by Elsa Kurt
“I’m just, uh, gonna grab us more napkins inside,” Molly called over her shoulder as she quickly turned on Keira’s cell phone.
Keira had still not added a password, so she could view Kyle’s texts.
10.29 pm.
Keira, let’s talk about what happened tonight.
Call me when the girls are asleep.
11.40 pm
Just checking in. Kids still up?
12.25 am
Are you avoiding me?
Call me, please.
7.08 am
Keira. I am going in
for a road job. If I don’t hear
from you by the time I get done
(noon) I am coming over there.
Molly looked at the time, 12.12 pm and made the quick decision to not do anything at all. Kyle would arrive anytime, it would seem, and it was for the best no matter what the outcome. She turned the phone back off and joined the other women on the porch, giving Kate and Lilly the thumbs up gesture behind Keira’s back. Ten minutes later, an unmarked police car pulled into the driveway, and Molly, Kate, and Lilly used it as their cue to leave.
“Hi, Kyle,” chirped Kate as she passed by him.
“Hi, Kyle,” echoed Lilly.
“Hey Kyle,” said Molly, then in a lower tone, “go easy on her, buddy.”
“Ladies,” Kyle nodded to each one as they passed, patting Molly on the shoulder in acknowledgment.
Keira said nothing as he climbed the stairs, still in uniform. Without saying a word, he removed his gun belt, set it on a chair, then sat down beside her on the wicker loveseat swing, exhaling as he did. He placed his hands in his lap and stared down at them as he spoke.
“You didn’t answer any of my messages.”
“Sorry.”
“Hmm. Sorry. That’s two ‘sorry’s’ in two days, but no explanations. How ‘bout that?”
“Kyle, I don’t even know where to begin. It was just—. Oh, just say we’re done and get it over with.”
“Wow. So, one bump in the road and you wanna call it quits, huh? You didn’t strike me as a quitter, Travis.”
“I-I’m not. I thought, I mean, I figured... well you’ve said right from the get-go you’re a no drama kind of guy. Your job is full of it, and you don’t want it in your personal life.”
Kyle sat back, letting out another great exhalation as he looked up to the rafters.
“Geez, you really were listening, huh? Keira, I’m not a total dick. I get that you had a life that existed before me. That still exists. I wasn’t mad that you had that crazy ass… whatever the hell happened last night. I was mad that you didn’t clue me in. Listen, I get it, you’re trying to keep me— us— separate from whatever other stuff you’re dealing with. Now I get why. But this isn’t casual anymore. We’re like... a couple now. Couples talk to each other. And they don’t bail at the first sign of trouble.”
Keira was stunned. This was not at all what she’d expected. She suddenly felt ashamed.
“Kyle, I am really sorry. I thought— well, you know what I thought. You deserve more credit. I guess I’m used to the men in my life letting me down. That sounds so cliché when I say it out loud.”
“No. I get it. It’s hard to let go of all the past— the shit that messes you up. Let’s do this— let’s talk, really talk about what we want, who we are, how we see our life, okay? Total honesty. So, tell me what you want, Keira.”
“Well,” she said, “I can tell you what I don’t want. I don’t want ‘typical,’ Kyle. I don’t want ordinary. I don’t want to be an afterthought, or a doormat, or lesser than. I don’t want a prince, or a fairytale, at least not anymore. I want something real, and profound, and equal. And you know what? I won’t settle for anything less than that ever again.” She’d been staring out over the yard as she spoke. Keira turned to look at Kyle. “So, you tell me, Kyle— does that sound like what you want?”
Kyle turned toward her and looked into Keira’s eyes for a long moment, then he smiled.
“That sounds exactly like what I want, Travis. Nothing less, and so much more.”
Keira needed no further encouragement and slid closer to Kyle, who put his arm around her as he kissed her head. They swayed back and forth in the swing for a few quiet moments. Kyle could stay silent no longer.
“So, what the hell was that all about last night, hmm?”
Keira took a deep breath and told him the story, the whole story. He listened patiently, shaking his head here and groaning there, laughing. When she got to the part about Darren’s role in the fiasco, his expression hardened.
“So, your ex caused all that, hmm?”
“Well, the deliberate part, yes. I still haven’t talked to him, I’m afraid you may have to arrest me if I get within five feet of him.”
“How about you let me handle him?”
“Oh, I’m not sure, Kyle. That might not be a good idea.”
“Do you trust me?”
Keira nodded without hesitation.
“I deal with his type all the time on the job. He still thinks he’s the alpha dog, and it’s time he gets put in the proper pecking order around here.”
“Oh, boy. This sounds like a lot of testosterone is about to be thrown around,” said Keira.
