Katie brought in the empty appetizer tray into the kitchen for her dad to reload with cheese puffs and zesty chicken bites. They were a hit and going quickly.
Her mom had told her to keep an eye on them and reluctantly, she did, even if it was her birthday party.
Tonight was a total disaster in Katie's opinion. Hannah wasn't there, and neither was Tyler. She hadn't hung out with him in a while, but she'd sent him a text just in case.
He left her on read.
It had hurt, for a moment, but then she saw Destiny Franko in her backyard and forgot all about it.
Somehow, Destiny had gotten word of her birthday party and decided to crash. Even though they hadn't talked to each other since the second grade when the girl pushed Katie out of the way to get ahead of her in line for jump rope.
Katie hated very few people in this world, in fact, she wasn't one to hate at all. She had been taught better than that by her parents, especially her mother, and to forgive people for their worst mistakes, but she hated Destiny.
That was the main reason she was glad to stay inside and replenish food trays. To avoid her.
"I didn't realize I was playing the hostess tonight at my own party," she muttered and tossed one of the chicken bites into her mouth. "When are we doing the cake?"
"Soon, Katie. Maybe thirty minutes or so," her dad chuckled as he pulled out a fresh tray of cheese puffs from the oven and quickly began to move them onto the serving tray. "Does that make you feel better?"
She snagged another one before he finished plating the tray. "A little, I guess. Just wish the party crasher wasn't here," she said, shrugging. "Will you take over for me? I want to try and enjoy my party a little."
"Sure," Jim said and took the tray from her. "Go and enjoy your party, but don't forget we're doing photos when the cake comes out. Then maybe we'll kick said party crasher out?"
"Oh, good. I don't think I've taken any with my friends yet. Not like Hannah is here anyway," she said and kissed his cheek. "I should probably go fix my makeup then. Thanks for the heads up. And yeah, go for it. Kick her out. Destiny is the blue dress."
"No problem," he said and left the kitchen to put a tray of food out. "I'll tell your mom. No one can say no to the pregnant woman."
"Very true. Smart move," she said, giving him the thumbs up.
Katie walked through the foyer and peered into the living room where most of the adults had gathered like her grandma Faith, Delia and her mother who all chatting amongst themselves. She quickly snuck up the stairs before any of them saw her and practically ran into someone as they came out of the bathroom on their phone.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" She sighed, seeing that whoever it was had spilled beer all over her dress.
"Oh, shit." The familiar voice of Ned Banks filled her ears as she stepped away from him. "I'm so sorry, Katie."
"It's fine," she muttered, pressing her lips into a line. "I was headed to fix my makeup anyway. I guess I can change too." She wiped the foam and liquid off her dress the best she could, starting to walk away toward her room.
Ned reached out and touched her shoulder, speaking out. "Hey, Katie. Hold on for a second," he said.
"What, Ned? I'm not really in the mood to have my whole birthday ruined by you," she whispered, turning to look at him.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry for how I acted at the fair," he said, shaking his head. "I was wrong to assume something of Tyler and cast any judgment on him. I hope I didn't ruin your night."
"You didn't ruin the night and it doesn't matter about Tyler really," she said and shook her head. "But thank you for the apology anyway."
"I hate to point this out, but where is Tyler?" He asked. "I haven't seen him tonight."
"We haven't hung out in a while, but I think he might drop by," she explained and shrugged. "Why?"
"No reason. I just didn't see him," he said, smiling. "I should leave you to change. I left your birthday gift on your bed, hope you don't mind."
"Not at all. I'll see you downstairs," she said, turning the doorknob to her room near her and going inside.
She walked over to her bed, seeing a little purple gift bag sitting on top of her blanket. She pulled the white tissue paper from it and peered inside, seeing a leather-bound journal sitting at the bottom of the bag along with a pack of fine point pens.
Ned knew her too well.
She grabbed both items and smiled, tossing the pens onto her bed nearby and unwrapping the journals' leather ties to open it. There was a small note on the inside in Ned's scribble and it made her laugh. It was enough for her to really forgive him, enough for her to feel better about their relationship before she left for the city.
Saw you writing at the end of your journal the other day and you never shut up about wanting one of these leather ones. I hope this is enough to remind you I'm not always a jackass.
She knew he wasn't always a jackass, but it was nice to be reminded of it every once and awhile.
