Read Online Room for Just a Little Bit More by Beth Ehemann - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Beth Ehemann
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years?
You know how you’ll find out, Kacie? Go inside.
I don’t know if it was my brain or my cold toes talking, but something willed me to start walking up the concrete steps and into the tiny green shop. A bell above the door clanged as I pushed it open. Soft music, warm air, and the smell of coffee immediately filled my senses, making me feel cozy and at ease. Maybe this would be a great day after all.
I took my coat off, intentionally not looking around at the tables. I don’t know why, but I wanted him to see me first. As I moved in slow motion to hang my coat on a hook behind the door, I took a deep breath. Everything would be different when I turned around. Good or bad, it would be different.
One more big breath, and… turn.
My eyes scanned the restaurant, but I didn’t see him. What was that feeling in my stomach? Disappointment? Relief? I wasn’t quite sure, but something was weighing me down like a rock. A man in the far corner caught my attention as he stood up and waved at me.
Him.
My stomach flipped again as I smiled and waved back. I scooted past tables and chairs, trying to figure out what I was going to say to him. Thankfully, I didn’t have to think for long. He went first.
“Kacie. Wow! Look at you,” he boasted as I got closer. Walking around the side of the table, he held his arms out. I wasn’t sure I was ready for a hug, but there was no going back now. As his scruffy cheek brushed mine, the smell of his aftershave instantly transported me back in time twenty years to when I would get a giant hug before he tucked me in to bed every night. It was amazing how people could smell the same year after year.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said as he hugged me tight.
“Thanks,” I offered back awkwardly. I pulled away and set my purse down in an empty seat, opting to sit across from him.
He settled into his seat too and took a cleansing breath. “So…”
“So.” I smiled politely. “Great weather we’re having, huh?”
My dad’s deep laugh echoed throughout the quiet little coffee shop, a little too loudly. “Oh, Kacie. You always were quite the jokester.”
What? No, I wasn’t.
I never joked much at all. I was actually the opposite. I was the weird kid who made my bed every single morning and made sure my stuffed animals were lined up perfectly, in alphabetical order, of course. I was also the weird kid who brought carrots and snap peas to school in her lunch every single day. I was the weird kid who wouldn’t swim for thirty minutes after eating for fear that I’d get a cramp and die in the lake. Joking was never my thing. That’s why Brody and I got along so well. He was the jokester, the yin to my yang.
“Can I get you something?” The waitress’s voice pulled me from my daydream and I stared up at her like she’d just asked me if I wanted to jump off the roof of the building. Her eyes darted to my dad then back to me. “Ma’am?”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “I’ll take a hot chocolate, please. Extra whipped cream.”
“Sure thing. Be right back.” She smiled kindly and walked away.
“How’s your mom?”
I was surprised by my dad’s first question, but my mom was a source of comfort and strength in my life, so I knew we couldn’t go wrong there.
“She’s great. Amazing, actually.”
“Good to hear.” He nodded. “Where’s that superstar fiancé of yours? Thought maybe he’d be joining us.”
“Nope. They have a home game tonight, so he’s in the city.”
“Oh.” He sounded disappointed. “Do you go to a lot of his games?”
“As many as I can when I’m not working. I-I’m a nurse now,” I added, realizing he knew nothing about me.
“Really? Good for you.” He grinned proudly.
“Anyway, the girls and I love going—” I paused. “Do you know I’m a mom?”
His eyes went wide and his mouth fell open just a smidge. “No. I’m a grandpa?”
Resentment filled all my available head space
You know how you’ll find out, Kacie? Go inside.
I don’t know if it was my brain or my cold toes talking, but something willed me to start walking up the concrete steps and into the tiny green shop. A bell above the door clanged as I pushed it open. Soft music, warm air, and the smell of coffee immediately filled my senses, making me feel cozy and at ease. Maybe this would be a great day after all.
I took my coat off, intentionally not looking around at the tables. I don’t know why, but I wanted him to see me first. As I moved in slow motion to hang my coat on a hook behind the door, I took a deep breath. Everything would be different when I turned around. Good or bad, it would be different.
One more big breath, and… turn.
My eyes scanned the restaurant, but I didn’t see him. What was that feeling in my stomach? Disappointment? Relief? I wasn’t quite sure, but something was weighing me down like a rock. A man in the far corner caught my attention as he stood up and waved at me.
Him.
My stomach flipped again as I smiled and waved back. I scooted past tables and chairs, trying to figure out what I was going to say to him. Thankfully, I didn’t have to think for long. He went first.
“Kacie. Wow! Look at you,” he boasted as I got closer. Walking around the side of the table, he held his arms out. I wasn’t sure I was ready for a hug, but there was no going back now. As his scruffy cheek brushed mine, the smell of his aftershave instantly transported me back in time twenty years to when I would get a giant hug before he tucked me in to bed every night. It was amazing how people could smell the same year after year.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said as he hugged me tight.
“Thanks,” I offered back awkwardly. I pulled away and set my purse down in an empty seat, opting to sit across from him.
He settled into his seat too and took a cleansing breath. “So…”
“So.” I smiled politely. “Great weather we’re having, huh?”
My dad’s deep laugh echoed throughout the quiet little coffee shop, a little too loudly. “Oh, Kacie. You always were quite the jokester.”
What? No, I wasn’t.
I never joked much at all. I was actually the opposite. I was the weird kid who made my bed every single morning and made sure my stuffed animals were lined up perfectly, in alphabetical order, of course. I was also the weird kid who brought carrots and snap peas to school in her lunch every single day. I was the weird kid who wouldn’t swim for thirty minutes after eating for fear that I’d get a cramp and die in the lake. Joking was never my thing. That’s why Brody and I got along so well. He was the jokester, the yin to my yang.
“Can I get you something?” The waitress’s voice pulled me from my daydream and I stared up at her like she’d just asked me if I wanted to jump off the roof of the building. Her eyes darted to my dad then back to me. “Ma’am?”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “I’ll take a hot chocolate, please. Extra whipped cream.”
“Sure thing. Be right back.” She smiled kindly and walked away.
“How’s your mom?”
I was surprised by my dad’s first question, but my mom was a source of comfort and strength in my life, so I knew we couldn’t go wrong there.
“She’s great. Amazing, actually.”
“Good to hear.” He nodded. “Where’s that superstar fiancé of yours? Thought maybe he’d be joining us.”
“Nope. They have a home game tonight, so he’s in the city.”
“Oh.” He sounded disappointed. “Do you go to a lot of his games?”
“As many as I can when I’m not working. I-I’m a nurse now,” I added, realizing he knew nothing about me.
“Really? Good for you.” He grinned proudly.
“Anyway, the girls and I love going—” I paused. “Do you know I’m a mom?”
His eyes went wide and his mouth fell open just a smidge. “No. I’m a grandpa?”
Resentment filled all my available head space
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