“Guys! You know I’ll be coming home for the holidays, even so, I’m not sure if I will go back on tour with the girls yet. It all depends on what’s happening here. But I’m not going to miss Christmas for anything, and Effa will be with me, right?” I ask, and Effa smiles wide.
“Sure will. I know we’re not one hundred percent sure when the tour is kicking off again, but it will break for Christmas, and there’s nowhere we’d rather be than with you guys.”
Kiera jumps off her stool, her face pale, and seems to have no energy as she steps up to my side and leans in, cuddling me. “Thank you, Kaden. I love having you around so much. I just want to spend as much time as possible with you.”
A somber tone fills the air, and I wrap my arms around Kiera, feeling the need to cuddle and to be close to her. I know she’s getting weaker. I see it in the way she moves and acts. It scares me, and so coming home for the holidays,ifwe do go back on tour, is going to be a major thing for me, because spending as much time with my sister is my main priority.
“Me too, booger-butt, you know I love you. And I promise when I get home tonight… you, me, that sofa, we’re getting our movie fix on.”
Kiera smiles wide and nods. “Deal, as long as you lay off Raoul. He’s been super sweet to me.”
I groan while rolling my eyes. “Fine. Only marginally fine, though.” I chuckle. “But seriously, we have to go. Moral of the story, I’ll be here for Christmas, and I can spend all my time with you. Okay?” I lean out, embracing her. She holds onto me tightly, and I smile, bending to kiss her temple.
“Right. We have to go. Brunch is calling,” I tell her, and she smiles at me and then Effa.
“Have fun, kids,” Kiera quips.
I roll my eyes, yanking her beanie down over her eyes before I let her go. Her sweet laughter fills the air as I grab Effa’s hand and walk with her out the door and down the street toward Kammie’s.
We make it to the diner quickly, and I reach out for her hand again. She laces her fingers with mine, and we walk inside. I take a deep breath, trying my hardest not to look around and seem obvious, but I can’t help my eyes wandering over to the counter to look for Lilah. Her strawberry blonde hair catches my attention straight away as our eyes lock. The plate in her handdrops to the counter with a clunk when she spots me. Effa turns to look at her and sighs as I look away, hating that she has to be here.
She squeezes my hand, and I squeeze back.
We walk up to the booth, and Lettie’s eyes light up when she notices us approaching. “Oh… hi, guys. Welcome back. It’s such a shame you’ve only come back to Ligonier on our last day in the States.” She jumps up from the booth to give Effa a tight squeeze.
Effa hugs her back, and I smile, leaning in to give Donny a handshake, but he pushes my hand out of the way and stands up to embrace me over the table. I chuckle and hug him back.
Effa snickers and then leans in to embrace her father. “Hi, Daddy.”
“Baby girl, I’m so proud of you. I’m sorry we have to go home so quickly after your diagnosis. If you need us, though, I can shift things around and make it so we can stay?” Donny suggests, and Effa shakes her head.
“No. Thanks, Dad, for everything. I’ve disrupted your lives for long enough. Lettie has to get back to her students, and you have to go back to your life, too. I can’t keep you all to myself… even though I really want to.”
Donny and Lettie sit down in the booth, and we follow on the opposite side, getting comfortable. I pick up the menu and look at it as Lettie reaches out for Effa’s hand over the table. “Now, darling, you know if you ever need anything, we’re only a phone call away. We might be chillin’ at the pad, but that doesn’t mean we can’t come right back here lickety-split.”
I stifle a laugh at how Lettie always talks like she’s trapped in the seventies. But somehow she manages to make it sound cool again. I think it’s just her way, and I really like her. She has a nurturing aura about her. She’s good to be around.
“Thanks, Lettie, I’ve loved having you guys here. It means so much you came all this way for me… for us. We’ve all loved having you here.”
I smile and nod. “I agree. It’s been great meeting you,” I say as someone appears to our side.
We all look at Lilah, looking very stone-faced, holding a notepad and pen.
I tense up, as does Effa, while I glare at Lilah, wondering what the hell she wants.
“Welcome to Kammie’s. Can I take your order?” Her tone is flat and unwelcoming.
I let out an exhale louder than I meant to, making Donny look at me, then at Lilah, then back at me again. Donny jumps in first, ordering pie and milkshakes for the table. Effa hands over her menu with a polite smile, and Lilah stomps off.
Donny looks at me and clears his throat. “That was your ex, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah… long story.”
“Seems like there’s bad blood?” Lettie queries.
“Oh, yeah… there is.”
“From you or her?” Donny asks.
