Page 67 of Crashing Into Me
“I can take her,” Paula offered from the living room, sipping more champagne.
“No, it’s ok, I don’t want to spend another minute away from her,” Kayden responded, and Paula rolled her eyes playfully. “Gosh, you guys make me sick,” then winked at them.
They all walked outside where the snow had begun to fall more steadily and piled into Paula’s car. She backed out of the driveway, and within minutes, they were behind Heathcliff’s squad car, where they both pulled into the hotel at the same time. Maureen and Heathcliff got out, but Kim remained inside.
“Kimberly, aren’t you coming in?” Maureen asked, leaning into the car window. Kim looked up at her and then to Heathcliff.
“You mind leaving the car on for a few minutes so I can compose myself? I just need a couple of minutes,” she asked.
He looked at Maureen, not sure of what to say, and Maureen winked at him.
“Sure,” he replied after her nonverbal approval.
“I’ll be back in about ten minutes,” he continued, then he and Maureen walked towards the hotel entrance.
Kim took a few labored breaths as she watched them go inside and smiled. It was good to see Maureen find love again,she thought as he put his hand on the small of her back and disappeared inside. A car door slammed, breaking her train of thought, then another one slammed after. Kim turned her head and saw it was Kayden and Lana behind her.
A scowl crossed her face as they rushed past the car, holding hands.The same way he used to hold mine,she thought,but I’m always left behind.Just like her dad left her mom, or every guy she ever dated. She started sobbing again, thinking of the ridicule she’d get when she got home.
OFF THE HALLWAY of Spence Hotel,Maureen and Heathcliff had just walked into her room and closed the door when Lana and Kayden got off the elevator. Everything was finally feeling the way it did a month ago, now that the worst of everything had passed. She could start to enjoy Kayden and Hamby again. When they got to the room, she handed Kayden the key, and he opened the door.
“Let’s get you home,” Kayden said as he pulled the suitcase off the bed.
“Wait a minute, I have to pee,” she replied and ran into the bathroom.
When she closed the door, the pregnancy test was on the counter, and she decided now was as good as any to take it and get it over with. She ripped the foil package open and proceeded. As she sat on the porcelain and wet the stick, she thought about how different her life had become in a few short months. She removed the stick and placed it on the counter to wait the required two minutes. They had a wedding to plan, a new nursing license to apply for since she’d be moving, a new houseto build, and all with someone who became the love of her life, in the blink of an eye.
She picked up the stick and stared at it for a moment. The plus sign was a deep pink, and suddenly her heart raced and she felt dizzy. The usual questions about how this happened were foolish. She knew very well how, but why now? Why now, was all she could repeat in her head for a few moments.
She had to tell Kayden, but had no idea what his reaction would be. After everything that they just went through, a baby may not be something he wanted to have on his plate, too. She wasn’t sure if she wanted a baby at this point in her life either. Lana shook the thoughts from her mind and stood up from the toilet. She’d tell him back at Paula’s, no more secrets between them. It did neither of them any good the last time.
Her hands shook as she buttoned her pants, then washed her hands in the sink. She took a deep breath and walked back into the room where Kayden lay sprawled over the bed.
“Ready?” He asked, popping up.
She beamed a smile at him, “Ready.”
It would be weird, sleeping at Paula’s with her there, but it was a far cry better than Spence Hotel.They could use a serious upgrade to the twenty-first century,she thought as Kayden walked out of the room with her bags in tow.
“Hey, I just had an idea,” Lana said.
“Really, what about?” he asked, grinning,
“Want to just sleep here instead?” he asked, winking at her as they walked down the hallway.
“No. But I was thinking, maybe your next project could be the hotel,” she replied, an excited grin on her face.
“Not a bad idea, Mrs. Capshaw,” he said and kissed her on the forehead.
MAUREEN PERCHEDON the vanity chair, staring out the window onto the street below her, without really seeing it. She couldn’t feel sorry for herself as she had literally brought everything that happened down on herself. She was just glad her eyes were really opened this time and had the opportunity to try to make things right with her children. Heathcliff stood behind her and put his hand on her shoulder. She leaned her face into it. He really was a sweet man, even if easily swayed by her.
She wouldn’t leave him behind, though; there was actually something there between them she had never seen before, and she wanted to explore it. He leaned over and kissed her on the lips, and she let him. Things were definitely going to change in her life from now on—it was time.
OUTSIDE,KAYDEN AND Lana looked down the street toward the diner, where the last few customers were still trickling out. The grand re-opening was a significant success, and Kayden had never been happier in his life. The snow had stopped again, leaving a lovely blanket.Perhaps they could go snowmobiling one last time before everything started to melt,he thought.
Lana looked up at him.
“Hey, I have something to tell you when we get back to the house,” she said.