When Melinda brought the last of the plates into the kitchen and tossed them into the trash bag on the floor, tying it closed. Then her mother spotted her, Mackenzie, Aaron, and Jim all with spoons finishing off the last bit of strawberry ice cream in the tub on the kitchen.
"What's going on in here?" Melinda asked, sighing as she dropped the trash bag on the floor. "Why am I the one picking up after the party?"
"Sorry, mom. I can go finish it," Aaron said, tossing his spoon in the sink.
"It's already done. Just bring this bag out to the trash. There are two more out on the back deck," Melinda said, ruffling his hair as he walked past her.
"Yeah, sorry, Mel." Jim came by her side, finishing off the last of his ice cream on her spoon. "I was gonna go come out, but then I saw the kids eating ice cream and couldn't help myself."
"There's not much left, but here's some," Katie said, bringing her a spoonful. She put her hand under the spoon and brought it to her, the cool strawberry flavor filling her mouth.
"Mmm, that is good ice cream. I'm glad we sprung for the big bucket since there isn't much left," she said, side-hugging her. "Happy birthday, Katie."
"Thanks, mom," Katie said, leaning against the counter.
"Yeah, happy birthday! The party was so much fun," Mackenzie said, running over to hug her as well.
It soon turned into a family hug when Jim wrapped his long, strong arms around them all. "Happy birthday, Katiebug." Her father said, kissing the top of her head
"You're squishing me," she laughed, and soon they separated. "As much as I love a family hug."
"I think I'm gonna go up and get ready for bed," Mackenzie said, sneaking another quick hug before running out of the room and up the stairs.
"I'll be up to read you a story in a minute," Jim said, his arm still around Melinda as Katie sat in a stool on the island. "Did you have a good time at your party tonight?"
"Yeah, it was fun. All my friends came and there was good food and music. It was a good night," she said, happily. "It was probably the last time we'll all be together for a while. Most of us are going to different colleges, except me and Hannah."
"Of course Hannah couldn't leave you. She never has," her mother teased as Aaron came running back inside. "Is all the trash taken out?"
"Yep. I took down the tables outside too," the fourteen-year-old said, obviously looking brownie points since Melinda hadn't been in a good mood for a while since she'd gotten into the uncomfortable last few months of her pregnancy. "I think I'm gonna go take a shower and probably play some video games."
"That's fine. Thanks for taking the tables down, bud." Jim said, nudging him on his way past. "Shut off the XBOX before midnight. I'm going to come and check, so you better do it."
"Thanks, Aaron. I'll stop to say goodnight on my way to my room," Melinda called out to him and then looked up at her husband. "Are you headed upstairs?"
"Soon. I was gonna wipe down the counters," Jim said, shrugging.
"That can wait until morning, honey," Melinda said, shooing him out of the kitchen and toward the stairs at the front of the house. "Plus, I want to talk to Katie alone."
"I can hear you, you know." Katie looked up from her phone, furrowing her brow. "What do we need to talk about?"
"Life and other stuff," Melinda shrugged, glancing over from where she stood in the middle of the doorway between the front hallway and the kitchen. "I just wanted to catch up with my daughter. Is that bad?"
She laughed slightly, standing up. "Not at all. I'll be out on the porch waiting for you to finish talking to dad," Katie said, sliding past them and out the front door.
"That kid," Melinda muttered. "I don't know about her dry humor sometimes. Does she get that from you?"
"Probably. It's just because she's an adult now. Katie knows us too damn well, Melinda," Jim chuckled and leaned down to kiss her.
"Mmm, you are right about that." Melinda giggled.
Katie felt tense, though she knew she had no reason to be. Melinda was just wanting to catch up. She could hear the low murmur of her parents' voices and she sighed. To think of being married that long and still wanting to have sex with each other, as evidenced by her mother's pregnant stomach.
She thought about how quickly her infatuation with Tyler had been over and folded her arms over her own stomach, wondering if she'd ever find a love like that.
Her mom came out onto the porch, a smile on her face. "Hey, honey," Melinda said, sitting down next to her on the swing. "How are you, really?"
Katie bit down the sigh. She was depressed, but she didn't want to tell her mom. It was her birthday, she should feel great, and she didn't want to worry her mother. "I'm fine," she said. "I'm just tired. I didn't sleep well last night."
"Did you enjoy the party?" Melinda wondered.
"It was good," she replied. "That ice cream was delicious."
Silence again. They usually couldn't stop talking around each other, and Katie knew that her mom could tell something was off.
