Welcome to Forever (13 page)

“I have a sprout, Mr. Peterson.” Tony, one of the young boys in the Friendship Club pointed at the green stalk emerging from the ground.

Micah squatted beside him. “Yes, you do. Good job, son.”

Tony's proud smile dropped and his eyes went back to the plant. “Thanks,” he said quietly.

Micah tried to remember Tony's story. He thought maybe Tony's father was in jail.
Crap.
He'd just called the kid “son.” Patting Tony's back, he asked, “Want to help me till another row of dirt? Kimberly over there doesn't have one yet.”

Tony was smiling again. “She ain't gonna put her hands in dirt, Mr. Peterson. Are you crazy?”

Micah laughed. “Must be. Come on.”

Two other boys joined him and Micah watched proudly as they tilled several more rows and pulled weeds together as a team. He caught Ben watching, too. There was a familiar look of disappointment on his face. Then Kimberly leaned in beside him at the picnic table and he smiled widely.

His son had a crush on the mayor's daughter. And Kimberly appeared to be listening contentedly to Ben's endless chatter, no doubt an explanation of how something worked. She liked him, too. A friend.

Micah's throat tightened as he leaned against the fence. He didn't see Kat walk up beside him until she touched his arm.

“You okay?” she asked.

He gave a quick nod. “Yep. Just amazed at what the kids have done out here.”

Her gaze swept over the corner lot of the school. “It is amazing. Silly question, but what do we have growing anyway?”

“The better question would be what don't we have.” He pointed at the rows of flowers popcorning out of the ground along the back fence. “Those are marigolds, mixed in with some chrysanthemums.” Next, he pointed to the large rectangle of land in the fence's back corner. “The vegetable garden has squash, tomatoes, zucchini, and onions. In a week or two, we could make a pretty nice salad with what the kids have grown.”

“We should.” Kat leaned up beside him, too close and still not close enough. “We could make a salad pizza.”

“A salad pizza?” He frowned, soliciting one of her singsong laughs he'd come to love. “You're going to dishonor these veggies by putting them on a pizza?” Micah angled his body toward hers and lowered his voice. “So, are you ready for our date tonight?” he asked.

She didn't look at him. Instead, her hand absently went to the ring on her left hand. “I know what you're thinking.” She looked at him and his heart did funny things as he stared into her eyes.

She was breathtaking. He had a sudden urge to take her in his arms and kiss her until her knees went weak. “I doubt it,” he said, flashing her a wicked grin.

“You work with Marines all day. Why would you want to volunteer your Friday night to be with a bunch of veterans?”

“I wasn't thinking that. Trust me. I said yes because I want to be with
you.
Anywhere. And I'll be a veteran one day. Besides, I happen to like bingo.”

“You do?” Her verdant green eyes tilted skeptically.

“Doesn't everyone?” He leaned in closer, changing the subject. “What do you make of Kimberly's attention to Ben?”

Kat's gaze slid toward the picnic table. “She's smiling. Flicking her hair. I think I see a little crush forming there.”

“That's what I saw, too. I don't have the heart to make that girl get up and plant her row of seeds right now. Ben needs a friend. Sitting at a picnic table allows him to garden like the others, but it also ostracizes him even more than a wheelchair out here. I just want him to fit in.”

Micah crossed his arms, continuing to watch Ben with Kim. “He's just so smart. Sometimes I wish he didn't understand how different he is. This…” Micah gestured toward Ben and Kim together. “This is something I rarely see, another student sitting and laughing with him.” His jaw tightened. “Anyway. I know what
you're
thinking.” He cast a teasing glance in her direction. “You're asking yourself what you got yourself into when you agreed to go out with me tonight, and now you wish I'd come down with some awful sickness so I'd have to stay home.”

Her mouth fell open. “I would never wish that. And I know exactly what I'm getting myself into.”

“Yeah?” He caught her gaze and held it, nearly wishing he'd arranged for Ben to stay with Aunt Clara tonight. If it weren't for all these kids right now, he'd be pressing the good principal against the fence and making her moan like he had the other day in her office. Short little moans, startled and urging him on at the same time.

