Page 102 of Homecoming

“You won’t believe it.” His eyes went wide as she conveyed the gist of the conversation with her mother. “She actually apologized for how she handled the Kelly and Matt disaster.”

“Wow, that must’ve been nice to hear.”

Kara stretched out on the bed next to him. “It was rather shocking, but also vindicating in many ways. She told me she wishes she was more like Bertha and me. She said she’s always been envious of our tight bond and easy way with people.”

“How do you feel about that?”

“Amazed. I had no idea she felt that way. I always thought my tight bond with Bertha annoyed her because I preferred being here to being home.”

“Your mother could learn a lot about how to be from both of you.”

“She said she’s been in therapy for some time now, and it’s been revealing.”

“I’m happy for you that she made that kind of effort.”

“Yeah, it was pretty cool after wishing for so long that she could be different.”

“Just proceed with caution. A tiger’s stripes don’t change overnight. I don’t want you hurt by her again.”

“I hear you, but this feels legit to me. She said she wants me to text her with pictures and funny stories about the baby. I never would’ve done that if she hadn’t said she wants me to.”

“This is great news all around.”

“It is, but I hear you about proceeding with caution. She wants us to come to dinner. I told her we’d like to do that.”

“Sure, whatever you want is fine with me.”

“Thank you for not holding her past transgressions against her.”

“When did I say I wasn’t doing that?”

Kara laughed and snuggled up to him.

He put his arms around her. “I’ll never forget the way they treated you, and I’ll never forgive them for hurting you. But that said… If you want to have a closer relationship with them, I’m cautiously optimistic for you—and for them. It seems they’ve learned a few valuable lessons later in life.”

“Yes, I told her better late than never.”

“As long as it sticks.”

“Right.”

“Now, about what we were doing before we were so rudely interrupted.” Dan tugged at the belt to her robe. “Naked day, take two.”

He’d no sooner gotten a hand inside her robe than his phone rang. “Goddamn it.”

Kara laughed at the agonized expression on his face.

“I can’t take all thesehighsandlows.”

She glanced at the tent in the covers caused by his erection.

“Don’t look! That makes it worse.”

She was shaking with laughter when he answered the phone with a gruffly spoken, “Torrington.”

He listened for a second. “As in one o’clock today?” Another pause. “I’ll be there. Thanks for letting me know.”

“What’s up?”

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