“Amen” choruses out in unison.
“Amen,” I whisper.
“Dig in, girls. Kales is washing up.” Hadley’s grin stretches his face as he takes a bite of steak and points his empty fork at his sister.
“Yeah, yeah. Same old,” she banters back.
“I can help you,” I offer.
“Thanks.” Kayley’s brown eyes, almost identical to her brother’s, are round with happiness.
The food is delicious. Simple but well-made, and the flavors are amazing. My plate is clean too soon.
“More, hon?” Julie points to the dishes in the center.
“Oh no, thank you. I’m full.”
We sit and chat for almost an hour before Kayley and I gather the plates and dive into cleaning up. I wash and she dries and puts away, since I have no idea where anything goes. Hadley is in the living room with his two younger sisters. He’s roped into fixing a few things and then they cuddle up to him and watch a TV show.
I can feel my heart expanding the more time I spend in this big old house with his family. They have a modest home, but they want for nothing. In fact, I would go as far as to say they have more than most when it comes to family.
Something like longing tugs at my heart.
Before my emotions can get the better of me, I finish up the last of the washing up as Kayley says her goodnights. It’s atwenty-minute drive back into Clinton, where she has her own small apartment, as she’s been telling me.
“Night, it’s lovely to meet you,” I say and she leans in and gives me a hug.
“Don’t let that brother of mine get away with a thing.”
“Never,” I reply softly.
She hovers for a moment. “It really was amazing to finally meet you. Hearing about you for months has made me goddamn impatient.”
She’s out the door before I figure out her meaning.
“Hey, ready to head home?” a low voice says from behind.
I turn back to find Hadley leaning on his one crutch, running a hand through his hair.
Home.
Not ‘back to my place,’ just home.
God it would be so easy to just fa?—
“Oh! You’re leaving already?” Julie appears in the hallway. “Will we see you again before you go?”
“I have two more nights here, so maybe?”
She beams. “Oh, then you will. We always supper together.”
“Since I was twelve,” Hadley adds, with an unamused expression.
Since his father left.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.” I give her a brief hug, and she huffs a surprised breath as Hadley heads for the door.
Gemma and Nia come flying through the hallway from the living room. “Night, Maggie!”
