Page 145 of Under Her Skin
“Really? I thought he’d be a great kisser. He’s handsome and tall and well built. Are you sure it was him who was the bad kisser and not you?” She nudges my ribs with herelbow.
“He’s probably a fine kisser. I have issues. Too many damnissues.”
“Damn issues! Haha,” Paxsqueals.
Peyton raises her eyebrows. “Kip’s going to know that wasyou.”
“Man! He’s going to read me the riot act. Dang issues, Paxxi. Say it. Dangissues.”
Paxxie laughs and the little two-year-old smiles like he’s done something so great. “Damn issues, Aunt Chewi!Haha!”
I shake my head. “Tell Kip I’msorry.”
Peyton laughs. “Don’t sweat it. Kip dropped the ‘F’ bomb as he was watching a Rugby game and Pax picked itup.”
“Oh, that’s so much worse than what I said!” I laugh and Peytonsighs.
“Where is your old man anyway?” I ask as they are nearlyinseparable.
“He and Bobby are at some new recording studio. They’re checking it out so they can make one at our place. So I was left on my own and came to find you to bug all day, so I won’t be bored and eat. This baby has me hungry all thetime.”
“Thanks for coming over. I do need some company. I’ve been needing someone to help me make a decision about an invitation I got in the mail last week.” I leave the bathroom and go get theletter.
Ihandit to her and let her read it. “It’s from your old foster parents. Have you seen them since that brief stay you hadthere?”
I shake my head and she looks back at the paper. “I’m torn about going. On one hand I think it would be good therapy for me to revisit the place I lost so much of myself at. But then again I worry about breaking down as I walk back through the house that seemed so alien to me when I wasthree.”
“That would be traumatic to the other children wouldn’t it?” sheasked.
“It would and I’m not sure I can contain the raw emotions I get when I even think about those feelings I had back then. I blocked it for so long, it’s something that’s still sore inme.”
Peyton touches my shoulder and strokes my hair. “You should go. Face what you fear so you can see it’s just a thing. Things can’t kill you. They can hurt only as much as you allow themto.”
“Maybe you’re right. Maybe it would be better for me to go. I’d like to thank the people who were so nice to me in that tough time.” I look at Pax and wonder how in the world things can get so bad people could bring themselves to give their precious little childrenaway.
Peyton gets a grin on her face. “I’ll talk to Kip. He can fly us to my parent’s house in Smithville. You can borrow my old Jeep that’s still there and drive down to the tiny town it’s in. It’ll be fun. We can make a whole weekend out of it. Give you time to go visit your grandparents and your mother if she’s still at theirplace.”
“That’s a lot of visiting in the matter of a few days, don’t you think?” I ask as I’m not sure aboutgoing.
“It’s better that way. Inundate yourself in the things that make you uncomfortable. Soon enough, you’ll find comfort wherever youare.”
I hope she’sright!
Blake
Max and I arrive in grand style to the reunion at the little children’s home. His helicopter is gorgeous and the children run to see it as we land. Max has promised to give every kid who wants to, a ride in the chopper. The kids are already forming aline.
Max laughs as he turns it off and we get out. “You’ll have to wait just a little while. I have to say hello to the people who raised mefirst.”
We make our way through the kids who all shout hellos as they welcome us. One little boy tugs at my pants leg. I look down to find a little dark haired boy who looks to be about three smiling up atme.
He holds his arms out and I pick him up. “And who do we have here?” I askhim.
“Toby,” he says. “Did you make myswing?”
“I bought your swing. You must like it,” I say and touch the tip of his cute littlenose.
“I love it! Wanna push me onit?”
