Today she had the day off, so she planned on doing laundry and straightening up. Later that evening, Kendall, Lexie, and Kade descended on Kendall’s parents’ house to celebrate her father’s birthday.
Kendall knew it was too much to hope that her mother, Addy, would come down to the kitchen for dinner and cake. And she arrived to find her mother was holed up upstairs. Basically she didn’t leave the bedroom, and it was only in the last year that Kendall’s dad, Wade, had hired a live-in nurse to help him with his wife’s situation. He didn’t want to put her in a treatment facility or assisted living, and Kendall respected his decision. But nothing changed the fact that Kendall hadn’t had a real mother for the better part of her life.
She’d already gone upstairs to say hello and kiss her mother’s cheek, but she’d been in her rocking chair and hadn’t responded. From past experience, Kendall knew it would take awhile for the pit that had lodged in her stomach to go away.
Her father always brought in dinner from a local restaurant, and tonight they’d eaten roast chicken, red potatoes, and green beans. Lexie had offered to pick up the cake, and Kendall had taken care of a joint gift, which was an Apple TV for him to stream new shows. He certainly had the time on his hands to watch.
They moved into the family room after cake and coffee, and Kade began the process of hooking up the Apple TV, leaving Lexie and Kendall talking with their father.
“Okay, enough about me. Tell me what’s going on with each of you,” Wade asked. “Kendall?”
She glanced at him. “Actually, I was thinking of going back to school.” Thanks to Julian’s positive reaction, she had the courage to share her news. “I want to be a vet tech.”
“That’s fabulous,” Lexie said. “You’d be a perfect fit!”
“I agree,” Kade said, approval and admiration in his gaze.
She was used to seeing compassion in Kade’s expression, but his admiration filled her with pleasure and pride.
“I would love for you to go back to school!” her father said. “Can I help?”
Kendall smiled. “I’ll let you know if and when I need anything, Dad. Thank you. For everything. All of you. I’m so grateful for your support. I can’t tell you what it means to me to know I have you in my corner.” She smiled, knowing how very fortunate she was.
“We love you, K.”
“We do,” her father added. “And now you, Lexie. What’s going on? You seemed preoccupied at dinner.”
“Well, now that you mention it… Kade and I have news,” Lexie said.
Personally, Kendall didn’t know how she’d held the exciting revelation in during dinner.
“What is it?” Wade asked.
“Lexie’s having my baby,” Kade said from behind the television set. He rose and strode out to where Wade was hugging Lexie.
“That’s such wonderful news!” their father said, stepping back and studying his daughter with pride. “I can’t wait to be a grandfather.”
“It’s awesome,” Kendall agreed.
“I wish your mother… Never mind,” her father said.
Lexie met his gaze. “I told her, Dad. When I went upstairs before dinner. No reaction,” Lexie said, her voice cracking.
And that explained why Lexie had needed time to compose herself over dinner before telling their father the same news.
Kade pulled Lexie into his arms. “I’m over the moon.” His voice was rough, and he couldn’t take his gaze off his wife.
And not for the first time tonight, she was envious of her sister. Lexie had the ability to bring her husband around her friends and family without worrying about what anyone would say. Or think. Kendall longed for the same freedom. To go where she wanted, to bring Julian around her family. To just be who and what she was without judgment or condemnation.
As much as she understood why Lexie and Kade would lose their minds if they found out Kendall was seeing Julian, they didn’t know him now. They didn’t know what he’d been through in the past, how far he had come. How hard he was trying to be a better man. If she told them, would they care?
“So, Kendall…” Her father turned his attention to her. “Any special man in your life?” he asked, as if on cue.
She swallowed hard. This was her chance. “No, no one in particular,” she lied.
Not because she was a coward but because she didn’t want to ruin Lexie’s news with an argument, and because she wanted to talk to Julian before she took such a big step.
She’d have to keep her secret awhile longer and hope when her sister did discover the truth, she’d find it in her heart to understand and agree that people had the ability to change. And to want Kendall’s happiness above anything else.