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

Allison liked to yell “Watch this!” and Emmie waved frequently. Leah was warmed by their ways of including her, even though she was not at their sides. They were great kids. Leah hoped her son or daughter would turn out just as good. She rubbed her belly absentmindedly.

“Hi.”

Leah instantly knew who was speaking. She smiled. Liam stood in front of her wearing a curious expression.

“Hello.”

“Do you remember me?” he asked. There was a smudge of dirt on his cheek and his forehead was creased.

“From last weekend?” Leah asked cautiously. She nodded, “You and your sister.”

“My name is Liam.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Liam.” Leah found she was not lying. It did feel good to really meet him. To know him, see him, hear him—in real life. She smiled genuinely.

“You remind me of someone.” He kicked at the dirt with his boot and did not meet her eye.

“I do?” her voice came out as a whisper.

Liam nodded.

“I thought maybe . . . maybe you were my friend. But Sky said no.” He looked around with a slightly panicked expression.

Leah noticed Sky was on the other end of the playground with what appeared to be the same group of girls from the corn maze. Allison and Emmie were in the same vicinity. She tried to keep an eye in that direction while also paying attention to Liam.

“I think . . .” he started then stopped. “Truth?” he asked, exactly as his father did.

Leah’s throat closed up and she could only nod.

“I think I dreamed you,” he said.

Liam hopped up on the bench next to her and took her hand. His brown eyes finally met hers and she did not know what to say. He remembered her? How was that even possible?

“You look like my friend,” he appeared to study her. “And you sound like my friend. Only you are kinda different too. Your hair is more puffy and you gots less stuff on your face and—” he stopped abruptly, looking guilty over whatever he was about to say.

“What else?” She squeezed his little hand encouragingly.

“You look fatter. Sorry!” He pulled his hand back and scooched a few inches away.

Leah could not help herself, she laughed outright at his assessment. He was correct on all accounts. After leaving Eric, she had gone with a more natural look. Mostly because embracing her natural hair was easier than constantly straightening it. She’d also dumped most of her makeup routine.

“I’m not exactly fat,” she told him. “I’m going to have a baby.” She smiled to communicate it was a good thing.

Liam nodded but did not look convinced. He swung his legs and scanned the park.

“Have you . . . have you told anyone else about your dreams?” she asked.

His little legs stopped swinging. He looked up at her and shrugged.

“I don’t usually tell people my dreams either. People usually don’t understand. And people don’t like what they can’t understand.”

Liam’s eyes got big and he nodded, “I tried to tell my dad and he got real mad! So I never brought it up again. That was a long time ago. But then I saw you. I tried to say something to Sky but she just said dreams are dumb.”

“Our dreams are not dumb,” Leah spoke without thinking.

“So you remember them too?” Liam’s face was excited.

“I’m not really sure how to answer that, bud.” His nickname slipped out.

Liam caught it immediately and smiled broadly. Then the smile slipped away just as fast.

“But how come they stopped?”

“It’s complicated,” she told him. “Boring grown-up stuff.” She wanted to say more but knew she shouldn’t.

Liam considered. He swung his little legs for all they were worth then leapt down. He turned to face her.

“I miss you though.”

“I miss you too.” She had to say it back. She really did miss him.

Leah’s heart ached. She wanted to take the sad little boy in her arms and never have to let go.

“Bye, Miss Leah,” he said it so quickly and so quietly, Leah wondered if her ears were playing tricks. One second he was in front of her and the next he had dashed off.

“Bye, Liam.”

Leah watched him run. She was a riot of emotions and tried to gain control. She scanned the playground and found her nieces were together. When they saw her looking, they made their way over.

“I’m so thirsty I could die!” Allison told her.

Leah laughed at the overdramatics.

“You aren’t gonna die!” Emmie argued and rolled her eyes at her sister. Allison looked like she wanted to argue back but Emmie did not give her a chance. “And I am hungry and thirsty too. So there!”

“Good thing I packed a snack then, huh?” Leah patted the cooler bag next to her. Both girls grabbed for it.

“Hey!” she teased, “Where are your manners?”

They both apologized and took a step back.

“Let’s go over to the picnic tables,” Leah suggested.

Seated at a table, Leah had them use hand sanitizer before anything else, herself included. She gave them each a napkin then started passing out snacks. Leah reckoned she must have been hungry when she packed, because she’d thrown in a lot. The girls had their pick of manderian oranges, almonds, pretzel bites, granola bars, and cookies she had baked earlier in the week. She also had packed bottled water and a few juice boxes.

As they picked out their snacks, Leah was surprised when Sky approached. She eyed Leah and her nieces curiously.

“Hello again,” Leah said conversationally. The girl clearly had something on her mind.

“Um, hi.” Sky shrugged, staring at the girls.

“These are my nieces. We’re having a snack.” She wondered what brought Sky over.

“Hey,” Sky greeted the girls.

Allison smiled and continued to eat while Emmie eyed Sky cautiously.

“Did you . . . want a snack?” Leah offered.

“No!” Sky’s reaction was sharp. Hearing herself, she cringed. “I mean, no thank you.”

Leah waited.

“I saw my brother talking to you earlier.” Sky’s tone and stance challenged Leah to deny it.

“He remembered me and wanted to say hi.”

“From last week,” Sky confirmed. “I hope he