Page 42 of Loving Words
“I’ll get Rose Marie home. Why don’t you do the same for our Kennedy?” Gran stepped forward, wrapped an arm around Rose Marie, and pulled her up with a strength I hadn’t expected. “Come on, sweet girl. Let’s get you home.”
I followed her lead, but instead of walking Kennedy out, I scooped her into my arms. Exhausted from the events and the tears spent, she didn’t put up a fight.
Back at the house, I helped her to our room and into a long T-shirt for a nightgown, then guided her into our bed and slid in behind her. That night, I slept little as I did my best to comfort her each time she woke in tears.
When morning came, Kennedy rolled over, and I could feel her watching me.
“It’s rude to stare.”
“Let’s get our own place,” she said.
My eyes shot open. I’d fully expected the conversation to be tabled for the foreseeable future. With a funeral and time to grieve the loss of her loved one, getting our own place was literally the last thing I expected from her mouth.
Leaning onto an elbow, I ran a hand down my face. “Come again?”
“Jack, life is short, and I can’t imagine spending it with anyone else. Let’s move in together. I mean, not in the next few weeks, as I need to help Rose with the funeral, but after that.”
I dipped my mouth to hers and kissed her. “Whenever and wherever you want, as long as you’re there, I don’t care.”
