LITMIR.BIZ

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to Ross. He’s nice. So what? Nice?” She blew raspberries. “Fuck nice. I don’t even want nice shoes much less a nice partner.” She put her sandwich down and after a judicious wiping of any potato salad remnants, Stacey grabbed Kelly’s hand for emphasis. “Does he make your heart beat faster? When he says your name, does it feel like your skin can’t hold in the intensity of what you feel? Because if not, don’t get married. Every day I see the end of one marriage after the next and while yes, it does make me jaded, it also convinces me that successful marriages are a mix of things, but they have an essential spark between the couple. Ross would be sure your car got detailed. The guy you should marry? He’d know you get up at four thirty so you can work out an hour before you start your day. He’d accept that you do it because you were raised by a sociopath but that you work quite hard to not let it go into more obsessive behavior.”

      “It’s weird that you feel no hesitation bringing up the state of my mental health,” Kelly said.

      “Whatever. I’m socially awkward and useless when it comes to being subtle anywhere but in my job. I say what I think. You need that. You ignore that I’m weird in my own ways.”

      Kelly giggled quietly. “You’re my weirdo soul mate.”

      “My point is, being known by someone else— understood—that’s worth everything. Nice is one thing. But true connection? That’s a universe away from nice. It’s necessary. Kelly, you don’t have that with Ross. And I don’t think you ever will.”

      Kelly frowned. “I am totally done being single. I want a partner. I want someone to have long talks with, late into the night. I want someone to come home to. Other than the girls, obviously, but you know what I mean. I want to be with someone. Ross isn’t exciting like Vaughan, no. But he’s a good choice.”

      “There are men from sea to shining sea. Especially when you’re tall, blonde, blue-eyed and gorgeous. You don’t have to settle and marry someone you don’t love.” Stacey indicated Kelly with another fork point.

      “None of this matters anyway. Vaughan hasn’t said anything specific. When I asked him directly about it he avoided answering. I’m off balance. He’ll go back to the ranch tomorrow or maybe even tonight and it’ll all be over.” It’d be easier to think about marriage to Ross once Vaughan had disappeared from her life again.

      “I don’t know, Kel. I mean, look at you. You’re flushed. He’s got you flustered.”

      “I didn’t say the situation would be over. Just his part in it. I have to think about the engagement. I’ve had second thoughts over the last few weeks.” Upstairs she heard Kensey moving around. Walking down the hall from Kelly’s bedroom to her own. They probably had about five minutes before she came down, so Kelly needed to wrap this up before they had an audience.

      Stacey shrugged. “You know my opinion of the engagement. If you want more from me, tell me. I’m just trying to keep my mouth shut and support you after this.”

      Kelly laughed some more. “You butt out? Ha!”

      “I didn’t say I was going to butt out. I said I told you how I felt but that you’re my friend and I want you to be happy so I’ll support you in that.”

      “Fair enough. Thanks again for coming home.”

      “Not a thing. Tell me what you need. I can stay here with Kensey while you go pick Maddie up. I can bring her with me to the hospital, take her to my place for a while. I can run interference with the Hurleys. Whatever.”

      “Thank you. I called the hospital already to check in. She’s awake and doing well. They said I could come over there after eight. The doctor told us last night that if everything kept on the way it was that we could bring Maddie home sometime late morning today.”

      “When’s Shurley arriving?”

      Kelly couldn’t stop her snicker. Shurley was what they called Sharon Hurley so no one knew they were talking about Vaughan’s mother.

      “Vaughan should be here within the next fifteen minutes. I imagine his parents will be arriving either with him, or sometime soon after. I hope after. I don’t have enough coffee in me yet for before. The rest of the brood I expect will show up at some point once we get Maddie home and settled.”

      “How was it yesterday? Aside from the argument you had with Vaughan?”

      “It was all right. Everyone was friendly, especially everyone who wasn’t a certain mother-in-law. Ezra has a new girlfriend. She’s pretty cool. Makes jewelry so I’m all over looking at what she does. Maybe for the shop.”

      Kelly co-owned two clothing boutiques. One in Portland and the sister store in Manhattan. She and her business partner had decided to start carrying more accessories like jewelry and bags recently. As they liked to feature women artists and designers and also support locals, she’d been thrilled to meet Tuesday and get along with her so well from the start.

      “It could have been dreadful and it was only uncomfortable. So, yay, I guess. But there won’t be as big a houseful today so that means I may have more one-on-one time with Shurley. Maddie’s in raptures that her dad and grandparents will be here. I’m trying to hold on to that. If you could just be here to run interference if I need that, I’d appreciate it.”

      “Got it.”

       CHAPTER FOUR

      KENSEY, SINGING AT the top of her lungs “Me and Bobby McGee”—the kid had taste—came downstairs and when she caught sight of Stacey, she stopped singing to shriek Stacey’s name as she launched herself at their visitor.

      Stacey, laughing, hugged Kensey tight, kissing each cheek before putting her back down. “Good to see you, peaches.”

      “Did you hear that Maddie’s appendix got bursted? She got surgery and Daddy promised her a new bike. But then she made him promise to get me one, too. Which I thought was pretty nice of her to share.”

      Stacey’s gaze met Kelly’s for a brief moment. Amusement lit her eyes.

      By the time Kelly slid a plate of eggs and toast to Kensey, Vaughan had arrived, also bringing coffee, along with a box of doughnuts.

      He came up short at the sight of Stacey at the island, seated next to Kensey.

      “Morning, Kelly.” He turned to Stacey and lifted a hand in greeting. “Stacey.”

      At first it had been weird, becoming such close friends with the attorney who handled her divorce. But it had been years since then and it wasn’t so odd anymore.

      Vaughan bent to hug Kensey, who grinned at her dad. “Auntie Stacey came over to have potato salad sandwiches for breakfast. She’s been in Manhattan at our other house. I told her she could have my room but she likes Mom’s room best.”

      “Her bed is bigger. My feet hang off the end of your bed.” Stacey stood, clearing away some dishes as she did. “I do wear your clothes when I’m there, though, baby.” She winked.

      Kensey put her hands over her mouth and laughed.

      “Have you eaten? The fridge is full of stuff left over from yesterday but I can scramble you a few eggs if you’d rather,” Kelly asked him.

      His wariness eased away as his smile deepened, took root and made her slightly dizzy. “I’m going to have a doughnut with some coffee and see where I go from there. My parents went home last night but they called me twenty minutes ago and said they were leaving the ranch.”

      “They’re welcome here after we handle Maddie’s discharge.” Hopefully for a short period of time. Maddie would need rest and quiet, not a house full of her relatives.

      “Much appreciated. I figure everyone can come by here, see that Maddie is safely tucked in and happy and then they’ll all go. I asked my brothers to stay home

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