Family Pieces (45 page)

“And this is my brother, Brad, and his girlfriend, Hanna,” Addison continued the introductions.

“Hi. Nice to meet you,” Jacob said.

“And hiding behind the centerpiece is my sister, Karsen. She’s going to start working with us next month.”

Jacob leaned sideways to look at Karsen.

“You?” he said incredulously. He suddenly realized why she had looked familiar.

“Guilty as charged,” she said, blushing.

“You two know each other?” Addison asked inquisitively, noticing the gleam in Jacob’s eyes.

“We spent the night together,” Jacob said.

“In Starbucks!” Karsen interjected. Jacob laughed, impressed with himself.

“In Starbucks,” he reiterated. He glanced down at his watch. “Oh, I should get going. I’m supposed to be at my niece’s birthday party by ten.”

He turned to Addison, his voice returning to a down-to-business tone. “Can you get the revisions back to me by this afternoon? Also, there is space for lease in the building next door. Here’s the number if you’re interested. Might buy some time until you can find a new permanent location.” He handed Addison a piece of paper with the realtor’s contact information.

“I’ll get with you about that raise,” she said, hugging him goodbye.

“It was nice to meet all of you.” Jacob waved and headed toward the front door.

“Wait!” Karsen called. “I’ll walk you out.” She rounded the table and caught up with him.

“I didn’t realize you knew Addison,” he said, a thousand questions swirling through his head.

“At the time, I didn’t. It’s kind of a long story.”

“Interesting…I can’t wait to hear it. Sooo, would you want to meet back at Starbucks sometime?”

She hesitated. “I would, but…”

“There is always a ‘but,’” he joked. Inside he felt insecure, as though she were out of his league.

“But for one, I’m headed back to Arizona this afternoon…and two, there is something I need to tell you. And…and it may change your mind.”

“Really, what’s that?” He couldn’t think of anything that would change his mind about a date with an attractive girl.

“I’m pregnant.”

“Oh.” He looked startled.

“Guess you weren’t expecting that.” She crisscrossed her arms across her chest, hands on her shoulders, chin on her arm as if to console herself in an embrace.

“Not exactly.”

“Yeah, I kind of figured. It looks like I’m going to be a single parent, but as soon as this semester ends I’m moving here to live with Addison. She’s going to help me finish school.”

They both stood shuffling their feet and stared at the ground, wondering what to say next.

“How about you tell me the story over coffee when you get back in town. If nothing else, you could use a friend, right?” Jacob said hopefully.

“That would be lovely.” She looked up into his eyes and smiled, still hugging herself. He smiled back.

“Well then. I’ll see you in a few weeks.” He bounded over the patio step and down the walk then opened the car door. She turned to go into the house. “Karsen?”

“Yes?” She turned back.

“Have I told you that I love kids?” He didn’t wait for her to reply. Instead he quickly ducked into the car and shut the door. She watched him drive away and felt her heart suddenly pound against her chest. She didn’t know whether it was right or wrong to feel this way in her condition, but at the very least she knew her future held promise.

“I can’t believe we’re flying on a private jet!” Hanna all but skipped toward the tarmac. A large white jet, shiny from a recent wash, stood in front of them with steps pushed up to the door for them to board. The sky was clear, dotted only with a few scattered clouds, and the sun sparkled down giving the blacktop a sleek shine.

“The flight should be around four hours. There are drinks and snacks on board. Help yourself to anything. Just try not to drink the alcohol dry,” Addison chuckled.

At the bottom of the jet’s stairs, Addison turned to face her three new friends, her new family.

“Well, I guess this is where we say goodbye.” She’d never understood why people struggled with farewells, until now. Addison hugged Hanna tightly. “Please come and visit anytime. It’s been a pleasure meeting you.”

“You, too,” Hanna said. “Thank you for everything.”

“Brad.” She turned and hugged him as well. “This is your home now, too. Don’t be a stranger.”

“I won’t be,” he replied, returning the hug. “I’m turning her over to you now. It’s a tough job,” he joked.

“I think I can handle it.” Addison winked at Karsen.

Hanna and Brad climbed the steps and disappeared into the plane. Karsen stood below with Addison taking a moment for her own goodbye.

“Wait!” A voice bellowed from behind. Both Addison and Karsen spun around to look.

“Stop!” The two women stood dazed as Russell ran toward the plane, waving his hand in the air. He caught up to them and looked at Addison.

