First Kiss Last by Sara Miller (read e book .TXT) 📗

both broke at the same time. Leah fell to the bed completely spent and slept.

Chapter 22

When Leah woke the second time, it was to sunlight coming through the curtains and high-pitched whispers coming from the hallway.

“Do you think she’s awake yet?”

“Mom said not to wake her up!”

“But she’ll miss the parade. We always watch the parade. It’s tradition.”

“I dunno . . .”

“Mom didn’t say we couldn’t check on her. Let’s just sneak in and look.”

“Very super extra quiet, promise?”

The conversation outside the door fell silent. Leah closed her eyes and listened. When she heard the latch click and door creak just long enough to admit two tiny creatures, she slowed her breathing and laid very still.

Leah listened as the shuffle of socked feet drew closer. She imagined her nieces nudging each other and pointing silently. One of them made a muffled sound and she knew they were right next to her.

“AHHHHH!” Leah yelled and sat up in bed, reaching out and grabbing the girls.

Both girls shrieked and dissolved into giggles.

“Aunt Leah, you scared us!” Allison scolded through her laughter.

Her nieces had climbed up into the bed uninvited. They were having a merry time of it when their mother appeared in the doorway.

“What is all this racket? I thought I told you to let Aunt Leah sleep!” Lily’s hands were on her hips and her words reprimanding, but her face danced with mischief. The girls could tell they were not in trouble. Lily entered the room and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Hey, she scared us!” Allison accused, turning on her aunt.

“Yeah, put her in time out, Mommy!” Emmie demanded with a giggle.

All four were laughing hard when Robert showed up on the scene.

“Is everyone just going to lay around all day?” he teased. “I thought for sure someone wanted to watch the parade . . . I guess I can go find some sports to watch—”

“Daddy, no!” both girls yelped and threw themselves out of the bed.

“Oof!” Leah felt a knee and an elbow as they made their hasty exit.

Robert stood laughing. They all watched the girls rush down the hall. Footsteps thudded down the stairs.

“It never ceases to amaze me that two little girls can make so much noise,” he smiled and shook his head.

“And you love every minute of it!” Lily countered.

“It’s true,” he pulled Lily to her feet and into his arms, giving her a sound kiss.

Leah cleared her throat. Lily’s cheeks were flushed and Robert looked over at Leah sheepishly.

“Get a room!” she teased, “or more accurately, get a different room so I can get up. I don’t want to miss the parade either! Shoo!” she flapped her arms, motioning them out the door.

Robert laughed and pulled his wife out into the hall. As he was shutting the door to give Leah her privacy, he winked. He was such a good man. Her sister was so lucky. Leah would not begrudge them their happiness, no matter how envious she felt. She hurried to get ready so she could join her family.

A half-hour into the parade, there was a knock at the door. Leah, tucked between her nieces, didn’t bother to get up. She did wonder who it could be, since Lily had not mentioned any other company. Maybe someone from Robert’s family was joining them?

“Leah, aren’t you gonna get the door?” Lily looked confused.

“Why would I? It’s your house. Who is it?”

“Seriously? You’re kidding, right?”

As the sisters stared at each other, Robert shook his head and moved to answer the door. Leah craned her neck to see. She was seriously confused.

“My man!” Robert said. Leah heard the tell-tail back slapping of a man hug. “Long time no see. Come in, come in!”

So it was one of Robert’s old friends. She relaxed for half a second before she heard the reply.

“Good to be here. Sorry we’re late, someone got off to a rough start today.”

Lily was staring at her expectantly. That voice. She knew that voice. Leah’s heart started to pound so hard she could no longer hear, aside from the whooshing in her ears. Leah found herself on her feet.

“Hey!” Allison hollered indignantly from the couch where she’d fallen over when Leah rose so quickly.

Leah made her way to the door, not believing her own two eyes. Cade and Liam stood in the entryway handing Robert their coats. Sky was pulling the door shut behind them.

“Sorry we’re late, hun,” Cade leaned in and kissed her cheek. His lips were cold from just coming in from outdoors. “Someone got off to a rough start today,” he repeated.

“Don’t believe him. Liam and I were ready on time. The ‘someone’ to blame changed his shirt three times and then forgot the pumpkin roll so we had to turn around and go back for it.” Sky handed Leah the desert, then removed her coat. “How much did we miss?!” Liam rushed to follow.

After hanging up all the coats, Robert took the pumpkin roll from her. He gave her another wink and left her alone with Cade.

Cade seized the opportunity to greet her more properly. Up against the hall closet, he kissed her thoroughly. Leah could not think like this. She pulled back. This could not be real.

“Cade?”

“Leah?”

“What are you doing here?” she asked in confusion.

“You don’t remember? You invited us, after we saw your sister on Halloween.” He gave her one more kiss.

The mention of Halloween made everything click. She hadn’t realized she was currently dreaming because the dreams had always taken her to him. To the coffee shop, to his house; always to wherever he was. But this time, he had come to her. And into Lily and Robert’s home.

No wonder dream-Lily had wanted her to answer the door. She knew Cade had been invited. Leah’s initial confusion at this dream shift vanished into pleasure. She grinned and pulled him off to the living room to spend the day with all her favorite people.

After the parade, the little kids scampered off to play. For only