Harrison was relieved to hear why Holly was so emotional and really glad that she had opened up to Abbie. He would never have known what to do without his mother around to address the concern.
About a week after her arrival, Holly finally had a day where her emotions weren't getting the best of her. She finally felt like leaving her room.
"Harry? Can I go for a walk today?"
"Sure, but why don't you wait until lunchtime that way I can go too?"
"I don't mind going alone."
"I know but you aren't familiar with the town yet. If you don't want to go with me, we can ask Abbie or Charlotte if they could keep you company."
"But I don't know Charlotte."
"You'll love her, trust me. Let's go eat breakfast at the boarding house and you can meet her."
"Ok." He could see she was ready to get acclimated to her new home but he wasn't ready for the thirteen year old to do it alone.
The pair walked over to the boarding house and headed straight for the kitchen. "Good morning, ladies," Harrison greeted.
Abbie turned and wiped her hands on a towel, giving Harrison a kiss on his cheek and then Holly a hug. "Doing better today, Holly?"
"Yes, thank you."
Abbie touched her cheek briefly and smiled. "If you ever need to talk, you know where to find me."
Holly nodded, a shy smile on her freckled face.
"Grandma, this is Holly. Holly, this is my grandma, Charlotte Hunt."
"Hi, dear. Welcome to our town. I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Nah, call me Nana or Grandma, or Charlotte. None of this ma'am business."
"Ok, Nana." Holly smiled at the woman. She did like her and she'd known her for all of a minute.
"Good. Now help me make these biscuits. Abbie always makes me do it, but I'm not good at it."
"Practice makes perfect, Grandma," Abbie told her with a laugh.
"Yeah, well, I've practiced for a very long time and I've never been able to get them perfect."
Harrison and Abbie watched Holly and Charlotte and then they walked to the parlor to sit on the couch.
"So…" Harrison said quietly, taking her hand. "I've missed you."
"I missed you too."
"You haven't been coming over much."
"I didn't want to be in the way."
"Sweets, you will never be in the way."
Abbie leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed. "Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"I love your sister. She's wonderful."
"You're wonderful. I owe you so much for how you helped Holly."
"No you don't. I was happy to help." He leaned forward and turned to look at her. "What?"
He shook his head and then touched her cheek, his thumb stroking gently. Then he kissed her, lingering, just enjoying being close. "I love you, Abbie." He kissed her again, pulling her closer.
"Ahem!" a voice said from behind the couch.
Abbie and Harrison jumped apart and Kiki, the interrupter, giggled. "Sorry to interrupt."
"Are you?" Abbie asked, her face red.
"No not really." She laughed again. "I'm here to help and you're the one who asked me."
Abbie stood and shyly glanced at Harrison. "Holly is more than welcome to stay here while you work."
"Thanks. I'll ask her." He squeezed her hand and headed to the kitchen.
"Ab! What was that?"
"What?" she asked innocently.
"What you were just doing there…with Harrison."
"It's called kissing," she said slowly, a gleam of happiness in her eyes.
"No kidding. I just didn't know you two were doing that. You never told me."
"I haven't seen you much."
"I wish Cam would kiss me."
"You could always kiss him."
"That's what Ma said."
"Ma told you to kiss him? Wow!"
"Yeah. I'm just nervous. Maybe he doesn't want to kiss me or what if I do it and he hates it?"
"Pretty sure that won't happen."
"Is it wonderful?"
"Yeah, it is. I love him, Kiki."
"Ok, ladies. I will leave Holly in your care," Harrison said as he walked in the room. "I'll see you after work but please come get me if something happens."
"Look at you all worried," Abbie teased, kissing his cheek. "She will be fine, Harry. See you later."
…..
Kiki worked hard cleaning the rest of the morning and then met Cam at the stream to fish. She had made up her mind that if the opportunity arose, she would kiss him.
It had surprised her to see Abbie and Harrison and it only made her feel envious of her. She knew that kissing him would change things but she wanted to move forward.
"Hey, Kiki." She turned and looked.
"Hey." He walked over and hugged her. She wrapped her arms around him tighter, burying her face in his shoulder.
"Is something wrong?"
"Do you still like me?" she blurted, tears filling her eyes.
He kissed her forehead and looked closely at her. "Of course I do. I love you."
"Are you sure? I mean…"
"Kiki, trust me."
"It feels like we're stuck. Like we aren't moving forward." She walked toward the water and wrapped her arms across her middle. "I don't want to be stuck."
"I thought we should go slow. We're young and I'm leaving next year." He walked up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders for a moment. "It's going to be hard to wait, Kylie." She turned and looked up at him, knowing he was serious because he used her actual name.
"I don't want to wait. Let's get married when we turn sixteen."
"That won't work."
"Why?"
"You know why. We've talked about this. I have three years of school ahead of me after I graduate here. We need to at least wait until after my first year is done."
