Page 65 of Love in Riverbend
She nods. “And this is Bluey. He’s a dog.”
“A blue dog.”
I make a mental note to do some research on children’s current popular culture.
As Molly walks her stuffed friends back to her bed, I reach for Kandace’s hand. “I’m in awe. You’ve done so much for so long.”
“Dreams change,” she says softly, lifting her chin toward Molly. “She’s my dream. I’m happy about the store, but her being happy and loved is the most important goal.”
Unable to stop myself, I lean closer until our lips touch. It’s not the passion of the kiss above the store, but that doesn’t make it less meaningful. “I wanted to do that at the door.”
“You two just kissed,” Molly says with her nose scrunched. “Eww.”
Kandace and I smile.
“Chopped liver is eww,” I say. “Your mom’s kisses aren’t.”
“I don’t ever want chopped liver,” Molly declares. “Come on, dinner’s ready and Grandma made lasagna.” She pronounces lasagna with an extra syllable, but I get the idea. As Molly runs ahead and down the stairs, Kandace and I linger at the doorway.
“Please don’t hurt her,” Kandace says, stress showing in her expression.
It’s as if there’s a knife in my chest. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I get that. But now that she knows…”
My hand goes to Kandace’s cheek as I stare into her blue gaze. “Now that I know, things are different.”
“You don’t owe me anything. I get you didn’t want to come back for me. She really likes you. Please don’t let her down.”
Her words catch me off guard. “I never said I didn’t want to come back here for you.”
“But you didn’t. Actions speak louder than words.”
I want to argue, to tell Kandace that this isn’t all about Molly, but before I can, another door opens, and Justin enters the hallway. Despite Kandace’s claim that Molly calmed the rough waters, I stand tall. We’re close to the same height, but after working two days baling hay, I know where the strength in his punch comes from.
Justin’s gaze goes to where Kandace’s hand is in mine and back to us. “Time to eat.”
Once he’s past, I let out my breath.
Kandace grins. “Molly has your back.”
In only a few minutes, we’re all seated around the dining room table. With Randy at one end and Justin at the other, Bridget and Molly are seated across from Kandace and me. I try to remember the last time I sat at a dinner with my parents that wasn’t in a restaurant.
“Dive in,” Bridget announces.
To say the lasagna is good would be an understatement. “This is delicious.”
Despite offering myself as a sacrificial lamb for the evening, the conversation stays benign as we discuss the delicious food, fresh vegetables, harvest season, and the Cardinals’ chances at a pennant. Molly chimes in on topics I never thought a five-year-old would understand. Then again, she’s lived her life with these adults and adult conversations.
Throughout the meal, I find myself obsessed with the beautiful woman at my side. There is an ease and realness about Kandace that is addicting. Her smile and laugh had me googly-eyed as a teenager, and each minute I spend with her, I realize that feeling isn’t gone.
“I made peach pie for dessert,” Bridget announces.
I’m not sure I can eat more, but I won’t turn down homemade peach pie. The last one I had was made by Grandma Ruth.
“I can help,” Kandace says as she stands, picking up plates and leaving Randy, Justin, Molly, and me alone in the dining room.
Justin sits back and crosses his arms over his chest. “Tell us about Chicago.”
