“I'm okay D,” she said avoiding his eyes in the mirror.
“Kay.” He said putting his hand on her shoulder. “What's going on?”
She put the toothbrush down looked at him in the mirror. “Nothing. It's flu season.” She brushed her teeth and he just stood there watching her.
When she finished, she reapplied her lip gloss and checked to make sure she looked presentable. D. left when she refused to tell him anything. She had lost some weight. Not a lot, but it was noticeable. She fluffed her hair out, turned the light out and went to the living room.
“You ready?” Her Dad said as she entered the room.
“Yes sir.” Rather than try to squeeze in one car, they took her Range Rover and D.'s F 150.
She followed her father's directions to get to the restaurant. Traffic was light on the highway and before long they were pulling into the parking space in front of a place with no name.
“This guy has a cafe with no sign?” Kayla asked her dad
“He hasn't had his official opening yet. His sign will go up next week.” He said as he got out of the car.
Kayla got out slipping her keys into her jacket pocket and looked around the parking lot. She didn't see any other cars. “Are you sure this is it? Maybe we're early.”
Her dad pulled the door open and held it for her. Kayla walked through it and stopped when she saw Stanley, Petunia, Matt, Holly, their kids, Vanna and her kids and Jesse standing facing the door. “What is this?”
She said looking back at her dad. D. took her jacket as Stanley and Petunia came forward “Happy thanksgiving.” She hugged them and then the door to the kitchen opened and out came Daniel carrying a tray with a large turkey followed by Lee and her crew all carrying a dish of food.
Daniel put the turkey down on the long row of tables that had been pushed together. Kayla turned to go outside, but her brothers blocked the door. She shook her head. They were all in on this. “Move right now.” They boys looked over her shoulder to Daniel who nodded. She went to her car and realized her keys were in her jacket that D. had taken from her.
“Kayla please, don't go.” Daniel said from behind her.
“What the hell is this?” She turned to face him. She looked at him good for the first time. “What the hell happened to your hair?” He hair had been buzzed to a military cut.
Daniel ran his hand over his head. “This,” he said waving his hand at the restaurant. “Is my way of getting you in the same place as me so that I can tell you how incredibly sorry I am for all the stupid things I've said and done.” He reached out to take her hand; she pulled her hand out of the way.
“How did... What are...?” She didn't know where to start.
“It's chilly out here and you don't have your jacket. Let's go inside and I'll tell you everything. Just give me a chance to say my piece, Kayla Please.” Kayla's eye brimmed with tears and she pushed past him, strutting into the restaurant and passing everyone going into the kitchen. Daniel followed.
Kayla wiped her eyes and turned to face him. “Alright, say whatever it is you need to say to me.”
Danny wrung his hands together. “Look, I had this whole speech planned, but I love you so nothing else matters. I don't care about your money. I don't care that you didn't tell me any of it. I don't care about anything, but being with you. With out you my life is empty and meaningless. Kayla I love everything about you. You are the sunlight in my world. Without you, I will wither and die. I will not live another moment with out you knowing how important you are to me. Please baby forgive me and let's put this stupid argument behind us.”
Daniel wasn't finished, but Kayla held up her hand to stop him. “Shut up for just a moment. I still don't understand why my father and brothers are here and everyone else for that matter? Explain that to me.”
Daniel moved close and took her hands in his. “After you gave me a black eye,” he said with a chuckle, “I went back to my job and my life and I realized that I wasn't living. Without you, my life is meaningless. It's because of you that I had the courage to quit my job. I bought this building to open my restaurant. It took some convincing, but Lee helped me get in touch with Darren and when I explained it all he got your brothers and father to come help me. This was an old abandoned building and it needed a lot of work. He put me in touch with Jesse, who guided us in how to fix it up and Vanna helped with the interior.”
Kayla listened to him tell her how all the people they knew helped in some way to get them to this point. Daniel finished saying, “Other than my mother and father, I've never had much family, but I'd like to be a part of yours.” He got down on one knee. “Kayla will you marry me?”
Kayla stood looking down into his eyes. She loved Danny and he loved her. “Yes.” she said. He slid a beautiful solitaire diamond ring on her finger and stood kissing her passionately. When he pulled away, “Now tell me what happened to your hair.”
Danny pressed his head to hers and laughed. “Ask D.” was all he said.
“I will, but there is something I need to tell you.” She said smiling. “Are you sure you're really ready for a family?”
Daniel smiled, “As long as it's with you. I'm ready for anything.”
“Good because I'm pregnant.”
Daniel's face froze. He stared at her and then whooped picking her up spinning her around in a circle. A few seconds later, everyone entered the kitchen. “I guess that means she said yes?” Someone said.
Danny kissed her again. “She sure did and we're having a baby.” Everyone congratulated them. Patting Daniel on the back, hugging Kayla before Danny ushered everyone out of the kitchen so that he could have a moment alone to show Kayla his final surprise.
He led her to the back of the kitchen and pointed to the item that sat with a cover over it. “I had this made and I'd like your permission to use this as my sign for the cafe. I want to this to be a family business.” He pulled the cover off..., “KKB's Mustang Cafe.” “Come with me.”
She let him lead her by the hand out to the dining room and then proceeded to show her all of the decorations in the cafe were automotive themed with pictures of her and her crew that he had D. blow up and frame. “Wow, I love it.” she said. They joined the others at the table and an hour later she got the story from D. as to why her fiancé was wearing a buzz cut.
*****
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my two best friends, Lola Ribron and Janet White. Lola for helping me stay on track when I hit a block and Janet for proof reading my work.
Thank you to all of my friends and coworkers who have supported me and encouraged me to put it all on paper.
About The Author
Born 1970. She was raised in Dallas Texas by her mother along with her siblings. She began reading romance stories as a teenager and has created fascinating stories for years entertaining her family and friends with her creativity.
Other Books By Kimberly Smith
The Wreight Kind Of Love
Coded for Love – Coming Soon
Connect With Me
https://www.kimberlyreneesmith.com/
https://www.facebook.com/creativekrs/
https://twitter.com/CreativeKrs
Love Thy Neighbor Page 15
