The Road to Reunion

“He missed you, too, Mom. He just wasn’t sure about whether he would still fit in here after being away for so long. And he’s had an especially hard time during the past year.”

“I could see that in his eyes,” Cassie murmured. “He told me that he was badly injured and that he lost a very close friend. But he seems to like his house in the Smokies.”

Molly shook her head in bemusement that Cassie had drawn so much out of Kyle in a ten-minute conversation—and she had probably done so with such skill that he’d hardly realized he was revealing so much to her. Kyle was outside now with Jared and Shane; she would love to hear what they were talking about out there.

“He’s made a good life for himself in Tennessee,” she said, looking down at her hands. “A bit isolated, maybe, but he seems content, for the most part. He’s certainly anxious to get back there.”

Cassie gave her a searching look, as if she had heard something in her daughter’s voice that concerned her. Before the conversation became any more awkward, Molly stood, wincing a little when she balanced her weight on her right ankle.

She had overused that leg today, she admitted ruefully. Joe had admonished her several times to sit down more during the day and give it a rest, advice she had generally ignored. She was paying for that now.

“Is your leg hurting you, Molly?”

” A little. I guess I should go on to bed.”

“You really should. Is there anything I can get for you? Do you need help to your room?”

“No, thanks. I’ve become an old pro at using the banister to help boost me up. I just need to give the ankle a few hours’rest. Tell Daddy good-night for me, okay?”

“I will.” Cassie gave her a warm hug. “Thank you again for the lovely party.”

Although she was glad her parents had enjoyed the surprise as much as she had hoped they would, Molly was aware of a hollow feeling inside her as she slowly climbed the stairs to her room. Maybe it was just the inevitable letdown after months of planning and anticipation, she thought. Or maybe just weariness. But she knew as her gaze fell on the empty bedroom at the end of the hallway what really depressed her.

Now that this day was behind them, there was no reason for Kyle to stay any longer. The party was over— in more ways than one.

Kyle and Shane had made arrangements to leave for the Dallas airport at ten o’clock Sunday morning. They had breakfast first with Cassie, Jared, Molly, Kelly and the girls.

Kyle didn’t say much during the meal. Watching the animated interactions going on around him at the big dining room table, he remembered what it was like when he had lived here before. Always warmly welcomed into this generous, big-hearted family, but always secretly aware that he wasn’t really one of them.

Molly, now, hers was a different story—he glanced across the table to where she sat laughing with her parents. She so obviously belonged here among the people who adored her. Who knew how to share their feelings, and to make sure she was happy and secure in their love. She had grown up surrounded by family, never lonely or ignored. She deserved nothing less now.

He had only a few minutes alone with her after breakfast to say goodbye. He’d gone up to the guest room to get his bag, and she was waiting in the hallway when he walked out.

“Do you have everything?” she asked, her voice rather strained.

“Yes.”

She nodded and tucked a long strand of gold-red hair behind her ear, her expression pensive. “Shane’s waiting for you out on the porch. The boys are there, too. They want to say goodbye.”

“Are you coming down?”

“No.” She attempted a smile, but couldn’t quite pull it off. “I don’t really want to watch you drive away.”

“Molly…” He fell silent, the sizable lump in his throat choking off his voice. Just as well, he thought grimly. He didn’t know what he would have said, anyway.

She stepped forward to give him one of her warm, so-natural hugs. “Take care of yourself, Kyle,” she murmured into his shoulder.

“You, too,” he said, resting his cheek just for a moment against her soft hair. Closing his eyes and savoring the feel of her in his arms, just for this one last time.

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nbsp; There were tears in her big, green eyes when he released her. He reminded himself that she always cried when one of “the boys” moved on—but it still hurt him to see them.

“I have to go back,” he said jerkily, vaguely wondering who he was really trying to convince. “Jewel and Mack have come to depend on me. And, well…I belong there.”

“I know,” she whispered, swiping at her cheek with an unsteady hand.

He didn’t add that she belonged here with her family. That was a given.