Kylie's Kiss

by Delia Latham

  ****

  The whoosh of the door opening and closing behind her told Kylie someone had entered her room. She didn’t move. Maybe whoever it was would go away without bothering her.

  “Kylie Matthews, I’m ashamed of you!”

  She stiffened under her sheet, recognizing the voice. “Go away, Noni. I don’t want visitors.”

  The petite woman rounded the end of the bed and stood facing Kylie, hands on her hips, a massive thundercloud on her face. She looked six feet tall. “I am not a visitor. I’m your therapist, and I’m here in an official capacity.” Her face softened, but only by a fraction. “But I also like to think I’m your friend, and as such, I cannot allow you to keep up this ridiculous hibernation.”

  Kylie flopped over on her other side, but her pesky visitor simply walked around the bed and raised an eyebrow. “You don’t think you can get rid of me that easily, I hope? I’ve never been a pushover, my dear.” She reached out and flicked the sheet off of Kylie’s huddled frame. “Up. It’s time for you to go home.”

  “What?” Kylie scowled. “I can’t go home like this. I’m a mess! Look at me.”

  Noni did so, trailing her gaze from Kylie’s nose all the way to her toes. “Well, you’re right about that—you’re a mess. Get up and get a shower. You stink.”

  In spite of herself, Kylie’s mouth dropped open. “What—you can’t—that was rude!” she sputtered.

  “Perhaps, but it’s true. You’ve hidden yourself away in this bed for forty-eight hours. Your insurance won’t pay for another day, and Dr. Connery says you’re perfectly able to take care of yourself at home. Your only problem is a massive dose of self-pity.”

  “I don’t want to go home.”

  “Well, we don’t always get what we want, do we?” Noni sighed and pulled a chair up close to the bed. “Kylie, honey, I understand what this is about. I do. But you’ve got a family who loves you. They’ve been out in that waiting room, worried sick, wanting to see you. They need to see that you’re OK.”

  “I’m not OK.” A tear trickled down her cheek. She barely noticed that it didn’t burn.

  “Yes. You are.” She tilted her head, openly studying Kylie’s battered face. “You took some hard blows, kid. But your face is barely swollen, and the bruises are healing quickly.”

  “How do you know? You didn’t see them before.”

  “Oh, but I did, my dear. I was here while you were taking that marathon twenty-six hour nap. These bruises were much worse then. They almost scared me.” She smiled, but Kylie didn’t return the gesture. Noni sighed. “Look, I’m sorry to be so blunt, but you have no choice. You’re going home. Your insurance company is through mollycoddling you, and there are patients who need this bed worse than you do. Now, let me help you into the shower.”

  Tears overflowed her eyes and slid in wet trails down her face, but she sat up and swung her legs over the bed.

  “Slowly,” Noni cautioned. “Take your time.”

  “Whoa.” Kylie moaned the single word as a wave of dizziness slammed her. It passed quickly, though, and she allowed Noni to support her while she stood on shaky legs. With the movement, she gasped, as another sensation she hadn’t felt in days nearly doubled her over. “I need to—umm, empty my bladder.”

  Noni chuckled. “Got the catheter out this morning?”

  “Yes. Hurry.”

  They moved as quickly as possible across the floor, with Kylie leaning heavily on the other woman’s arm.

  “You gonna be OK in there by yourself for a minute?”

  She nodded. Noni closed the door, and Kylie rushed to take care of business.

  The mirror beckoned and repelled her. She refused to raise her gaze to its silvered surface while she washed her hands. Fear smothered her. One. Two. Three. Four. She counted to ten, drew a deep breath and finally forced her gaze upward.

  Surprised, she leaned in closer to her reflection. Her cheek no longer puffed out to the size of a plum. It looked more like the swelling one would expect after dental surgery. While bruises still covered almost every inch of her face, they were decidedly less conspicuous than they had been a couple of days ago. And many of the several small cuts had already disappeared.

  She touched her jaw. “Ouch.” Not pleasant, but not terrible pain, either.

