Page 84 of No Place Like Home
Kora and I walked arm-in-arm to the food table, and I filled a plate with ribs, coleslaw, and green beans. “So,” Kora said with a smile. “Everything between you two seems pretty good.”
A smile tugged at the corner of my lips. “Yeah, it is.” I turned and walked toward the table under the trees with the rest of the women.
Kora kept in step. “I’m glad. Love looks good on you, Summer.”
I nodded with what I was sure was a goofy grin and admitted, “It feels good too.”
She wrapped her free arm around my shoulders and gave me a gentle squeeze which I graciously accepted.
“Summer, you’ve got a glow about you,” Tonya said as we approached the table.
I hugged her and took a seat next to her. “I don’t know about a glow, but welcome home.”
“I’m glad to be home. That place was a prison. Y’all wouldn’t believe the rules.”
Kaye laughed and said, “Just because they wouldn’t give you ice cream, doesn’t mean it was a prison. You were hardly there long enough to eat anything, anyway.”
“Whatever. At least I’m eating good now.”
“Well, you need to start taking care of yourself. I want my kiddos to have a grandma for a long time,” Darlene said.
“Don’t you worry. I started yoga right before my episode, so I’ll be keeping up with that. Then, whenever it finally gets warm again, we’re doing water aerobics in Kaye’s pool.”
“Yeah, we are,” the other book club women chimed in.
“To book club,” Tonya held her cup of water up with a cheer.
Kaye, Ruth, and Diane held up their cups of water—as they are all abstaining for wine for the time being to support Tonya—and cheered, “To book Club.”
“Woo Hoo,” answered Tonya.
I leaned back in my chair, and listened to the chatter and joking between everyone, and smiled. This is what family should be—joking, laughing, cutting up. I’d been a part of these cookouts and get-togethers as far back as I could remember. They’d always accepted me, even when my parents wouldn’t.
My eyes traveled to the play yard where the girls and James ran around, lost in their own world of make-believe. Even if I couldn’t have children of my own, I’d have these kiddos and all the ones still on the way. If that was all I could have, I’d take it and be thankful.
I looked to the other end of the yard, where the men were in a cut-throat cornhole match, and my eyes locked on Rowan’s. The smile that had ticked at the corners of my mouth finally met my ears. He gestured to me, so I got up from my chair and met him in the middle of the yard.
“Having fun?” he asked.
“Always,” I answered.
He reached out and played with the lock of hair that sat on my shoulder. “You looked like you were deep in thought.”
I shrugged. “I was.” He lifted his brow, and I continued. “I was just thinking of all the memories I’ve had here. How I’ve been a part of your family most of my life and have always been accepted.” I glanced at him. “How even if I can’t have kids, I have everything right here I could ever need. I’m glad you came home and chose to stay.”
Rowan put his hands behind my neck and held me in a tight hug.
The warmth of his skin seared into my soul. He took in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I had to come back. Wherever you are has always been home to me, and there’s no place I’d rather be.”
My insides melted and my heart soared. “I love you, Rowan,” I said.
His grin filled his face. “I never thought I’d hear those words from you.” He leaned in and our lips met. It was one amazing kiss—until whoops and hollers from onlookers brought us back to reality. We had an audience, and if we weren’t careful, this would be front page on the Orlinda Valley News for sure.
“Ignore them, Summertime,” he said as he tilted my chin so our eyes met. “I love you back.” He kissed me again, sweet and tender.
This time, when the cheers from the onlookers started up, I smiled against his lips, wrapped my arms tighter around his neck, pulled him to me, and said, “Damn, Rowan, that’s not a kiss. If you’re going to kiss me, kiss me like your fucking life depends on it.”
And that’s exactly what he did.
