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“I know, Dad,” she said, wishing it wasn’t so confusing so she could just tell them the truth. “Simon’s life is a bit complicated right now, but he really is a good guy. I wouldn’t be……involved with him if he wasn’t. You’re just going to have to trust me. Besides, as I said before, I don’t even know if we’re going to see each other after we leave the island.”
“What do you mean, complicated?” her father asked. “Don’t you have enough complications in your life?”
She sighed, “I can see that you’re not going to let this go,” she said. “But if I tell you the truth, you won’t believe me, so can’twe just let it be?”
Her father shook his head, “You may be all grown up, but I’m still your father,” he said. “It’s my job to protect you.”
She studied her parents in silence for a minute, trying to come up with the right words to explain what had happened to Simon, but before she could get her thoughts together, a beach ball rolled up to them. Kiley came toddling after the ball, her little arms stretched out to grab it, but she kicked it with her foot instead, and it rolled into her lap.
“Mamma……ball…. play,” Kiley said, finally getting her arms around the ball.
She scooped her daughter up into her lap, then looked over at her dad, “Can we talk about this some more later?” she asked. “I know that you’re worried, but I promise you, Kiley is still my first priority. I would never do anything that would hurt her.”
Her dad didn’t look convinced but waved her away, “Go play with Kiley,” he said. “We’re not going anywhere.”
CHAPTER 21
***SIMON***
Simon opened the oven to check on the fish one more time, then looked around the kitchen, sure that he’d forgotten something. “Will you stop fussing already? Dinner is going to go fine,” Max said from the table where he was watching, a look of amusement on his face. “I’ve never seen you this nervous before.”
“I just want everything to be perfect,” he said. “I want Kira’s parents to like me. If we’re going to be together, it’s important.”
Max studied him for a second, “Simon, you know how happy I am that you’ve……well, seen the light so to speak, but this thing with Kira……” his words trailed off, then he took a deep breath and started again. “I’m just worried that you’re rushing things……I mean, everything in your life was turned upside down overnight. It wouldn’t be surprising if you were clinging to……”
“That’s not what’s happening,” he said. “And it’s not like we’re talking about getting married or even moving in together, we’re just dating, I guess, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less important that her parents like me.”
Max shrugged, “I just don’t want to see either of you hurt or disappointed,” he said. “That’s all.”
“Thanks for worrying about us,” he said. “I hope that doesn’t happen, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. Kira is special, Max. There aren’t very many women like her out there. I’m not going to give her up without a fight.”
Just then there was a knock on the door, “They’re here,” he said, jumping to his feet. “Wish me luck.”
He opened the door with a smile on his face, telling himself it was going to be fine, “Hi, everyone,” he said, surprised when Kiley let out a little cry of happiness and reached for him. “Hey there, princess, don’t you look pretty.”
The baby giggled and waved her arms at him, “Come here then,” he said, taking her from Kira. “I made you a special dinner, little lady. I hope you like macaroni and cheese.”
Kiely just ginned up at him, “That’s her favorite,” Kira said, smiling at them. “You really know how to charm a girl.”
He laughed, “Come in. Dinner is ready,” he said, stepping back. “I thought we could eat on the deck. The view of the ocean is fantastic from there.”
Once everyone had a place to sit and a drink in front of them, he reluctantly handed Kiley back to Kira, “I’ll go get the food,” he said. “Be right back.”
He’d just put the last dish down on the table when Max and Mary Beth came out of the house, “Just in time,” he said. “Come and sit down.”
Once they’d all filled their plates, Mary Beth cleared her throat, “I don’t want to spoil the meal, but I have an update for you all,” she said, looking over at Kira and her parents. “Do you want me to wait until after we finish dinner?”
Kira shook her head, “No, I think you should tell us now,” she said. “You’ve been working so hard, Mary Beth. I think you should be able to relax and enjoy your food.”
“No thanks needed. You know I do this because I love it,but I am ready to put it aside for a while so we won’t wait,” Mary Beth said. “I filed for restraining orders for all four of you, and the judge approved them. I don’t know how necessary it was for Virginia, but I’ll get to that in a second. I filed for an amendment to the custody agreement restricting Virginia from ever seeing Kiley again, and I think the judge will approve it.”
Kira let out a long sigh of relief, “That woman is insane,” she said. “Is she getting some help?”
Mary Beth nodded, “She’s been admitted to a psychiatric hospital for treatment,” she said. “I don’t think she’ll be getting out any time soon.”
There was a long silence at the table, “Well, I guess that’s over then,” Kira finally said. “Mary Beth, I’ll never be able to repay you for everything you’ve done for us, but I’m sure going to try.”
“Just be my friend,” Mary Beth said. “That’s enough for me.”