  A new, smaller bandage covered the cut above her eye. She frowned, unable to remember it being replaced after she peeled it away. But it looked clean and neat. Best just leave it there—maybe forever. She didn’t want to see that hideous gash again.

  “Kylie? You OK?”

  She turned and pushed the door open. “Yes. I guess I do need to shower, but I’m not sure I have clean clothes.”

  Noni handed her a stack of folded garments. “Your sister sent these. Do you need help?” She moved past Kylie to turn on the water and adjust the temperature in the shower.

  “No, I’ll be OK. My legs aren’t shaking so badly now.”

  “Good. If you need me, I’ll be right outside.”

  “OK.” She paused before allowing the door to close. “Noni?”

  “Yes?”

  “Thank you.”

  Noni winked and gave her a lopsided smile. “You’re welcome. I’m available for nagging and scolding any time.”

  Kylie found that she could smile back, and it didn’t hurt too much.

  Kylie's Kiss

  21

  Shay drove Kylie home from the hospital and brought along a suitcase. “I’m staying with you for at least a week,” she stated. Her tone of voice left no room for argument—not that Kylie planned to raise a stink. She needed an arm to lean on just to get from one room to the other, so her sister’s offer was an unexpected blessing. While she could have stayed with her parents for a while, she preferred to be in her own apartment.

  The next few days passed in a blur. Despite Dr. Connery’s threat to pull her off “the good stuff,” he prescribed hefty doses of pain medication. She depended on them heavily at first, then started tapering her own use. She had no desire to be addicted to prescription meds, and wanted to get back to work as soon as possible.

  But how could she ever step foot outside with that disgusting hole in her head?

  Shay took excellent care of the wound. She removed the gauze covering every day and cleansed the gash with the solution Dr. Connery recommended. The first couple of days, she replaced the bandage, to Kylie’s silent relief. She had no desire to walk past a mirror and catch a glimpse of the horror her face had become.

  On the third day, Shay gave Kylie her prettiest smile and refused to cover it up. “Dr. Connery says it needs to be exposed to the air to expedite healing. So no more bandages.” She studied Kylie’s face. “It’s looking really good, Ky. You should go take a peek. I’m thinking the scar won’t even be visible with the right cosmetics.”

  “What?” Panic fluttered in her chest like a caged bird. “Shay, put something over that thing. No one wants to look at it. I certainly don’t!” Her voice increased in volume with every word, and Shay stepped back in surprise.

  “That’s ridiculous, sis! I’m telling you the truth. There’s nothing disgusting about this little cut. You’re really blessed that it’s so minor, and that it’s the only one.”

  “I’m blessed?” Kylie glared at her sister. “You’re not the one who needs a mask to go out in public, are you? I want the bandage back on.”

  Shay crossed her arms and frowned. “You don’t need a mask, Ky. What are you talking about? That cut is barely noticeable. I’ve never heard anything so silly.”

  “Fine, it’s silly. So put the silly bandage back on.”

  “No can do. Doctor’s orders.”

  Kylie jerked the gauze and tape off the table. “Then I’ll do it myself.” She hopped to her feet, biting back a groan when her ribs protested. Even in the tight binding Dr. Connery had insisted she wear home, every move smarted. But she wouldn’t let Shay see what the protest cost her, so she sucked in a breath and marched out of the room—though
it probably looked more like a shuffle to her disapproving sister.

  Inside the small bathroom with the door locked, she grasped the sink with both hands and forced herself to face the mirror.

  The gash had healed considerably since her first glimpse of it. The plum-sized lump on her cheek had all but disappeared. What swelling remained was barely noticeable. Above her eye, the healing wound had faded to a bright pink, instead of the angry red welt it had seemed only days ago. When Kylie squinted into the mirror, she had to concede an enormous improvement. Maybe Shay had a point…with a little makeup, she might be able to make this thing disappear.

  She grinned a little, then gasped, as the reality of what she was doing hit home. Here she stood in front of a mirror, examining a fairly fresh disfigurement on her own face, and she wasn’t battling nausea. Her tummy didn’t even give a token lurch of protest.