"Is this mood about Tyler?" Melinda wondered. "Rather, the lack of Tyler in the past few days?"
Katie hesitated. "Yes, but no," she began. "Before you start, it was mutual."
Her mother's eyebrows hiked. "It's never mutual, honey."
"I know," Katie wilted. "But I technically stopped texting him back first."
"Good for you," Melinda smiled. "What happened?"
"The spark was just gone," Katie shrugged. "He texted me and I just...didn't feel like it."
"You ghosted him?" Melinda questioned. "That's not like you."
"I didn't ghost him," she said. "I told him not tonight, and then he basically dropped it. I think he could tell it was fizzling out anyway. No feelings were hurt."
"Is there more to it than that?" Melinda pushed.
Katie fidgeted on the swing, playing with her romper. "I think...he was cool about it at first, but honestly, I think he lost interest when he realized I wasn't going to go all the way with him. And honestly, it's fine. It's not like the other guys I dated when it was just gross. Tyler was fine, and he didn't push my boundaries or anything. It just...wound down once he realized I wasn't going to do that."
"Ahh," Melinda sighed. "Teenage boys and their hormones."
Katie shrugged again. "I'm really not mad about it," she said. "He wasn't a dick about it, and he was still making an effort but I could tell the spark was gone."
"Sometimes it's nice to let a relationship die naturally," Melinda replied. "I never managed to have a true fling. I always got way too invested, so in a weird way, I'm proud of you."
Katie leaned against her mother's shoulder. "Ned gave me a journal," she admitted, finally getting to the root of her blues. "I hate it, mom."
"The journal?" Melinda asked. "Guys don't always have great taste."
"No, the journal is actually perfect," Katie whispered. "So perfect and so was the note that came with it. But Ned, mom. He's got to know I have...had a crush."
Her mother's eyebrow once again hiked.
"Fine, have, current tense," Katie said. "Do you think he knows?"
"Babe, everyone knows," Melinda laughed and Katie groaned.
"Even after this summer? I thought I proved I was over him," she said, her cheeks coloring.
"Not quite," Melinda said. "It's okay though. You're going to college now." Her mother turned to face her, touching her chin to turn Katie's face towards hers. "Katie, there are guys besides Ned Banks. That I promise you."
Katie sat in silence for a long moment, and Melinda pushed to her feet, leaning to kiss her daughter's forehead. "I have to get to bed. Your father has to be up early," she said, winking at her. "I love you. Happy Birthday, babe."
"Love you too, mom," Katie mumbled. "I'm going to stay up a bit longer. Probably out here."
"Sounds good. Just lock up when you come inside," Melinda whispered and disappeared inside.
Katie slumped down into the porch swing, sighing as she heard the door close and closed her eyes.
Once again her emotions turn jagged and her insides tight. Her heart was in her throat. She was so sick of having her heart pulled on by Ned Banks.
When was she going to grow out of loving him? Because what Katie knew was that she'd loved Ned for her entire life, but she also knew that Ned would never see her like that.
She was sick of wanting and waiting around for a guy that really wouldn't ever see her as she should be seen. As her mother had said, she was going off to college and there were many other men out there.
That was when she decided the only thing that would help clear her mind was probably a hot shower, and she opened her eyes, just in time to see Ned Banks step up onto her porch, and her heart didn't just skip a beat.
It stopped.
Why was he here?
"Oh, hey Katie. Didn't think I'd see you out here this late," Ned's hands were shoved into his pockets and he looked over at her, looking tall and lean. He had an almost hungry look on his face as she caught his eyes linger on her bare sunkissed thighs that her romper failed to cover.
"I should say the same thing to you," she slowly stood up, walking toward him by the front door. "What brings you by again?"
"My mom thinks she left her phone, so I came by to look for it." He shrugged, leaning up against the banister and crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Why the long face?"
"No reason. Just tired," she said, going to grab the knob on the front door.
"Bull, I know you way better than that Katie Clancy." He said, taking one step closer to her. He suggested they sit with a nod toward the porch swing, and she took a step towards it. "Let's talk. What's really wrong?"
"Ned," she sighed, shaking her head as she sat down. "It's not that simple."
She couldn't tell him.
She just couldn't tell Ned that she was in love with him, could she? It would be entirely different than knowing about someone having a crush versus them saying they loved you.
"What's not simple enough to talk about, Katie?" He said as he sat down beside her, his hand smoothing over her knee and giving it a squeeze. "We've known each other forever."
