Welcome to Forever (16 page)

She sat on the floor and pulled at the bottom drawer. It stuck a little, resisting being opened. It didn't want to let go of the memories, either. Finally, it gave way and she fell back on her bottom, coughing a little as a plume of dust flew toward her face.

Dipping her hand into the drawer, she pulled out an old Valentine's card first. It was one she recognized immediately. She'd given it to John the February before he'd left. As she opened it, a soft battery-operated tune sang
“
Burning Love
”
in a mechanical Elvis impersonation. She smiled, reading her words to her future husband.

The answer was always yes. And always will be.

He'd meant to ask her to marry him three times before he'd actually been successful. But all three times, they'd sparked an argument somehow, and fearing she'd say no, he'd opted not to pop the question. She never would've turned him down, though. She'd been ready to say yes to forever since their first date. That's when she'd known. Maybe from the first time they'd looked into each other's eyes. She'd also known that they'd spend their lives together forever. But they hadn't. Even though he'd made promises to her, he'd never come home.

Where did a Valentine's card go? Not to the Goodwill. Not in the trashcan. She slid it inside a shoebox and did the same with the next several mementos of their lives together. When the box was full and the drawer half empty, she stopped, drained for the morning. She'd do a little at a time, she promised herself, rising as she heard Julie come through the front door.

Glancing around the room, she decided all it needed for Julie to stay here tonight was a change of sheets and a new bedspread. That's all that had to be done physically. Emotionally, she needed a good glass of wine. Both could be arranged.

“Hey.” Kat poked her head outside the bedroom door as Julie headed down the hall.

Julie's brows lifted in question.

“Just cleaning out your new room.” Kat forced a smile.

“My new room?” Julie repeated, the tone a questioning one.

“Yep.” Kat hugged the shoebox of old cards in her arms. “I'll change the sheets and you can sleep here tonight. As many nights as you need.”

“Are you sure?” Julie asked, her shoulders relaxing a little. “Because the couch is fine. Even though I've had a kink in my neck for the past two days. Nothing a little yoga can't fix.”

“I'm sure.” Kat sucked in a solid breath. “I'll, uh, work on cleaning out the closet for you another day.”

Julie nodded, peeking into the master bedroom. “Thank you. I almost feel like you want me to stay.”

Kat narrowed her gaze softly. “Of course I want you to stay. You're my sister. We're family. Now, go get your things and bring them in here.”

Before I have a chance to change my mind.

Julie nodded and headed back to her suitcases in the living room. With one final glance in the master bedroom's direction, Kat forced her feet, and her mind, forward.

It'd been a week since she and Micah had sex for the first time. It hadn't been the last time, though. In that week, they'd somehow managed to meet every day, or night, to take advantage of their agreement. Sex. No strings. Just plain, feel-damn-good pleasure.

Kat looked up from her desk and sighed at the image of Val.

“You're still going to tell me that nothing happened?” Val asked, hands on her hips, obviously not buying Kat's outright lie. “Fine, don't tell me. I know what's going on.”

“You only think you do,” Kat called to Val's back as she headed into the front office. With her friend gone, Kat smiled to herself. Yep, she was enjoying herself and no one else needed to know—that would only complicate things. Micah had a son that was his first priority, as Ben should be, and she…well, she still had one leg stuck in the past and he didn't seem to mind.

Kat stared at the ring on her finger and sucked in a deep breath. Then, she slipped it off. The band resisted a little, and she had to twist it and give a hard yank. When it was off, she set it on her desk and stared at it, remembering when she'd first seen it in the velvet box that John had presented to her. When her friends had gotten engaged before her, she'd pretended to fawn over their rings like they were the most special things she'd ever seen. They never were though. Not in her eyes. It was always just another diamond, maybe cut differently or shinier than others, but a diamond just the same.

But she'd understood when she opened the box from John and saw this one for the first time. Her heart had swelled in her chest and her fingers had shook as he'd slipped the ring on her left hand. She'd sworn at that very moment that she'd never take it off.

Kat unclasped the gold chain she wore around her neck and slid her diamond engagement ring on it. Before she could change her mind, she clasped the chain with the ring attached back in place.

There.
She'd taken another tiny step forward.

Val cleared her throat, standing back in Kat's doorway with an expectant look.

“Still not talking,” Kat said.

Val crossed her arms. “That's not why I'm back. Mrs. Burroughs wanted me to ask if the Friendship Club is meeting this afternoon.”

Kat furrowed her brow. “Of course we are. We meet every afternoon. Why? And why didn't she come ask me herself?”

Val shrugged, rolling her eyes to the ceiling. “She said she was hoping to meet with you alone to discuss school matters.”

School matters, my ass.
“What's wrong with right now? I'm free for the next hour or so.”

Val lowered her voice. “That won't work for our lovely assistant principal. She's busy. And administrators are supposed to meet after school, you know? The school hours are for assisting students,” Val said in a mocking tone.