"We can make it work, Cam. I know we can."
"And what happens if you get pregnant?"
"Then we will have a baby."
"And no money. We have to wait."
She shook her head. "Maybe you're right. This won't work. I need to go." She knew that she was overreacting but their situation felt hopeless.
"Wait. What do you mean?"
"Cameron, I think we should stop seeing each other." She looked away and then left him standing there.
….
Cam walked home, dumbfounded. He'd lost her. She gave up because they couldn't get married right away. He didn't understand why all of the sudden she didn't want to wait. They had had many conversations and each time they had agreed to wait.
He walked in his house and headed for the kitchen. "Hey, sweetie. I thought you were going fishing," his mom said.
"I was…we were….no." Jenny turned and looked at him.
"What's wrong?"
"We broke up."
"No! I can't believe that. Why?"
"She didn't want to wait. She said we're stuck and not going anywhere. She even questioned how I felt about her. I don't get that. I always show her and tell her."
She knew that about him. He was very affectionate.
"You could get married next year. You'll be sixteen. You can then both go to the city."
"I won't have a job and what about a place to live? What if she got pregnant? We wouldn't have any money, Mom."
"You know, when your first dad, Ryan, and I got married, we didn't have money. We figured it out though. We had to communicate and compromise on what we wanted but then I got pregnant with you three months later. And I don't regret our choice for a minute." She saw his skeptical look. "Do you love her?"
"Yes. Very much."
"Do you truly want to wait to get married?"
"No, of course not. It's just what I thought was best."
"What's best is ultimately up to you, since you will be the husband but it also needs to be what's best for her. What happens if she finds someone else? Someone that will marry her next year?"
"That's her choice then."
"You're giving up?"
…..
Kiki sat in her room at home crying. Lydie was trying to make her feel better but nothing could.
Elizabeth knocked and then walked in. "Lydie, Daddy wants you to get the eggs, please."
"Ok, Mama." She kissed Kiki's cheek and left the room.
Elizabeth sat down and wrapped her arms around her daughter. "What's wrong, baby?"
"I...broke…up...with Cam," she said between sobs.
"Why, sweetheart?"
"I love him, Mom."
"You broke up because you love him?"
"No. I want to marry him."
Elizabeth waited for an explanation but nothing came. "You're not making sense, Kiki."
"He wants to wait."
"You don't."
"No. I want to marry him next year. He won't do it. He won't even kiss me. He swears he loves me but he won't do anything."
"How long does he want to wait?"
"Two years from now."
"That's not that long when you think of how long you'll be together."
She saw Kiki struggling and it hurt to see her that way. "Mom, what if I'm wasting my time waiting? What if decides he doesn't want me after I wait for him?"
"Sweetie, I understand you're scared but you're inventing bad things when there's no reason for them. He loves you, he gives you affection, you've talked about marriage. It doesn't sound like he is going to just decide he doesn't want you."
"I don't know how I will wait for two years."
…..
Cam walked up to the Thornton's barn, knowing Jack would be in there that time of day.
"Mr. Thornton?"
"In here, Cam."
Cam found him in the tack room. "Hi."
"Hi." Jack eyed the wildflowers in the boy's hands and his suit and tie. "I like roses better," he said, trying to tease.
"I'm sorry?"
"The flowers. Wildflowers are nice, but I'd rather have roses. Dark red ones, if possible."
Cam stared at the flowers and back up at Jack. "Oh…um these aren't for you, sir. They're for Kylie."
"Cam, relax, son. Maybe put the flowers down so you don't crush them and have a seat on the wagon over here."
Once Cam sat and Jack eased the flowers out of Cam's hands, he joined him on the wagon. "Mr. Thornton…I uh…I need to ask you something." Cam pulled his collar and tie away from his neck, feeling the late July heat strangling him.
"Cam, just say it."
"I want to marry Kylie. I've come to ask for her hand."
"See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Jack patted his shoulder.
"Well, yes. Yes, sir, it was."
"Ok," Jack said with a laugh. "You're a good boy, Cam. I know you care for my daughter."
"Love her, sir. I love her."
"Forgive me, yes. You love her. When would you be marrying her?"
"Next year before I head to college."
"And she will go with you, I assume?"
"Yes, of course, sir. I wouldn't leave my new wife here."
"Good answer." Jack had known it would come soon, but he figured Abbie would be first and then Kiki. "I know that you will take care of her."
"Yes, I will. I promise you."
"Ok, then. You have my blessing."
Cam nodded. "Thanks."
Jack looked at his face. He didn't seem very happy. He seemed worried. "Uh, Cam? I thought that you would be happier about that answer. You seem concerned though."
"Yes. Yes I am."
"Why is that?"
"I have to convince Kylie now."
"I don't think that should be a problem. I've seen her look at you."
"Yes, well. You see, Mr. Thornton, Kylie broke up with me."