“Hi,” he said, catching his breath.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, bewildered yet excited by his unexpected arrival.

“Your favor,” he grinned.

“How’d you know where I was?”

“I stopped by your parents’ house first. Your mom told me. Where’s Brad?”

“Brad, come back here, please,” she yelled up the steps.

Brad peered curiously through the doorway of the jet.

Russell looked up at him and spoke. “Brad, before you go, I can’t promise you anything, but I spoke to Sam Cadence.”

Brad’s mind raced as he jogged back down the steps.
Sam Cadence? The producer for The Funniest Comic?

“I explained to him why you withdrew and he’s willing to allow you to audition again. It doesn’t guarantee you a spot on the show, but from what I hear you can hold your own.”

“How did you know about that?” Brad asked, his face showing his shock.

Russell held out a piece of paper. Brad grasped it and glanced down. Handwritten in black ink was Sam Cadence’s name and cell phone number.

“Addison told me. I hope you don’t mind.”

Brad looked up from the paper. “Mind? This is incredible! Thank you,” he whooped, calling for Hanna, who appeared at the top of the stairs. “We’re going to Hollywood, baby!”

“Oh my GOD!” Hanna screamed, racing down the steps. She grabbed his hand and started jumping up and down. “Brad! You’re back in?”

“Can you believe it?” He picked her up and swung her around. “WHOOO HOOOO!” he screamed as she snuggled her face into his shoulder.

Addison caught Russell’s attention.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

He winked at her. Her heart skipped with a faint flicker of hope.

Brad set Hanna down and shook Russell’s hand.

“Good luck. I had to pull some strings for this,” said Russell warmly. “Don’t let me down.”

“I won’t,” Brad promised. Grabbing Hanna’s hand, they gave Addison another quick hug goodbye and headed back up into the plane. Before Karsen could follow, Russell turned his attention to her.

“Karsen. You’re more like your sister than you know. Strong, beautiful and hard-headed.”

“I know,” she smiled.

“I hope I get to know you even better. Thank you,” he said with a wink.
Why was he thanking her
, she wondered. It immediately became clear.

Turning to Addison, Russell slowly took her hands in his and asked, “Can we go home now?”

A tear trickled out of the corner of her eye. He held her face between his broad, strong hands and kissed her.

“Yes!” Karsen yelped out loud. “Oops! Sorry.” She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.

Russell and Addison didn’t seem to notice. Reluctantly, he pulled his lips from hers, their noses almost touching. “Well?”

She looked deep into his eyes and for the first time, without hesitation, she said what she had felt for so long now. “Yes, Russell. Yes. Yes. Yes. I love you. Let’s go home.” He kissed her again, told her he loved her.

Addison walked back to Karsen for one last hug goodbye.

“See you in a month.”

“You still want me to come?” Karsen whispered. Perhaps she’d change her mind with Russell back in the picture.

“See you in a month,” Addison repeated.

Karsen smiled, climbed the steps, turned one last time and waved as the door closed. She watched from the window as Russell and Addison walked hand and hand back to the terminal.

Epilogue

K
arsen lifted her hand to knock on the door. The porch she stood on was painted white and a fall colored wreath hung from the evergreen door. She glanced back at Addison, who sat waiting in the car. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and felt the wood against her knuckles as she tapped against it. Anxiously she waited.

The door opened and he stood before her. His face seemed to have aged since the first time they met. A combination of stress and guilt had taken its toll. He knew who she was, but did not know why she was there standing in front of him.

“Hello,” he said tentatively.

“Matt?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Karsen Woods.”

He stared at her a moment. “I know.” He waited in anticipation. There had been no formal punishment as texting was not yet banned in Indiana, but he continued to punish himself.

“I just wanted to say…,” Karsen started. She felt it in her heart, but still the words did not come easily, “…that I forgive you.”

His lower lip trembled and his eyes welled with tears. He stood speechless.

“If my mom were here, she’d forgive you, too.”

“Thank you.” he mustered, blotting his eye with the back of his hand. He didn’t smile, he simply cried. “Thank you.” His voice rasped.

She nodded and returned to the car. There was nothing left to say.

Karsen slid into the passenger side seat, buckled her seat belt and turned to look into the back seat. She reached across the console and tugged at the car seat straps, making sure they were secure.

“Next stop, Grandma,” she spoke to the tiny infant sleeping contently.

“Ready?” Addison asked before putting the car in gear. Karsen nodded.