Kacey faced Drew, and more memories filled her mind. “It was good seeing you.”
“You too. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.”
Kacey nodded, and Riley and Colleen zipped toward the exit as if their backpacks were jet packs. “I better catch up with them.”
“Take care, Kace.”
As Kacey hurried after them, her heart danced at the idea of spending more time with Drew Murphy.
Chapter2
“Have a good night,” Kacey called when Colleen climbed out of the back seat of her mint-green Prius.
Colleen waved. “Thank you, MissKacey. Bye, Riley!” The little girl bolted toward the front door of her house with her wavy black ponytail flowing behind her sparkly purple backpack and her yellow coat.
Kacey turned toward her niece. “So, how are you going to behave at choir next week?”
“I won’t chat or giggle.”
“Promise?”
Riley held up her pinky, and Kacey linked hers with it. “Pinky promise, Aunt Kacey.”
“Perfect.” Kacey smiled. “I’ll make you a deal. If you behave, I won’t tell your parents that Mr.Murphy had to talk to you and Colleen.”
Her niece’s expression brightened. “You promise?”
“Cross my heart.” Kacey drew anXover her chest.
“Deal!” Riley shook Kacey’s hand.
Kacey backed her car out of the Parker family’s driveway and headed down the street.
“Was Mr.Murphy your boyfriend?”
Kacey gave her niece a sideways glance. “No. We were just friends.”Unfortunately. “Why?”
“You seemed really happy to see each other.”
Kacey stared out the windshield, pondering her niece’s observation. At one point, she had been certain Drew cared for her in high school, and she was sure he’d ask her to prom. But he never asked her, and only a week before, his best friend, Bennett, asked, which seemed better than staying home or going alone. To her surprise, Bennett also asked her to be his girlfriend, and she said yes, even though her heart still belonged to Drew. Soon after, her friendship with Drew was strained, and they barely spoke until graduation when they said good-bye and wished each other luck at college.
“Aunt Kacey...” Riley sang. “Did you hear me?”
Kacey slowed to a stop at an intersection and faced her niece, who was studying her, her blue eyes narrowed with suspicion. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“I asked if you saved me any of those strawberry frosted cookies.”
“Actually, yes, there were two left, so I brought them home for you.” She reached back and touched Riley’s nose.
“Thank you.”
Kacey turned left onto Maple Avenue and then steered her Prius into Dani’s driveway, parking behind her mother’s burgundy Subaru Outback. She gathered up her purse and the bakery box while Riley shouldered her backpack.
They walked up the short driveway to the front porch of her sister’s modest, three-bedroom brick ranch home.
When they reached the door, Riley pulled it open and rushed inside, announcing, “I’m home!”
Kacey chuckled to herself while following her into the family room, where Travis sat on a recliner. The delicious aroma of garlic bread filled the room and her stomach growled with delight at the thought of her sister’s scrumptious spaghetti and meatballs.
