“I totally adore your family.” Kenzie turned to Aidan seated next to her at one of two long picnic tables in the Carlucci backyard.
He laughed. “And they totally adore you.”
“They adore everyone.”
The midafternoon spring sun warmed the grassy area. Palm Sunday dinner was in full swing; rowdy family and friends squeezed together on the benches. Blocking views of neighbors on both sides and behind was a tall peeling gray wood fence in such desperate need of paint even Kenzie noticed. The plants at its base were either overgrown or dying of thirst. Susan would never allow people to see such a yard. Not that hers would ever deteriorate into that condition. Pepper only laughed and said she and Mick had better things to do. Like feed lasagna to thirty people.
Kenzie said, “I can’t imagine growing up in this environment.”
“Aw, Kenz.” Ignoring the hubbub around them, Aidan stopped eating and wrapped his arms around her.
“I’m sorry.” She sniffled against his shoulder.
“For what?”
“I don’t know. I just feel so sad. Maybe this is what your mom calls mommy hormones.”
“What are you sad about?”
“Everything.”
He straightened and put a finger under her chin. “Come on. You’ve got me. You’ve got my adoring family as your very own.”
Well, technically, legally, she did not.
“That’s not sad, is it?”
“No.”
He kissed her cheek. “If you wanted to, Pepper and Mick would even think it great if you called them Mom and Dad. They’d adopt you in a heartbeat.”
She blinked rapidly, but not quick enough to stop tears from spilling.
He said, “But that’d make us brother and sister.”
She giggled.
“We don’t want that.”
“No.”
He gazed at her, his deep-set blue eyes penetrating, and waited.
“It…all this…even church this morning…it all makes me homesick.”
He nodded.
“I’m sorry, Aidan.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about.”
She disagreed. She was sorry to drag him into her misery, for his sake and hers. It added more reasons why he would grow tired of her. She was sorry she’d caused her parents so much trouble. At least her mom seemed to be accepting her, but she left a voice mail the previous day. Now she was back home with her dad, who would never give up until he got his way. Did her mom feel stuck in the middle? Could Kenzie help at all?
“Kenz, I’m sorry I don’t know how to fix your homesickness. Maybe I can’t.”
She shook her head. “Your parents are doing everything in their power, but I guess…I guess I want my own mommy and daddy to love me. Unconditionally.”
“Hmm.”
“I know, I know. My mom has come a long way. And on her voice mail about going home yesterday she said Dad was willing to talk more. Aidan, I have to take my own step. I’m responsible for hurting them.”
“But you can’t change that. You’ve apologized. Kenz, I just don’t want to see you rejected.”
“I have to try, though. One more time. With Mom there with her new attitude and the connection we had Friday night, it’s got to be different for him. And, Aidan,” her eyes filled again, “they’ve got to meet you. I just can’t stand that they don’t know this really cool guy who likes me.”
“Who totally adores you.” He brushed his thumbs gently under her eyes. “Who is absolutely wild about you. And loves you too. Not to mention is having a baby with you.”
“Will you go with me?”
A small hand grabbed her shoulder. She turned to see Mickey J behind them, his other hand on Aidan’s shoulder.
“Hey, you two,” he said in a stern tone. “No smooching at the dinner table!”
They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Aidan snatched Mickey before he could dash away, and they tickled him without mercy.
Kenzie so totally adored the Carluccis. They almost filled the hole in her heart.