Page 81 of The Meeting
The thoughts fleeted as his mom turned on her.
“You must be Kailynn. Come here, honey.” She opened her arms for Kailynn to join them and pulled her tight into their embrace.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Kailynn said.
“It’s so nice to meet you. We’ve heard so much about you.”
Chase flushed, and she raised an eyebrow at him.
“Where are our manners?” his mom said. “I’m Jane, and this is my husband Roberto, but he goes by Rob.”
Chase wrapped an arm around Kailynn’s waist. “And this is Kailynn.”
Kailynn’s introduction was unnecessary, but she realized this was the first she had heard Chase’s parents’ names.
“Happy Birthday, Mrs. Romano.”
Jane laughed. “Please call me Jane. And thank you.” She took Kailynn’s hand and pulled her away from Chase. “Let me show you to the drinks while they catch up.”
Jane looped her arm through Kailynn’s as if they were old friends and walked her away from Chase. Kailynn looked back with wide eyes, but Chase only winked and laughed.
“I know you don’t know me, and I only know what Chase has told me, but I wanted to thank you.”
Kailynn looked at Jane, startled. “For what?”
“I haven’t seen him this happy in years. You have brought out the best in him. I can tell over the phone that he’s so much happier. I always worried about him moving off to another state where he didn’t know anyone, but I can see now that it was the best decision for him. Especially now that he has met you.”
Kailynn’s eyes pricked. “That’s the nicest thing someone has ever said to me.”
She looked over at Chase, and her heart grew. He had spoken highly of her, and part of her was wildly curious about what he had been saying, but she was okay with not knowing. She smiled when she saw him laughing with his dad and brother. The pure happiness on his face was something she was thankful she could witness. Her heart twinged.
She looked back at Jane. “He has brought out the best in me.”
Jane hugged Kailynn to her side.
The restof the party went by without a hitch. Kailynn spent a significant amount of time with Jane as several people approached them. Everyone wanted to get to know Kailynn when they came to wish Jane a happy birthday. Kailynn kept an eye out for Chase, but he seemed to be sucked off in several directions, also fielding questions from partygoers.
A band played under the largest tent. As the night wore on, people made their way over there to dance. Kailynn took that opportunity to slip away from the crowds. She walked across the dirt path she and Chase had used to come down from the house and went into a nearby barn.
Once she stepped inside, she took a deep breath and relished the silence, except for the horses in the stalls.
“Trying to get away from the crowds?” a voice asked.
Kailynn turned to find Derek standing inside one of the stalls. She took a step closer to him.
“It’s just a bit overwhelming.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, the whole town can get that way. I have to take breaks, too. They mean well, but haven’t seen Chase in quite a while. Plus, you’re the talk of the town.”
Kailynn’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected to be such a hot commodity. But she had never lived in a small town where everyone knew each other. “That’s frightening.”
Derek laughed, louder this time. “It can be, but don’t worry. I’ve only heard good things.”
He turned toward the brown horse he stood by and pet it. “Do you want to pet her?”
Kailynn took a hesitant step forward. “I’ve never pet a horse before.”
“Really? Well, step right up.”