  Maybe those painful immersion therapy sessions were paying off. If she could hold onto this huge victory and make it permanent, she might still stand a chance with Rick.

  But then, she hadn’t seen Rick since the day he called her sweetheart. Perhaps she’d dreamed it, after all. He probably didn’t want another messed-up female in his life.

  She picked up the gauze and realized she’d forgotten the scissors. Oh, well. Shay already knew how her face looked. May as well keep the bandage off when only the two of them were here.

  Sighing, she flipped off the light and limped back to the sofa.

  “Well?”

  “I forgot the scissors.”

  Shay giggled. “Oh, dear, all that huffing and puffing for nothing?”

  Kylie sent her a scathing glance, but then she giggled too. “It really was a serious waste of energy, wasn’t it?”

  Her sister dropped down beside her on the couch. “So what did you think?”

  Kylie shrugged.

  “Oh, come on, Ky! It wasn’t as bad as you thought, was it?”

  “I guess not.”

  “See, I told you!” Shay squeezed her hand. “I’m so glad you’re doing better. When I first saw you in the hospital—” Her voice caught, and she paused. A tear slid down her face. “All I could think about was how we’d wasted so many years not liking each other. I wanted more time to be your sister, like I should have been all along.”

  When had Shay become so emotional? “You’re a great sister. Look how you’ve taken care of me this week.”

  “I just hope it isn’t too little, too late,” Shay whispered.

  “Hey, stop that.” Kylie surprised herself by dropping a kiss on her sister’s cheek. “We’ve got our whole lives to do the sister thing.”

  “Really?” Shay’s eyes lit up like a little girl’s. “You want to?”

  “Yes. I really do.”

  They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, until Kylie’s curiosity got the better of her. “Shay, I’m curious about something.”

  “What is it? Ask me anything.”

  “Well, it’s just—you. You’re so different. When did you start praying? And not wanting to be famous? Why would you come back to Castle Creek?”

  Shay pulled her feet up and snuggled into the soft cushions. “I hope the difference really does show, Kylie. I am different—a whole new person.”

  Kylie chuckled. “Like…what? You’ve been abducted and cloned with nicer genes?”

  A little smile teased her sister’s lips, but she remained serious. “I’ve been completely reborn, Ky.”

  “Reborn? Do you mean that whole born-again Christian thing, like they used to talk about in church?”

  “Yes! That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”

  “You’re kidding.” Kylie studied her sister’s radiant face. What could make someone like Shay do such an about-face?

  “I wouldn’t kid about this.” Shay shifted and leaned her head back on the sofa. She fixed her gaze somewhere only she could see and tried to explain. “I had reached a point in my life where nothing made me happy. I had money…fame…prestige… everything I thought I wanted. And none of it satisfied. Nothing gave me any joy.”

  “So what happened?”

  Shay grinned. “Jesus happened. He started nudging me, reminding me of the things I learned all those years ago on Sunday mornings. Little things kept happening that took on tremendous significance because I was so desperately searching for happiness.”

  “What kinds of things?” Kylie found herself genuinely interested in Shay’s story.

  “Well, one day I stepped outside the studio gates, just needing some air. A homeless woman was standing there, which shocked me because the studio bigwigs did not allow that kind of thing. But there she stood, holding a sign that read ‘Jesus Saves.’ She smiled at me, and—” Shay’s soft laughter held a touch of embarrassment. “Well, she had maybe three teeth, Ky, but it was the most beautiful smile. It was as if she brought that sign to that place on that day…just for me.”

  “Hmmm.”

  “I know, it sounds crazy. But then I got this package in the mail. No return address. Nothing to indicate where it came from or from whom.”

  Kylie frowned. “That’s a little scary.”

  “Well, it was, until I opened the box and found a Bible inside. One of those little sticky notes was attached to the front cover. The note said, “God loves you! Talk to Him about it.”

  Fascinated, Kylie squirmed into a more comfortable position. “So what did you do?”