“Looks like our hour is up, and the kids don't seem to be counting down the seconds anymore.” Kat beamed at him.

“Dirt is good for the soul.” He nodded at the man headed in their direction. “Looks like the mayor sent his assistant again. Everything okay with that?” he asked.

Kat shrugged and stepped forward to shake Jack Markus's hand. “Mr. Markus. I'm glad the mayor reconsidered letting Kimberly stay after with us today.”

Jack wore a deep frown. “He didn't really have a choice. Sports are Kimberly's life.” He looked at Kimberly sitting at the table. “If I were you I'd tread lightly, though, Principal Chandler. Maybe let Kim off on a shorter sentence. The mayor doesn't take kindly to losing battles.”

Micah remembered that the race with the mayor's last competitor hadn't been pretty. “It's two weeks,” he said without thinking. He stepped closer to Kat and she looked up at him with surprise.

She turned back to Mr. Markus. “He's right. And look at her. She's already made a friend out here.”

“A disabled boy?” Jack shook his head. “Be glad the mayor sent me instead of coming out here himself.”

“What's that supposed to mean? That disabled boy happens to be my son.” Micah crossed his arms and stared the suited man down like a misbehaving grunt.

“No offense, Mr….?” Mr. Markus waited for Micah to introduce himself.

“Sergeant Micah Peterson,” Micah said tightly. “And Principal Chandler is the one who makes the rules at this school. Not you and not Mayor Flowers.”

Mr. Markus shifted uncomfortably with Micah's tone of voice. “I understand that. It's just”—he lowered his voice—“Kimberly will raise havoc in that house until her father has no choice but to stir up trouble. That's how she is. And I have to say, I'm not sure I could stand up to Kimberly that well, either.”

Everyone's eyes turned to the little girl seated at the table with Ben.

“She looks harmless,” Kat said, knowing better.

“Trust me.” Mr. Markus straightened and waved as Kimberly noticed him. She immediately grabbed up her book bag and said a quick goodbye to Ben. Ben's gaze lingered after her as she walked briskly to the mayor's assistant. The brief joy Micah had sworn he'd seen on Kim's face was now gone, replaced by a grown-up look of annoyance.

“This place sucks,” Kim declared, loud enough for everyone to hear her. “I need to talk to my father right now.”

Micah and Kat watched the two walk away.

“I don't know about you, but I won't be voting for Mayor Flowers next year. If he can't control things at home, he certainly shouldn't be in charge of the town of Seaside,” Micah said.

Kat laughed. “He was a respected member of the military. He's a veteran. I'd say he's handled quite a lot.”

Micah shrugged. “Speaking of veterans…”

She turned her body toward his. “Speaking of veterans…”

He smiled. “I've never looked forward to hanging out with a bunch of retired military more in my life.”

Her lips curved slightly. “Me, neither.”

Kat frowned at herself in the mirror that night.

“Stop obsessing. You look gorgeous.” Julie laid back on the bed and watched her. “You must really like this guy.”

“He's a friend.”

“Uh-huh.” A wicked smile spread through Julie's cheeks. “No sex for two-plus years, Kat. It's time.” Her voice carried a teasing quality that reminded Kat of their younger days, sharing a bedroom and every detail of each other's lives.

“You're immature. You know that?” Kat said, just as she would've back then.

Kissy sounds followed her as she walked toward the bathroom and closed her sister out. “Let me know if the doorbell rings.” Behind the door, Kat leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, forcing herself to take a slow, relaxing breath. She had to admit, the no sex thing for two years was starting to get to her, which was why she was thankful Ben would be with them tonight. That would ensure that her hormones stayed in their cage. There would be no chance of hot, clothes-ripping sex in the back of Micah's Jeep tonight, even though she'd fantasized about doing just that several times recently.

Heat singed through her veins at the images in her mind. After the threat of retaliation from the mayor, sex would be a great release. But not with Micah. She already had feelings developing for him and she wasn't ready. Physically, yes. But emotionally, not yet. She twisted her engagement ring.