“I'm the last one to leave every night. My door is always open. And we just met last week.”

Val held her hands out to her sides. “So I should tell her yes, the club is meeting this afternoon and she can just kiss your—”

Now Kat's hands flew out in front of her. “No. No, don't tell her that.” Dora Burroughs was an old-school administrator. She had ideas of how things should be run and Kat understood that. Kind of. “Tell her I'll meet with her right after the bell today. You can help Micah get the group started for the first fifteen minutes, right?”

Val dug a finger into her own chest. “Me?”

“I did give you that comfy office job. Even though you're not all that people-friendly. School secretaries are supposed to be nice.”

Val frowned. “I am nice. Just misunderstood…Fine. I'll tell her. And I'll watch the little rug rats for you, because I'm so sweet. For fifteen minutes only, though. I'm timing it.”

Kat steepled her hands in front of her. “Thank you.”

In response, Val pointed a finger at her. “But I expect a full, detailed report on the wild sex you're having with Micah later.”

Kat's mouth fell open. She hurried to the doorway and searched around the front office for anyone who might have overheard. Dora Burroughs stood at the end of the hall with her back to them. Kat really hoped her assistant principal hadn't heard that comment. Turning, she frowned at her friend and lowered her voice to a harsh whisper. “If you weren't my best friend, I'd fire you right now. You know that?”

“So you keep saying. The fact of the matter is, I'll always be your best friend, so you're stuck with me.” Val's smile deepened. Then her gaze caught on the diamond engagement ring on Kat's necklace. She looked at Kat's hand and back up. “That's progress. Maybe you're having more than sex.”

Kat's hand instinctively fidgeted with the chain as she laughed lightly. “How many times do I have to tell you? We're just friends.”

Val nodded, with a knowing grin stamped on her face. “Okay. We'll continue this conversation later.” She gave a little wave and headed down the hall toward Mrs. Burroughs's office.

Well, hell.
Kat returned to her desk and plopped in her chair. Val didn't know what

she was talking about. What she had with Micah was just sex. Hot, mind-blowing, multiple orgasmic sex.

She nodded to herself as her hand went to the ring dangling off her necklace. Because anything more than that would put a damper on things. A
big
damper.

“So you asked her out on a pre-ball date? And you've been having sex with her ever since?” Lawson grabbed a soda from Micah's fridge and sat down.

Micah felt his eyes widen as he scanned the room. “Lower your voice, man. Ben's down the hall doing homework.”

Lawson laughed. “You did, didn't you? I can see it all over your face. Was it good?”

Micah glowered at him from the hot stove. “If you keep being such an asshole, I'll stop letting you come over for dinner every week. Then what will you do?”

“A man needs a home-cooked meal at least once a week,” Lawson agreed. “I guess then I'd have to settle down and find a good woman.” He shook his head and took a long drink of his Coke. “She'd have to be a good cook. Otherwise, I'd starve.”

“You wouldn't starve. You could live off junk food for another decade or two before it caught up to you,” Micah said. “Or you could just live at your sister's house.”

Lawson scratched his chin, a look of heavy concentration weighing down his features as he considered this. “I feel like I practically live there as it is. If I ever see Beth's jerk of an ex, I'm going to introduce him to my fist. Who up and leaves their wife and little girl?”

“I don't know. Jessica didn't have any problems leaving her husband and son.”

Lawson shook his head. “After I introduce Beth's ex to my fist, I'll introduce him to Jessica. A perfect match.”

“Anyway, I'm not discussing my love life with you.”

“Love life?” Lawson was grinning again.

Micah let out a deep growl. “Just cut it out with the s-word, all right? I don't want Ben to hear you.”

“What s-word?” Ben asked, walking down the hall while keeping one hand on the wall to stabilize himself.

Micah startled at his son's voice, then nearly burnt his hand on the stove when he saw Ben standing. “Where's your chair?” His voice seemed to boom in the small kitchen.

“In my room. I can still walk, you know.” Ben waved at Lawson, and Micah immediately understood why his chair had been left behind. It was another reason Lawson would be invited over no matter what he said or did. Ben loved him. He was the uncle that Ben didn't have by blood. Blood didn't matter, though. Micah knew that well enough. Family was made through the time people spent together.

“What s-word?” Ben asked Lawson.

Lawson's face turned serious. “Top-secret military stuff that can't be spoken in front of young ears.”

Ben didn't buy it. He continued to take slow, deliberate steps to the table. “Hopefully we're not eating Dad's spaghetti again.”

Micah's head dipped in mock insult as he turned to watch him. “What's wrong with my spaghetti?”

Ben made a face. “Green noodles are weird.”

“They're spinach.” Micah looked at Lawson to help him out.

“I agree with the kid. It's weird,” his pal said with a shrug.

