I nodded. “I know, but my decisions didn’t help anything.”
“Everyone makes mistakes, Lane. We learn from them and grow.”
I glanced up at him. “When did you become so wise?”
His lip quirked, and for a second I thought I spotted the familiar glint that once dwelt in his beautiful eyes. “I’ve done a lot of thinking over the years.”
I had no doubt about that. I had done a lot of thinking too.
There was a beautiful bookcase in the corner of the sitting room, and before I knew it, I found myself standing before it, brushing my fingers over the book spines in greeting. I loved books, and I loved that Kale still read them. I was about to turn away from the case when the name of an author caught my eye: K.T. Boone. She was an author I worked with. I scanned the other books and gasped.
“Kale,” I breathed.
I felt him come up beside me.
“You . . . you bought every book I have ever edited,” I whispered as my eyes scanned over the familiar titles.
Kale cleared his throat. “Like I wasn’t going to follow your work. You’re my best friend, and you have a kick-ass job. I’ve read them all. I had a book club in the making with your dad and Uncle Harry.” He chuckled. “You’re truly brilliant at what you do. I couldn’t find a fault in any of them. I love reading the author’s acknowledgements to you too. I’m so proud of you, kid.”
Don’t cry, I warned myself. Don’t you dare bloody cry.
“This is so sweet, Kale,” I said, clearing my throat when my voice dropped that octave.
“Speaking of sweet, you want a cup of tea?” Kale asked after a moment, and I appreciated the subject change.
I snorted. “Do you have to even ask?”
He grinned down at me and headed into the kitchen to put the kettle on. I followed him, and I glanced around as I walked, noticing how plain everything was. There were no pictures of Kaden anywhere, but I was too afraid to ask about it in case it upset Kale. I walked by him and moved to the large window over by his kitchen counter.
“Great view of the cathedral from here,” I commented.
Kale chuckled. “Why do you think I bought the place? For the generous-sized rooms?”
I noted his sarcasm and grinned.
“I like it,” I said. “It’s cosy.”
“It’s nothing compared to your new house. Harry’s place has five bedrooms.” Kale whistled. “What will you do with all that space? It’ll fetch a nice price for you, that’s for sure.”
I wasn’t surprised that he assumed I would be selling my uncle’s house; I’d been threatening to leave ever since I’d arrived.
“I’m not selling the house,” I casually said as I continued to look out the window, admiring the beauty of the town.
I felt Kale’s eyes on me. “What does that mean?” he asked in a low voice.
I shrugged. “It means I’m not selling. It’s my house, and I don’t want to sell it to someone else.”
Kale swallowed. “Will you lease it out and be a landlord?” he asked, grabbing at straws. “You’d get decent monthly rent for it.”
I shook my head. “No, if I did that I’d have to live in my parents’ house forever, and while I love them dearly, I don’t want that.”
I felt hands on my shoulders, and then my body was turned.
“Don’t play jokes on me,” Kale warned, his eyes trained on me.
I looked up at him. “I’m not playing games. I’m telling the truth.”
He blinked, his surprise evident. “You’re . . . moving back—”
“Home,” I finished for him. “I’m moving back home.”
His eyes widened, and he didn’t say a word, but just stared at me. I held back a gasp when the glint I thought I’d seen minutes ago flashed across his eyes, and this time it didn’t leave.
My Kale, my mind whispered.
I glanced for something to distract me from doing something stupid. My eyes flicked around his empty walls, and I frowned. “Why don’t you have any pictures up?”
Kale gnawed on his inner cheek. “Of Kaden?”
I nodded.
“Because they’re a reminder that he is gone.”
I tilted my head. “Couldn’t they be a reminder that he was here? Even though it was for a short time?”
Kale looked away from me. “I don’t know if I want to talk about him. It hurts.”
“I know.” I frowned. “I wish that one day we’d wake up and his passing would all just be a nightmare.”
Kale gripped the counter, then took my hand in his and led me into the sitting room, where we sat on a very comfortable sofa. For minutes we sat in silence.