Let's Be Honest (7 page)

I turned from the fireplace and faced the kitchen. Kelli was right where I had left her, unpacking boxes intently. As I watched, she took her mason jar of keepsakes from a box and looked at it. She turned it, looking inside and smiled. She certainly loved
me
from the start, and that jar was proof.

Love that just is.
Is it possible? From the beginning?

Erik Ead,
no longer available.

He hasn’t been since that
first day at the dealership.

“Kelli,” I yelled toward the kitchen
..

She stuck her head around the corner of the opening into the kitchen, and leaned my direction.

“Yes sir?” she asked.

She stood in the
door opening, the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen. She truly stands alone, beautiful inside and beautiful outside. And she, until I make a mistake, is mine.

“If you ever, ever, ever stop fucking me, I’m going to hunt you down and kill you. Do you understand me?” I asked, trying not to smile.

“Okay,” she said, holding the mason jar, smiling.

“Kelli,” I said, beginning to walk her direction.

“Yes sir,” she responded, looking up at me.

“I want to tell you something,” I said as I leaned toward her and kissed her
lightly on the lips.

“Okay,” she smiled and looked up into my eyes.

“I didn’t start loving you when I thought I did,” I said, realizing as soon as her face went ghost white that I should have chosen a better manner of expressing my thoughts.

“You didn’t?” she asked, squeezing the jar in her hands.

“No, baby girl,” I paused and placed my hands on each side of her face.

“I loved you from the start,” I said, as I kissed her lightly again.

I pulled my lips from hers. As I did, I could see her smile.

“The beginning?
The
very
beginning? Like, uhhmm, the beginning at the coffee shop?” she asked, her face full of wonder and excitement.

“I’m
afraid so, baby girl. I’m afraid so,” I chuckled as I shook my head lightly, “I just wanted to be honest. I’ve loved you from the start. It just took me this long to admit it.”

She placed her jar on the floor and stood. As she stood, I could see the tears running down her face. She opened her arms and wrapped them around me. As she began to squeeze me, she inhaled a long deep breath. As she exhaled slowly, she pulled her head from my shirt.

“Me too,” she said.

“Let
’s get out of here for a bit,” I said as I picked her up from the floor and started to spin in a circle.

“Okay,” she said, her face still buried in my shirt.

“Italian?” I asked.

“Il Vicino?” she asked as she pulled her face from my shirt.

I nodded.

“Movie afterward?” she asked as we slowly turned in circles.

“I thought you’d never ask,” I responded.

Love that just is.