Kaleidoscope

Chapter Fifty-Two

High on encouragement, Danny called Kim as soon as he got home. She answered her phone immediately.

"Hi, Kim. It's Danny. How have you been?"

"I'm good now that exams are over. How are you?" Their conversation seemed wooden after so long.

"Kim, I'd like to see you and talk. There are some things I need to tell you. Can we go for lunch somewhere quiet?"

"I'd like that, Danny. How about the diner we went to the last time I was home?" Kim thought about how she had reacted to Danny the last time they spoke and vowed to keep an open mind about whatever it was that was on his mind.

"How about I pick you up around 11:30? We should beat the crowds and have some quiet time for conversation."

"I'll see you then," Kim answered and hung up the phone, her brain racing a mile a minute. She ran upstairs to change and heard her mom come in the back door.

"Kim, Ryan, I'm home. How about going out for lunch?" she called as she walked through the house looking for her kids. Her school was on summer break, too, and she was looking forward to some togetherness time with Kim and Ryan.

Uh, oh, thought Kim. Maybe I shouldn't have jumped at lunch with Danny so quickly. I didn't know Mom had plans.

She called to her mom and said she'd be right down.

She told her mom that she had a lunch date with Danny, and Sarah understood perfectly and told Kim to have a good time. She had liked what little she knew of Danny and was glad to see her daughter interested in someone. She had no idea about the trauma in his life.

A half hour later, the doorbell rang, and Kim opened it to see a very different Danny. He was rested and refreshed and looked even hotter than she remembered. Still, that same unruly curl falling into his eyes. And oh, those eyes. Bluer than blue. She snapped into the moment and let him in.

"You look great, Kim. It's really good to see you again."

"You look pretty good yourself, Danny. I'm happy you called. "Mom, Danny's here." She knew her mom would want to say 'hello.'

Sarah came in to see how happy they seemed to be together.

"Good to see you, Danny. How have you been?"

"I'm doing great, Mrs. McNally. Thanks for asking. Well, Kim, should we get going so we can get there before the lunch rush starts?"

"See you later, Mom. Go have a fun lunch with Ryan."

"If I can get him out of bed. Ever since school ended, his bed is his favorite place to be," Sarah laughed.

Kim and Danny rode in an uncomfortable silence to the restaurant. She knew he wanted to tell her something, so she didn't want to be the first to speak. Danny, his brow furrowed, was waiting for the opportune moment.

When they got to the diner, it was barely full. They slid into the same booth they had sat in months ago, the same cracked leather seats, and picked up the menus. Silence ensued, reminding Kim of her efforts to talk to him on the train. She allowed it, waiting for him to begin.

They ordered and while waiting for their meal, Danny, avoiding her beautiful emerald eyes for fear of reneging on his resolve, began his saga. He told her the story he had told so many times before to counselors, his parents, his sisters. But, this time was different. This time her reaction would hold his future. He was only interrupted briefly when their lunches arrived. His appetite had disappeared, and he poked at his food while he continued.

Kim sat seemingly un-phased by his admissions. When he finally looked into her eyes, he saw compassion, not disgust. He finished his confession and waited for her to respond.

Kim took his hand in hers and spoke.

"None of this surprises me, Danny. I'm sorry my suspicions were right, but I saw how you looked back in school, and I thought it might be alcohol or drugs. You were so thin, and your eyes looked haunted. I saw who you were hanging out with, and I wasn't impressed."

"Then why did you even bother with me? That time at the Homecoming Game when you introduced me to your family, and the other times when you tried to talk to me."

"You captivated me, Danny. I was drawn to you, and you got under my skin. What can I say-I had a good old-fashioned crush on you. At times, you were like a little boy around me, and that was so endearing. And you seemed like such a lost soul. I just wanted to get beneath the surface."

"Well, now I guess you have. Doesn't this bother you at all? I'm a drug addict. There, I've said it. The reason I was away just recently was that I went into rehab. I'm recovering right now, and I feel better than I have in years. But, it will always be a part of who I am. Do you want to be part of that?"

"I'd like to try if you do," Kim answered, still holding his hand.

"I'd like to keep seeing you, Kim. You're incredible. Talk about a crush. You've never been out of my mind since that first day in English class. Hell, yeah, I want to try."

"Then eat your lunch and let's get on with it," Kim said giving him her dimpled smile.

When Danny brought Kim home, he leaned over and lightly brushed her lips with a kiss. She knew then that they would be a couple, but she still had much to learn about this handsome young man who had stepped into her life. He was complex, but she loved a good puzzle. She just hoped that he would stay sober, not for her, but for himself. She turned to go inside, but not before throwing her arms around his neck and giving him a big hug. The vibes between them were alive-very alive.

"Call you later?" he asked.

"You'd better," she answered.