Page 71 of The Wiener Across the Way

The realization of this connection between her and my mother was mind-blowing. I felt a sense of awe at how lives can intertwine in the most unexpected ways.

“That’s incredible. My mom would be so touched to hear that. She always believed in making a difference, in paving the way for others to be themselves, unapologetically.”

Kelsey’s eyes met mine, and in them, I saw a reflection of the same ideals my mom had fought for. “She did make a difference, Declan. She made a difference in my life. And now, here I am, with her son. That blows my mind.”

We shared a moment of silent understanding, a recognition of the serendipitous threads that had woven our lives together. In that cabin, surrounded by the legacy of my mother’s courage and Kelsey’s own journey of self-acceptance, I felt an even deeper connection to her. It was as if fate had played its hand, bringing us together not just through our own choices, but through a shared history of resilience and empowerment.

She reached out and touched my hand, but then took it even further and pulled me into her arms. “I’m sorry you lost her so young.”

As a family, we’d grieved hard when she died, but as an adult, I didn’t talk about her that much. She’d had a profound impact on my life, and sharing her now with Kelsey, and having her understand who she was and what she meant to me, had me feeling a little more emotional than I expected. “Yeah, me too.”

If I said any more than that right now, I was going to get choked up about it. Someday soon I’d like to share stories of the good times with my mom, but now, today, it was enough to know that she was someone important in both our lives.

As the night wound down and everyone started to say their goodbyes, I pulled Kelsey aside. “So, what did you think? Too much Kingman for you?”

Kelsey smiled, her eyes shining with happiness. “Are you kidding? I loved every minute of it. Your family is amazing. Way different than mine. My parents are great, but, umm, quieter. Your family really made me feel like I belong here tonight.”

Hopefully she’d belong with us for a lot longer than just one night, or week, or month, or year. I wanted her here forever.

Yes. Forever felt just about right.

As Kelsey and I were about to leave, Trixie caught us at the door, her arms filled with a small stack of books. “Wait, Kelsey, I almost forgot. I brought you something.”

Kelsey looked surprised as Trixie handed her the books. “What’s this?”

“Romance novels,” Trixie said with a big grin. “I’m an OG fan from back in yourChoicest Voicedays, and I remember how much you love them, but I saw you say somewhere recently that you never get the time to read.”

Kelsey’s eyes widened as she flipped through the titles, each a promise of adventure and love. “Trixie, this is so thoughtful. I can’t remember the last time I had the time to just sit and lose myself in a good book.”

I watched, amused and touched by how a simple gesture meant so much.

Trixie shrugged modestly. “Well, you’re taking a break, right? I figured what’s a break without a little romance and, you know... dragons?”

Kelsey laughed as Trixie waggled her brows and pointed to one particular book on the top of the stack calledChase Me, with just a man’s dragon-tattooed chest on the cover. She hugged the books close. “You’re absolutely right. And these look like just my kind of escape.”

As we said our goodbyes, I noticed the genuine affection in Kelsey’s eyes. This small gift from Trixie wasn’t just about the books. It was a symbol of the time she could now afford to herself, a luxury she hadn’t had in a long while.

Walking back to our cabin, Kelsey clutched the novels like treasures. “I’ve envied people who could just sit and read for pleasure. I’m really looking forward to this.”

I took her hand in mine, feeling a sense of peace. “You deserve this time, Kelsey. Time to relax, to do things you love. I’m glad I get to be a part of it.”

She leaned into me as we walked under the starlit sky, the books a reminder of the simple joys we often overlook in our busy lives. In that moment, I knew these small, quiet times were as precious as the loud, exuberant ones. And I was determined to make sure Kelsey got plenty of both.

When we got back to the cabin, I went to work lighting a fire in the little stove to keep us warm, Pooh ever present at my feet. Kelsey set the books on the small bedside table and picked up her guitar. “I’m gonna work on that song for a bit.”

Uh-oh. One full day without work and she was already jonesing. I crossed the room in a half a second and had her flat on her back on the bed. “Nope. If that song has become work, sweetheart, I’m going to have to come up with something to distract you.”

I grabbed the button on her jeans tugged them and her panties down while she squealed and giggled. We got her naked from the waist down before she could even protest. I knew exactly how to keep her mind off work.

BAGGWIEYPUYCOMF

KELSEY

“It’s not work, I swear.” That was a lie. The song hadn’t started off that way, but old habits die hard, and I’d admit that I was already thinking about whether “Chunky Dunkin’” could be a single on the next album. Maybe even the title song.

He ignored me and slapped one of the books into my hand. “Read your book, Kelsey.”

Umm, okay, that was not what I expected when he’d taken my pants off. Naked reading was still fun, I guessed. I opened the book, mostly because he was on top of me and staring at me with a face that said he wasn’t backing down. I perused the first couple of lines. It started off in the point of view of the heroine who it seemed was some kind of a wedding planner. Fun.

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