FULL CIRCLE
Chapter 53
Noticing that Mikayla was getting drowsy, Mr. McCabe said, I think it's time the birthday girl got to bed. Thank you for coming, everybody." He picked up his daughter and started to carry her into the house.
That was the cue for all the guests to start getting up and make their "Goodbyes," or offer to clean up. Miles walked over to where Rachelle was gathering up the presents and asked, "Anything I can doto help?"
She smiled at him and said, "Certainly. Would you mind putting these in that box and carrying it indoors?" She lowered her voice. "I hope you weren't too mad about the bow. But with Kayla saying you were here birthday present. Well, I just couldn't resist."
"Let's just say it was totally unexpected," Miles told her.
"But you have to admit Kayla loved it," Rachelle said as she moved over to help Skye with putting away the leftovers.
Miles returned to his task, frowning slightly as his ever present headache was starting to make its presence more strongly known. All he wanted to do was hear what his father had to say and then head back to the hotel. Hopefully he'd get a good night'd sleep for once. The too little sleep was starting to catch up to him as it always did after a period of time.
After carrying the box of presents inside, Miles went to grab a glass of water and take couple of the pain meds. That way he'd be able to focus on what his father was going to tell him.
"You all right, Miles?" Rachelle asked as she watched him rubbing his forehead.
He turned to her and replied, "I'm okay. it's just a little headache. Been a long day for me. Where's Dad?"
"Putting Kayla to bed. Tonight is his turn to do so," Rachelle answered.
John McCabe came downstairs at that precise moment, shaking his head. Spotting his son, he said, "She wants a story read. But not rom me or her mother. She wants you to read her a story." He emphasized the word "you" and gazed at Miles. "I'm sure you don't want to disappoint your sister."
Miles gave in and asked, "Where's her bedroom?"
"End of the hall--next to yours. She's waiting for you," Mr. McCabe replied. He watched Miles head up the stairs without another word.
Rachelle smiled at the frown on her husband's face. "Well, John, you did hope they'd like each other when they did eventually meet," she reminded him.
"I did want that. I just never planned on Miles finding out like he did."
"You should have told him earlier then. It's clear that Kayla absolutely adores her 'Smiles' and I'm sure that Miles does like her. Otherwise he wouldn't have come back today and brought her a
present. He could just as easily walked out the door yesterday and never came back," Rachelle pointed out.