to the mirror. “How come I don’t have two names?”
“Because Molly is the most perfect name. There’s no need to shorten it.”
She nods. “Yep. Where’s he been?”
“Who?”
“Dax. I only saw him at Joyce’s. If you know him, where has he been?”
Her question twists my heart. “He lives in Chicago.”
“With the dinosaurs?” she asks excitedly.
I grin. “Not with the dinosaurs in the museum, but yes, in that city.”
“Can we visit him and go to the museum and the big lake?”
“I don’t know about that.”
“But I liked the big lake.”
“It’s Lake Michigan.”
“Is Chicago in Michigan?”
I shake my head and giggle. “Chicago is in Illinois.”
“Then why is the lake called Michigan?”
Just when I think I’ve answered every question thrown my way, we pull up to the parking lot near the Tastee Freeze. I half expect to find Chloe and Mick sitting at one of the picnic tables. There are quite a few people but no sign of them. The clock on the dash tells me we’re a few minutes early.
Before I can get out of the SUV, there’s a knock on my side window.
Turning, I see my old friend.
“Look, Mommy, it’s Dax.”
My cheeks rise as my smile broadens. “It is.”
I unlock the doors, and Dax opens my door. “Hi.”
It’s not fair what he does to me. My heart is racing, and my skin feels clammy. Standing here, Daxton Richards is sex on a stick. His cheeks are red from the sun, and his blond hair is damp and combed back. His smile glistens and letting my gaze sweep lower, I notice how the Dri-FIT shirt stretches over his shoulders and wide chest. He’s wearing khaki shorts and cloth loafers.
“Hi,” I say back.
“I was afraid you would change your mind.”
“I did about a hundred times.”
His smile grows as his golden orbs stay focused on me. “Then I’m glad you didn’t do it one more time.”
He offers me his hand, and I get out of the SUV. He steps back as I open Molly’s door.
As I unbuckle her, I say, “Molly, this is Dax, Mommy’s old friend.”
“Hi, Dax,” she says excitedly. “You don’t look old. Not like Grandmom did.”
