Kaleidoscope

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Danny tried out for the soccer team and made the cut. Coach Wilson welcomed him back and was pleased to see how good he looked, so different from that last time in his office.

"Coach, I can't tell you how much your advice and concern have meant to me. It's because of your encouragement that I'm able to be back here now."

"You're a good kid, Danny, who just got in over his head. I'm proud of how you've overcome your problems and glad you're back on the team."

He congratulated him on getting clean and made sure he knew where the NA meetings were in town. He became a surrogate father to Danny.

Kim dove headlong into her studies and finally decided to declare pre-law as her major. It would mean a lot of work, but if she and Danny stayed together, he would be here with her for at least a year of that before he could graduate. She no longer was distracted by thoughts of his problems, only by the thoughts of his blonde curls and blue eyes. She was smitten, and dare she say, in love.

She and Tess settled in very nicely with their roommates and life at school resumed once more.

In Chicago, Jen spent every other weekend with Brad. Either he flew to her, or she flew home. Rose was doing an outstanding job of lining up venues, bakeries, D.J.s, and flowers so that when Jen was home, she could run around checking them out to narrow them down. As much as possible, she included Brad in the decision making although when it came to the music, he deferred to her. Things were coming together nicely for their June wedding. She asked Theresa to be her Maid-of-Honor, and Brad asked his brother to be his best man. She still hadn't decided on Bridesmaids but thought if Danny and Kim were still together she might ask her to be in the wedding party. That would certainly shake things up in the church, she and Theresa sitting side by side.

When pledge week came up, Danny shied away from any of his old friends and chose to pledge a service Fraternity devoted to serving the community. He had learned the hard way whom to trust, and these guys were the perfect fit for him. He went to his meetings once a week and saw Kim almost every day. Theirs was a relationship built on a new-found trust and communication with each other.

Classes began the following week, and Danny found himself back in English 101 again. This time, he sat up in front of the room instead of hovering in the rear. This was the new and improved Danny. He watched all the Freshmen enter and remembered his reaction when Kim had walked into this same classroom. He had been such a mess already back then. He had come so far.

Thanksgiving saw them Danny and Kim on the train together once again, and where once there was only awkward silence, now there was a comfortable stillness while they held on to each other. Their mutual fondness was growing with each passing month, and it was evident to their families that they were falling hard for one other. Occasionally, Sarah would delicately probe Kim for how he was doing with his recovery, for Kim had confided everything in her mom and dad, and was reassured that Danny was in a good place.

Before Jen and Danny left home in September, the family had one last session with Dr. Connelly. The atmosphere in the room was relaxed, and all the acrimony that was once felt was gone. The children had learned to understand the complexities of their lives and how they had ultimately impacted each other. As far as Rose and Tom were concerned, they were still separated. Rose still struggled with her feelings and Tom persisted in trying to get her to talk to him. Their issues went far deeper than either one of them had imagined. They would need time. Fortunately, Rose had not yet closed the door.

As the year progressed, the plans for Jen and Brad's wedding were formalized. Jen did, indeed, ask Kim to be in the wedding party and Brad asked Danny as well. Jen made more frequent trips home to choose the wedding invitations, the calligrapher and to finalize the guest list. She was thrilled with her job, which gave Rose pause with its implications, but as a mom, she was very happy for her daughter. Brad was busy applying to hospitals, but he didn't tell Jen about the possibility of a position in Chicago because he didn't want to get her hopes up. He would graduate a week before their wedding and would know then. What a wonderful wedding present it would be if he could move to Chicago to be with her. At the same time, Jen was looking around at some of the same cities he was applying to. They knew they would have to choose one to be together. Jen knew she would be sacrificing her dream job, but they didn't want to start out married life separated. Once their applications were in, all they could do was pray.

Kim and Danny finished school just before the wedding. Danny's year was a far cry from his effort the year before and he was moving into the Frat house the following year, so he got a bunch of the guys to help him move his things. He and Kim were able to take the train home once again. He thought back to his disgraceful ride home alone the previous year. He had been at an all-time low, not aware that he would sink even further before pulling himself out. He gazed over at Kim's profile and thanked God for having her in his life. He had saved himself, but she was keeping him alive with her affection. But, it was more than affection he had for her, and he wondered when he would have the nerve to tell her so.