“I can’t even deny it. Men really are like dogs, Keira. They try to pee on everything in sight to mark their territory—”
“Eww, gross.”
“And they won’t stop until a bigger dog moves in. But listen, I won’t say or do a thing without your giving the green light. You’re the alpha of your home, so I defer.”
Kyle made a half bow, making Keira laugh.
“Well, I’m not saying no… but what are you going to say?”
“Not sure yet. But I can tell you I’ll do it in such a way he won’t even realize I’ve whipped him, okay?”
“Okay. I think. I’ll think about it.”
Lola came bouncing up the driveway. At the sight of Kyle, her eyes widened, and she ran the rest of the way. To both their surprise, she launched herself into Kyle’s arms for a hug.
“Hi, Kyle. I didn’t know you were coming over. Are you staying for dinner?”
Kyle stammered and looked at Keira for help. She shrugged and said,
“You’re welcome to join us.”
It was settled. That night, after Kyle left (to many protestations from both girls), Keira opened her laptop and deleted her MateMatch profile and removed the app. She was done with that chapter and ready for the new on to begin. She saved the messages she and Kyle had exchanged, however.
EPILOGUE
Well, that was quite the adventure for our girl, now wasn’t it? I’m delighted to say she and Kyle are doing quite well. She is, of course, clumsy as ever, while he is as patient and encouraging as ever. The girls adore him as do her friends and family. And while Keira has stopped looking for a Happily Ever After, she is quite enjoying her Happily Right Now. Thank you for reading, and best of— what? You want to know what happened with Darren the Dick? Very well, we shall do a quick flashback which shall lead up to the present day.
One month after Ginzo fiasco.
“Hey, girls. Daddy’s here. Let’s give your mom and her friend a break— oh, hey, man. Didn’t see you there.”
“No worries, buddy. The girls are upstairs getting their bags together. They should be down in a few minutes. How ‘bout you and I go outside for a minute and chat?”
“What? Yeah, sure. We, uh, we can do that. Where’s Keira at?”
“Oh, she’s outside grabbing a few tomatoes.”
Darren tried to send Kyle out first, but Kyle smiled and motioned him to go first, winning the first power struggle easily. Before Darren said a word, Kyle began.
“So, listen, Darren. I’m thinking you should knock before you come into Keira’s house. No big deal, but I’m just thinking of you, here. Walking into your ex-wife’s house, her sitting on the couch with her new boyfriend… it’s probably a little uncomfortable for you
, right?
“Oh, yeah. Uh, sure, right,” blustered Darren, at a loss for a comeback.
“Great, great. Just thinking of you, man. Oh, also— just so you know, we love having the kids around. Never a bother or a burden, so, you don’t have to worry about us ‘needing time’ or anything. You pick up your girls whenever you all have decided on, and because you want to spend time with them. But, hey, we appreciate the thought, though.”
Kyle clapped Darren on the back, maybe a little harder than necessary, but with a friendly smile. Darren opened and closed his mouth like a fish a few times, but before he could say anything, the girls were bounding down the steps with their sleeping bags and camping gear in hand. Keira followed behind them, wiping her hands on a towel and calling out her goodbyes.
Darren never walked into Keira’s house again without knocking first.
***
Present day.
“Hi, Darren. Hi, Lisa. Come on in, the girls are out back,” said Keira.
“Hey, Keira, Kyle, great to see you. Thanks for inviting us to the party,” said Lisa. Over her shoulder she called, “Darren. Go back to the truck and get the beer. And don’t forget the bag of ice in the back.”
“Fine, fine. I got it.”
Darren sulked off back to the truck to do as his girlfriend of seven months told him. He was a (mostly) changed man. When he returned, she sent him back again for her purse. Keira looked on incredulously. Lisa shrugged, a sly grin on her lips.
“He’s still a handful, trust me.”
“Well, you’ve got a much better grasp than I ever did. Thank God.”
The two women laughed, and all four walked out to celebrated Violet’s sixteenth birthday.
There you have it. Neat and tidy, wrapped in a bow, THE END, as they say. Well, THE END, FOR NOW, is more likely. Time will tell, won’t it? Go on now, back to your own story.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elsa Kurt is a multi-genre, indie & traditionally published author and speaker. She currently has eight novels published, as well as three novellas, and several children’s books. Her presentation, ‘You Wrote It, Now What?’ is now a course offering through an adult education & enrichment program and is soon to be an online course. She is a lifelong New England resident and married mother of two grown daughters. When not writing, designing, or talking her head off, she can be found gardening, hiking, kayaking, and just about anywhere outdoors. Or, you could just find Elsa on social media.
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