No sex.

She nodded to herself and went to the mirror to comb her hand through her hair one more time, then turned as the doorbell rang across the house. Here went nothing.

Or everything.

Kat opened the bathroom door and headed down the hall toward the sound of Micah's deep voice greeting Julie.

“Look who's here,” Julie announced as Kat came into view. Then with pronounced enjoyment, Julie added, “And look who's
not
here.”

Kat searched the room as if Ben might be hiding under a couch cushion.

“He's home with my aunt Clara tonight.” Micah took a step forward and offered a small potted plant with a pretty pink flower budding at its center.

She smiled at the gesture as she accepted the plant. “It's lovely. Thank you. I hope everything's all right with Ben.”

Micah waved a hand. “Apparently, it's not cool to escort your parent on a date with your principal.”

Despite her nervousness, Kat laughed.

Julie reached for the plant in her sister's hand with a peculiar look. “I'll take that.
Nice
flowers,” she said, obviously not understanding the gesture.

Kat understood it, though, and she loved it. Taking his hand, she allowed him to lead her to the door.

“Hey, Micah.” Julie took a few retreating steps and then leaned in toward him, lowering her voice to what was supposed to be a whisper. “Show my sister a good time, will you? It's been a long time coming.”

Mortified heat rose up in Kat's cheeks.
For the love of chocolate.
She hoped he had no idea what her sister was talking about. When she looked up at Micah, though, it was obvious by the large grin on his face that he did.

He squeezed her hand tighter. “Don't wait up,” he called to Julie behind them, and then he led Kat to his Jeep.

Bring flowers—check. Open her car door—check.

Micah mentally reviewed the checklist his aunt had rattled off before going out on his date with Kat tonight. He didn't need a checklist, though. It'd been a long time, but he remembered how to treat a woman on a date. “You look beautiful tonight, by the way,” he said.

Kat brushed a strand of hair from her face and smiled at him. “Thank you. I hope Ben isn't scarred for life because his father and principal are out together.”

“He's fine. Just didn't want to hang out with a bunch of old people this evening,” he said. “And he wasn't referring to the folks at the Veterans' Center.”

Kat laughed. “Isn't your aunt older than us?”

Micah nodded. “Yes, but she's apparently a lot more fun.”

The real truth was, Ben was matchmaking. Even though the last woman Micah had dated had shred his heart to pieces, Ben still believed his father could find the missing link in their family. He'd stopped believing his real mother was that link a long time ago.

“Do you think eyebrows will raise when you walk in with someone new on your arm tonight?” Micah asked.

Kat shrugged, drawing his attention to the smooth, bare skin on her shoulders. “Probably, but it won't stop the regulars from flirting with me.” She pulled the cardigan that had slipped down to her elbows back up, and then cinched it tight across her chest.

“You cold?” he asked, instinctively turning on the heater.

“No, I'm fine. Just nervous, I guess.”

“Because of me? Don't be.”

“I haven't been on a date in a long time. Not since…” Her sentence fell off and Micah watched her hand absently fidget with the ring on her finger.

“Not since your fiancé died?” he asked.

She nodded. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't bring that subject up. It's in my past, not my future.”

“It's okay. It's part of who you are. What happened?” he asked, uncertain if he really wanted to know.

She hesitated. “Are you sure?”

“No. But tell me anyway.” He listened as she sucked in a long breath.

“Well, he proposed the night before he was set to deploy. He was going to be gone for nine months and then we were planning to get married when he returned.”

He heard the pattern of her breathing change, nearly felt the aching of her heart as she continued.

“I did all the wedding planning while he was away. Bought the dress. Made the arrangements. We were going to marry down at the docks. I'd already gotten permission from Mr. Blokey…I was going to hang lights at the archway and we were going to recite our vows there. I wrote my own. And Val was going to be my maid of honor, of course. Julie, too. I wanted to have both of them standing beside me on what I knew would be the happiest day of my life.” She paused, turning to look out the passenger side window. “He never came home, though.”

He'd heard this story before. Not Kat's specifically, but others like it. It was a tough handout from life.