  “What could I do?” Shay grinned. “I started reading that Bible. A couple days later, I was out running my two miles. When I finished, I grabbed a bottle of water out of my fanny pack and stood there, cooling down, getting ready to head home. A little girl walked up and handed me a business card.”

  Kylie hiked a brow. “A little girl with a business card?”

  “Yes. I saw her mother watching from a distance, so apparently they were out working the park together.”

  “What was on the card?”

  “The name and address of a church. The child said, ‘Please visit our church this weekend.’ I thanked her, and she turned and started walking away. But after a few steps, she ran back to give me a hug.”

  “Oh, my goodness!” Kylie laughed, trying to imagine Eva Kate doing such a thing. “Why did she do that?”

  Shay shook her head. “I don’t know. But she wrapped her little arms around my waist and squeezed. Then she lifted that sweet, little freckled face and smiled right into my heart. When I thanked her for the hug, she shook her head and said, ‘That hug was from Jesus. He loves you so much!’ Then she turned and ran to her mommy.”

  “Wow, that’s odd. So, did you go to that church?”

  “I think you know I did.” Shay grinned and sat up straighter. “And once was enough. I gave my heart to the Lord, and within days I knew I was through with the whole celebrity thing.”

  After a moment, Kylie took her sister’s hand. “I like the new you.”

  “Thanks. That means a lot to me.”

  “I—I kind of had an experience myself.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Kylie hadn’t thought she’d ever talk about the night of her first immersion session, and certainly not to Shay, but she found herself telling her sister all about it. Tears came when she described how an unseen Presence had supported her through that terrible experience. “I really felt like it was God, or an angel, or something divine.”

  “I’m sure it was.” Tears streaked Shay’s face, too. “Tell me more about this…what did you call it?”

  “Dysmorphophobia. It’s a mouthful, huh?”

  “It’s a big word, and a big problem. I’m so sorry, Ky. I—I’m sure my behavior in the past—and Mother’s, too—contributed to your situation.” She snatched a tissue out of a nearby box and dabbed at her eyes. “Can I do anything to help you get over it?”

  She hesitated. Was she ready to let her sister all the way in? “Shay, I don’t want you to take all the blame for my problem. Other things contributed, things I’ve n
ever talked about. Dayna knows a little bit, because she was around during college, but I haven’t even told her the worst of it.”

  Shay’s smooth brow furrowed, and she opened her mouth to speak, but Kylie shook her head. “I’m not there yet. Maybe someday, but not now.” She took a deep breath. “But if you really want to help, maybe you can be here for my next immersion session. Would you mind?”

  “Mind? No, I’d be honored!” Shay sniffled, then blew her nose.

  Kylie smothered a giggle. She couldn’t remember her prissy sister ever doing such an unattractive thing in front of anyone before. Not even her immediate family saw Shay anything less than her elegant best. She managed to bite back the laughter.

  “Recovery will be a process, but I think I’m doing better already. I looked at myself—the gash on my head—in the mirror just now without getting sick. You have no idea what a miracle that is, Shay. It’s unbelievable!”

  “You’re unbelievable.” Shay reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind Kylie’s ear. “Beautiful, strong, and absolutely unbelievable.”

  Hearing her sister say such things about her did weird things to Kylie’s heart. She wanted to laugh and cry and sing, all at the same time. Instead, she hiked her brows and offered a crooked smile. “Thanks. That means…well. A lot.”

  Enough of the sappy stuff. She touched her sister’s cheek and stood. “I—I think I’ll take a little nap.”

  Shay nodded, but stopped her just as she reached her bedroom door. “Ky?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I love you.”

  Kylie dropped her gaze, unsure how to respond. Finally, she managed to meet her sister’s eyes. “Me too,” she murmured, and eased the door shut.

  ****

  The doorbell woke her, and Kylie stirred, hoping she hadn’t slept the whole day away. The drowsiness disappeared when she heard Eva Kate’s voice in the living room.

  “Hi, Auntie Shay!”

  “Well, hello, Eva Kate.” Shay’s warm voice brought a smile to Kylie’s lips as she struggled to sit up and swing her legs off the bed. “Who is this you have with you?”