FULL CIRCLE
Chapter 49
Miles parked the car in the driveway and got out, the gift bag and card in one hand. From the direction of the backyard he could hear the sounds of voices and laughter. The party must have already started, he realized and for a moment he wondered if he'd picked the
wrong time to show up. Taking a deep breath he let it out and strode toward the front door.
Rachelle opened the door when the bell rang. If she was surprised to see her stepson standing there, she didn't show it. Instead she opened the door a little wider and said, "Come on in."
"I, uh, just stopped by with a gift for Mikayla and to apologize," the young man said softly, looking down at the floor. "I-I said some things that I shouldn't have. It's not your fault that my father and
I don't have the best of relationships. I'm sorry you got caught in the middle of our disagreement."
"I understand. And I accept your apology, Miles. John explained everything to me last night and I think you should at least hear what he has to say," she said, drawing him into the room.
"Is he here?" Miles asked.
"He just went to the store to get some last minute items and should be back any minute now. Why don't you bring the present out into the backyard? That's where the rest of the presents are," Rachelle suggested.
"All right." He followed her through the house.
As they neared the kitchen, a young woman approached and asked, "Need any help?"
"I've got everything under control, Skye. Thanks for the offer," Rachelle replied.
"Kayla said she was thirsty and I said I'd get her a glass of water. We are going to be eating soon, aren't we?" Skye asked.
"Sure. Just as soon as John gets here," Rachelle replied.
Mikayla, wearing a pink party dress, suddenly darted forward and exclaimed, "Smiles!" And before Miles knew what was happening, she had her arms tightly around his legs as far as she could reach.
Miles managed to stay on his feet and glanced over at Rachelle to appeal for help. Looking down at Mikayla he tried to negotiate his release. "Hey, Kid, if you let me go, I'll let you have what's in
this bag," he said.
She shook her head and he stood there unsure of what to do next. He didn't want to take the chance of possibly hurting her if he tried to extricate himself from her grasp. Fortunately Rachelle decided totry and get him out of his predicament.
"Mikayla Ann McCabe, you let go of your brother right now!" Rachelle said firmly in her no nonsense "Mother" voice.
At that moment they were interrupted by John McCabe walking into the kitchen, a plastic grocery sack in hand. "I got the veggie burgers for Skye and Chelle," he was saying but fell silent at the sight of his adult son being held in the clutches of his diminutive sister. "Miles?"
"Hi, Dad. Do you think you could get her to let go of me?" the younger man asked.
He handed off the bag to Skye and said, "Kayla, come give Daddy a hug."
Mikayla promptly let go of Miles and scurried over to her father to be picked up. "Love you, Daddy," she said happily.
"Why did you come back here?" John McCabe was asking Miles. "I believe you made your feelings pretty well clear last night."
"I came by to give Mikayla a birthday present. And to apologize," Miles replied.
"It's not me you need to apologize to. It's Rachelle," his father pointed out.
"He already did, John. Now you need to talk to him," Rachelle spoke up.
"I will. But not until after the party," her husband said. He turned to Miles. "You're welcome to stick around and then we'll talk later. It's your choice."
Miles sighed. This was not what he'd planned on happening. But he didn't want to drive back to the hotel and come back again. And he did want to know why he'd never been told about Rachelle and Mikayla. "Okay. But you'd better have a good reason," he said finally.