Page 66 of Crashing Into Me
“You’re smart and beautiful, and the right man for you will come along,” he stated, then stood and helped her out of the snow.
Kayden walked her back inside as she began to compose herself. Lana looked over at them as they came back in, and Kim looked like she’d aged thirty years.She was not well in the head,Lana thought as the troubled girl sat back down in the living room covered in snow. Maureen, her face tear-stained, turned to Lana.
“I’m sorry. I truly am,” she said to her.
“I’ll believe it when you start earning your way back into my life again, mother,” Kayden replied.
Paula stood and looked at Maureen.
“I’m sorry it had to be like this, but it was the only way to get your attention.” Maureen nodded her head because she knew it was true.
It was very much something she would have done with a person like herself.
“I understand,” she said.
“I love you, Mom, butyouhave to make some serious life changes.” Paula walked over to her and hugged Maureen.
Feeling her child squeeze her the way she did reduced Maureen to weeping sobs.
“I’m so sorry,” she repeated, collapsing in her daughter’s arms.
Everyone was shocked to see that reaction from her. Lana was sure there would be some confrontation from her, but instead, Maureen listened. After all, she didn’t really have a choice in the matter. Paula and Maureen cried on each other for a while, and Kayden slipped his arm around Lana. He was teary-eyed, and Lana nodded her head to him to go to his mother.
He leaned down and kissed her, then walked over to the last two Capshaws on the planet. Kim watched from the couch in disbelief.Maureen gave up that easily,she asked herself. After everything she was coached on and promised, they all got to forgive each other and ride into the sunset without her?! Kim stood from the couch and walked towards the foyer, defeated.
No one noticed except for Lana, and she slowly followed her to the door. Kim had lost her shoes in the struggle and was nowcarrying them in one hand. She stood outside in the snow on the lawn and looked up at the sky.How am I gonna face my friends tomorrow?she asked herself as she trudged through the snow. She was so numb emotionally that she didn’t even feel the cold on her feet.
Kim started walking down the hill in the road towards the town center. Lana wanted to say something, but didn’t want to risk another outburst, so she didn’t. She closed the door and walked back into the living room.
“Excuse me, guys, but I think someone should seriously check on Kim.”
They stopped and turned to face her, then looked around the room.
“Where is she?” Maureen asked.
“She just started walking down the road barefoot; someone should give her a ride.”
Heathcliff stood up, and Maureen walked over to him.
“Let’s go,” she said, then turned back to Kayden and Paula and smiled weakly.
She had truly almost destroyed her family, all in an attempt to maintain control, and it was for nothing. They both made their way down the foyer to the front door, and Lana and Kayden followed. Maureen turned to Lana.
“For what it’s worth, you have changed my son for the better, and I’ll always thank you for doing what I couldn’t. For saving him,” she said.
“You’re only partly right, Maureen. Kayden also saved me,” Lana replied.
Maureen smiled and nodded her head at her, then got in the car with Heathcliff. Lana and Kayden closed and locked the door. She took a deep, long breath and turned around, where Kayden stood right in front of her. He gathered her into hisarms, hugging her, then kissed her passionately and fiercely, then finally pried away.
“Is it over?” she asked, her eyes welling with more tears.
“It’s over, my love,” he replied.
He picked her up, carried her to the living room, and kissed her again. He rested her down as Taylor walked up to them, holding his hand out to Kayden, and they shook.
“Thanks for that, man. I have to get back to the hotel and get ready to head home.”
“Oh,” Lana said, “I need to run back there as well. I forgot to get my suitcase from the hotel.”
