That Day, Karen Deen [early readers .txt] 📗

already stocked it with food, and I’m sure they understood Kurt and I needed time on our own.

I might have slept for the first day, but the next day after that involved just as much time in bed but not one little bit of sleep was had.

Day three, Kurt insisted on taking me for a walk into the forest to connect with nature. I’m not a big one for adventure, but I actually enjoyed it. The saying of take time to stop and smell the roses is one that makes sense now.

We stopped and collected patterned leaves, beautiful shaped rocks, and saw so many little creatures I’d never seen up close in the wild before.

I take a deep breath. “This place is a hidden treasure. Ghost and Cassie may have to stay in hiding, but they chose the best place to do it.” We’re standing on the edge of the creek that runs down through the mountains and widens to become a river by the time it reaches the flat country in the valley.

“I know what you mean,” Kurt agrees. “If I could wish for one thing for them both, it’s that they get the same as you and find a way to live a free life.” Skimming another flat stone across the water, he makes it look so easy.

I try the same thing my stone, but it just hits the water with a splash and sinks.

Our laughter comes freely now, no tension left in our bodies.

“Although, I don’t know that even if they could live freely, if they would choose to live anywhere else except here.”

Kurt steps closer to me, leaning down now to kiss my nose. “Just like we said, it might not be the beach, but in its own way, it’s just as perfect.”

“So true.” I look up at him and give him a quick kiss on the lips, because I know if I give him much more, we will never leave this creek to get home in time for dinner.

Hand in hand, we head back along the track we followed to get here. Almost at the main house, I know Bessy will be waiting on the porch for us. She’s probably studying the path that comes up from the cabin with her baby binoculars that Ghost bought her for her last birthday so she can watch the birds in the sky. Mind you, they are used for spying more than bird watching, which is the funniest thing.

As we round the last bend of the trail, my stomach is rumbling.

“What do you think will be for dinner tonight? I’m kind of hungry, you’ve worn me out and have sparked my appetite.”

“Are we still talking about food here?” Kurt pinches me on the ass as he laughs at his own joke.

“Seriously, you have the worst dad jokes,” I reply as we clear the last row of bushes to the shriek of a little girl.

“They’re here, they’re here!” Her voice echoes around the crisp mountain air. She shoots back through the big glass sliding door, and I know she will be waiting for us as we come through the front door. This is the first time we’ve seen her since we arrived, and she will be busting out of her skin.

“Should we hide from her, make her find us? She’d love a good challenge.” Kurt laughs as we round the corner of the house, the front door in sight.

“You’re just mean. Remind me not to let our kids play hide-and-seek with you. They’ll end up in tears because you can’t stand to lose.”

Before I place my foot on the first step, he grabs me in his arms. “Say that again.” His voice is deep with all sorts of sexual edge on it.

“Say what?” I ask, a little confused.

“Our kids.” His lips are less than an inch away from mine.

“Our kids, all ten of them.” And just like that, the romance of the moment is lost, as Kurt nearly chokes.

“Um, I don’t mind the practice it will take for ten kids, but I’m not sure the reality of ten little Kurts is worth even contemplating.” We both now start up the stairs.

“No one wants to hear that thought, Kurt.”

His hand lands on his heart like I’ve wounded him.

“Ten Ashas, on the other hand, would be a blessing.” I run to the door and open it, bursting into the living room with him hot on my heels, managing to swat my ass as we make our grand entrance with Bessy screaming our names.

A deep voice says, “If you are going to chase my daughter around like that, at least have the decency to ask permission to take her out first.”

My heart stops, like literally stops. I stare at Kurt whose smile is the biggest I think I’ve ever seen.

Slowly turning around, the tears are already running down my face.

“Mom, Dad.” I whisper because I’m scared to say it too loud in case it’s not real, that this is all a dream I’m about to wake up from.

“Jenna.” Mom’s voice breaks as she opens her arms wide.

My feet are moving as fast as I can, falling into her arms like a small child does after a hard day at school.

“My little girl, oh, let me look at you.” Dad pulls me out of her arms so he can see me properly. “Are you really okay? They didn’t hurt you? You look skinny, didn’t they feed you enough? I don’t care he’s here and bigger than me with those muscles, but is this Kurt guy looking after you? I mean, he saved us and all, and I think he’s okay, but I’ll take him on if I have to.”

“Daddy, stop.” I’m yelling at the same time Mom is smacking his arm.

“Rhett, you’re sounding like a crazy man. It must be the jet lag.”

“Oh my god, I can’t believe you’re here. How did you find me?” I pull them close and into a group hug again. I need to touch them. I can’t get