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

As much as Leah enjoyed the alone time, she missed her family. Thankfully, the afternoon passed quickly and soon she heard the excited shouts of her nieces. They ran into the livingroom at full speed.

“Aunt Leah! Aunt Leah! Aunt . . . Leah?” Allison stopped short at the sight of her. Emmie’s eyes got big and she smiled excitedly.

“MOM!” Allison bellowed. “You gotta come see this!” She stood back waiting.

Emmie approached. She took in her aunt’s haircut. Leah turned her head from left to right, showing off.

“Do you like it?”

Her younger niece nodded approvingly. The older girl yelled again, this time for both parents. Robert appeared first.

“Allison!” he barked sharply. “What are you screaming about? I—” he stopped abruptly when he saw Leah. Like Emmie, he smiled as he took it in.

Leah got up awkwardly, having sat too long. She stood so Robert could walk around her and get a full view of her hair.

“I love it! It totally suits you!” He hugged her and gave her a quick brotherly peck on the cheek, which was exactly when Lily walked in.

“Robert David!” Lily exclaimed. “Who are you kissing in my living room—Leah?”

Robert stood back and let Lily get a good look. Leah stood still as her sister walked three circles around her without saying a word.

“I told you,” Allison said, hands on her hips. “Now you see why I was screaming, right?”

Robert tousled her hair and left the room to go put away their bags. He gave Leah one last encouraging smile and a wink before exiting. But Lily still had not spoken.

“Lily?”

“Girls, go help your dad.”

“But Mom . . .” Allison tried to protest but Lily pointed and both girls left the room.

“What do you think of it?” Lily asked.

“I love it.” Leah answered quickly.

“Hmmm . . .”

Leah was starting to actually feel unsure. Her smile slipped, but then she caught Lily’s eye.

“Me too,” Lily’s cheeky grin was too much.

“Lily! You actually had me worried!”

“Hey, I’m the one who walked into her own house to see her children watching their father embrace another woman! I had to get you back for that!”

They both laughed.

“When did you do it? Where did you do it? Why didn’t you tell me!”

“I didn’t tell you because I had no idea I was going to do it until it was happening.”

Leah motioned toward the kitchen and Lily followed. While she checked on the chili, she explained all about her encounter with Dakota.

“Wow. She did a fantastic job. Why did we never think to cut your hair before?” Lily sighed, “Now you look even more gorgeous.”

“Dakota is an artist,” Leah tried to dismiss the compliment and put the focus back on the hairdresser. But Lily had more to say.

“It frames your face perfectly. I’d have never thought to cut off so much but still leave the front long. And with the back layered so short!” Lily walked around again, taking in the sides and back of the style.

“Your waves practically curl now. I’m totally jealous. You literally got all the curves,” Lily pouted.

Leah wasn’t sure how to respond. Thankfully, Lily came to her rescue.

“I love it and I’m so happy for you,” Lily embraced her. “And I’m hungry, what’s for dinner?”

As Leah dished up the chili, the rest of the family appeared. The girls tried to tell her everything they had seen and done all at the same time. It was loud and crazy, the perfect end to her weekend. Especially when dinner was over and Robert offered to clean up.

That night, Leah went to bed happy. It was a good weekend. She had finally dreamed, she’d cut her hair, her family was in good spirits again, and the rain had stopped. Leah fell asleep to the sound of nothing.

♦

Leah’s new inverted bob was the talk of the office. Her hair got rave reviews. By Friday, people were finally getting used to it and the compliments had mostly stopped, along with people touching her hair.

She could handle a lot. She did not love people touching her without permission, so between her baby bump and her new hair, she was more than ready for the weekend.

“How was work?”

“I swear if one more person touches me without permission, I’m gonna freak out.”

“That good, huh?” Lily teased.

“Oh!” Leah put a hand to her stomach. “Baby is moving like crazy right now.” She shifted uncomfortably. It did not hurt, although some kicks did. “Want to feel?”

“And risk you freaking out? Not sure if I should!” But Lily was already around the counter even before she spoke.

Leah laughed and guided her sister’s hand to the most active spot.

“Is the baby kicking?” Emmie seemed to have a good sense of timing for these moments. Or perhaps the girls had come looking for a snack since Allison was right behind her. Emmie scampered up into the chair beside her and took Lily’s place.

“It’s a foot!” she exclaimed. “I could feel it and it was definitely a foot. Allison, come feel!”

Allison, the brave and spunky sister, held back. Leah did not blame her, it still weirded her out a bit too at times. A person inside another person was strange.

“Nah, I’m good,” she shrugged nonchalantly but continued to keep her distance. “What’s for dinner? I’m hungry.”

“Hmm . . .” Lily considered. “Your dad and I talked about going out tonight. I’m waiting for him to get home so we can finalize our plans. Let’s have a snack while we wait.”

Allison finally approached, now that the subject had changed. They were all nibbling on carrots and dip when Robert showed up.

“I come home to take my girls out and you’re already eating?!” he teased.

The snack was immediately abandoned. The girls ran to their dad for hugs, but Lily got one first. Leah smiled happily as she chomped on another carrot.

Soon, everyone had dispersed to get ready to go out. Leah wasn’t exactly sure how much primping the girls needed at their ages, but they could probably at least use the bathroom.

Leah sighed. She needed