Micah pretended to brood as he brought the plates he'd prepared to the table. “Manwiches.” He smiled proudly at his son and friend. “Dinner of men. Let's eat.”

Micah and Lawson lifted the oozing buns to their mouths as Ben watched. “Dad, can we say grace?”

Micah's Manwich hovered in front of him. Clearing his throat, he set it down. “Grace?” He hadn't considered praying before a meal since his mother had passed away. She'd always insisted they bless the food before eating. “Who taught you about saying grace?”

Ben looked at the table. “There's a girl at school that says it before her lunch. I thought, you know, it might be time for me to get to know the big guy…so he'll protect Mom for me while she's in the war.” Ben's gaze hung on his plate. “Never mind. It's not important.”

“Sure it is, little buddy.” Lawson folded his hands in front of him and cast a convincing look in Micah's direction. Micah was too stunned to think. If there wasn't enough for his little guy to worry about, now he was concerned about his mother dying, too.

“Aren't you going to eat?” Lawson asked, halfway into the meal.

Micah shook his head. “Not hungry.”

“Too worried about your big night out,” Lawson asked, knowing good and well that wasn't it. “How do you feel about that, little buddy?” he asked Ben. “Your dad taking your principal to the ball? Kind of gross, huh?”

Ben shook his head with a large, heart-gripping grin. “All I want is for my dad to find someone who makes him happy.”

Well, damn if the kid doesn't sound like a little adult.

“You make me happy,” Micah said, getting up and clearing the plates. “And we're just friends,” he protested. “She's my boss.”

His objections were ignored.

“Well, what if they make each other miserable?” Lawson asked, passing his dish up to Micah.

Ben shook his head. “Scientifically impossible.”

“There's science behind this, huh?” Lawson asked.

Ben grinned. “Just like magnets. Dad and Principal Chandler are polar opposites of each other. I have a list. Wanna see it?”

Lawson glanced in Micah's direction. “Sure, buddy. I'd love to see your list.”

Micah dried his hands on a dishtowel and headed toward the table. He wanted to see this scientific evidence, too.

Ben walked slowly to his room, returning in his wheelchair with a handwritten list a few minutes later. He placed it in front of Lawson, who held it up and read it aloud.

“Dad likes trucks. Principal Chandler likes cars.” Lawson's gaze slid toward Ben beside him. “That's a huge polar opposite.”

“It gets better.” Ben tapped the paper with his right arm.

“Dad is tall. Principal Chandler is short. Dad has black hair. Principal Chandler has blond hair. Dad is a Marine. Principal Chandler is a teacher. Kind of.” Lawson chuckled under his breath. “Dad's wife left. Principal Chandler is alone, too.”

Ben pointed at the list. “That's not really opposite, but it's important. They're both lonely for different reasons. Principal Chandler used to wear a ring, but now she doesn't. I'm not sure why, but it means she's available. And they both love me. So they have to love each other, too. Right?”

Micah swallowed. He could almost see the logic behind his son's rationale. “Why does it matter if I ever fall in love again, son?”

Ben took the list out of Lawson's hand. “It just does. It's my wish.”

Micah stared at him.

“I know I can't make you fall in love by wishing, but if you spend time with Principal Chandler, it's going to happen. I know it will.”

“Because of science,” Lawson said, nodding his head agreeably.

Ben's smile was back, revealing a crooked top tooth. “Exactly.”

Micah stood at the entrance of the school's courtyard and watched Kat with the group of after-school kids a few days later. He'd been running late today due to some smart-ass Marine who needed to understand the value of doing a job right the first time.

Unfortunately, that added work to his own plate, and subtracted time from his son. And the Friendship Club.

Ben was at the picnic table with Kimberly again. They'd sat together a lot lately and, as much as he didn't want to, Micah liked her. She had spunk. And it wasn't her fault that her father was a complete jackass of a mayor.

Kat turned and caught his eye, giving him a quizzical look.

“Sorry I'm late. Work ran over,” he said.

She nodded and looked away. Kat never wanted to talk about his day job. He knew she didn't like the fact that he was a Marine. She hadn't said as much, but he knew it. He'd connected the pieces of information he'd been allowed about her ex and understood. Marines went to war. Some didn't come home. He knew that all too well. Getting involved with a Marine was a risk that cost too many wives, or in Kat's case, fiancées, their happily ever after.

“It's okay,” she said.

Micah scanned the new group of kids. “Looks like they're all sitting down on the job. What's going on?”

Kat chuckled. “Your son is giving them another science lesson this afternoon.”

Now, Micah was the one giving the quizzical look.

“Did you know that you could change the color of a plant by adding food coloring to the water?”

He dropped his head in his hands. “Yes,” he groaned.

“Don't worry, the kids are into it. They've been listening to him more than they do their own teachers.”

Micah looked around. Kat was right. The kids weren't making fun of Ben. They were listening. “How the heck did he do that?”