His touch was electric and she wondered if he knew how he affected her. He had to know. No one was that clueless.
She edged away from him on the bench, and he pulled his hand back. "Sorry."
"It was just a weird day," she finally said. "Birthday blues, I guess."
He raised an eyebrow but when she didn't add to that, he nodded. "And you're leaving for school soon. That's gotta be hard, you're so close to your family."
That was something she could latch onto.
"My mom is pregnant," she said. "I'm going to miss so much of this kids life because I have to go away for school but… I don't have to. Rockland U is a good school and I'd spend a lot less money but no, Katie has to go to NYU and I've wanted this for so long but now it just feels selfish."
"Katie, it's not selfish to choose yourself," Ned said slowly. "It's okay to choose your own needs and what you dream of and life is about change. Growing up is what's supposed to happen, not just staying at home forever." He looked down at his hands. "I know, pot meets kettle. I didn't go away to school. But Katie? If I'd gotten accepted by USC I would have gone in a heartbeat. And, yeah, there would have been… so much guilt over leaving my mom."
He leaned back. "She's a single mom and I know Tim is good to her but I know me leaving would have killed her, though she'd never admitted it. But Katie, she would have killed me if I didn't go, if I'd been accepted. You have to take these chances. Wow, look at me pretending to be deep. I'm sorry, that's totally useless."
"It's not useless, and it made sense," Katie said. She bit her lip. "So. You think I should go?"
He didn't realize how weighted the question was, she knew that, or he would have taken longer to respond.
"Katie, go, and don't look back," he grinned crookedly at her. "We'll be here when you get back."
"That's pretty good advice, maybe you should start a column," she suggested, giggling as she stood up.
"I'm not the writer here, you are, remember?" He said, slowly following her.
"Oh, yeah. Forgot." She said, rolling her eyes. "Should we go in to look for your mom's phone? Or was that just a ploy to get me to open up?"
"Totally not a ploy. We should look before she starts calling me on Tim's phone," he said, stepping toward her and feeling her shoulder brush against his chest as she turned to open the front door.
She sucked in a quick breath, closing her eyes. She had to get over him.
"I should warn you, my parents are alone upstairs together. Probably doing what they do best," she said, cracking a joke to try and push Ned out of her thoughts as quickly as she opened the door.
"So nothing new?" He laughed and followed her inside.
Katie had to get over him fast, for the sake of her heart and her soul.
Melinda sighed as she waddled from Mackenzie's room to her and Jim's, her feet aching all the way until she crawled into bed and closed his eyes.
Jim walked into the room from the bathroom, chest still damp with water from the shower and a toothbrush hanging from his mouth until he removed it.
God, he was the sexiest man alive, her husband.
He leaned down on the bed and kissed her before turning to open the drawer in his side table.
She slowly started to sit up, "Are you coming to bed?"
"In a minute," he said. "Just trying to find the charger for my electric toothbrush. You don't have to get up."
"I should probably go to the bathroom before this one moves and then I have to," she said, pointing to her stomach.
He pulled a cord out. "Aha! I found it." He said and quickly moved to help her up on the other side. "How's the house?"
Melinda held onto his arm, letting out a breath. "Mack's in bed. I tucked her in before I came in, and Aaron is playing his game in his room."
"And Katie?" He pushed the bathroom door open for her as she let go of his arm.
"She's down on the front porch. I told her to lock up when she comes in," she said, waddling over toward the toilet slowly.
He nodded as he continued brushing his teeth. "Is something wrong?" he said as he spits out the toothpaste from his mouth, washing the tip-off and then plugging his toothbrush in to charge overnight.
Melinda walked over toward him to wash her hands and shrugged. "I think she's just stressed about boy drama. Nothing you need to worry about." As she dried her hands, she pressed her lips against his, making him moan slightly in surprise.
Jim pulled away and chuckled. "Well, if I don't need to worry about it…" He tucked a piece of her light brown hair behind her ear and cupped her cheek in his hand as she smiled slightly, placing her hand on top of his. "Why don't we go to bed, hmm?"
Melinda nodded before planting a soft kiss on his cheek, grabbing hold on his hand to lead him back into their bedroom walking backward.
Jim slowly moved closer to her as guided her to the bed, playing with the neckline of her dress. "I think we should…" One of his hands moved to touch her belly while he laid her down on the bed. "Definitely go to bed."
The two gazed deep into each other's eyes before the two engaged in another kiss, more passionate, full of pent up lustful feelings spilling loose. Jim gripped her hips to pull her against him, making her gasp slightly into his mouth as his hands roamed over her now.
One hand ran through her hair, pulling her closer to him with the back of her neck. It was such a long time since they've had a chance to show each other their love for one another, touch each other so intimately since she'd gotten towards the end of her pregnancy when she got more tired.
"I missed this," he sighed out as he moved Melinda's hair away from her neck, nipping at her jaw and neck.
"Me too, Jim..." she whimpered as she began to grind herself on his crotch, making him curse under his breath.
"You do so many things to me," he gently whispered before he helped take her dress off from her as he leaned down to kiss her collarbones, trailing his kisses to his wife's breasts as she sighed happily and ran her hands through his hair.
"Even now?" She asked softly. "I'm huge, Jim."
Jim slowly raised his head. "Do you think I care about any of that? You're beautiful no matter what, especially now." He ran his hands over her, his lips tracing the curve of her swollen belly. "I love you and your body in every way, and nothing will ever change that." He moved downwards and began to pull off her underwear, dropping them onto the floor as he inspected between her legs. "And you know, I will always love this."
Melinda bit her lip shyly. "I want you," she whispered. "So badly."
"I can see that," he said matter-of-factly as he admired his wife's core. "You're so pretty here…" His fingers began rubbing around her moist entrance, trailing up against her as his fingers pressed into her, making her wriggle underneath him.
"Oh, Jim…" She gasped.
He'd kissed his way down her body until his head was between her legs and he was sucking and licking at her relentlessly. She had to press her pillow against her face to try and keep from screaming out and letting any of their children overhear them. She came with a soul-shattering orgasm and then he was sliding into her.
Jim sighed as one hand braced next to her head and he kissed her deeply, longingly. He tasted just like her and she couldn't help but move against him, demanding more.
"You're so eager," he chuckled, much to her dismay. "I love you."
She groaned in delight as he pushed forward to fill her more. His movements were short and to the point, the intimate friction between them intense enough as it was. Melinda clung to him, to the sheets beneath her, barely holding on as his thrusts quickly saw her climbing to new heights before she finally had to let go.
"Melinda, oh… yes!" He moaned, thrusting faster as she whimpered wantonly. "I love you so much."
"Jim, oh, I love you too," she whispered, their hands holding tightly together as he thrust into the same spot inside of her again, making her arch her back and moan sweetly.
He moved back and forth, faster, harder, growing closer and closer to the edge as his wife's beautiful moans and sighs filled his ears, her gorgeous body trembling beneath him. Their heads rest together and they spend their time trading kisses and smiles, murmuring sweet nothings, swallowing sighs and groans as he finally settled on a deep, gyrating rhythm for them.
Hungry lips resume their work when she leaned back in his arms and it doesn't take long until the molten heat begins to gather inside her again as he lavished her breasts and upper body with his delightful attention.
His fingers soon move to draw delicious circles between them, spurring her on as she sought more friction this time. Just a little more, to get her there. A series of well-timed thrusts finally made her see stars again and she rushed towards them with a helpless cry.
She reveled in the sensation, feeling him move against her, inside her. Every thrust bringing them a little closer to completion. She watched his face draw tight in concentration as their pace increases and moaned in encouragement, spurring him on.
A sudden hitch, a deep groan and a pulsing warmth signaled his release deep inside her. A wave of something rushed through her at the sensation, concentrating low in her belly in a gentle tingle that made her sigh and shiver.
Jim slowly stilled in the aftermath and hummed, forehead resting against her as they both try to calm their racing hearts and panting breaths again. She held him close, unwilling to sever their connection just yet. His hands ran over her, coming to rest on her belly while he leaned in to kiss her affectionately.
Melinda tucked her hair behind her ear, smiling. "Jim, you are the love of my life, you know that?"
Jim smiled back warmly. "And you are mine. You are the most perfect woman I could ever ask for. I love you so much, and our growing family."
Melinda hummed lovingly. "It's been a good life, Jim."
"It has? Even if I can't always be here?" He asked, resting his head on her shoulder.
"Oh, honey. Yes." She ran her hand through his damp hair lovingly. "I love you. The kids love you. You never fail to take my breath away with the things you do for me, Jim."
"I love you," he whispered. "I love you so much."
The two kissed once more before pulling the sheets over them, falling asleep in each other's arms.
